Menu     Home News Awards Email A to M     Stats     Bookmark     Click HERE to Bookmark Haunted Ontario Halloween     St. Catharines       Blue Ghost (GWR) Tunnel GM Glendale - Gate 12 Built: 1876 Haunted: unknown History Built between 1875 and 1876, the Great Western Railway tunnel was designed to allow trains to cross beneath the 3rd Welland Canal (between locks 18 and 19). Over 700 feet long, the tunnel is constructed of limestone blocks shipped in from Queenston quarries. From 1882 (when the 3rd canal opened) to until 1915, it was used as a railway tunnel. While there are no recorded deaths inside the tunnel, 2 trainmen were killed in 1903 when their trains collided just outside the tunnel. In 1912, an accident at lock 22 sent a wave crashing down the locks, drowning 2 young boys in the process. After it was abandoned in favour of the 4th Welland Canal, the tunnel became nothing more than a shortcut for farmers. In 1923, a man-made pond became necessary to act as a reservoir for the 4th canal. Built above the 3rd Canal, just behind the pumphouse, the reservoir required the relocation of St. Peters Church Cemetery. Apparently, only 250 graves were ever moved, leaving over 600 lying beneath the waters of the reservoir today. Eyewitness Account "Our first journey to the “Blue Ghost Tunnel” was an excellent one. Not only did it seem the perfect night, but it also seemed the perfect time. We entered the tunnel at exactly midnight. This was most of the team members first time at the tunnel. Before entering, several team members took pictures directed at the mouth of the tunnel, as well as around the entrance. One picture seemed very interesting, as it caught a white mist with a blue mist in the middle. We all seemed to have different experiences when listening to the tunnel. Two members of the team heard music, which they described as being something that would be heard coming from a very old music box for jewelry. One member had specifically heard conversations in the tunnel coming from the east end. Several members also heard the cries as well as sobbing of what sounded like a young child, as well as whistling. The whistling was first dismissed as the drops of water falling from the melting ice, but as we listened closer, there was a distinct tune." Kevin - N.A.G.S. Further Reading "Bad Train Wreck," Daily Standard January 3rd, 1903 Merritt House 12 Yates Street Built: 1820s Haunted: unknown History Originally built in the 1820s as the home of William Hamilton Merritt (builder of the Welland Canal), it was destroyed by fire in 1858 and rebuilt two years later. During the First World War, from 1918 to 1930, the house was use as a military convalescent home. After that, it served two short terms as a brewery then an Inn before becoming a radio station in the late 1930s. Underground tunnels connect the carriage house with the main building, with one arm extending north to meet the river, and the other emerging by the river (where the current Burgoyne bridge stands). The tunnels originally played a large part in the Underground Railroad, and were later used by bootleggers during Prohibition. The tunnels were sealed over for safety reasons in 1967. Hauntings Several apparitions have been reported, including that of a woman standing behind a chair in the waiting room (which is now a studio), and that of a man standing near one of the studio doors before vanishing. Doors have been known to open and close on their own. Chairs, cups, trophies, and other items are often moved by unseen hands. Employees have repoted the feeling of something trying to block their movements, and the sounds of a crying baby in a boardroom on the 2nd floor have been reported. Electronic equipment has picked up and broadcast some rather unusual sounds, including a man laughing, a bell, and a breathy woman sighing. Further Reading Cheryl Clock, "Haunted Niagara," St. Catharines Standard October 30, 2000 Private Home Church St Built: 1860s Haunted: 1970 History On February 10, 1970, the St. Catharines Police Department was called to a house on Church St. where some disturbing and unexplained phenomena were occuring, centred around a young boy. Subsequent visits from other police officers confirmed the report. Witnessed included the police officers themselves, the child's parents, their lawyer, the landlord, and 2 priests. Hauntings According to those present, a bed rose off the floor and tipped onto its edge, dumping the young boy onto the floor. On another occasion, a heavy chair floated about 7 inches off floor before overturning to trap young boy against the wall. Furniture was seen moving on its own; doors opened and closed with nobody present; chairs slid across the kitchen floor; and the bed levitated 6 inches off the floor. Bowling trophies were tossed off a wooden shelf, one by one, to land on the floor. And, perhaps most shocking, a couch with several people sitting upon it -- including three police officers - levitated a foot off the floor. Further Reading Michael Collins, "Things that Go Bump in the Night," What's Up Niagara October 1986 Ron Whitemarsh, "Police, Doctors Try to Spot Spirit Which Haunts Boy," St. Catharines Standard February ??, 1970 Craig Swayze, "Family With Ghost Takes a Vacation as Out-of-town Newsmen Flood City," St. Catharines Standard February ??, 1970 Ron Whitemarsh, "Lawyer May Arrange Meeting With Nun, Family and Ghost," St. Catharines Standard February 19, 1970 Ron Whitemarsh, "Nun Wants to See Boy With Ghost," St. Catharines Standard February 18, 1970 Ron Whitemarsh, "Five Officers Convinced Being From Another World Haunting 11yr-old Church St. Boy," St. Catharines Standard February 13, 1970 Links     Message Board Books Halloween Links N to Z     About Us     Haunted Ontario was first launched July 27th, 2000.