Sunday, October 27, 2013
When Ghost Stories Come Out of the Woodwork
It's that creepy time of year when the nights are getting longer, there's a chill in the air, Halloween is just around the corner and ghost stories come out of the woodwork.
And, as with most years, it's the time of year when I am busy collecting (and telling) ghost stories.
I've picked up several stories over the past year.
A house on 6 Avenue South where the owner found the name Julia written on the mirror in the mist.
The Administration Building on the north side. The person telling me the story spoke of mischievous spirits who like to bother the cleaners and move objects -- often only to return them a short time later.
To the Lethbridge Lodge and the report of a woman dancing in Anton's all by herself -- and when there shouldn't be anyone there.
Or the Sandman Inn where the sounds of a young boy crying are heard.
Or a residential location in Lethbridge where a "tallish Dutch woman" is seen to wander.
To the Youth Treatment Centre where many strange things have been reported.
Or the one hospital in southern Alberta where many of the residents seem to have the ability to know when someone is going to die. One resident, who herself passed away a few years ago, would try to get staff and visitors to leave when she knew the "man in black" was visiting. The staff from the institution reported this she "used to come into the room, into the hallway and she used to tell us to get out of this building, get out, you gotta get out of this building. And she’d be pushing us all towards the door. She was 100 or so years old then. Pretty much bed ridden but she’d get up on those days that she knew someone was going to die. She’d say that man in black is back. And she'd be pushing us out the doors, trying to protect all of us."
It's been a good year of story collecting but I'd love to get even more. If you have some you want to share, send them my way. And, who knows what other stories will be created this Halloween season.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Strange Music -- A Taber Ghost Story
This story was found in a collection of folklore about Alberta. The author, Maxine Sutherland, was reported to have been from Taber. Very other little information was provided in the collection on either the author or the location of the story. The introduction to the story says that this helps to explain the strange music that is sometimes heard in a section of the prairie. Let me know if you've ever heard the music... And, if you're not from southern Alberta, trust me, yes, the wind can drive you crazy.
Three days ago their child had died. They buried it in the dry earth bed of the wind-twisted morning glory vine. Since then the wind had blown without stop, mounting the madness in the brain of Mary Howes. There had always been that sound of wind. Wind that broke and spoiled the efforts of his years and took all John Howes had ever owned or hoped to own.
He looked now, to the rifle above the door and then to Mary by the cradle. The hot, dry wind blowing through the broken window, steamed her hair and clothes and wrapped her in its sound. His last possession had been claimed.
For Mary never had submitted to the wind. Each year she planted morning glories in the dry earth bed and hope in the heart of John. When both the morning glories and the hope had wilted in the wind she squared his shoulders with her faith in the harvest that would come. She always said the harvest was a sure promise of God.
John had always known the wind was stronger than himself. Now it seemed to be stronger than the promise of God or stronger than the faith of Mary. All that had been his strength was gone. A wind blast shook the house and crashed the rifle to the floor.
All the light of sanity was gone from the face of Mary. Leaning to the cradle she commenced the wild lullaby against the wind’s sound. Soon she would find the child was gone. The frantic search would come again. Her fists would beat upon him and her wild accusations join with the wind sounds in his ear.
Over and over, in the last three days she had done these things. He could not bear it once again. He must end her madness. From his ears he must shut out forever that which was the sound of wind.
Her lullaby was closing now, In her mad hope and joy she bent above the cradle, searching for the child. It must be now, before she knew despair again. It must be now.
He took the rifle in his hands. How hard it was to hold it steady. There was just the short sharp sound, and Mary lay beside the cradle. The one bloom of the wind-twisted morning glory bloom vine was in her hands. He took the rifle up again ---
They found them both, beyond the madness and the wind.
In the year which followed the promise of a harvest was fulfilled. The rain came, and dormant seeds in John’s fields grew up among the weeds, while in the dry-earth bed, the morning glory vine arose and filled the dark window-gap with bloom.
Some say that in the summer dawn a music floats across the prairie, the figure of a man walks from the wheat field to the window where the morning glories bloom; a woman with a child in arms goes out to meet him, singing. And as the music rolls and fills the plains the figures walk together to the sun.
