HALDIMAND—With the arrival of October, the days are getting shorter and there is a slight chill in the air.
As Halloween approaches, the night sky seems darker, tree branches sway, and fallen leaves swirl in the wind. What better way to embrace the spirit of the season than embarking on a Ghost Tour?
Three Haldimand sites are offering tours this month, allowing adventurous participants the chance to experience eerie explorations and learn some local history as well.
Creepy Caledonia Ghost Tours
The Creepy Caledonia Ghost Tours started in 2007 as a fundraiser for the Caledonia Old Mill Corporation, which owned the Mill property at the time. The tour was created by Ian Thompson, who says, “It was at a time when I was soaking up as much local history as possible through conversations with Barbara Martindale, Doug Scott, Mary Nelles, and Fred Thompson, among others.”
Thompson explains that in 2009 the tours moved under the umbrella of the Caledonia Agricultural Society, which continues to run them as a fundraiser. The hour and a half walking tour starts at the Caledonia Fairgrounds main gate and includes 14 stops that highlight the history of the area from the 1820s to the present.
Stops include Edinburgh Square, an old cemetery, the Caledonia Bridge, and Haldimand House. The stories shared are “rooted in folklore and have connections to Caledonia’s history.” Participants hear about a deadly exchange at a former hotel and Aunt Gladys’ 60th birthday celebration in the Opera House.
Led by lantern-light, the tour is an interesting way to enjoy a walk around town and learn about its past. Participants get a glimpse into the lives of early Caledonia residents and can imagine how the town used to look. Thompson says, “People of all ages are sure to enjoy learning about Caledonia’s haunted history!”
Tickets are available online for October 21 and 28. Tours run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $8 plus HST. For more information/to order tickets, visit caledoniafair.ca.
Cottonwood Mansion Ghost Walks
Cottonwood Mansion Museum Manager Iona Whatford shares, “Our Ghost Walk events began after Spirit Hunters Ontario (SHO) conducted several private investigations onsite, and it intrigued the public so much that I knew we had to begin running events to let our guests experience the supernatural elements that are on site.”
The one-hour Ghost Walks include a tour of the mansion and information on the family members that lived at Cottonwood.
The guided tour is complete with ghost-hunting equipment and expert guides from SHO.
Visitors learn about the history of the mansion and hear stories of some of the ghostly encounters that volunteers have experienced over the years. SHO helps guests use the ghost hunting equipment and leads them through Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) sessions.
Whatford says, “We have had encounters on every single walk and investigation…. We tend to notice that daytime or earlier investigations seem to be more active than the later ones interestingly enough.”
After the success of last year’s walks, Public Paranormal Investigations (longer, more in-depth walks) continue to run “for those who really want to connect with spirits on site.”
The next Ghost Walk at Cottonwood is October 21 and tickets are $35. For more information/to register, visit cottonwoodmansionmuseum.com.
Ruthven Park National Historic Site: The Mansion in Mourning
Ruthven Park is known for its immersive experiences and Brittany Van Dalen says, “The Mansion in Mourning: Victorian Funeral Tales and Haunted Cemetery Tour … explores the mourning and funeral practices of the 19th century and the Victorian views on death.”
Guests are guided through the “Mansion in Mourning”, in which the main level of the mansion has been transformed into a Victorian funeral. They will then be led by lantern to either the Thompson family cemetery or the Indiana cemetery and “hear a haunted tale or two.”
Van Dalen says, “The tour connects visitors with the authentic truth of 19th century life and the unexplainable experiences and ghostly encounters rumoured to have happened on site.”
Tours conclude with refreshments in the historic Coach House.
The Mansion in Mourning tours began on October 10 and run on Tuesday and Friday evenings until October 27. Tuesday evenings feature the Thompson Family Cemetery and Friday evenings feature the Indiana Cemetery (note: cemetery walk involves uneven ground and is approximately five-minute walk from the mansion).
The Mansion in Mourning tours are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $20 per person. To order tickets, visit ruthvenpark.ca/tickets. For questions and inquiries please contact info@ruthvenpark.ca.
