Berkeley Castle

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     Berkeley Castle, aka Berkeley Springs Castle, was originally built for Colonel Samuel Taylor Suit from Washington DC.  He first met his wife, Rosa, at Berkeley Springs and the residence was meant to be a place of peace and relaxation. (Apparently Rosa didn't want to marry the guy until he promised to build her a castle - he was 30 years older than her!)  Unfortunately he died in 1888 before it was finished.  After his death the quality of work done on the castle was obviously not as good but, was completed sometime in the early 1890's   You see, in his will he stated that Rosa had to finish the place before she could inherit his money. 

     For the next 20+ years Rosa lived the high life.  She threw parties and spared no expense on her guests.  She hired orchestras and caterers, and even paid for their hotel rooms.  By the time she was 50 she had spent all the money and had to start renting the place out.  She ended up in a tiny house raising chickens until her son took her to live in Idaho.

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     The castle was put up for auction a few times, and in 1916 it was bought by the Bank of Morgan County. George Cunningham, a local businessman, owned it between 1923 and 1938.  He had planned on turning the castle into a hotel, but it never ended up happening.  

     It was used in 1924 as place to throw Pasttime Club dances, and Friday nights in 1936 the "Old Castle Club" held it's dances.  Writers and artists would also stay in the castle in 1929.  

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     After Cunningham, Berkeley Castle was owned by Ward Kesecker.  He fixed the place up, did repairs, and even added an addition.  In 1939 a hobby and antiques fair was held at the castle for two weeks.  During this time is was also used by the Monte Vista Boys Camp.
     In 1954 Walter Bird purchased the castle on the creepy castle on the hill.  He's the one who finally figured out how to make some money with the place, tours.  He would make up wild stories about things that had happened there.  You know, murders, battles, ghosts, that sort of thing. He made it the place for tourists to go for nearly 50 years.

       The current owner is a Andrew Gosline who bought the castle at auction in 2002.  He was a retired data processor, from Florida, when he read an ad about the castle and auction.  Well, it was near his birthday and he decided to go check the place out.  He and his sons went and ended up buying the place.  He says, "I really didn't expect to buy it.  It's just one of those things you get caught up in."
      Although sometimes people show up looking for a tour of the place, it's just a residence now.  Mr. Gosline stated, "I find I have to keep the doors locked.  The people try to come in and walk through."  It's just a big castle for two, Andrew and his dog, Duke.
     

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     The Castle is on the National and State Registers of Historic Places, and can be rented out for weddings.  You can visit its website at berkeleyspringscastle.org and take a virtual tour here.