home > articles > The Museum of the Paranormal

The Museum of the Paranormal

118A Queen St (beside Maple Leaf Fudge)
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
Canada's Only Museum dedicated to everything spooky

The last remaining blacksmith shop in Niagara. Canada's
only Museum dedicated to ghosts has a couple of its own.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you find this article format difficult to read - Load the PDF version

There used to be many Blacksmith shops in Niagara-on-the-Lake, but by the 1920's only one remained.  Nicknamed "The Smithy", the shop was given to a popular local man, and budding blacksmith named William Gollop in the early 1900’s. 

Gollop lived in the large house that has been recently converted into a Starbucks.  There the unique red “barn” building has remained.

William, or Bill to his friends, first worked in “The Smithy” for blacksmith Jim Coleman.  Coleman respected Gollop, as did many, and it was an easy decision to trust his business to Bill.  After Jim died, Bill took over and moved “The Smithy” into what was his backyard.

The Smithy, now The Museum of the Paranormal, isn’t historic on the stage with other Niagara-on-the-Lake original buildings, but has an interesting history which connects its two main ghosts – the little girl and the blacksmith.

We’re not completely sure of the identity of the little girl, but many experiences, big and small, have introduced us to the feeling she’s always around.  The little girl has been seen on the main floor and heard running about the Museum upstairs. 

The Blacksmith is not William Gollop.  Perhaps it’s Jim Colman, the original blacksmith.  He seems to wander the first floor around the original fireplace.  The man has not been a pleasant energy, and may be unhappy because he’s stuck in the building, or doesn’t like the changes made.

The blacksmith’s not happy
___________________________

During renovations in March (2011), Stephanie (one of the owners) was sitting with a helper on the first floor (now the gift shop).  She heard footsteps walking across the floor upstairs.

Stephanie was about to go up and investigate when there was a loud crash.  It was the unmistakable sound of breaking glass, so violent something must have been thrown against the wall.  Stephanie froze, thought of leaving, but instead forced herself up the stairs and into the museum.

This is where she found nothing out of place and nothing broken.

Renovations stir the spirits
___________________________

During the renovations, I (Daniel) was sitting and taking a break on the main stairs looking into what would become the gift shop.  HH Mum Cathy was standing in the middle of the room when we both hear a noise. 

I watched as sunlight seeped into the shop from the backdoor, slowly, as if somebody was entering the building.  Then a loud bang as the back door slammed shut. 

There was no wind that day, and I discovered nobody around the building when running out the backdoor only seconds after it slammed.

Then there’s blacksmith’s claim to the building in the form of a disembodied face seen multiple times.   On two occasions with two different helpers, an angry man’s face appeared for only a moment, floating in the distance.  This only occurs in the first floor gift shop.  The face would appear and quickly disappear, giving just enough time to see his obvious emotions, but not enough to make out his details for identification.

The backdoor has remained closed, and the face hasn’t returned, since renovations completed in March.  Hopefully the two active spirits are at rest, even though the little girl still like to play around.

The Little Girl
___________________________

Stephanie and HH Mum Cathy were heading downstairs after closing up the museum.  Cathy was standing at the top of the stairs in complete darkness, and Stephanie was halfway down when she heard her mom gasp.

Stephanie yelled up, afraid her mom might have stumbled or was hurt, but before she could confirm, a cold breeze whipped by like the feeling of somebody running past her, but noticeably colder.

Stephanie would find out on the first floor that Cathy’s hand was grabbed while she clutched the banister.  She believed this to be the little girl because the invisible hand was small.

They both quickly shutdown and left through the back door.  Once outside, Stephanie noticed a light shining through a main floor window.   She was positive when stepping out that the building was dark. 

Stephanie went back in and shut off the main floor light.  She then noticed a light on in the basement while walking out.  She yelled to her mom begging Cathy to stand at the top of the stairs while Stephanie bravely walked down.

Daniel Cumerlato co-founded Haunted Hamilton in 1999.

Other Niagara-on-the-Lake Haunted Locations:

Museum of the Paranormal - The Haunted Piano

Museum of the Paranormal - Post Mortem Photography exibit

Museum of the Paranormal - Ghost Walk display

Museum of the Paranormal

Museum of the Paranormal - Death Masks

:: top ::

___________

___________