Three days ago their child had died. They buried it in the dry earth bed of the wind-twisted morning glory vine. Since then the wind had blown without stop, mounting the madness in the brain of Mary Howes. There had always been that sound of wind. Wind that broke and spoiled the efforts of his years and took all John Howes had ever owned or hoped to own.
He looked now, to the rifle above the door and then to Mary by the cradle. The hot, dry wind blowing through the broken window, steamed her hair and clothes and wrapped her in its sound. His last possession had been claimed.
For Mary never had submitted to the wind. Each year she planted morning glories in the dry earth bed and hope in the heart of John. When both the morning glories and the hope had wilted in the wind she squared his shoulders with her faith in the harvest that would come. She always said the harvest was a sure promise of God.
John had always known the wind was stronger than himself. Now it seemed to be stronger than the promise of God or stronger than the faith of Mary. All that had been his strength was gone. A wind blast shook the house and crashed the rifle to the floor.
All the light of sanity was gone from the face of Mary. Leaning to the cradle she commenced the wild lullaby against the wind’s sound. Soon she would find the child was gone. The frantic search would come again. Her fists would beat upon him and her wild accusations join with the wind sounds in his ear.
Over and over, in the last three days she had done these things. He could not bear it once again. He must end her madness. From his ears he must shut out forever that which was the sound of wind.
Her lullaby was closing now, In her mad hope and joy she bent above the cradle, searching for the child. It must be now, before she knew despair again. It must be now.
He took the rifle in his hands. How hard it was to hold it steady. There was just the short sharp sound, and Mary lay beside the cradle. The one bloom of the wind-twisted morning glory bloom vine was in her hands. He took the rifle up again ---
They found them both, beyond the madness and the wind.
In the year which followed the promise of a harvest was fulfilled. The rain came, and dormant seeds in John’s fields grew up among the weeds, while in the dry-earth bed, the morning glory vine arose and filled the dark window-gap with bloom.
Some say that in the summer dawn a music floats across the prairie, the figure of a man walks from the wheat field to the window where the morning glories bloom; a woman with a child in arms goes out to meet him, singing. And as the music rolls and fills the plains the figures walk together to the sun.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
You're the Woman Who Tells the Scary Stories
Such was how I was greeted by a young student when she saw me at the Bright Lights Festival last evening in Galt Gardens. This made me laugh. She has probably seen me present on local history dozens of times but it's the ghost stories she remembers me for.
Ah, well. There are worse things to be called than the lady who tells the scary stories.
I must admit that I do enjoy telling scary stories. I also have to admit that sometimes when I work late a night typing up some of the stories people send me, it even gets me a little bit scared. I like to think I can handle anything but these stories get into your brain.
Last night I had an update on the Taber Health Centre. There was a residence beside the old Taber Hospital. Eventually the residence came to be abandoned and stood empty for quite some time. Many, many nurses reported looking out from the hospital across at the attic of the old residence and glimpsed a light on in the attic. When they looked back, the light was gone.
Staff at the Taber Health Centre also believe that the ghost who haunts the new site came with them from the old site. Because, as they say, the site seemed to have a ghost the day it opened. This ghost has my favourite name for any ghost in southern Alberta. They call him Maynard. I don't know the reason behind the name but if you have the answer, I'd love to hear the story.
But the story that interested me the most was about the Grim Reaper visting the Taber Hospital. Two ladies who were in residence in the longterm care wing would occasionally comment to the staff that the Grim Reaper had been in their room but that he hadn't come for them. On the days the ladies reported he had visited, inevitably someone in the hospital would die that night. Creepy.
Keep the stories coming.
Ah, well. There are worse things to be called than the lady who tells the scary stories.
I must admit that I do enjoy telling scary stories. I also have to admit that sometimes when I work late a night typing up some of the stories people send me, it even gets me a little bit scared. I like to think I can handle anything but these stories get into your brain.
Last night I had an update on the Taber Health Centre. There was a residence beside the old Taber Hospital. Eventually the residence came to be abandoned and stood empty for quite some time. Many, many nurses reported looking out from the hospital across at the attic of the old residence and glimpsed a light on in the attic. When they looked back, the light was gone.
