Category: October

October Stone Stories: The Bird Family and Woodchester Villa

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Even though Halloween has just passed, it still feels like a perfect time to share another ghost story.

One that stands out is the tale of the Bird family of Bracebridge, Ontario, and the mysterious history of Woodchester Villa. A house known for both its striking architecture and its lingering ghostly rumours.

In April of 2024, my mother and I took a trip to Bracebridge to explore this unique historic site. It was Easter weekend and our first road trip of the season. The Spring thaw had come early, but spring itself hadn’t quite arrived yet. The trees were bare, and the grass was still brown, giving the whole day an autumn feel.

It was fitting, since we were there to visit ghosts.

Woodchester Villa. Bracebridge ON ©2024

Henry James Bird

Built in 1882, Woodchester Villa was the dream home of Henry James Bird, a successful wool mill owner who made his mark in Bracebridge, Ontario.1 Henry was born on January 3, 1842, in Woodchester, England, the youngest of eleven children.2 He learned the wool trade in his home country before spending time in Australia and the United States, eventually settling in Canada in 1867.2

Before finding his footing in Bracebridge, Henry worked for the Rosamond Woollen Company in Lanark County.2 A few years later, he bought a mill in Glen Allan, but after a terrible flood damaged the property, he decided it was time for a change.2 Tragically, before he could make the move north, his first wife, Sarah Jane Fraser, and their two young children died of tuberculosis.2 In 1872, Henry moved to Bracebridge, where he opened the Bird Woollen Mill beside the falls.2

Henry quickly became a respected businessman and community leader. He served on the town council and helped bring new public utilities to the growing town, including its first water and fire protection systems.2 His success and civic pride eventually led him to build his grand home, naming it “Woodchester” after the village where his story began.2

Woodchester Villa

Although Woodchester Villa was ahead of its time, it’s also long been tied to strange happenings that add to its eerie charm. The house was closed during our visit, but we spent plenty of time admiring its design and reading the educational panels scattered around the property. They helped us picture what life might have been like for the Bird family living within those walls.

I wandered around the grounds with my camera, hoping to catch a flicker of movement from inside. We didn’t see any spirits, but the landscape itself felt charged, as if the past still lingered quietly on that secluded hilltop.

Woodchester Villa is one of Ontario’s finest examples of an Octagonal house.1 The eight-sided design was inspired by Orson Squire Fowler, an American phrenologist and author who believed octagon homes were healthier and more efficient than traditional square houses.1 Bird fully embraced this philosophy, creating a three-storey home that blended innovation with comfort.2

Inside, the villa featured some impressive amenities for the late 1800s, like indoor plumbing supplied by rainwater tanks on the second floor, a ventilation system that circulated air throughout the house, and even electric lighting, which was rare for the time.2

Woodchester Villa. Bracebridge ON ©2024

For all its beauty and history, Woodchester Villa has a reputation for being one of the most haunted spots in Bracebridge. Behind its restored walls, many believe something otherworldly lingers.3

Stories tell of a spectral woman and two ghostly children who seem to wander the rooms.3 Visitors and staff have reported hearing the soft cries of a baby, the quick steps of little feet on the upper floors, and the faint sound of a woman’s voice singing somewhere in the distance.3 Cold spots are often felt throughout the house, especially near the basement stairs. Some have also described the air growing so cold they could see their breath, even in the middle of summer.3

While no one can say for sure who these spirits are, many believe the ghostly woman could be Henry Bird’s first wife, Sarah Jane, accompanied by their two young children.3 All three died of tuberculosis before Henry moved to Bracebridge. Perhaps, as Andrew Hind suggests in Muskoka’s Most Haunted 2, their sudden, tragic deaths left them unable to rest, and they followed Bird north to the home he would later build.3

The idea is both eerie and oddly touching. If the spirits truly belong to Henry’s lost family, Woodchester may represent the life they were meant to share, their love quietly echoing through the halls, long after death.

Bracebridge United Cemetery

After exploring the villa grounds, we visited the nearby Bracebridge United Cemetery, where Henry James Bird and his family are buried.

After some searching, we found the graves of Henry, his second wife Mary Matilda Bird, and several of their children, including Margaret Elizabeth and Catherine.

The cemetery was quiet and calm, yet the connection between the villa and the family’s final resting place added an eerie layer to our visit. Standing at Henry’s grave, I felt surrounded by history and maybe something more. Whether it’s the family’s hardships or the strange energy tied to their home, the Bird story seems to linger beyond the grave.

Bracebridge United Cemetery, Bracebridge ON ©2024

The Bird family’s story and their haunted home remind us how easily history and mystery can intertwine. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, there’s something about Woodchester Villa that still feels alive with the past.

For anyone interested in cemetery tourism or dark local history, this hauntingly beautiful site is well worth the visit.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. Woodchester Villa, Bracebridge | Ontario Heritage Trust
  2. Woodchester History | Bracebridge The heart of Muskoka
  3. Muskoka’s Most Haunted 2 by Andrew Hind | Book

October Cemetery Stories: Canada’s Most Haunted Cemetery

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Some cemeteries feel alive with history, and sometimes with something else entirely!

Drummond Hill Cemetery in Niagara Falls is one of those places. Known as the site of one of the fiercest battles of the War of 1812, it’s also considered Canada’s most haunted cemetery.

Long before its haunted reputation took hold, Drummond Hill was a popular tourist stop, even rivalling Niagara Falls. Visitors came for battlefield tours led by veterans eager to share their stories.1

  • The gates of Drummond Hill Cemetery
    Cemetery gates. Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls ON ©2024

Drummond Hill Cemetery

Drummond Hill was once farmland, but on July 25, 1814, it became the site of the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, one of the bloodiest conflicts of the War of 1812.2 The hill’s high ground made it strategically important, and the fighting went on for six hours before darkness and heavy losses brought it to an end.2 Both sides lost more than 800 men, and although each claimed victory, the Americans withdrew the next day, ending their advance into Upper Canada.2

Today, a large stone monument stands on the hill to honour those who fought and to mark the battlefield.3 Beneath it lies a vault containing the remains of 22 British soldiers.3

The first recorded burial at Drummond Hill is John Burch. He was originally buried on his farm in 1797 and re-interred here in 1799.3 That means this ground was already being used as a burial place well before the battle. Over time, the cemetery grew to roughly 4 acres and now contains more than 25,000 burials.4 The site is managed by the City of Niagara Falls and remains semi-active, though plots are no longer for sale.3

Among those buried here are veterans, Loyalist settlers, and many early Niagara families. One of the most visited graves belongs to Laura Secord, the woman who warned British forces of an American attack during the War of 1812.4 Another notable grave is that of Karel Soucek, the daredevil who famously survived his barrel plunge over Niagara Falls.5 You will also find markers and monuments for soldiers and local leaders from the region’s early days.3

Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls ON ©2024

Haunted

With its violent past and long history, it’s no surprise Drummond Hill has a haunted reputation. Many stories connect back to the battle, where soldiers were killed and buried on the grounds.6 Visitors and locals have reported seeing ghostly soldiers walking among the gravestones, or appearing at a distance before fading away.6

It’s said that the cemetery is haunted by two distinct groups of soldiers.1 One group is a troop of five soldiers dressed in Royal Scots uniforms, limping across the former battlefield before vanishing.1 The second group is said to consist of three British Soldiers in red coats, slowly making their way up the hill and settling into a steady march, before disappearing.1

Laura Secord’s monument, which features a lifelike bust, has also been linked to supernatural occurrences. Some visitors say that her statue seems to watch them as they walk by, as if she’s still keeping a watchful eye on things.1 These reports, combined with the age of the cemetery and its battlefield history, make Drummond Hill a place where history and the supernatural feel closely connected.1

  • View of the Skylon tower from the cemetery.
    Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls ON ©2024

When I visited Drummond Hill, I made sure to stop at Laura Secord’s grave. Standing in front of her stone was moving, knowing her bravery has become such a lasting part of Canadian history.

During my visit, I did have one unsettling experience, but it had nothing to do with the supernatural.

I came across someone under the influence, wandering through the cemetery. For the first time in all my cemetery visits, I felt unsafe. It was a harsh reminder of how deeply the opioid crisis has reached into our communities, even historic sites like this. That moment pulled me out of the past and reminded me of the struggles happening right now.

Drummond Hill Cemetery is layered with stories. It carries the weight of the War of 1812, the lives of pioneers and heroes, and the ghostly legends of soldiers who never left. It’s a place where history and mystery meet, and where the past feels close. Visiting left me reflecting not only on the history that shaped this ground, but also on the realities of the present.

Haunted or not, Drummond Hill remains one of Canada’s most fascinating and important cemeteries.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. Haunted Cemeteries: True Tales From Beyond the Grave by Edrick Thay | Book
  2. Battle of Lundy’s Lane National Historic Site of Canada | Government of Canada
  3. Drummond Hill Cemetery | City of Niagara Falls
  4. Drummond Hill Cemetery | Find a Grave
  5. Karel Soucek | Find a Grave
  6. The Most Haunted Cemetery in Canada is Drummond Hill | Ghost Walks

October Stone Stories: The Haunting of Bell Mansion

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Some places just have a presence.

You can’t help but notice them. The Bell Mansion in Sudbury, Ontario, is one of those places. It’s grand, full of history, and, if the stories are true, maybe even haunted.

Despite its spooky reputation, it’s also been a popular spot for wedding photos, with its striking architecture offering a mix of romance and a touch of haunted charm.

But while the mansion still stands for now, its future is uncertain, and its past lingers in more ways than one.

The Bell Mansion. Sudbury, ON ©2024

The Bell Family

William Joseph Bell, better known as Willie Joe, was born in Pembroke, Ontario, in 1858.1 He started in the lumber industry at just 18, working as a scaler and lumberjack in Quebec.1 By the time he moved to Northern Ontario in 1896, he had already made a name for himself.1 He quickly climbed the ranks, becoming Vice-President and General Manager of the Spanish River Lumber Company in 1901.1 His influence didn’t stop there; he also ran a hardware company and sat on the board of National Grocers Ltd.1

In 1886, he married Katherine Skead, the daughter of an Ottawa senator, and the couple eventually settled in Sudbury.1 Beyond business, they were generous community builders. Their greatest gift may be Bell Park, a beautiful green space on Ramsey Lake, which they donated in 1926.2 A gift that continues to benefit Sudbury today.

The park remains one of the city’s most beloved gathering spots, offering accessible recreation for people of all ages. Just as Bell Park connects residents with nature, the Bell Mansion connects them with the city’s past, standing as a reminder of the Bells’ influence and Sudbury’s early growth.

The Bell Mansion

Built in 1907, the Bell Mansion, also known as Belrock, is beautiful. Made from local stone in the Arts and Crafts style, the house once sat on 155 acres, stretching from Elizabeth Street down to Ramsey Lake.3,4 That land is now Bell Park, but back then it was all part of the Bell’s massive estate. The mansion itself is a 6,000-square-foot beauty, complete with a coach house, greenhouse, and a separate house for the servants.4

On December 3, 1955, disaster struck when a fire gutted the home, leaving little more than stone walls standing.5 Only one room survived—the conservatory.5 The Nickel Lodge Masons bought the property, but their rebuilding plans never came to life.5 For more than a decade, the mansion sat empty until the Centennial Committee of the Chamber of Commerce led renovations in 1966.5 Two years later, ownership was transferred to Laurentian University, which leased the space to the Art Gallery of Sudbury.5

For decades, the gallery displayed countless exhibits within the mansion’s walls. But what fascinates people just as much as the art are the ghost stories.

Over the years, people have reported eerie sounds such as rustling skirts, heels clicking across the floor, and even ghostly horses neighing outside.6 Many believe Katherine Bell still keeps watch over her home.6 Staff and security have both described phantom footsteps, loud crashes with nothing disturbed, and objects disappearing only to reappear days later.5

The most memorable stories involve a woman’s voice that can be heard eerily singing throughout the house. It’s seems to be loudest in the conservatory, the only room spared by the fire.5 Some say Katherine is still rehearsing for one last ghostly concert.5

She may not be alone. Visitors claim William Bell also makes his presence known, through heavy footsteps and sightings of a tall figure in a dark suit and top hat, quietly watching over the gallery.5

Another mystery once puzzled visitors: the sound of children laughing and playing inside the house, even though the Bells never had children of their own.5 The voices eventually faded, but the questions remain. Who were they, and what tied them to the mansion?5

In 2024, I visited to photograph the exterior. Though currently closed to the public and sadly in visible disrepair, the mansion still has an undeniable elegance, and definitely still has stories to tell.

The Bell Mansion. Sudbury, ON ©2024

Calvin United Church Cemetery

For all their ties to Sudbury, the Bells aren’t buried there.

Instead, they rest in Calvin United Church Cemetery in Pembroke, Ontario, a peaceful spot along Boundary Road East where six cemeteries line the street.

William Joseph Bell died in January 1945 at the age of 87 from complications of a leg injury, and was buried in the family plot.5 When Katherine Bell passed away in her home at age 90 in 1954, she was laid to rest beside him.7 William’s parents and three siblings are also buried in the family plot. Their large pink granite monument is simple and understated. It’s a sharp contrast to the grandeur of the mansion they left behind.

On my way back from Ottawa in 2024, I stopped in to visit their graves. Despite their prominence in Sudbury, I was surprised they weren’t buried there. With the help of reference photos, I eventually found their gravestone and was able to pay my respects.

Bell family plot. Calvin United Church Cemetery, Pembroke ON ©2024

Today, the fate of the Bell Mansion is uncertain.

