Haunted Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Haunted Hamilton is a paranormal group website that began in 1999 with a focus on residential and business ghost investigation.
, Canada
, and elsewhere around the world. This paranormal investigation group formed in 1999, and has since been responsible for many residential and business investigations. Locations investigated include:
The focus of Haunted Hamilton is on the history of each supposedly haunted location, which leads to tales of native legends and ghosts. It also calls attention to the need for historical preservation of these sites.
The website states that one reason a ghost "haunts" may be related to its history in life. Perhaps the ghost had called its haunting place home, or had died there.
Currently Haunted Hamilton reports hauntings and folklore, coordinates ghostly events, and provides a place for others to share their experiences.
History
Haunted Hamilton is dedicated to the history and ghosts of Hamilton, OntarioHamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and elsewhere around the world. This paranormal investigation group formed in 1999, and has since been responsible for many residential and business investigations. Locations investigated include:
- Bellevue Mansion - now demolished
- The Hermitage (Hamilton, Ontario)The Hermitage (Hamilton, Ontario)The Hermitage was a large residence situated in Ancaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada which now exists as ruins and is part of The Hermitage and Gatehouse Museum maintained by the Hamilton Conservation Authority...
- Custom House (WAHC)
- The Tivoli Theatre - now demolished
The focus of Haunted Hamilton is on the history of each supposedly haunted location, which leads to tales of native legends and ghosts. It also calls attention to the need for historical preservation of these sites.
The website states that one reason a ghost "haunts" may be related to its history in life. Perhaps the ghost had called its haunting place home, or had died there.
Currently Haunted Hamilton reports hauntings and folklore, coordinates ghostly events, and provides a place for others to share their experiences.
Timeline
- 1999 to Present - Main website with lots of articles and submissions on the paranormal.
- 1999 to 2004 - Investigations of residential and business locations
- 2001 to Present - Events like Costume Ball and Gothic Gala
- 2003 to Present - Ghost Walks in Hamilton, Ancaster & Niagara-on-the-Lake
Past and Present
- Haunted Hamilton Costume Ball (2001 - Present) - This most popular event takes place on the Saturday before Halloween, or on Halloween night.
- Gothic Gala (2001 - Present) - A night of ghosts and all that is gothic. Real seances have been done at this event. Psychics give readings, and dramatic performances have been done in the past.
Ghost Walks
- Downtown Hamilton - This is the original walk. Historical and ghostly stories are told at different locations in Downtown Hamilton, including at The Royal Connaught Hotel, the Old Capital Theatre, Hamilton Place, and Whitehern.
- Custom House - This is an indoor walk at the historic Custom House in Hamilton. The Custom House has been located in the North-end for over 140 years. Ghosts of the Custom House include the Dark Lady, known of for over 100 years after a poem was written by worker Alexander Wingfield. The Custom House is maintained by the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre - a museum and art gallery dedicated to the on-going history of Canada's working people.
- Hermitage Ruins in Ancaster - This ghost walk takes tours through the dark woods of the Dundas Valley at night to the Hermitage Ruins site. This is a tour of the old farmlands surrounding the ruins. The most frequently spotted ghost there is William Black, a carriage driver that lived as a servant in the original Hermitage house. He committed suicide by hanging himself in the carriage house after being denied the love of the owner's niece because of his station in life. There have been reports that prove the ghost of William Black still walked from his grave, where Sulpher Springs meets Lovers Lane, to the Hermitage grounds at night.
- Niagara-on-the-LakeNiagara-on-the-LakeNiagara-on-the-Lake is a Canadian town located in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region of the southern part of the province of Ontario. It is located across the Niagara river from Youngstown, New York, USA...
- This tour goes through the most haunted town in Canada, dating back to the 18th century. It was rebuilt after the War of 1812,where the Americans burned it to the ground during their retreat in 1813. Stops on the tour include The Olde Angel Inn, where the ghost of Captain Colin Swayze is rumored to haunt, The Oban Inn, and The Prince of Wales Hotel. - Ruthven Park, A Ghost Town at Twilight - This is the former ghost town of Indiana, OntarioIndiana, OntarioIndiana is an old village site—a ghost town -- now within the precincts of the Ruthven Park National Historic Site, 1 km north of Cayuga, in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada. The site was also referred to as "Deans" as late as 1940-1951, when it was marked on a map published by C. Tarling & Co...
. A one-time prosperous industrial town, Indiana was abandoned when boat traffic ceased on the waters of the Grand River. Located near Cayuga, this tour goes into the Ruthven mansion (once abandoned on the old lands) and the two town cemeteries (the Thompson family plot and Irish worker plot).
Walks done in the past
- The Great Lakes featuring the HMCS Haida battleship and Discovery Centre - This walk once started from Hamilton's Discovery Centre on the Harbourfront and ended with full access to the Haida battleship. (ceased in 2006)
- Stoney Creek Battlefield Park - This walk went through Battlefield Park, the location of the battle of Stoney Creek in the War of 1812. The battle was a turning point for the British when they surprised the Americans one night. This was thanks to the information brought by Billy Green. Ghosts have been seen and heard in and around the Battlefield House (Stoney Creek)Battlefield House (Stoney Creek)Battlefield House near King Street East and Centennial Parkway in Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada is a living history museum and site of the historic Battle of Stoney Creek on June 6, 1813, which was fought during the War of 1812. It was built in 1796...
