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The Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
by Stephanie Lechniak

The History
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Located in the heart of downtown Kingston, the Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast boasts a romantic and quiet atmosphere, perfect for a relaxing weekend retreat. Be warned however, that once you stay at the Secret Garden, you'll never want to leave!

Being Ontario's oldest city, Kingston (which is also known as 'The Limestone City') is strategically located along the wealthiest business corridor's in the country, and is the major source for commerce, education and health services in southeastern Ontario. During the 1800's, the city's location provided prosperity through shipbuilding and national defense. Kingston was the first capital of the united Upper and Lower Canadas before the National Seat of Government was moved to Ottawa in the 1840's.

It is no wonder Kingston is home to some of the most beautiful and historic structures in all of Canada. Simply take a walk in the posh yet cultural streets of downtown and you'll see that no two buildings are alike!

The Home
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The Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast is a fine example of historical craftsmanship at its best. Located at 73 Sydenham Street, the home was first built in 1888 by John McKay, a local fur and leather merchant. His business, known as 'John McKay Limited Furs' was located on the busy street of Brock between numbers 149-157.

In 1883, before the Victorian home was even built, there was a school on the property called, "Miss M. Barclay School" which was later torn down to make way for the grand home. When the house was built, it was technically located at #61 Sydenham Street, until the 1920's, when the address changed to #73.

The home remained in the McKay family until 1943, when a Mr. John R. McCullough purchased it with his wife Genevieve. They subsequently moved out in 1960 and the house remained vacant for three years until in 1963 when Mr. Fergus J O'Connor Jr., a local physician, purchased the home with his wife Constance. Mrs. Fergus, who was active in church, community, and charitable affairs, died in the home.

Mr. Fergus sold the house in 1977 and a Mr. Pete Steven, a lecturer at Queen's University purchased it but only lived there for a year. In 1979, Richard Hession, of 'Hession Foods Limited' claimed ownership of the home and lived there until 1992, when he sold it to a couple, Judith A. Taylor and Peter Dand, who was a professor at Queens who had the home converted into two apartments.

It wasn't until 1996 that the home was purchased by John and Maryanne Baker and turned into what we know it as today, The Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast. The couple spent ten month's preparing and renovating the home, to restore it to its original historic state.

The large Queen Anne residence has a tower that is typical of the era and features seven large guest rooms, antique fireplaces, stained-glass windows, a sweeping porch, and a trademark "secret garden" located on the patio with a sitting area and fountain.

The Hauntings
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As well as being a "home away from home" for welcomed and visiting guests, The Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast is also home to several ghosts. We had the opportunity to stay at this warm, elegant, and haunted home during our visit to Kingston this past winter. We sat down with John and Maryanne one evening by the fire, and spoke to them about the hauntings.

When the Bakers first moved in (in 1996), John was the first to hear a 'tinkling' of glasses coming from the kitchen. He mentioned it to Maryanne and she thought that perhaps when she had unpacked the glasses, one of them toppled over causing the 'tinkling' sound. However a few days later at around 6:00 a.m., when Maryanne was sitting in the the living room trying to decide on a paint colour for the room, she heard a very distinctive 'tinkling' of glasses. With wobbly knees, she investigated and found nothing.

At the time, the Baker's room was located on the third floor of the home. Maryanne would be awakened by the sound of footsteps on the stairs and a rustling or 'swishing' sound in the hallway. This happened regularly for the first two years.

During these first few years, all of their children, who were well into their late twenties and thirties, also began to hear the 'tinkling' of glasses from the kitchen area. Others would also hear the footsteps and on one occasion the Baker's daughter-in-law said she was awaken by a dark shadowy figure pushing her shoulder. She said she also saw a 'lady in a white dress' at the foot of her bed. These experiences occurred in the Secret Garden's "Angels' Watch" guest room.

Another incident happened when Maryanne had just finished cleaning "Theresa's Room." John and her were the only two people in the house, and as she came down from the third floor and passed "Theresa's Room", she backed up and looked at the bed. It appeared as if someone had been lying on the left side as the comforter and pillow had a full body indentation in it. Maryanne called John to have a look, and they both stood there in amazement.

Maryanne's mother, who visits regularly and likes sits on the porch in the front, has also had a strange experience. She heard the sound of someone knocking on the window from inside, as if trying to get her attention. She heard this several times, but nobody was there inside to have done it.

The Baker's son, who was playing hide and seek with his son (their grandchild), told them that in the same corner where the window knocking occurred, someone or something whispered "'ha, ha, ha" in his ear when he was hiding behind a chair.

One of their other sons, who was home alone, heard the toilet flush in a third floor washroom. He simply thought that John and Maryanne were in the house, until realizing that they still hadn't returned from shopping. He was so frightened that he spent an entire hour on the front porch waiting for them to get home!

Former residents of the house, a pediatrician and his family of eight
children, lived there for several years. One of the children, now in his
forties, rented the entire home for his son's wedding. Maryanne later asked him if he had ever experienced anything strange while living here and he explained how he and his father would hear 'swishing' sounds in the halls and thirteen footsteps coming from the second to the third floor, stopping outside of his room, (the same "Retreat Room" where Maryanne heard the sounds). He would rush to the door and open it, expecting to see someone, but no one was ever there. He also indicated that his father always felt the ghostly presence of a man in the home.

Recently, three sisters and their mother visited the house for a weekend retreat. Two of the sisters occupied the "Retreat Room" on the third floor and one of them said commented on the spirits there. She explained that there is a little girl who likes to play in the closet of that room. Her sister told Maryanne that she often experiences these things psychically and when they first arrived, she immediately informed her mother and sisters that there was a 'presence' in the house.

Occasionally, Maryanne will still hear the 'tinkling' sound at 6 a.m. She'll continue to investigate thinking it is a guest, only to find no one around. Maryanne thinks that perhaps this is the spirits way of letting her know that it's still around.

Final Thoughts
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Kingston's unique history and personality is not only defined by its charming and eclectic architecture, but as well, by its proud heritage and the people who made it what it is today. People like Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, who called Kingston home, or the French explorer La Salle, who first discovered Kingston back in 1669 and called it "Cataraqui".

Home to an exciting urban gathering place, Kingston reflects a proud and glorious past, one which Maryanne and John Baker kept close to their heart when they opened up the Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast, and continue to exude as each day passes. Oh, and be sure to try Maryanne's spectacular 'Banana Compote', a favourite of Dan's and mine!

Stephanie Lechniak

Additional Info
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The Secret Garden Bed & Breakfast Inn

John & Maryanne Baker
73 Sydenham Street
Kingston, Ontario K7L 3H3
Phone: 1-613-531-9884
Toll free: 1-877-723-1888 Canada & US

Email: baker@the-secret-garden.com
Web: www.the-secret-garden.com

Directions are located at the above website.

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