In late 2024, Laurentian University announced it would list the property for sale, saying repairs were too costly.8 The Art Gallery of Sudbury, which had long occupied the mansion, has already relocated as part of Laurentian’s insolvency process.8

In response, local advocates launched a petition urging that the grounds remain open to the public and that the heritage designation be respected.9 Many argue the mansion is too important a piece of Sudbury’s history to lose.10 That is one of the reasons I felt it was important to photograph it and share its story.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s no denying that this house has a past worth remembering.

Thanks for reading!

References:

  1. The History of Bell Rock | Local Color
  2. Appreciating the legacy of Bell Park | Sudbury.com
  3. Bell Mansion provides touch of elegance | Northern Ontario Business
  4. Turning Bell Mansion into a historical teaching tool | Sudbury.com
  5. Haunted Museums & Galleries of Ontario by Andrew Hind | Book
  6. Ten haunted habitations and spooky sites in Greater Sudbury | Sudbury.com
  7. The History of The Bell Mansion | Art Gallery of Sudbury
  8. Historic Bell Mansion in Sudbury, Ont., listed for $1M | CBC
  9. Sale shouldn’t limit access to Bell Mansion grounds, petition states | Sudbury.com
  10. Bell Mansion’s heritage should be protected, local history buffs say | Sudbury.com

Hauntingly Popular: The Appeal of Cemetery Tourism

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With spooky season creeping up, you’re probably seeing more buzz about local cemetery happenings—ghost walks, guided tours, and seasonal events popping up in town newsletters and social feeds.

It’s not just about thrills!

Cemetery tourism is quietly becoming a meaningful way to explore history, art, and community all in one place.

What is Cemetery Tourism?

Cemetery tourism is the growing practice of visiting burial grounds for more than just remembrance. They are places to explore history, architecture, storytelling, and culture. As I wrote in a previous post, the pandemic reminded us that cemeteries can be quiet green spaces where people could safely wander and reflect. I think this sparked a renewed appreciation for cemeteries as more than somber places. I have always said that they are open-air museums, rich with stories and art!

Of course, there are mixed opinions. Some argue that cemetery tours and events can feel disrespectful, but many see them as a way to honour the past and keep history alive.

There are different ways to enjoy cemetery tourism—lantern-lit ghost walks, daytime history tours, and seasonal events—each offering something unique.

Ghost Walks

If you’ve never been on a ghost walk, they are guided evening tours that mix local legends, folklore, and real history. Although they usually don’t only take place in cemeteries, you can often find a cemetery or two on the walking route.

While they became especially popular in the 1990s, the idea goes all the way back to the Victorian era, when people were fascinated by spiritualism and mourning traditions. Today, ghost walks let us enjoy spooky storytelling while also learning about the past.

This fall, several Canadian cities are offering atmospheric ghost walks. In Ottawa, The Haunted Walk is running its Tales from the Mausoleum at Beechwood Cemetery, which takes visitors through the cemetery and into its grand mausoleum. In Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ghost Walks share eerie tales in one of Canada’s most haunted towns. Out west, Ghostly Walks in Victoria lead visitors through narrow streets and historic cemeteries filled with legends.

  • My fiancé and I enjoying our original Haunted Walk of Toronto. The Haunted Walk ©2023

Cemetery Tours

Unlike ghost walks, cemetery tours are usually held during the day and focus more on the history, art, and people buried there. Sometimes these walks will also feature actors who portray the people buried in the cemetery, bringing the stories to life.

You could speculate that this tradition dates back to the 19th century, when garden cemeteries like Mount Auburn in Massachusetts or Père Lachaise in Paris were popular Sunday destinations. People picnicked, strolled, and learned from the monuments. A mix of education, leisure, and remembrance.

That spirit continues today in Canada. In Hamilton, The Cemetery Chronicles series at Hamilton Cemetery offers free themed walks from May through November, led by knowledgeable volunteers. Toronto Cemetery Tours offers rich daytime walks throughout the year at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, the Toronto Necropolis, and Prospect Cemetery.

  • St. Luke’s Anglican Church Cemetery, Burlington Ghost Walk ©2018

Cemetery Events

Cemetery events can include a variety of activities, but usually combine storytelling with seasonal or cultural themes, often blending heritage and atmosphere. They’re especially popular around Halloween time, but it’s possible to find events happening year-round in more and more communities.

This year, Ruthven Park National Historic Site in Cayuga, Ontario, is holding Mansion in Mourning. This event, happening in October, recreates Victorian mourning traditions before ending with a lantern-lit cemetery walk.

  • St. John’s Cemetery, Garson, ON ©2024
    Enjoying dessert in a cemetery. St. John’s Cemetery, Garson, ON ©2024

Cemetery tourism is growing!

Not because we’re haunted by ghosts, but because we’re drawn to the rich stories and connections cemeteries offer. Whether you’re up for a ghostly evening, a curious stroll, or an interactive event, there’s something for everyone to explore.

For your next adventure, check to see what’s happening at a cemetery near you—you might be surprised at what you’ll find!

Thanks for reading!

Haunted Holiday: The Keg Mansion

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A few years ago, my fiancé and I started a new October tradition. We were engaged in October, and to celebrate we planned a cute weekend getaway at a haunted hotel. We visited a haunted pub and enjoyed the small-town charm and fall weather.

We had so much fun that we started thinking about other haunted hotels we could visit—and the tradition was born!

This year, our Haunted Holiday took us to Toronto.

We had tickets to see the iconic heavy metal band Iron Maiden at the Scotia Bank Centre at the end of October, so it made sense to make a weekend trip. I did a bit of research into haunted locations in the city and booked us a room at the Fairmount Royal York. We also made reservations for a romantic dinner at a 157-year-old historic building known today as the Keg Mansion.

  • The Keg Mansion, Toronto ON ©2024

Fairmont Royal York

The Royal York Hotel was built in 1928-1929, by the Canadian Pacific Railway as part of its coast-to-coast chain of grand hotels. The skyscraper hotel was the tallest in the British Commonwealth at that time and dramatically altered the Toronto skyline.1

Today it’s one of Toronto’s most famous landmarks.

This stately hotel has played host to many celebrities and dignitaries over the years, such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Royal family.2 With such a storied past, it’s no surprise that it might also hosts a few ghosts.

The most reported haunting is that of a gentleman who wanders the halls on the 8th floor. He is said to be wearing a purple jacket. This ghostly figure is sometimes seen accompanied by the sounds of children running up and down the halls while laughing. Those who have heard the ghostly children have peeked outside their chamber door to see an empty hallway and find silence. Some have peeked out to see the man in the purple jacket.3

My fiancé and I were eager to chat with someone about the supposed hauntings when we checked in. Unfortunately, we didn’t meet anyone who had any stories to share with us, either being recent hires or as one put it, worked only during the day when nothing spooky happens.

