| 
The
Ghosts of Auchmar Mansion do Exist!
By
Daniel Cumerlato
Founding
Partner of Haunted Hamilton
Read
Page 2
after this article for personal experiences reported to
Haunted Hamilton by Mitch Ness, Director of Photography/Director
on Black Hole High
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The
ghosts of Auchmar are shrouded in mystery. This is a true
because of a unique set of occupants over the years. Not
till recently have we been given the opportunity to get
stories from people who could recognize and freely speak
of the ghosts. Now that the mansion is open to TV and
movie crews and volunteers to the city’s history,
the ghosts are starting to get noticed.
Where
did it all begin? Why such a secrecy in this beautiful
mansion? These answers and more will be covered in Haunted
Hamilton’s two-part article on Auchmar mansion.
For
more details on the history of Auchmar,
please read our Disappearing
History Article: Auchmar: Prominence and History.
Main
Hallway |
Main
stairway |
Second
Floor Washroom |
It
began as Isaac’s home and the land yield no
activity. Here at Haunted Hamilton we are believers in
the connection between history and ghosts. I think it
would be far rarer to experience activity in a newer home.
That’s not to say it isn’t possible, there’s
always the land’s history or a connection with an
antique within the house, but for the Honourable Isaac Buchanan all
was quiet.
Then to a straight-lased religious military man by the
name of Captain Trigg. A man of his nature would not acknowledge
such nonsense. The Catholic Church is very clear on the
existence of ghosts, and for him to tell such tales would
earn a one-way ticket out of the congregation.
The
house was returned to the Buchanan family when Isaac’s
son James bought the house from the Captain. It’s
possible that experiences happened during this time. James
wouldn’t speak of them. Somebody within the immediate
family would be hard-pressed to speak of stories which
involved their beloved. As well, ghost stories were not
well received in those times. Sure you had entertainment
articles in local newspapers talking about folk lore,
legends or “gremlins”, but nothing of a serious
manner like we have today.
All remained quiet in the mansion as the house was sold
to the Young family. Under that ownership the mansion
was converted to a hospital during WWII. I would think
there are other things on the minds of returning veterans
than ghost hunting.
It
was then passed to the Hungarian Sisters of Hamilton and
converted into a beautiful and secluded retreat for nuns.
No ghostly visions were reported during the nun’s
stay. You’d be very hard-pressed to get any information
from the secret retreat during this time. All activities
were guarded closely by the church.
The nuns stay lasted many years, until the 1990s when
the house was abandoned.
Then
it was occupied by the creative actors and crew of YTV’s
Strange Days at Blake Holsey High (a.k.a. Black Hole High).
They opened Auchmar’s doors to many talented and
fictional students. 135 years since the mansion was built
and this is where OUR story begins.
Two workmen were carrying some heavy equipment from the
basement to the main floor. They needed to get this up
to the set folks for use in the filming that day. The
men, holding tightly to a large box, looked up just before
reaching the first floor landing. A young girl was waiting
at the top. They both saw her, and looked away only for
a moment to confirm she was there. When looking back only
a second later, the little girl had vanished.
This little girl seems to be one of the most active ghosts
within the house. Crew members have heard her voice from
the 2nd floor while working on the first. At times she
may be happily giggling, as if maybe playing. Other times
they would hear her soft cries echoing through the empty
night-time hallways. Then, only once, did a large group
of set builders hear a young girl’s blood-curdling
scream from the 2nd floor. They all ran up the stairs
only to find the entire floor empty, just like they thought
it was.
A local Hamilton woman recalls having a personal meeting
with the little girl. She had visited Auchmar with her
father (a city official at the time) when she was a child.
They were given a personal tour of the mansion just after
the nuns had moved out. Bored with the history stuff,
the young lady broke off from the tour and started exploring.
She ended up on the 2nd floor by herself.
Down
the long hallway, the young lady heard the soft giggle
of another little girl. The giggling continued, and got
closer, as if the little girl was walking towards her,
but nobody was in the hallway. At her ear now she heard
the voice say, “Play with me”. The young lady
ran down the stairs and into her father’s arms.
There is also the spirit of a woman in the basement. She’s
been seen floating throughout the vaulted stone rooms.
Many crew members and actors from the show have commented
on strange feelings while in the basement. Seems the most
noticeable energy comes from that area. Stephanie and
I have also felt this, during our personal tour with the
folks of Door Open Hamilton a few years back. It was almost
like you expected to see an uninvited guest waiting just
around the corner while moving through the small confined
rooms of Auchmar’s basement.
Not
part of the original mansion are the wardrobe rooms in
the old church corridors built by Hungarian Sisters. Dogs
brought on the set would always refuse to go into the
corridors. Actors would spend a lot of time back there
getting ready in dressing rooms. Many of them had commented
on different occasions of seeing hanging lights start
to swing on their own. The area is sectioned off from
the main mansion and there are no open windows or drafts
coming in.
Jeff Mahoney of the Hamilton Spectator brought the ghostly
world of Auchmar to the public when one of the main stars
of the show was interviewed back in 2002. Lawrence Bayne
(who played Victor Pearson, the sometime evil scientist
type) of Blake Holsey talks about his experience while
spending a quiet night at Auchmar in his dressing room:
"Well, you tell me, how does a door that is locked
and bolted suddenly swing open in the middle of the night?"
asks Bayne.
This
was part of the attraction for well-known TV series Ghost
Trackers, when Haunted Hamilton referred them to Auchmar.
They brought a crew and brave young competitors to the
mansion for the finale of season one.
One
notable experience from the night happened when a competitor
felt an invisible figure brush past them. Could this be
the little girl looking for somebody to play with?
As a final note, there’s an experience that may
not be ghostly at all. Over the years objects from the
mansion have mysteriously disappeared at different times.
This phenomenon started occurring after the city took
ownership of the house from the nuns.
Through
that time an original sundial, the WWII hospital signs
from cellar doors, a well-known statue of the Virgin Mary
and two of Isaac Buchanan’s own built-in bookcases,
have all gone missing without a trace.
If
you have any stories to report about Auchmar - please
don’t hesitate to email us at: info@hauntedhamilton.com
By
Daniel Cumerlato
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hauntings
on the set of Black Hole High
See Page 2
for personal experiences reported to
Haunted Hamilton by Mitch Ness,
Director of Photography/Director
on Black Hole High
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
References:
1. Strange Days at BHH discussion board - http://strangedays.proboards22.com/index.cgi
2. Ghost Trackers on YTV website – http://www.ghosttrackers.com
3. Haunted Hamilton submissions / Personal accounts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
©
All photos by Stephanie Cumerlato
(excluding the last Black Hole High exterior) |
