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The Jester's Court Restaurant

Port Perry, Ontario, Canada

The history of this once very historic town would make one wonder, is this place cursed? Three major fires over a 50 year period in the late-1800s destroyed what the good people worked so hard to build. In the middle of it all is this historic house... victim to the first fire, but later a becon of hope for a rebuilding community.

The Jester's Court House when it was a home

The Jester’s Court was built by a mason named James Good, who made it into a workshop and a residence in 1859. He sold the property to Daniel Ireland in 1865, who turned it into a two story hotel which was known as Ruddy’s Hotel.

In November of 1883, a fire broke out. This once nice looking hotel burnt down because there were no large fire extinguishers, just a tiny one which was no match for the huge blaze. Mr. Ireland rebuilt the hotel and opened it to the public soon after.

History repeated when Mr. Ireland decided to sell it to a man named Andy Campbell. He then turned the hotel into a carpentry shop. However, Mr. Campbell did not stay in business long, and sold the building to Mr. Carnegie, with the plan to convert it back to a home.

Mr. Carnegie enjoyed his red brick home for a time, but then sold it to a couple named James and Louisa Murray. The Murray’s moved here in the 1950’s. They lived in their cozy home until 1979 when it was finally turned over and made into a tea shop and restaurant. Today the building is known as Jester’s Court, and can be found on the main drag of Queen’s street in Port Perry, Ontario.

The Lady in the Blue Dress
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Local legend has it that within the walls of the Jester’s Court in Port Perry, there is a lady who is seen in a blue dress. Other apparitions also keep her company. Its unknown who the lady is and why she has attracted other spirits.

One ghost is aggressive, said to sneak up behind staff who work there and giving them in a bear hug. Still, many believe these spirits with the lady in blue are not harmful.

The Little Girl and her Friend
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Another legend is that of a little girl. She’s been reported playing on the staircase where the knight is propped up in the corner by a window.

With the little girl there is a man who likes to hang out in the dining area on the second floor. He’s known for moving around the salt and pepper shakers.

The Old Woman
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An old lady has been seen almost everywhere in the restaurant. She is known for taking things off shelves and flinging them across the room. When the restaurant had renovations a few years ago, the contractors were seen running out of the place in terror. They talked about an old woman, that she was not happy with the changes.

Table Thirteen
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The last legend is that of table thirteen. It is said when the restaurant is closed and empty for the night, that some people have seen an older couple sitting at table thirteen from the street. They are having a conversation.

The question remains - who are these spirits and why do they come out at night when no one is in the restaurant?

Joseph DiFrancesco

Joseph DiFrancesco is a published author
Purchase Wicca: Living as a Solitary Wiccan

** Photos courtesy of Scugog Heritage Society - scugogheritage.com

The Fires of Port Perry
by Daniel Cumerlato
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Port Perry, Ontario is our second, and maybe even third city. A small community that has a great history in the area, but you may not see it by looking at the modern town. The pioneers started building a town in the mid-1800s, but how could they have known over the next 50 years, all they worked for would be destroyed in a series of fires which could only lead to the conclusion that Port Perry was cursed.

The first fire started from behind the main Port Perry Hotel on Queen Street in 1883. Behind the hotel was the blacksmith shop, and even though it wasn’t proven, many believe the first was started by the blacksmith. Soon this back-building was engulfed, and the heavy winds carried the flames across the interconnected Victorian structures. Within 3 hours one-third of the town was destroyed.

During the fire, some good Samaritans passing through town rushed into the burning buildings to save some of the valuables before they burned up. The citizens were impressed and would have congratulated the brave men, if they were still around. The men disappeared with most of the valuables they had saved.

The local newspaper was silenced for three weeks, so the first wasn’t reported to the rest of Ontario right away. With the newspaper, many merchants rebuilt to be ready for the spring season, and money that would help Port Perry to recover. This may have succeeded, if not for the second fire. In July of 1884 another fire broke and even higher winds carried the flames farther until all of the Queen Street businesses and hotels were engulfed. Nobody was hurt of killed, but the future historic town of Port Perry had vanished.

Who knows what the town would be like today if only the history was saved.

One more fire of note occurred about 17 years later, in 1901, when it broke from the baker’s shop. Seven major businesses were wiped off the map with many smaller businesses being affected.

Queen Street before the first major fire - Port Perry, Ontario, Canada

After the major fire of 1884

Bibliography:

1. The Peterborough Paranormal Society: We Believe
2. Scugog Heritage Society - Timelines

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