Staff at the Taber Health Centre also believe that the ghost who haunts the new site came with them from the old site. Because, as they say, the site seemed to have a ghost the day it opened. This ghost has my favourite name for any ghost in southern Alberta. They call him Maynard. I don't know the reason behind the name but if you have the answer, I'd love to hear the story.
But the story that interested me the most was about the Grim Reaper visting the Taber Hospital. Two ladies who were in residence in the longterm care wing would occasionally comment to the staff that the Grim Reaper had been in their room but that he hadn't come for them. On the days the ladies reported he had visited, inevitably someone in the hospital would die that night. Creepy.
Keep the stories coming.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
My Computer Talked to Me
Yes, as I type this I realize it sounds crazy. And I'm sure it has a plausible explanation. But it's also a fun story to share.
A few years ago my colleague and I were both sitting at our desks working. I was at my desk but working beside my computer (not actively using the computer at the time). All of a sudden my computer said "hello." Startled, I looked at my computer. My colleague called out (she was on the other side of a short wall), "was that your computer talking?" I told her, yes, and then we both heard it again call out "hello."
That was it. After that, nothing. Until recently.
Then just two weeks ago my computer did it again. I was logging out of my computer and after I logged out, my computer started talking. It was reciting some instructions on a computer program that I wasn't even aware was on my computer and which I never turned on (or at least I don't think I did). It kept talking for a few minutes (fortunately more my sanity, was heard by another colleague so I know it wasn't just me hearing it) telling me about buttons I should push on the computer (even though it was logged out).
I like to think it was someone in our IT department with either a wicked sense of humour or a wicked sense of timing. Or that I should more carefully read all of the instructions that come with my computers.
But I still haven't figured out what (if anything) made my computer talk to me on those two occasions. I do know it was weird. I also wish I had been smart enough the first time to say hello back. Who knows where that conversation could have led?
A few years ago my colleague and I were both sitting at our desks working. I was at my desk but working beside my computer (not actively using the computer at the time). All of a sudden my computer said "hello." Startled, I looked at my computer. My colleague called out (she was on the other side of a short wall), "was that your computer talking?" I told her, yes, and then we both heard it again call out "hello."
That was it. After that, nothing. Until recently.
Then just two weeks ago my computer did it again. I was logging out of my computer and after I logged out, my computer started talking. It was reciting some instructions on a computer program that I wasn't even aware was on my computer and which I never turned on (or at least I don't think I did). It kept talking for a few minutes (fortunately more my sanity, was heard by another colleague so I know it wasn't just me hearing it) telling me about buttons I should push on the computer (even though it was logged out).
I like to think it was someone in our IT department with either a wicked sense of humour or a wicked sense of timing. Or that I should more carefully read all of the instructions that come with my computers.
But I still haven't figured out what (if anything) made my computer talk to me on those two occasions. I do know it was weird. I also wish I had been smart enough the first time to say hello back. Who knows where that conversation could have led?
Monday, October 31, 2011
Things to Do, Stories to Find
In between handing out candy tonight, I put together a list of some of the places I still need to research in southern Alberta. These are places where I've heard rumours and stories or have had little pieces of information provided but not much. Or I've just had people say "is it true there's a ghost in such and such?" but they have no details or information. So these are on my to-do list for the next few months.
Please email or contact me if you have anything you wish to add to these places.
Basement of 54 (??)
FLVT (??)
Champion Hotel (??)
old Carol's Care on 8th Street (dishes being broken)
Sandman Inn (crying child reported)
Owl Acoustic Lounge (??)
old Fire Hall No 1 (??)
Cecil Hotel in Fort Macleod (??)
Youth Treatment Centre (??)
Please email or contact me if you have anything you wish to add to these places.
Basement of 54 (??)
FLVT (??)
Champion Hotel (??)
old Carol's Care on 8th Street (dishes being broken)
Sandman Inn (crying child reported)
Owl Acoustic Lounge (??)
old Fire Hall No 1 (??)
Cecil Hotel in Fort Macleod (??)
