Fall walks are an ideal way to enjoy the seasonal colours and refreshingly crisp air. When you participate in a ghost walk, learning about local history and ghostly lore, it might be more than the cooler temps that send a chill down your spine.
Burlington Ghost Walks
Paranormal researcher and resident of Burlington for the last 25 years, Patrick Cross guides ghost-seekers through “ 200 years of history in two hours”. The tour starts and ends at Emma’s Back Porch, Burlington’s oldest restaurant. It was once known as the Estaminet and was owned and operated by Emma Byrens and her husband. It opened in 1910.
Employees might get more than supplies when they venture into the basement at Emma’s. It’s known for cold spots, temperature changes, voices and mysteriously moving objects. Emma herself may appear on the original staircase.
Other stops include the Cenotaph at Burlington’s City Hall, and St. Luke’s Anglican Church cemetery. St. Luke’s is the oldest church in Burlington and was the original burial place of Joseph Brant.
Oakville Ghost Walks
Run by the Oakville Historical Society, downtown ghost walks run just after Thanksgiving to Halloween. The tour is about an hour long, running about a block and a half south of Lakeshore. Stops include the Erchless Estate and historic homes.
Two years ago during a tour, OHS member Wendy Belcher and her group stopped at the Erchless Estate. When she stopped talking every light in the house went on. Did the building cleaners come early? Belcher doubts it, because there were no cars in the parking lot that night.
Participate in one of these fun, educational walks this fall, but beware: your eyes and ears may play tricks on you. Did something really go bump in the night, or was it just your imagination?
by Becky Dumais
Local Links:
Burlington Ghost Walks
burlingtonghostwalks.com
Oakville Ghost Walks
oakvillehistory.org/ghost-walk
Downtown Hamilton Ghost Walks
ghostwalks.com/downtownhamilton
Check out our EVENTS page for dates.