The hotel is immense and beautiful, so we took a bit of time to explore our surroundings while making our way up to our room on the 9th floor.

The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto ON ©2024

After dropping off our things and settling into our new home for the night, we had some free time before our dinner reservation. We had just enough time for a cemetery visit, some window shopping, and a drink or two at a pub.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery

Opened in 1876, Mount Pleasant Cemetery is considered one of Canada’s most historic cemeteries. It was designed by Henry Adolph Engelhardt and is a beautiful example of landscape design, inspired by the European and American garden cemeteries of the 19th century.4

Spanning 83 hectares in the middle of the city, the many winding paths provide picturesque views of the park-like landscape.4 Mount Pleasant features one of the finest tree collections in North America and walking and running trails that span 1 km, 3 km, and 5 km routes.5

Mount Pleasant is the final resting place of many prominent Canadians, including former Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, Nobel Prize winner Frederick Banting, founder of the Eaton’s department store Timothy Eaton, and renowned pianist Glenn Gould.6

It’s also the final resting place of many members of the prominent Massey Family. The Massey Mausoleum was built in 1891. Designed in the Romanesque style, the family crypt features a tower, a below-grade crypt, and a statue of Hope, one of the seven virtues perched on top of its roof.7 Industrialist and philanthropist Hart Massey rests within the walls of this mausoleum, as well as his wife Eliza Ann Phelps Massey, and some of their children, like Lillian Frances Massey Treble.

I was particularly interested in visiting the final resting place of Lillian, as we would be dining with her ghost later that evening.

The Massey Mausoleum is massive and was easy to spot once I was pointed in the right direction. I will admit I did need to get directions from a groundskeeper as the cemetery is quite large and easy to get lost in. Especially when you are easily distracted by gravestones, like me.

Standing in front of the immense family crypt, I was in awe of the wealth and stature of this family, which I assume is one of the reasons for building such a massive final resting place.

I peeked inside and admired the beautiful stained glass, in the small sepulchre. The shaft of light coming from the stained glass windows in the ceiling lit the inside of the tomb just enough to make out the nameplates marking the shelves within the crypt. It felt like a special privilege to be able to see inside this final resting place of such a prominent Toronto family.

After paying my respects and taking a few more photos, I made my way back to my waiting fiancé. I excitedly showed him my photos as I described everything I saw during my short walk in the cemetery.

    The Massey Mausoleum in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto ON ©2024

    After a short rest and an iced pumpkin spice latte, we continued on our walk down Yonge Street stopping in at a shop here and there. We eventually sat down at a nice little pub called The Quail, where we enjoyed a few drinks and chatted with the owner. Now that I think about it, we completely forgot to ask the owner if he had any ghost stories to share.

    But not to worry, we would get our fill of ghost stories at supper time!

    The Keg Mansion

    Our dinner reservation brought us to the Keg Mansion, a former home of the Massey family. Built in 1867, this elaborate mansion housed 26 different rooms and 17 fireplaces.8 The home was purchased in 1882 by Hart Massey, a Cleveland agricultural equipment salesman, and his wife. They would make additions to the ornate mansion by adding a turret, verandah, and a greenhouse.8

    After Hart Massey passed away in 1896, at the age of 72, the estate was taken over by his daughter Lillian Massey. She would name the Mansion Euclid Hall, and reside there until her death. After her passing, the house was entrusted to the University of Toronto, serving as the home for many different establishments over the years. In 1975, the building received heritage status, and in 1976 became the home of The Keg Steakhouse + Bar. Today, it’s known as the Keg Mansion.8

    The Keg Mansion does not shy away from its ghostly history. When we arrived for our reservations we were quietly seated on the second floor. Of course, we asked right away if our server had had any ghostly encounters to share. She didn’t have any stories of her own to tell, but she kindly offered to bring over the “ghost book”, a collection of reported hauntings by staff and restaurant patrons.

    I was happy to peruse the reported hauntings while they brought out our drinks. Some of the stories I was familiar with, like the story of Lillian Massey and her maid. Lillian passed away in the house in 1915, at the age of 61. Lillian was beloved by her staff, and her maid in particular took her death very hard. The story goes that after learning of Lillian’s death, her maid, distraught with grief brought a length of rope with her upstairs to the oval vestibule, where she fashioned a noose and hung herself.9

    The vestibule is still a feature in the Mansion today, just outside the washrooms on the second floor. People have reported seeing Lillian’s spirit as well as the spirit of her maid, in various rooms throughout the house. The washrooms, in particular the women’s washroom, are thought to be one of the most haunted areas in the Mansion. Patrons have reported feeling cold spots, and even capturing ghostly images in photographs taken in a mirror above the fireplace in that washroom.

    The stories I found most fascinating though were the sightings of the ghost of a young boy.

    Throughout our meal, my fiancé and I couldn’t help eavesdropping on the conversations happening around us. The ghostly phenomenon happening at the Mansion is well known, and we were not the only ones asking questions about ghosts.

    One server stopped by our table and told us a story about a mother and son who had come to the Mansion for supper. The little boy went to the bathroom, and on his return told his mother that there had been another little boy in the bathroom, all alone. Worried, the mother told her server who in turn told a manager. The manager went to the bathroom right away to see if the little boy needed help, but there was no one there.

    We would learn later in the evening that there had been a young Massey boy, who also died in the house, who was around 10 years old. His playful ghost is also often reported.

    Geoff, the Bar Manager stopped by our table after our meal and told us about his encounter with the child ghost. He had been walking with a tray of drinks past the front door area, where the large staircase is when he overheard a little girl telling her mother she wanted to play with the trains. The mother, confused, asked her daughter what she meant. In response, the little girl pointed to the empty staircase and said she wanted to play trains with the little boy. She was quite emphatic saying that he was playing with the trains and that she wanted to play too.

    Except there was no one on the stairs, no little boy, and no toy trains!

      The Keg Mansion, Toronto ON ©2024

      Geoff assured us that even though the ghosts were very active, no one had experienced anything malicious. My fiancé and I hoped we would have an encounter of our own, but alas we didn’t experience anything. We both made it a point to visit the washrooms, and I did take a few selfies in the bathroom mirror, but I didn’t capture anything.

      What we did have was a lovely evening of good wine, good food, and ghost stories.

      After dinner we made our way back to the hotel to freshen up, then it was off to the Scotia Bank Centre for an evening of heavy metal. Iron Maiden put on an excellent show!

      After a couple of hours of rocking out, we walked back to our hotel, stopping on the 8th floor to take a look around. It was quiet on that floor, so we returned to our own room for the night.

      Although we didn’t get to experience any hauntings ourselves, we both agreed that it was a great weekend. You can’t go wrong with romance, ghost stories, and heavy metal. It was definitely a haunted holiday for the books.

      Thanks for reading!

