Showing posts with label Alberta ghosts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alberta ghosts. Show all posts
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.
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.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Would you want to live in a haunted house?
I'm curious. Would you want to live in a haunted house?
Considering some of the things people have told me about some of their houses, I must admit, I would want to move. What about you? Would you stay? Or, more importantly, have you stayed? Do you have stories of a haunted house in southern Alberta? Or a house with unexplained and weird happenings? If you do, please share.
The following is from a report I was given about a house south-east of Lethbridge. This haunting seemed to affect the women of the house much more than it ever did the men who lived there.
The first reports of noises and strange footsteps came when a new bride came to the house as a newlywed. Her first night in the house she heard footsteps upstairs, walking the full length of the house, shuffling around the upstairs and coming to a stop at the top of the stairs that lead down into the kitchen. Over the years she was not the only one to hear the steps as visitors to the home also heard the ghostly walker.
The strangest occurrence came years later. The family was painting the downstairs and so were sleeping upstairs on this occasion. The baby's crib was left in the upstairs hallway. In the middle of the night, the baby started to cry. Before the parents could react and get out to the child, they heard the footsteps walk down the hall and stop by the crib. And then very quietly they heard a gentle voice say "shush, be quiet." The baby calmed and returned to sleep. But everyone else in the house had a very restless night, indeed!
Considering some of the things people have told me about some of their houses, I must admit, I would want to move. What about you? Would you stay? Or, more importantly, have you stayed? Do you have stories of a haunted house in southern Alberta? Or a house with unexplained and weird happenings? If you do, please share.
The following is from a report I was given about a house south-east of Lethbridge. This haunting seemed to affect the women of the house much more than it ever did the men who lived there.
The first reports of noises and strange footsteps came when a new bride came to the house as a newlywed. Her first night in the house she heard footsteps upstairs, walking the full length of the house, shuffling around the upstairs and coming to a stop at the top of the stairs that lead down into the kitchen. Over the years she was not the only one to hear the steps as visitors to the home also heard the ghostly walker.
The strangest occurrence came years later. The family was painting the downstairs and so were sleeping upstairs on this occasion. The baby's crib was left in the upstairs hallway. In the middle of the night, the baby started to cry. Before the parents could react and get out to the child, they heard the footsteps walk down the hall and stop by the crib. And then very quietly they heard a gentle voice say "shush, be quiet." The baby calmed and returned to sleep. But everyone else in the house had a very restless night, indeed!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Ghost Stories -- many leads to track down
Just the past weekend I heard 6 more ghost stories from across southern Alberta -- one in Picture Butte, one near Taber, two around Vauxhall, one in Brooks, and one in Rolling Hills. Added to the one I heard last month from the Enchant/Lomond area, this makes for a lot of fun research in the next while. Now I have to follow up with these people and get them to email me the details.
One site is a hospital. No surprise there -- people report the elevator working when there was no one around, hearing a walker move up and down the hallway after everyone had gone to bed, strange footsteps. There's always a lot of strange occurrences reported in hospitals.
But what rather surprised me is that two of the ghost stories (one in Rolling Hills and one in Vauxhall) were about garages. In the Rolling Hills case, it appears that the owner of the garage (who died on the property) was not willing to leave and he remained to protect the garage. Strange occurrences happened such as a fire that started and stopped repeatedly and with no explanation. People hearing someone walking through the snow but with no one ever appearing and no footprints in the snow. The other garage, from Vauxhall, is supposed to have a woman ghost. Haven't heard yet any explanation for why she's supposed to be there.
Had a couple of ghost stories associated with houses. And one building that's now a day care. That should be an interesting one to track down.
So many great stories to follow up on. And, as always, if you have a great story to pass along, don't hesitate to contact me.
One site is a hospital. No surprise there -- people report the elevator working when there was no one around, hearing a walker move up and down the hallway after everyone had gone to bed, strange footsteps. There's always a lot of strange occurrences reported in hospitals.
But what rather surprised me is that two of the ghost stories (one in Rolling Hills and one in Vauxhall) were about garages. In the Rolling Hills case, it appears that the owner of the garage (who died on the property) was not willing to leave and he remained to protect the garage. Strange occurrences happened such as a fire that started and stopped repeatedly and with no explanation. People hearing someone walking through the snow but with no one ever appearing and no footprints in the snow. The other garage, from Vauxhall, is supposed to have a woman ghost. Haven't heard yet any explanation for why she's supposed to be there.
Had a couple of ghost stories associated with houses. And one building that's now a day care. That should be an interesting one to track down.
So many great stories to follow up on. And, as always, if you have a great story to pass along, don't hesitate to contact me.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Mommy, can I please go play?
This story was told to me 3rd hand and I hope to follow it back to its source and find the rest of the details.
A little boy was down in Indian Battle Park (the park down by the river in Lethbridge) with his family. He asked to be allowed to go and play with the other kids he saw playing in the park. But his Mom wouldn't let him. Because, while the son could see the kids, his Mom couldn't! Are there ghost kids playing down by the river?
