Tag: fall

Location: Victoria, Vancouver Island, BCArchitectural Style: Gothic RevivalBuilt: 1908 Rounding out our 2021 Haunted Places series is a major historical landmark near the coast of Vancouver Island. Opposite of another stunning (and spooky) castle, Hatley is surrounded by beautiful grounds lined with blossoming flowers. But what draws many visitors is the chance to capture something more out of the ordinary. James Dunsmuir Commissions the Castle Lieutenant-Governor James Dunsmuir, son of coal-magnate Robert Dunsmuir, ordered construction of the castle on Hatley Park. James originally planned the grounds to be used as a farm, complete with a dairy and hunting grounds for James and his friends. Enlisting the help of Victorian architect Samuel Maclure, James envisioned a commanding and lavish home. Cost was no obstacle for James, and it shows in the final details. All in all, the sprawling estate would feature 40 rooms, an 82-foot turret, surrounding stone wall, cow stables, smoke house, and other workstations. Hatley Park and the castle would remain owned by the Dunsmuir family until the latter half of the 1930s. Hatley Castle and the Military After the Dunsmuir family sold the estate, the Dominion Government purchased it and used it as a Naval Training Establishment. The

Location: Toronto, OntarioArchitectural Style: GothicBuilt: 1868 For our next haunted location, we’re headed up north to “The Heartland Province.” Famous for its diverse population and accredited universities, Toronto is one of North America’s largest and most intriguing cities. Coincidentally, the Queen City is also known for having one of the most haunted houses in Canada. Construction of Keg Mansion In Victorian-era Toronto, Jarvis Street was the symbol of high society. Elaborate mansions lined the street with each one as unique as the last. Built in 1867 by Arthur McMaster, Keg Mansion boasted an ornate interior and exterior. The red shingles and green brass window accents pop against the neutral brick. Soft colors inside line the 26 different rooms and 17 fireplaces. The home would be bought in 1882 by the Cleveland agricultural equipment salesman Hart Massey, and his wife. The Masseys added a turret, verandah, and a greenhouse, but left much of the original decoration untouched. The Massey Family The Masseys quickly became one of the most prominent families in the city. In fact, Hart Massey helped fund buildings at the University of Toronto, such as Massey Hall. After Hart’s death, his daughter Lillian took over his estate and named

Location: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaArchitectural Style: GothicBuilt: 1829 Located near the bustling center of Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary blends right in alongside the city’s historic architecture. Yet while the outside may seem picturesque, the sprawling compound’s interior is marred by a darker past. Designed to be a place for inmates to redeem themselves from their crimes, Eastern State Penitentiary turned into many a prisoner’s personal nightmare. Eastern State Paves the WayCompleted in early 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was the first prison of its kind and remained in operation until 1971. After it was constructed, Eastern State was the most elaborate and expensive prison in the world, and it would be a model for more than 300 prisons. Eastern State was designed so that each cell would be more like solitary confinement than a typical holding cell. There were no bars to provide a view to the rest of the building, few windows to the outside and prisoners were even kept apart from each other when out of their cells. Religion and Reformation Unlike previous centers simply meant to hold an offender until their release, Eastern State took things one step further by implementing religious themes into the structure of the building and

Location: Jefferson, TexasArchitectural Style: VictorianBuilt: 1850-1851 We’re off to the Lone Star State as our search continues for the most haunted places. The seemingly inconspicuous Jefferson Hotel, situated in the small town of Jefferson, Texas near the Louisiana border has served as a cotton warehouse, brothel and a speakeasy. Today it’s a lovely historical hotel, though it seems some of the hotel’s guests will be staying indefinitely. Cotton Comes to Jefferson After the original building was constructed in 1850, the now Jefferson Hotel was initially designed to be a cotton warehouse to accommodate the area’s booming industry. For over two decades, riverboats bound for New Orleans made their way down the Big Cypress, stopping at Jefferson to load up on supplies for the last leg of the journey. Being a major port along the bustling riverway for travelers of all sorts, it was only natural that the warehouse was eventually transformed into a brothel and hotel. The Jefferson Opens Its Doors While there’s some uncertainty when the Jefferson Hotel first originally opened, it was a resounding success when it did. Weary travelers looking to rest their eyes were inclined to stay longer by the women that worked at the hotel,

Location: Victoria, British Columbia, CanadaArchitectural Style: ChâteauesqueBuilt: 1887-1890 “They’re heeeere!” With the return of the spooky season comes the return of our Haunted Places series! We’re starting off on a new ghost hunting adventure by taking a trip to Canada and the famed Craigdarroch Castle. From hauntings to Hollywood, this location has attracted both the living and the dead. What better way to get in the Halloween mood than with a castle fit for Dracula? BackgroundCraigdarroch Castle is a 39-room, Victorian-era castle that spans over 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2). The castle was originally built for Scottish-immigrant turned coal-magnate Robert Dunsmuir and his wife Joan. Located atop a hill overlooking the City of Victoria, the mansion was meant to be a status symbol for all below to see. However, Robert would never get to bask in the beauty of the completed castle. He died 17 months before construction was completed, one in a string of deaths that followed the family. The original architect, Warren Heywood Williams, also died following the passing of Robert Dunsmuir. With Mr. Dunsmuir gone and the castle only halfway finished, the Dunsmuir boys Alexander and James took it upon themselves to see their father’s dream to