      References:

      1. Plaque | Ontario Heritage Foundation
      2. Plaque | Heritage Toronto
      3. Fairmont Royal York | Tumblr
      4. Mount Pleasant Cemetery National Historic Site of Canada | Government of Canada
      5. Mount Pleasant Cemetery | Mount Pleasant Group
      6. Mount Pleasant Cemetery | Find a Grave
      7. Massey Mausoleum, in Mount Pleasant Cemetery | ERA
      8. Haunted Places Series: Keg Mansion | National Property Inspections
      9. Keg Mansion in Toronto: The Legend and Ghost of Lillian’s Maid | Ghost Walks

      The Beauty and Symbolism of Cemeteries in Fall

      Posted on Posted in General, OctoberTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

      Cemeteries in the fall are my favorite.

      There is just something magical about wandering through a cemetery bathed in the warm colors of autumn. So today on the blog, I explore how the crunch of leaves underfoot and the cool breeze tousling your hair as you walk among the headstones, creates a uniquely reflective experience.

      • Old Stone Church Cemetery also known as Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Beaverton ON ©2024

      The Autumn Equinox

      The stunning yellows, oranges, and reds herald the changing of the seasons and mark the transition from verdant green to withered rotting leaves. The falling leaves remind us of the cycle of life and that everything dies.

      Autumn begins on the fall equinox, usually on September 22 or 23. The equinox happens twice a year in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring between the summer and winter solstices.1 It marks the point where the sun crosses the equator’s path and becomes positioned exactly between the Northern and Southern hemispheres.1 On the equinox, day and night are approximately the same length, but the fall equinox marks the beginning of longer nights and shorter days.1

      As we lose daylight earlier, the yellow glow during the golden hour is intensified, creating a golden light that beautifully bathes the gravestones. It’s a photographer’s dream!

      Gravestone symbolism draws heavily from Greek mythology, so it seems only fitting to share the Greek story of Persephone’s return, an anecdote used to explain why the seasons work the way they do.

      In the story, Persephone was abducted by Hades and forced to live in the Underworld. Demeter, Persephone’s mother, searched far and wide for her daughter. Demeter threatened to make the earth a barren place until her daughter was returned to her.2

      A deal was struck: because Persephone had eaten four pomegranate seeds while in the Underworld, she would return to Hades and live with him for four months out of the year.2

      So when Persephone traveled to the Underworld to fulfill her four-month stay, Demeter’s sadness at being separated from her daughter was expressed by the barrenness of autumn and the winter cold.2

      • Knox United Church Cemetery, Sutton ON ©2024

      Thinning of the Veil

      The month of October can be considered the peak of autumn, with the fall colors reaching their most vibrant, usually during the first couple of weeks. The beginning of October is also considered by many to be the start of the spooky season, which culminates on October 31st, Halloween.

      Halloween night is said to be when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinest. This is thought to mean that it is the one night when spirits can cross over the easiest to communicate with loved ones.

      The idea of a veil between life and death can sometimes be found in cemetery art.

      A draped urn, for instance, is a popular Victorian-era motif, borrowed from Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greeks commonly cremated their dead, and the symbol of a ceremonial urn was adapted to represent the idea of the body being reduced to its barest elements while the soul ascends to heaven. Often draped in a cloth, this drapery is thought to symbolize the veil between the living and the dead.3

      • Draped urn. Riverside Cemetery also known as Union Cemetery, Beaverton ON ©2024

      Another symbol that symbolizes this concept is the gates ajar. This grave symbol was popularized by author Elizabeth Stuart Phelps in her 1868 book The Gates Ajar. The story follows a woman coming to terms with the death of her brother, who died in the Civil War. This symbol features an open gate, symbolizing that the gates to Heaven are not closed, and that departed souls can pass back and forth.3

      • The gates ajar. Williamsport Cemetery also known as United Brethren in Christ Cemetery, Williamsport ON ©2022

      Halloween Traditions

      As you might expect Halloween is celebrated all over the world. It is one of the oldest holidays after all. There are many ways to celebrate, the most obvious being donning a scary costume and going door-to-door for tricks or treats. But there are other Halloween traditions, older traditions that are practiced in all parts of the world.

      It’s not surprising that some of them involve cemeteries!

      In France, All Saints Day and All Souls Day are celebrated by children going house to house collecting flowers that they use to decorate graveyards and churches.4

      To celebrate Dia De Los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, in Mexico families will have picnics in graveyards at the graveside of their loved ones, to remember and celebrate their life.4

      In Portugal, wine and chestnuts are brought to feast on, in the cemetery.4

      And in Rome, they celebrate Feralia, which is similar to the Day of the Dead in many ways. Families visit loved ones in the cemetery and also bring offerings for the spirits of their loved ones who linger at their graveside.4

      • St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Lively ON ©2008

      The symbolism of gravestones, like the draped urn and gates ajar, echoes the stories of Persephone and the thinning veil between the living and the dead. As Halloween approaches, traditions around the world invite us to remember and celebrate our loved ones in these revered spaces.

      So, this fall, take some time to wander through a cemetery, and let the beauty and tranquility inspire some reflection on the spirit of Halloween—the connections we hold with those who have passed, the stories they leave behind, and the traditions that keep their memory alive.

      Thanks for reading!

      References:

      1. The Equinox and Solstice | Met Office
      2. Persephone and the Seasons | Hellenic Museum
      3. Understanding Cemetery Symbols: A Field Guide for Historic Graveyards by Tui Snider | Book
      4. Halloween Traditions: How the World Celebrates Halloween | Medium

      October Stone Stories: The Witch of Plum Hollow

      Posted on Posted in October, Stone StoriesTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 7 Comments

      Did you know that not all Witches are found in Salem?

      Folktales and legends of witches can be found worldwide, even in small towns in Ontario. This truth led me down a few rabbit holes that uncovered some fascinating stories about a darker side of Canada’s history—a history of stigma, politics, and strong women.

      One such strong woman was Jane Elizabeth Martin Barnes, also known as Mother Barnes. This summer, I was fortunate to visit her homestead and pay my respects at her final resting place.

      Elizabeth Barnes

      Every good witch legend exists in mystery, and the Witch of Plum Hollow is no different. Some details of her story are uncertain, like the date of her birth. Some sources note her date of birth as 1794, as engraved on her tombstone, while others note November 15, 1800.

      What we do know, is that she was born in Cork, Ireland. Her father was an Irish landowner, and her mother was of Spanish Gypsy descent.1 Facing an arranged marriage, Elizabeth and her lover, a military man, left for North America where they would elope.1

      The young couple would have one child together before misfortune struck. Elizabeth’s husband passed away tragically, leaving the young mother alone to raise their child.1 Four years later, she would marry David Barnes, a shoemaker. Together they had nine children, six sons and three daughters.1

      In 1843, the Barnes family moved to Sheldon’s Corners, near Athens, Ontario.1 They raised seven of their children in the small wood cabin, that today is known as the Mother Barnes Homestead. Eventually, Elizabeth’s husband grew tired of farm life and left, taking their youngest son with him.1 Elizabeth was left with a house full of children to mind on her own.

