The Tuttle mansion was built in 1899, for Morris B. Tuttle, designed by historical architect William Weeks. The mansion is located near the town of Freedom in South County Santa Cruz; the grand California Queen Anne was considered the “Crown Jewel” of South County Santa Cruz in its day.
Owned by the family of Jennifer and Kathy Oliver since the 1970’s, according to the Oliver’s, along with additional business occupants, the mansion is not without its unusual quirks. The home currently houses various business suites, the Oliver’s told us. “When all appears to be quiet, the mansion seems to take on a life of its own.” There have been reports of hearing old-fashioned-style typewriters typing by themselves, multiple second-story doors slamming open and shut continuously when no one is occupying the upstairs, sightings of the apparition of an elderly lady ringing a dinner bell who seems to vanish, and sounds of laughter and footsteps of children running about.
Although the Oliver’s and the mansion’s occupants do not appear to be fearful of these events, they made it clear they wanted to confirm that these oddities are more than just their active imaginations. The Tuttle Mansion is believed to be a portal housing the energy of events’ much like layers, throughout this multi-generational family; despite the locations of said events. Each layer being peeled away revealing a different event in time, the energy of said events imprinting upon the mansion and resonating within its walls leaving both residual and intelligent effects. The cause of this effect is likely due to the lengthy historical narration of the family itself.
The Tuttle's were a large multi-generational family, with each child yielding 6-9 offspring apiece. Those children had children, and so forth. There is evidence of great wealth, education, power, and drive among the Tuttle descendants, but they were not without their share of madness. The Tuttle family history dates back to the early 1500 to 1600s and includes both homicidal criminals and masterfully educated geniuses.
Taking a trip back into time, the Tuttle descendants date back to New Haven Connecticut, when young Sarah Tuttle, daughter of William Tuttle had brought shame upon her family for allowing a boy to kiss her without parental consent, which was against puritan values. In a heated argument, with Sarah’s twenty nine year old brother Benjamin, Benjamin took matters into his own hands and bludgeoned his sister to death by hitting her in the head with an axe, perhaps jealous of his sisters affections - In 1676, Brother Benjamin was convicted of his sister’s murder and sentenced to death.
One year later, the eighth daughter of William Tuttle by name of Elizabeth, went mad, her sibling by the name of Mercy killed her son a year prior, who was believed to be illegitimate. She drove her husband to divorce with insane behavior and upon it being granted, she vanished from the town and is believed to have committed suicide.
Throughout the decades, the Tuttle lineage spread far and wide throughout the United States, many descendants settling in California. Such is the case of William Tuttle, name sake from the aforementioned, and first cousin Hazel. The pureblood descendants were in marital bliss; however in 1911 it soon turned to divorce as the marriage began to crumble. While separated, William Tuttle resided at the Watsonville carriage house, while wife Hazel, remained in Rocklin. In December of 1911- William returned to their home in Rocklin, where he brutally murdered his wife Hazel and then turned the gun upon himself. Their energies seemingly resonating within the Tuttle Mansion – a place they which they often visited.
Alas, the madness of this family does not end here – In 1913, Watsonville. Morris Tuttle’s brother, Iowa, killed himself in an out building outside of the Tuttle Mansion. He was claimed to have shot himself twice in the head. The deaths continued with the demise of several Tuttle children, one of the worse known death’s is that of Irma Tuttle in 1918, at the age of eight, little Irma accidently fell under a roller driven by her cousin Allen out in the fields. The roller which weighed 1800 pounds, passed over the child’s head and crushed her skull, it took her 3 hours to succumb to her injuries.
The Tuttle Mansion in Watsonville, is believed to be a portal, harnessing the energy of Tuttle descendants both immediate and distant alike. Multiple apparitions, orbs, cold spots, evp’s and more have been caught by those visiting the mansion in search of evidence of the afterlife.