Haunted Ontario 3. Terry Boyle

a spirit visited him. She appeared by his bedside. He was unable to make out her features, but she leaned over and whispered in his ear. He could not make out what she was saying; then she looked at him again and vanished. He wondered who she was, why she came, and what she had said.

      He believed it was his mother. Now here’s the twist! He had been adopted as a baby and never met his real mother. He believed his mother had been unable to find him while she was still alive, but had continued the search for him in death — and had found him.

      On his next birthday, he wondered if this female spirit would return. In the middle of the night she reappeared. Again, she attempted to whisper something in his ear. This time, she moved to the end of the bed and gazed at him. He knew it was her. He called out to her, “Mother!” and she shattered like broken glass and vanished!

      The experience left him feeling loved. It was the closure he needed in his life. Although she never returned, he knew it had been her.

      Some people ask about poltergeists.

      Chambers stated, “Poltergeist-related phenomena can involve objects seeming to move with no cause, including heavy items such as furniture, as well as smaller items; bangs, knocking and rapping noises; thrown objects, which sometimes follow an unusual trajectory, or seem to be aimed at a specific person; rains of small objects such as stones or coins, sometimes falling inside a house; foul smells; spontaneous fires, sometimes breaking out on walls or ceilings; electrical disturbances, including the switching on and off of lights and appliances; the levitation of either objects or people; and the manifestation of liquids such as blood, water, or oil.”

      A few years ago, a group of actors were on stage rehearsing a play in the Gravenhurst Opera House. One of the actors suddenly felt something dripping onto their shoulder. Almost immediately, they were soaked and a small puddle had formed on the stage floor. It was blood! Rehearsal stopped. A ladder was used to climb up into the ceiling area of the stage, to see if there was a wounded animal up there. They found no trace of blood or any animal in the ceiling. It was an unnerving event.

      I have discovered over the years that numerous theories abound when it comes to explaining the existence of ghosts, spirits, or any form of paranormal activity. I do not suggest that I have found the answers, but I continue to explore this fascinating world of the paranormal. I truly love listening to people’s stories and visiting the sites where the activity is occurring or has occurred. In each event or story, I approach the subject matter objectively. Haunted Ontario 3 has been a joy to explore, investigate, and write. I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

      Terry Boyle

      Burk’s Falls, Ontario, 2013

      Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto

      We do many things to preserve and present history. There are libraries, museums, heritage homes, and open-air living history sites, to name a few. A living history site consists of a collection of buildings that represent life as it was in a particular era and location. Historical interpreters, often dressed in costumes reflecting the styles of the period, bring energy and a sense of community to these places.

      Imagine the energy imprint that is created from a collection of buildings brought together from a moderately large area representing skills, customs, and lifestyles. Now imagine the potential attachment to buildings and businesses that were considered good examples of their purpose and time. Attachment could infer “haunting.”

      These buildings may or may not have had any historical connection to one another; so that would mean that ghosts unfamiliar with each other, but brought together, could create an interesting atmosphere.

      Next ask yourself what happens when you fill these buildings with interpreters, who are dressed for, and acting out the details of, the past.

      Well I suggest you may have confused and, perhaps, angry or indignant ghosts. Let’s check out such a village — Black Creek Pioneer Village — and see what’s what.

      The Stong Homestead

      ~ Black Creek Pioneer Village ~

      Put salt on the doorstep of a new house so that no evil can enter

      The Stong Homestead may appear uninhabited, but you would be mistaken. Two spirits linger here, maintaining a connection between dimensions. There is a reason for this state of affairs, but what is it? Perhaps you, the reader, can visit this site and solve the mystery of why these spirits have a foot in two worlds.

      Our story begins with Daniel Stong, born in Pennsylvania in 1791. His parents, Sylvester and Barbary, immigrated to Canada in 1800. During the War of 1812, Daniel served with a British regiment.

      On January 23, 1816, Daniel married Elizabeth Fisher in the township of Vaughan. They soon settled on Lot 25, Concession 4, in West York. Daniel and Elizabeth constructed a sturdy, squared-log house that consisted of three small rooms and a large stone fireplace. The couple raised seven children in this small dwelling.

      The need for a much larger home for his growing family prompted Daniel to begin construction of a two-storey, hand-hewn log home dressed with clapboard siding in 1832. Daniel built it directly behind the original log cabin. The home featured several bedrooms, a separate parlour, and a large, impressive kitchen with a brick fireplace and bake oven. Their eighth and final child was born in the new home.

      Eventually Daniel acquired an additional one thousand acres around his existing property.

      Tragedy struck the Stong family on September 7, 1845, when their eighteen-year-old son, Michael, was killed in a horrible hunting accident. It was an accidental shot and he subsequently died in the upstairs bedroom of the house. Michael became the first person to be buried in the cemetery on the Stong family farm.

      Michael is one of the spirits who comes and goes in the house. The second spirit to be reported in the building is a woman. She has been seen sitting in a chair on the second floor. No one knows who she is. The Stongs did have two daughters, Mary and Catherine.

      The image of a woman has reportedly been captured on film, but I was unable to locate it.

      Nancy, a Black Creek Pioneer Village employee, has worked here since 1999. Nancy is one of those special individuals who are sensitive to the spirit realm. She can tune in to the frequency connecting the dimensions. Nancy shared some of her experiences with me.

      The Stong House.

      “During my first year, I heard strange noises. Creaking sounds, as if someone was walking upstairs. When I went to investigate there was no one there. I thought I was alone at the time.

      “Then I heard about the unusual death of Michael Stong and the stories about the haunting.”

      Nancy began to suspect that the death of Michael and the unusual events in the house were related. Some activity has to do with the narrow piece of wood used as a window stop to keep the window propped open.

      “Every once in a while, a window stopper resting on the window sill will fly off and land on the floor. This can happen with the upstairs or downstairs windows. If that happens I yell at Michael like a mother would, ‘Hey Michael settle down.’”

      “I have a policy that whenever a new person begins working in the house I never say anything about Michael.”

      Nami, another interpreter, recalled her first tour of duty in the Stong homestead.

      “It was the fall, about closing time. It was cloudy and dark outside. I saw what I thought was the last person to come down the staircase from upstairs and leave the building. I was about to lock up the house when I suddenly heard footsteps upstairs. I clearly heard the footsteps. I first shouted out ‘it’s closing time’, but never heard a reply. As I climbed the stairs to the second floor I called out. When I reached the second floor I walked around — but there was no one there. I was very scared. I later asked my boss if the house was haunted. My boss just laughed.”