      To support her family, Elizabeth turned to fortune-telling.

      She credited her Spanish Gypsy ancestry and the fact that she was the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter as the source of her second sight.2 She charged 25 cents for a reading and soon became well known for her accuracy.2

      At this time, she began to be known as the Witch of Plum Hollow, respected by some and feared by others.1 People visited from everywhere for a reading from Mother Barnes. She became increasingly involved with local lost & found cases, finding lost items and missing livestock.2 She was also instrumental in a disappearance case, directing the searchers straight to the missing body.2

      Her most famous visitor was a Kingston lawyer with political aspirations. Mother Barnes foretold that this man would become the leader of a new country and that its capital would be in Bytown.2

      Today, Bytown is known as Ottawa and is the capital of Canada. That lawyer was John A. Macdonald, who became the first Prime Minister of Canada in 1867.2

      Mother Barnes Homestead

      The small log cabin that had so many visitors in the past sat for a time in utter disrepair. Over time, the wood rotted, and the roof sagged, the derelict state made worse by vandals’ damage.

      The property, which includes; two acres, the original cabin, an abandoned well, and a deteriorating barn, was eventually purchased by descendants of Mother Barnes in the 1980s. They worked hard to try and bring the little cabin back to life.3

      • Newspaper clipping, The Ottawa Citizen, Thursday, October 28, 1982, page 23

      Today the log cabin has been restored by new owners. A green sign with large gold script declares the site as the “Mother Barnes Homestead”. Beside the sign sits a large boulder with an indent suggesting there was once something attached to it. This once commemorative boulder had a sign that read “Home of Mother Barnes”. The sign was removed to preserve it from further damage, as it had been used as target practice.1

      The property is now well maintained and sits behind a wooden fence, that is dotted with no trespassing signs.

      The day I visited the Mother Barnes Homestead I was hoping there would be someone on the property to talk to, and maybe get a tour of this historic house. Unfortunately, the property was deserted. The no-trespassing signs were enough of a deterrent to keep me from trying to sneak a peek inside the windows.

      I would have loved to be able to explore the attic, where Elizabeth was known to perform her tea readings. I hope one day the property will be opened as a historic house and museum.

      Mother Barnes Homestead

      Mother Barnes Homestead, Athens ON ©2024

      Sheldon Cemetery

      Jane Elizabeth Martin Barnes died on February 4th, 1891 at the age of 90 after falling ill with pneumonia.5 She is laid to rest in Sheldon Cemetery, not far from her homestead.

      Originally her grave was unmarked, that is until local Cheesemakers Claude and Ella Flood decided to erect a monument in her memory. Curiously, the dates on the stone are incorrect, listing her year of death as 1886.5

      The stone itself was not placed on her actual gravesite either, I would learn. The stone sits beneath the cemetery sign arch near the cemetery entrance. When I visited, the arch was completely overgrown and obscured with vines. The gravestone reads: “Burial Place / of / Mother Barnes / 1794—1886”

      Sheldon Cemetery, Sheldon’s Corners ON ©2024

      While visiting another cemetery in the area, I met two women who pointed out some interesting graves for me to photograph. After showing me the graves, they asked if I had been to visit the Witch of Plum Hollow. I said yes, to which they replied that she wasn’t buried beneath the stone.

      The unmarked grave of Mother Barnes lies at the back of the cemetery on the left-hand side.

      The woman also shared that there is a pipe sticking out of the ground in that area, very close to the grave. They continued to tell me a story about the pipe, and how it was plugged for a very long time, to keep the witch’s spirit in. But, sometime in the 1980s, the pipe was unplugged and the spirit of the Witch was released. I was surprised to hear a negative tone in the woman’s voice as she told the story, and how she thought the pipe should have remained plugged.

      • Sheldon Cemetery, Sheldon’s Corners ON ©2024

      It was interesting to see that the stigma behind the term witch was still alive, well over 100 years later.

      But was Elizabeth Barnes really a witch?

      By all accounts she was just a single mother, using kind advice and honest predictions to provide for her family. Predictions that very often came true.

      Thanks for reading!

      References:

      1. Elizabeth Barnes: The Witch of Plum Hollow | Pinecone
      2. Meet Mother Barnes, the “Witch” of Plum Hollow, Ontario | NCPR
      3. Plum Hollow Witch still casts spell |The Ottawa Citizen, Thursday, October 28, 1982, page 23
      4. The Plum Hollow Witch | Ottawa Rewind
      5. The Witch of Plum Hollow | Arlene Stafford Wilson

      October Cemetery Stories: Torrance Cemetery

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      I love a good spooky story, especially in October. So for today’s blog post, I want to share another October cemetery story—this time coming from the Muskokas.

      Earlier this year I planned a cemetery road trip that would take me around Lake Muskoka; visiting Bala, Torrance, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, and Port Carling. I had quite a few cemetery stops planned as well as some other picturesque stops. At that same time, Canadian author Andrew Hind was coming out with a new book called Muskoka’s Most Haunted 2.

      Hind is a freelance writer specializing in history, travel, lifestyle, and the paranormal. He has written quite a few books about hauntings in Ontario. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I read the book and discovered it has a chapter on Torrance Cemetery!

      • Whiting Family mausoleum. Torrance Cemetery, Torrance ON ©2024

      Torrance Cemetery

      The small hamlet of Torrance was settled in 1870 by three families; Torrance, Coulter, and Jestin, all originally from Eramosa, Ontario.1 They had traveled to the area to explore a free land grant offered by the Government of Canada.1 The community was named after William Torrance, who was the first postmaster.1 The Torrance Union Cemetery, also known as Whiting Family and Church Cemetery, is located on the site of the first school that was erected in the township, in 1875.2

      Today, the Township of Muskoka Lakes operates and maintains Torrance Cemetery, along with 11 other cemeteries in cottage country.3 They state that they offer a “peaceful” resting place for loved ones of all faiths, but Torrance Cemetery has a long history of being anything but peaceful.3

      • Torrance Cemetery, Torrance ON ©2024

      Haunted Family Mausoleum

      The lone, stone mausoleum belongs to the Whiting family. Their story is one fraught with tragedy. William O’Dell Darling Pine Whiting was born in 1857, in England.4 Whiting came to Canada in the late 1870s and briefly served in the Riel Rebellion as a member of the Northwest Grenadiers militia regiment in 1885, which is when he fell in love with the Muskokas.4,5

      In 1892, he would return to the area, this time with his wife Clara Margaret Cronkite and their young family.5 Whiting purchased a large piece of waterfront property on Lake Muskoka, with dreams of building the finest resort in Ontario.5 He would call it Brighton Beach Hotel, reminiscent of a similar hotel back in Brighton Beach, England.4 Unfortunately, Whiting’s dream would never bear fruit. Only a week after the official opening, in July 1895, the grand hotel burned to the ground. Luckily, no one was injured.5

