The 1860 Watson’s Mill, a working mill and museum that still sells stone-ground whole wheat flour, has a ghost story. The spirit here is Ann Crosby Currier, the wife of Joseph Merrill Currier, a mill co-owner. At a party there on March 11, 1861 to celebrate their honeymoon, Ann’s dress caught on a mill turbine, and she was flung against a pillar and killed. Ann’s ghost has been seen here many times since.
Watson's Mill
Pied-du-Courant Prison
The 1830s Pied-du-Courant Prison was a Montreal city prison in use 1836-1912. Many men, including those convicted of war crimes, were hanged on the premises. Investigations have turned up many examples of electronic voice phenomena thought to be the spirits of the hanged men.
Ghost of Mary Gallagher
Mary Gallagher is a headless ghost who appears in the same spot every seven years, according to her legend. She shows up at the corner of William and Murray streets in Griffintown, where a murder took place on June 27, 1879. Mary Gallagher was a prostitute, age 38, who had been binge-drinking with her friend Susan Kennedy when they picked up Michael Flanagan and went to Susan’s home. A witness heard the sound of an axe chopping and the thunk of body parts falling, and Mary was found decapitated with her right hand also chopped off. Mary’s head was in a slop bucket. Susan was found with blood on her clothes and was arrested, served sixteen years and was released. Mary’s headless ghost began to appear in the now-vacant lot where the building once stood, but the last sighting was in 1928. The next chance for her to appear will be 2019.
Keg Mansion
Keg Mansion is said to be haunted by Lillian, a maid who hanged herself in 1915 on the premises. She was employed by its owner, industrialist Hart Massey. According to one story, after the death of Massey’s daughter, Lillian was so aggrieved that she hanged herself. Another story said Lillian was having an affair with a Massey family man. Her ghost has been seen hanging by a rope in the mansion.
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is said to have a veiled female specter who walks down Church Street and comes in at the west door. She is said to be the second wife of the Rev. John Medley, who built the cathedral in the 1800s. Some witnesses have seen and/or heard the ghost playing the organ.
Grey's Island Cemetery
Grey Island Cemetery has a white stone statue of a lady with a legend. Locals say those who close their eyes and walk around the statue three times will see the lady looking back at them and crying tears of blood. She is said to be the murdered wife of a man who was overcome with grief at her loss. After having the statue made, he set it in his back yard and spent hours talking to it every day. Years later, his body was found dead, curled up at its base.
Sharon Temple
The Temple, at the Sharon National Historic Site, was built in 1832 and was fully restored in 2011. Ghostly activity here includes the sounds of a large feast being prepared, music, footsteps and more.
Orillia Opera House
The Orillia Opera House is said to be haunted by ghosts who make footsteps, slam doors, create moans and shadows, and drop the room temperature. Investigations have determined that the ghosts are a female who played piano during silent movies, a woman who worked in the ticket office and a patron who had a heart attack during a performance.
Champlain Trail Museum
The Champlain Trail Museum is said to be haunted in its pioneer log home. Rumor has it that toys move around in the children’s room, dishes move in the dining room, footsteps have been heard, and more.
Port Perry Ghost Road
The Ghost Road legend begins around 1968 with a young man who crashed on a motorcycle and, in some versions, was decapitated on a rusty barbed-wire fence. Now, a big round white light speeds down the road before turning into a small red light, sometimes accompanied by the sound of a motorcycle.