, Nash-Jackson house and the old battlefield itself. The walk also included ghosts and legends from the old Mount Albion area of Hamilton Mountain. (ceased in 2005)
Media
- The Haunted Hamilton Radio Show on 93.3 FM CFMU - Lock your doors, turn off the lights, crawl into bed and hide under the covers. Every Wednesday night at the stroke of 12 Midnight - 2 a.m. Listen to archives at http://cfmu.mcmaster.ca
- CitytvCitytvCitytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
's Breakfast Television, Toronto - Haunted Hamilton founders featured at the Custom House in 2002. - CHCH-TVCHCH-TVCHCH-DT, channel 11, is a television station originating in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with transmitters located throughout Ontario. CHCH currently operates as an independent station, having previously served as a CBC Television affiliate, and more recently as the flagship station of the...
's CH Morning Live - Ghost Guide and founders featured on Halloween shows from 2004–Present at Custom House, Hermitage, Howell Farm in Thorold and in-studio. - CHCH-TVCHCH-TVCHCH-DT, channel 11, is a television station originating in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with transmitters located throughout Ontario. CHCH currently operates as an independent station, having previously served as a CBC Television affiliate, and more recently as the flagship station of the...
's Smith N' Hayes - Ghost Guide featured with local ghost stories - Official consultants to TV show Ghost TrackersGhost TrackersGhost Trackers is a children's reality show on HBO that was previously aired on Discovery Kids Canada, & YTV.-Show summary:Middle-school age contestants compete for the title of "top tracker" by investigating supposedly haunted places armed with "ghost tracking technology." Previously hidden...
- Featured in episodes at Hermitage Ruins, HMCS Haida and Spruce Lane Farm. - Official consultants to TV show Creepy CanadaCreepy CanadaCreepy Canada is a Canadian television series that aired on OLN. It focused on paranormal activities around Canada. The show first premiered on October 23, 2002 and began its third season on May 5, 2006...
- Featured in episodes at Custom House(Hamilton), Keefer Mansion Inn(Thorold), Fiddler's Green Irish Pub(Cambridge), Blue Ghost Tunnel(Niagara), Screaming Tunnel(Niagara) - Urban Cut, Cable 14 (Hamilton)Cable 14 (Hamilton)Cable 14 is a community channel licenced to Hamilton, Ontario, and is available to cable television subscribers of Cogeco, Shaw Communications , and Source Cable systems. The cable TV station is also available to customers in Hamilton, and the communities of Dunnville, Caledonia, and Cayuga in...
- Featured the Parlour Theatre event. - CBC (Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian Broadcasting CorporationThe Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
) Television, Quebec - Ghost Guide featured on CBC TV at the Custom House. - OUTTVOUTTVOUTTV is a Dutch language premium digital cable specialty channel from the Netherlands and is the lifestyle television channel from the Netherlands and Belgium and soon also Sweden and Switzerland. OUTTV originally launched on KPN on April 4, 2008 and widely became available on April 11, 2008,...
's Chris & John's Road Trip - featured in episode at the Hermitage and on seances at the Custom House. - Hamilton Spectator - Mention of Niagara Bus Trip by Mary K. Nolan - Sept-13, 2008.
- Hamilton Spectator - Two Minute Job Shadow on founder Stephanie by Gary Yokoyama - Fall 2006.
- Hamilton Spectator - Full page article by John Burman on founders - Oct-25, 2005.
- Hamilton Spectator - Article by Mary K. Nolan about Haunted Hamilton shop - Apr-26, 2004.
- Hamilton Spectator - Article by Tom Hogue about Ghost Walks - Sept-25, 2002.
- Hamilton Spectator - Article by Paul Wilson about Haunted Hamilton - Oct-27, 2001.
- Winner of Hamilton Spectator Reader's Choice award - 2006 / 2007 / 2008
- View MagazineView MagazineView Magazine is an alternative weekly newspaper serving the Hamilton, Ontario area in Canada. It covers the cities and towns of Niagara Region, Ancaster, Burlington, Stoney Creek, Glanbrook, Dundas, Flamborough, and Hamilton. Its offices are located in downtown Hamilton.It is published by Dynasty...
, Hamilton - Featured in 2005 and 2008. Mentions of walks and events many times. - AM900 CHML Hamilton - In-studio guests of Bob Bratina and Shiona Thompson on the Morning Show on couple occasions.
- Talk820 Hamilton - Guests of Mike Nabuurs and Friends.
- Y108 CJXY-FMCJXY-FMCJXY-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 107.9 FM and serving the Hamilton, Ontario market, but licensed to the nearby city of Burlington. The station broadcasts a mainstream rock format as Y108. Its signal can be heard as far north as Toronto and Vaughan and as far south as St....
- Guests on the Morning Show with Jodi and Chris. - Lights-Out Internet Radio Long-Island - Guide on 45-min live broadcast.
- Book: Encyclopedia of Haunted Places by Jeff Belanger - Reference and locations featured in Hamilton written by founders.
- Book: Spirit of Niagara by Marcy Italiano - Reference and location assistance with Niagara-on-the-Lake