      In 1898, Whiting revived his dream, this time on a smaller scale.5 The second incarnation of the hotel, Brighton Beach II4, had more success. It welcomed vacationers for two decades, before tragedy struck a second time in 1917.4,5 Sadly, this fire had one casualty. It claimed the life of Whiting’s infant granddaughter.5

      Whiting never rebuilt, and never recovered after the loss of his granddaughter.5 Whiting passed away in 1937, and was laid to rest in the Whiting Family mausoleum in Torrance Cemetery. His wife Clara is also laid to rest within the stone crypt, alongside two of their children—and it seems their spirits are not at rest.5

      Whitting Family mausoleum. Torrance Cemetery, Torrance ON ©2024
      Plaque on Whitting Family mausoleum in Torrance Cemetery
      Whitting Family mausoleum in Torrance Cemetery
      Whitting Family mausoleum in Torrance Cemetery
      Whitting Family mausoleum in Torrance Cemetery

      Whiting Family mausoleum. Torrance Cemetery, Torrance ON ©2024

      There have been many reports over the years of paranormal activity taking place in and around the crypt. Ghost lights have been reportedly spotted, as well as full-bodied apparitions and disembodied voices.5 Are the spirits restless or were they awakened by something more sinister?

      There is a particularly terrifying story of vandalism and desecration of the family vault. The crypt was broken into, and a coffin smashed open.5 The dead did not rest in peace that night.

      The haunted reputation of the cemetery has garnered some attention as various ghost hunters and paranormal investigators have visited the cemetery. All trying to capture proof of ghostly phenomenon.

      • Whiting Family mausoleum. Torrance Cemetery, Torrance ON ©2024

      My mother and I visited Torrance Cemetery in early April. The spring thaw left the ground littered with brown leaves, giving off heavy fall vibes. The trees were also bare, their new growth still dormant. It was a perfect, faux-fall day to be wandering a haunted cemetery.

      I had read the book before our visit, so visions of ghosts were swimming in my head as we wandered the cemetery. It was interesting to stand before the family mausoleum and think about the vandalism, the desecration, and the sightings.

      I examined the gated door, peering into the dark screened windows. But, I didn’t see anything, nor did I hear anything. My mother on the other hand had her own experience.

      As we normally do when visiting cemeteries, we each go our separate ways, drawn to different things. She told me afterward, that while she wandered the cemetery rows she suddenly felt cold. Not from a cool breeze, but like she had been suddenly “dipped in cold water” from her head to her toes. The sensation didn’t last long, and she didn’t think anything more of it. That is until she read the stories.

      My mother read the book after our visit, with the experience of visiting the mausoleum still fresh in her mind. She reacted quite differently than I did when I read the stories of Torrance Cemetery. It terrified her! She was briefly paralyzed with fear, while cozied up on the couch to read.

      Then she remembered the pinecones!

      My mother had picked up two rather large pine cones while we were in the cemetery. She thought that they would each make a nice natural bird feeder if smeared with peanut butter and coated with seeds. She suddenly became fearful that she had brought a piece of the cemetery home, maybe even bringing a spirit home with her.

      Thankfully, nothing strange has happened since bringing the pinecones home. And they are still hanging in the tree in the backyard, months later.

      • A pinecone from Torrance Cemetery. ©2024

      Do you believe in ghosts? Could the Torrance Cemetery be haunted?

      To read more about Torrance Cemetery, and other haunted locations in the Muskokas, I highly recommend the Muskoka’s Most Haunted series by Andrew Hind.

      Thanks for reading!

      References:

      1. Torrance | Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce
      2. Torrance Union Cemetery | Muskoka, Parry Sound Genealogy Group
      3. Cemeteries | Township of Muskoka Lakes
      4. The History of the Old Stone Crypt | Muskoka Blog
      5. Muskoka’s Most Haunted 2 by Andrew Hind | Book

      October Stone Stories: The Father of Zombies

      Posted on Posted in October, Stone StoriesTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

      “They’re coming to get you, Barbra”

      This is one of my favorite movie quotes, and it comes from the 1968, black-and-white independent horror classic, Night of the Living Dead. I even have a small piece of the Evans City Chapel framed on my wall. The chapel sits in Evans City Cemetery, which is where the opening scene of the film was shot.

      This horror classic was written and directed by George Romero, the father of zombie films. This summer, I had the chance to visit the final resting place of this iconic director.

      Photo credit: Nicolas Genin, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ via Wikimedia Commons

      George A. Romero

      George Andrew Romero was born in New York City on February 4, 1940, and grew up in the Bronx. His interest in film began at an early age and he would go on to enroll at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh.1

      After graduating in 1960, Romero began shooting short films and TV commercials, including an early short for the popular children’s show Mister Rogers Neighborhood.1

      Romero’s break-out film Night of the Living Dead was revolutionary for the horror genre, and today is a staple of any horror film addict’s collection. This film completely reinvented the image of one of today’s most popular movie monsters.

      Romero created the rules for a new kind of zombie. Now portrayed as reanimated corpses who hunger for living flesh. They are slow and shambling, with only one purpose. Silent, aside from their eerie moaning as they get closer to their prey. There is only one way to stop them—a violent strike to the head.

      The film’s explicit violence and gore garnered negative reviews at its release, but today the film has amassed a cult following. In 1999, the film was deemed culturally and historically significant by the Library of Congress and has been preserved by the National Film Registry.2 In part for its social commentary during the 1960’s.

      Romero would go on to write and direct other films, even directing a romantic comedy, but he always gravitated back toward the undead. He would go on to create a whole series of films set in the Dead universe; Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, and Survival of the Dead—his last film.

      After falling in love with the city, Romero moved to Toronto, Ontario in 2004. He would shoot a lot of his later films in the city. In 2009, he acquired his Canadian citizenship, becoming a dual Canadian-American citizen.

      In 2017, George Romero died in his Toronto home of lung cancer. He was 77.3 Romero is laid to rest in Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium.

      • George A. Romero, Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium, Toronto ON ©2024

      Toronto Necropolis Cemetery

      The Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium is one of the city’s oldest and most historic cemeteries, dating back to 1850.4 The fully restored cemetery entrance features high Victorian Gothic architecture which also makes it one of the most scenic cemeteries in the area.4

      I was enthralled the minute we stepped out of the Uber. The grand cemetery entrance sets the tone for the beautifully forested cemetery within. It was my first time visiting this enchanting cemetery. Being unfamiliar with its layout, I used Google Maps to lead us. Of course, I was easily distracted by the elaborate and historic gravestones we passed along our route.