Youth Treatment Centre (??)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Ghosts May not Sleep but Ghost Story Hunting Takes a Break, Sometimes
Someone asked me the other day if I picked up any new stories at all in the last while (maybe because I haven't been posting on the BLOG as regularly as I once did). I could only smile and say "well, only about 10 just this past week." While I haven't had much time of late to share stories, I have certainly had the opportunity to collect them.
One told to me in September was about the old Schweitzer Bakery building on London Road in Lethbridge. Two of the staff were working when one noted that a man walked past here and to the back of the building. She wasn't too worried because she knew another staff was back there and would redirect the man. The other person heard the man, went to speak to him but there was no one there (even though there was no other exit out of the room).
Just this past week I had another story told to me of a place along the Enchant Highway between Enchant and Vauxhall. Years ago, when I was in High School, I had heard some weird whisperings about this place. But this time I was told the complete story.
The house on the property had burned down years ago but there was a garage left. Two men, Bill and Clifford, were working on a car in the garage. They had a light on above the car which suddenly went off. When they went to check, they saw the light had been unplugged from the wall (though there was no one else around). They plugged it back in and returned to work -- only to have the light once again unplugged! After this occurred several times the two men decided that they had to get out of there.
They went outside and saw in the yard a woman completely dressed in white carrying two suitcases. As they watched, she floated upwards and disappeared. Considering that one of the rumours of the property was that the husband had murdered his wife and hidden the body they of course quickly left after that.
I was also told of a Daycare in Lethbridge that I should check into. A hotel. A restaurant. And quite a number of other buildings. The hunt for ghost stories of southern Alberta continues.
One told to me in September was about the old Schweitzer Bakery building on London Road in Lethbridge. Two of the staff were working when one noted that a man walked past here and to the back of the building. She wasn't too worried because she knew another staff was back there and would redirect the man. The other person heard the man, went to speak to him but there was no one there (even though there was no other exit out of the room).
Just this past week I had another story told to me of a place along the Enchant Highway between Enchant and Vauxhall. Years ago, when I was in High School, I had heard some weird whisperings about this place. But this time I was told the complete story.
The house on the property had burned down years ago but there was a garage left. Two men, Bill and Clifford, were working on a car in the garage. They had a light on above the car which suddenly went off. When they went to check, they saw the light had been unplugged from the wall (though there was no one else around). They plugged it back in and returned to work -- only to have the light once again unplugged! After this occurred several times the two men decided that they had to get out of there.
They went outside and saw in the yard a woman completely dressed in white carrying two suitcases. As they watched, she floated upwards and disappeared. Considering that one of the rumours of the property was that the husband had murdered his wife and hidden the body they of course quickly left after that.
I was also told of a Daycare in Lethbridge that I should check into. A hotel. A restaurant. And quite a number of other buildings. The hunt for ghost stories of southern Alberta continues.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Lethbridge YWCA
Well, I've been on a bit of an hiatus from writing the blog. But I've been busy this last summer collecting stories.
Had a fabulous time visiting with several staff from the YWCA collecting stories of their building. They were a little surprised that one of the ghosts said to haunt the place was a man. Imagine my surprise when I researched the history of the property only to find that a man died and had his funeral there! One of the homes knocked down for the YWCA was the home of Dr. Robert McClure, first permanent dentist of Lethbridge. He suffered ill health for several years and passed away there in 1915. Perhaps he's the reason people have reported a strong male presence on the 4th floor?
I also heard of a woman and child who are seen in the building. Toys are found moved when staff return in the morning and it is said that one of the ghosts was even caught on the camera.
Had a fabulous time visiting with several staff from the YWCA collecting stories of their building. They were a little surprised that one of the ghosts said to haunt the place was a man. Imagine my surprise when I researched the history of the property only to find that a man died and had his funeral there! One of the homes knocked down for the YWCA was the home of Dr. Robert McClure, first permanent dentist of Lethbridge. He suffered ill health for several years and passed away there in 1915. Perhaps he's the reason people have reported a strong male presence on the 4th floor?
I also heard of a woman and child who are seen in the building. Toys are found moved when staff return in the morning and it is said that one of the ghosts was even caught on the camera.
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