Local History:
Local Ghosts
Encyclopaedia Britannica: a ghost is a soul or spectre of a dead person, usually believed to inhabit the nether world and to be capable of returning in some form to the world of the living.
Brant Inn. A woman at a meeting in the Joseph Brant Museum fell into a trance and when she awoke she told of her conversation with Elisa, a prostitute from the old Brant Inn who plied her trade on the upper floor of the old building. She is described as friendly, heavyset and unattractive, wearing a white Victorian dress. Since the Brant Inn no longer exists, it appears she had relocated to the Joseph Brant Museum coming out of one of the display cases. Locals report lights flashing when no one is in the area and tell of a grey apparition that has been seen in the arched windows on the 2nd floor.
Battlefield House. Mary Gage is suspected to walk the house moving things around and a visiting psychic reported much spirit activity in the area of the battlefield outside the house. Maybe some of the soldiers killed in the battle of Stoney Creek in 1813 are still wandering the area.
Albion Mills. In the early 19th century Joseph Rousseau and Jane Riley fell in love. His mother opposed the match and Joseph abided by his mother's wishes and left Jane. Jane then threw herself off the 100 foot cliff near the falls which is now sometimes referred to as Lovers Leap. Some nights you can hear soft crying. Mrs. Rousseau said "Let the blame rest on my shoulders". Years later, apparently in good health she suddenly shrieked "Jane's hand is on my shoulder" and dropped dead.
Ancaster Old Mill. The men making the road above the mill kept a boy employed trotting to and fro between them and the distillery with a gallon pail in each hand. It is rumoured that twice a year strange sounds have been heard round the rocky curve of the Devil's Elbow at the full of the moon. Those road makers of old are forced to return and put in ghostly statute labour, replacing all the stones and uncovering all the ruts supplied by a fiery eyed spook boy with phantom whiskey from a phantom pail.
Woodend. In 1891 Ancestor treasurer John Heslop (aged 79) was awakened by his wife when she heard burglars. He grabbed a lamp and a chair and headed towards the front door. A shotgun blast rang out and Heslop lay dead on the landing. No one was ever convicted of the crime. Reportedly Heslop's spirit still roams around the house which is now the headquarters of the Hamilton Region Conservation Authority. People have reported movements in the attic, a dragging noise and footsteps moving through the house. It is even rumoured that his blood still stains the stair landing underneath the rug because his murder is still unavenged.
Glendale Golf and Country Club is apparently haunted by the spirit of Colin the bartender at the club for 25 years before his death. Footsteps are heard and glasses are moved around.
Burkholder Cemetery. there are tales of a queer light that used to run along the ridge of the old church roof before a death. Sometimes it would float away, until it rested over the house that contained the doomed occupant. They also had one instance of grave robbing by a local pioneer doctor who needed a skeleton. He was found out by a servant girl who told of suspicious pieces of flesh being boiled in the huge wash-boiler in the doctor's home. At a subsequent tea meeting in the house that self same boiler was used to make tea.
Haunted House near the corner of Cannon and Mary. Even when still in pretty good shape it was usually vacant because of the stories surrounding it. Children coming from school would always run past it and never passed it after dark.
Haunted house on the corner of John and Augusta was a mouldy looking roughcast house. It was supposed to be the home of the Headless Coach. Promptly, as the town clocks were striking the hour of midnight, a coach, drawn by no horses, started out, guided by some ghostly hand and made a run down Hunter Street. Nobody knew where it ended up but it was ready to repeat the performance the next night at the same hour.
Dundurn Castle. many ghostly possibilities. 11 men hung for treason right across the street in 1813. cholera victims transported to the plague sheds across the street where they died a lonely death in a new and strange land Sir Allan and his family. outside the room where his second wife Mary wasted away from consumption it is said there is always a cold chill and a mysterious breeze that blows out the candles. there are mysterious drafts, objects moving around and on some occasions visitors and others have heard mysterious music and singing. Since this location has been continuously occupied since prehistoric times there may be spirits of all sorts wandering the halls of Dundurn at night.
Woman in black. probably the most famous ghost in Hamilton lives at the Custom House on Stuart Street. rumours are that she was a woman who arrived on one of the immigrant ships and died in port, subsequently being buried on the grounds of the Custom House. She is usually seen in one specific area of the basement near the vault and her appearance is usually accompanied by a bone numbing coldness and anxiety. One legend says that she is waiting for her sailor lover to come for her.
How to get rid of ghosts. "the only way to get rid of them was to stand a bottle of whiskey and a glass in front of the bed. They would then take a drink and depart without touching the bed clothes. This is about the best remedy I have ever heard of to banish ghosts, and if any ever bother me I think I shall take this means of disposing of them."
