This documentary will tell the story of one of Clintonville Ohio’s most mysterious landmarks. The house, which stands on a prominent street corner of Indianola and Tibet is the focus of mystery and intrigue, however the real story is the reason it was built and the work done there to help hundreds of children have a place to call home…
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Please consider contributing! Donating to this documentary will unveil the story of the Clintonville Mystery House and showcase the story of incredible foster care work in the city of Columbus. Your contribution will support the hard work of dedicated central Ohio filmmakers committed to producing impactful content!
Photos
In the Press
Kathy Lynn Gray Columbus Monthly
Meshach Malley, the grandson of homeowner Bob Erickson, wants to provide a behind-the-scenes historical look at Clintonville’s most distinctive and fascinating residence.
Anna Staver NRP News
Maybe you’ve heard of the Clintonville Mystery House or seen it.
With its brown trim, upper floor turrets and abundance of windows, the residents at the corner of Indianola Avenue and Tibet Road have drawn the attention of many in the community.
What is it about this house that makes it so unique?
Our Story
The Clintonville Mystery House is a sprawling, eight-bedroom castle, appearing handmade and cobbled together, on the corner of Indianola and Tibet in the heart of Columbus. It looks like the Swiss Family Robinson or the Weasley home brought to life. Often a source of both controversy and intrigue it is a landmark for the neighborhood of Clintonville, yet few people understand why it was built and the importance it had on the city of Columbus.
When my grandparents first bought the house in 1972, it looked like the other 1200 square foot, three-bedroom homes in the neighborhood – but they had big dreams to grow and build a thriving community. Along with raising my mother, aunt, and uncle they decided to become foster parents.
Within a couple of years, their small home could not support the growing need for space. They could not afford to move and so began, by hand and one board and nail at a time, to expand the property. They added two bedrooms onto the back of the house, dug out the basement, and started building a wing on the north side. They never stopped building.
From the 1970’s to the early 2000’s they fostered, and gave shelter 154 kids, teens, and young adults in this ever-growing home. It became a hub of community in the city, and my grandparents worked together with other foster families to form a network of support.
The documentary will recognize the unique story of this curiosity-rich Clintonville landmark, and more importantly, the positive and indelible impact the home and the community associated with it have made on the lives of so many over the last 40 years.