Long ago, in France there was knight who was the biggest, strongest, and most noble knight of them all.  His enemies called him "Black Knight" to trick people to think he was evil and force him to leave the country.  For many years, the Black Knight's fame grew, as he did many acts of kindness, but never lost in battle.  No one ever knew his true identify, as he would appear unexpectedly to protect farmers and countrymen all over France.  Many think his sons succeeded the Black Knight over the centuries, while others think he comes back from the dead to protect his family and friends.

 

When the first French settlers came to America, some settled in the Northern Allen County wilderness, along Beckett's Run.  Amazingly, the Black Knight soon arrived, too, and protected them from the dangers of the wilderness.  One rich family seemed to be protected by the Black Knight in a special way.  They built a large brick home on the banks of Beckett's Run, which also was a place where the French families gathered often.  It was explanded and fortified many times; soon it looked like a French Castle.  The Black Knight kept appearing and helping new families in the area, not only to protect them, but also to honor their dead buried in the cemetery near the Black Forest.

 

In 1840, the Castle owners invited a young missionary to share their home on Beckett's Run.  The priest called his mission, "Vincent de Paul", for a French saint known for his great acts of kindness.  The Castle was expanded again, becoming a center for worship in addition to being a home.  But after a century of use, with the priest and all of his friends now dead, the old Castle began to fall apart.  By 1970, the old Castle was totally abandoned, or so everyone thought.  The Boy Scouts used it to store equipment, but soon even they were afraid to enter the building, since bats, snakes, and other creatures were all over the Castle.

 

Then 21 years ago the Scouts discovered that someone HAD been living there!  It was the Black Knight -- still caring for his realm!  Without revealing his identity (was he a descendent of one of the original French families?), he invited the Scouts to explore his home, on All Hallows Eve, in 1979.  The Black Knight wanted to share the secrets of his home, his purpose in life and death, with those who could help his country's descendents.  He hoped the tradition of good works, shown by his centures of service, would continue with the new occupants of his beloved Castle. The Black Knight called on his ancestors, long since deceased to come to his side and tell his story.   The Black Knight revealed for the first time that not all of his ancestors were happy in their new Castle in America.

 

Apparently, some family members were buried in the catacombs of the old castle, but their remains had been disturbed and moved.  The Scouts learned that three bodies had, indeed, been moved out of the building 70 years ago and were reburied in the graveyard.  The souls of these ancestors wander aimlessly throughout the area looking for a place of rest.  People living nearby have seen such spirits, especially around the old graveyard and the Castle. The spirits seemed to be trying to get into the building, especially after it was sealed up 30 years ago.  The Black Knight also described various traps he had placed in his castle to discourage his unhappy ancestors over the years.

 

Each year the Scouts discover more traps as they open the Black Knight's home to the public.  The Black Knight still appears whenever he wishes, and reveals new secrets of the Haunted Castle.  Recently, the scouts discovered the Black Knight's secret hiding places beyond the graveyard, in the Black Forest, north of the Original Haunted Castle.

 

Come join us, as we continue to discover the secrets of the Black Knight, and his Haunted Castle!