This is the 1st time I've heard a story of ghost kids in Indian Battle Park (though there are lots of reports of other types of ghosts). Very curious to follow up more on this.
A little boy was down in Indian Battle Park (the park down by the river in Lethbridge) with his family. He asked to be allowed to go and play with the other kids he saw playing in the park. But his Mom wouldn't let him. Because, while the son could see the kids, his Mom couldn't! Are there ghost kids playing down by the river?
This is the 1st time I've heard a story of ghost kids in Indian Battle Park (though there are lots of reports of other types of ghosts). Very curious to follow up more on this.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A Sister of Mercy
I spent some time tonight speaking with someone who used to work at St. Michael's Hospital. We talked about the ghost that was said to be present there. According to the stories a nun, commonly just called "Sister," was said to have roamed the halls of St. Michael's. She took care of people -- would sit by them and comfort them. She would make staff aware when medication was out of date. She would draw the attention of staff to problems and concerns.
The person with whom I spoke to tonight never saw anything herself but said she worked with several nurses who firmly believed in Sister's presence. And has promised to give me a contact number for one of them. I'll let you know if I hear anything new.
I have often wondered if Sister stayed with the property through the expansion. Of all the ghost stories in Lethbridge she's one that I always found most comforting. Someone who was so devoted to ensuring that people were taken care of when they were most vulnerable. I hope she's still there protecting those who need her.
If you work at St. Michael's (or used to work at St. Michael's) and have stories to tell, I would love to hear them.
The person with whom I spoke to tonight never saw anything herself but said she worked with several nurses who firmly believed in Sister's presence. And has promised to give me a contact number for one of them. I'll let you know if I hear anything new.
I have often wondered if Sister stayed with the property through the expansion. Of all the ghost stories in Lethbridge she's one that I always found most comforting. Someone who was so devoted to ensuring that people were taken care of when they were most vulnerable. I hope she's still there protecting those who need her.
If you work at St. Michael's (or used to work at St. Michael's) and have stories to tell, I would love to hear them.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Oh, the things I've heard
I haven't posted for the last while as I've been busy delivering ghost stories at various places and life itself has just kept me busy.
One of my favourite times of year is when I get to go and talk ghost stories to groups from around the area. Because not only do I get to share ghost stories, but I get to hear a lot of ghost stories I hadn't heard of before as well as new stories for older haunted places.
I really have to do more now regarding the old Hamilton Junior High (which of course was once LCI but is now Allan Watson and the school board office). Every time I hear a new ghost story from that place it just gets creepier and creepier. While in a lot of places the ghosts are more about sounds and smells, at this place several people have reported full apparitions. And not just for a few seconds but have interacted with the apparition for minutes at a time. And the really neat thing is that it ranges from young kids to adults and everyone in between.
If you went to school there or have taught there or just know of strange occurrences, please don't hesitate to pass them along.
One of my favourite times of year is when I get to go and talk ghost stories to groups from around the area. Because not only do I get to share ghost stories, but I get to hear a lot of ghost stories I hadn't heard of before as well as new stories for older haunted places.
I really have to do more now regarding the old Hamilton Junior High (which of course was once LCI but is now Allan Watson and the school board office). Every time I hear a new ghost story from that place it just gets creepier and creepier. While in a lot of places the ghosts are more about sounds and smells, at this place several people have reported full apparitions. And not just for a few seconds but have interacted with the apparition for minutes at a time. And the really neat thing is that it ranges from young kids to adults and everyone in between.
If you went to school there or have taught there or just know of strange occurrences, please don't hesitate to pass them along.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Is Highway 36 haunted?
It's funny what triggers a memory. I was out tonight waiting for a tour to arrive and for some reason I got thinking of hitchhiking ghosts. And then I remembered a story I was once told (unfortunately I don't remember who told me so I don't have all of the details) of a hitchhiking ghost that is seen and picked up along highway 36 between Vauxhall and Brooks near the Oasis.
Does anyone know more about this ghost?
Does anyone know more about this ghost?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Why does Lethbridge have so many ghost stories?
What is it about Lethbridge? I can think of at least 17 places that have ghost stories attached to them. Hmmm. Maybe it's the wind.
One place I recently heard of related to a ghost story was the old Isolation Hospital on 7th Avenue South. Someone reported seeing a woman dressed as a nurse and said she could feel herself back in time. Anyone else have any stories about that place?
I've also heard rumours of ghost stories for the college. But only that they think it's haunted. I've never had a really good story for that place. So if you have a good college story, don't hesitate to share.
One place I recently heard of related to a ghost story was the old Isolation Hospital on 7th Avenue South. Someone reported seeing a woman dressed as a nurse and said she could feel herself back in time. Anyone else have any stories about that place?
I've also heard rumours of ghost stories for the college. But only that they think it's haunted. I've never had a really good story for that place. So if you have a good college story, don't hesitate to share.
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