Step Into a World of Family Secrets. One Letter at a Time.
Castle Hill – The Crane Family Letters
A Real 1920s Estate in New England, Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Step inside the walls of Castle Hill, where the legacy of a family and their grand estate unfolds through fictional, personal letters.
Nestled on the windswept coast, Castle Hill was constructed by industrial magnate Richard T. Crane Jr. and his wife Florence. In the early 20th century, the couple transformed this grand estate into a symbol of opulence and ambition. It became a hub for lavish parties during the Roaring Twenties, but with the shadow of the Great Depression, its grandeur faded.
Through the voices of Eleanor Crane (fictional daughter of Richard T. Crane Jr.), her daughter Vivienne, and granddaughter Adelaide, The Crane Family Letters invite you to explore nearly a century of Castle Hill’s mystery, family secrets, romance, and betrayal. A narrative that intricately follows the complexities of three generations of women, weaving in enigmatic characters and events at every turn.
Enjoy an immersive experience into the lives of the Crane women as they navigate love, loss, and the shifting tides of history. Each letter, a piece of captivating fiction inspired by the real Castle Hill and a bygone time.
The Story Begins…
Over the years, the sail boats became fewer and fewer in the harbor. It seemed as though the shadow of the castle’s past had swallowed the ships whole. Even now, sailors, too afraid to land on the Crane shores – and I didn’t blame them. Whatever lurked within the walls of Castle Hill seemed to terrify even the most seasoned family members.
The grand summer parties, once filled with great aunts and uncles, became fewer and fewer, until they stopped all together. The halls of Crane Castle grew silent, other than the occasional interruption of a curious soul trying to get a glimpse of what had become of us. Granny calls them “little sea snails,” scuttling about, trying to steal a taste of the Crane greatness – a greatness that had surely faded with the last of the parties of the roaring ’20s. That brief, golden moment in time, forever trapped in the echoes of these walls.
My Grandmother tried to bring back the legacy over the decades that followed, but something seemed to stop every attempt. A kind of darkness lingered, that eventually gave birth to stories to terrify local kids from ever attempting to breach these walls. Even now, I feel a chill while walking the halls. I haven’t been back since I was a young girl, and I had forgotten just how unsettling it feels to be inside Castle Hill.
Mail You’ll Look Forward To
Pour yourself a cup of tea, sit back, and let each letter transport you into a story immersed in a bygone time. Get to know each character as they reveal the most intimate parts of their lives. Their love, heartbreak and dreams are captured on pages of letters sent between characters.
Get ready to be captivated by nearly a century of family secrets as the Crane women come alive with every stoke of their pen.
Gift the Delight of the Birdsong Letters
Treat your loved ones to an unforgettable experience they’ll anticipate every week. A captivating story unfolds through intimate letters or journals, beautiful location cards, and delightful surprises along the way, including postcards, maps, blueprints, and more. With a personalized note from you, it’s more than a gift—it’s a heartfelt journey they’ll cherish for months.
A Note from the Author
Discover how real places, history, and the idea of the complexities of generational stories shaped this creative work. Uncover the inspiration behind The Birdsong Letters and the deeper messages woven into the letters, waiting to be explored.
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