      As we approached a densely forested section, we heard the screeching of a hawk. It sounded close and didn’t seem to like us encroaching on its territory. Luckily the grave we were searching for was a bit farther back in the cemetery. My fiancé stuck to the meandering paths that snaked around the grounds while I ventured into the rows to read the graves.

      Although not quite accurate, Google Maps led me to the general area we were searching for. Surrounded by tablet stones and obelisks, sits the mirror-like black granite stone of George A. Romero.

      The epitaph reads, “George A. Romero / 1940 – 2017 / He Loved, / And Was Loved.”

      On the footstone is inscribed a quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “Now cracks a noble heart. / Good-night sweet prince; And / flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

      Although the cemetery was quiet that day, we could tell that many had come before us to pay their respects. Someone had planted two skeleton hands at the base of the grave, reaching up towards the inscription. Another skeleton hand, giving a thumbs up was also planted near the gravestone. Someone also left a little miniature zombie figure. The gravesite looked decorated for Halloween, even though we visited at the end of July!

      George A. Romero, Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium, Toronto ON ©2024

      Years ago, while collaborating with a community group dedicated to screening cult classics for charity, I envisioned hosting an event that would bring Romero to my small Northern Ontario town for a screening of one of his legendary films. Unfortunately, that dream never came true.

      Although I never had the chance to meet him in person, to thank him for all the scares, visiting his grave and paying my respects was a profound and memorable experience for me.

      Thanks for reading!

      References:

      1. George A. Romero | Find a Grave
      2. Preserving the Silver Screen | Library of Congress
      3. Fans say final goodbye to ‘Godfather of zombies’ George Romero at visitation | CBC
      4. Toronto Necropolis Cemetery and Crematorium | Find a Grave

      October Cemetery Stories: A Haunted Tower and a Pioneer Cemetery

      Posted on Posted in Cemetery Stories, OctoberTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

      During the summer, I wrote about a surprise road trip I took with my mother in Cambridge. This curated road trip, created by Guess Where Trips took us to exciting and spooky places. I shared a little about our Historic Haunts tour, but I wanted to keep some of the details a surprise at the time, so I could share this ghost story and pioneer cemetery visit with you now, in October.

      So today on the blog, I want to share a little bit more about my visit to the haunted Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower and Doon Pioneer Cemetery and explore its rich history.

      • Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower, Kitchener ON ©2024

      Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower

      While looking for places to go for a walk, the day before our Historic Haunts tour, I found a hidden gem that had everything we were looking for—a walking trail, a historic site, and a cemetery. Little did we know when we visited that it was also haunted!

      The Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower stands 18.9 meters tall, and peaks out above the surrounding trees. We could see its Swiss-style copper roof and the cute Conestoga wagon weather vane that sits atop it, as I parked my car in the nearby parking lot.1

      The Tower built in 1926, was created to commemorate the arrival of the Pennsylvania-German pioneers who immigrated to the area between 1800 and 1803.1 Fieldstones that line the outside wall of the tower represent the tireless work they did to plow and clear the land for farms and homesteads.

      Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower, Kitchener ON ©2024

      At one time, it was possible to go inside the tower and climb its spiral staircase to the eight-sided observation deck. The view is amazing, as Bob Oberholtzer noted in a 2015 article for the Waterloo Region Record. Citing it as one of the most “historic views”, it’s possible to overlook the first four Mennonite farms that were settled in the area.2 Oberholtzer also talked about how they used to scare the girls who climbed the tower, not with ghost stories, but with childhood antics like shaking the stairs as the girls climbed up.2

      Although the tower has barely needed any repairs to keep it standing over the years, the tower has been closed to the public since 2008.2 BUT, it is possible to tour inside, by special request.2 A sign on site has a phone number that can be called to book a visit to the top of the tower. I wish I would have known this when we visited. We made do by peering through the gated doors to glimpse the cobwebs and spiral staircase inside.

      What we also didn’t know at the time of our visit, was the haunted history of the place. The story goes that a woman jumped to her death from the top of the tower. She was distraught and suffering from grief of the loss of her husband, who went off to war—but never returned.3

      They say her restless spirit can sometimes be seen at the top of the tower, waiting for her lost love to return.3

      Doon Pioneer Cemetery

      The 98-year-old Pioneer tower sits within a small grassy field, right beside the Doon Pioneer Cemetery. This is the final resting place of the Schoerg and Betzner families and overlooks the Grand River.

      Also known as the Schoerg/Betzner cemetery, this small burial ground is where the first settlers are laid to rest, who arrived in Waterloo Township in the spring of 1800. The small cemetery is filled with old gravestones and field stones, marking their final resting place.

      Some of the gravestones are very worn, so I took the opportunity to try out a trick I saw in one of the cemetery groups I am a part of. By using a mirror to reflect sunlight, or by holding a flashlight at an oblique angle you can create enough contrast to make gravestones legible again.

      I had a small flashlight on me, one with a small beam so it worked well on the smaller stones. I asked my mom to hold the flashlight for me, as I lined up my shot by looking through the small viewfinder on my DLSR. The deep shadows help some of the long-forgotten words to be legible again. The flashlight trick didn’t work as well on larger stones, because the beam from the flashlight is too narrow to illuminate enough of the stone. I would need a much larger beam for that. This trick of the light is a great way to reveal gravestone inscriptions while doing no harm.

      Doon Pion

      Doon Pioneer Cemetery also known as Schoerg/Betzner Family Cemetery, Kitchener ON ©2024

      My mother and I both enjoyed visiting the memorial tower and the small burial ground beside it. We took our time taking in the beautiful craftsmanship and design of the tower and its history. At the time, we had no thoughts of ghostly apparitions in our minds. We didn’t experience anything supernatural. We just admired the Fieldstone Tower and all the toil and hard work it represented for those early pioneers.

      After exploring the cemetery and paying our respects to the early settlers of the area, we made our way to the Walter Bean Grand River Trail. The flat gravel path meanders through the Pioneer Tower Natural Area taking you along the Grand River. The trail is dotted with educational panels, and the path eventually brings you to the Pioneer Tower Bridge.

      On the opposite side of the bridge lies the Doon Valley Golf Course. On our walk, we didn’t cross but stopped at the bridge to take in the views. We sat for a time at a little garden roundabout, just before the bridge, admiring the flowers and wildlife. We were lucky to see a wild rabbit scurry across the trail.

      The Memorial Tower was always in view during our walk, peeking out above the treeline like a sentinel keeping watch. A strong reminder of those who came before us. The whole area is beautiful, even more so now I imagine with the fall colors starting to emerge.

      So if you are looking for a nice place to take in nature and enjoy some dark history, I think the Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower and adjacent Doon Pioneer cemetery would be a great place for a fall outing. Who knows, you might even see a ghost.

      Thanks for reading!

      References:

      1. Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower | Parks Canada
      2. Descendant of Waterloo pioneers wants memorial tower open again | Waterloo Region Record
      3. Historic Haunts Tour | Guess Where Trips