A Journey Through Ghostly Legends
Windsor & Essex County, Ontario, with its rich history, is filled with eerie tales and supernatural experiences that continue to intrigue both locals and visitors alike. The region, home to some of Canada’s oldest settlements, has witnessed dark moments throughout its past, leading to many stories of hauntings and paranormal activity. Here, we explore some of the most haunted places in Essex County—places where ghost sightings and unexplainable occurrences have been reported for decades. These locations, each with their own ghostly lore, are bound to give you a shiver as you uncover some of their spooky histories.
King’s Landing: George the Ghost
King’s Landing in Kingsville, once the home of the Grovedale family and now the site of The Grovedale Arts & Event Centre, was notorious for its ties to rum-running during the Prohibition era. One of its spectral inhabitants, George, is said to be the spirit of George Stills, a fisherman who worked for the Grovedale family. Legend has it that George was murdered after demanding his fair share of the illegal profits. Since then, George’s ghost has made his presence known, particularly through mischievous acts like turning lights and faucets on and off.
Employees of the former establishment have shared strange experiences, such as lights that would mysteriously switch back on after being turned off. Some reported feeling as if George was playing tricks on them as they closed the place down for the night.
Willistead Manor: The Mystery of the Basement
Willistead Manor, once the home of Edward Chandler Walker and his wife Mary, is another storied location in Essex County. The 36-room mansion now hosts weddings and other events, but the basement has a more sinister reputation. Multiple catering staff have reported terrifying experiences while working in the manor’s basement, so unsettling that they resigned from their jobs without offering any explanation.
Visitors and staff alike have sensed a disturbing presence in the lower levels of the building, with some even reporting feelings of being watched or followed by an unseen entity.
The Barrel House: A Phantom Bouncer
The Barrel House, located in Sandwich Town, is another site where strange occurrences are often reported. The bar, formerly known as The Mill Tavern, has a resident spirit who is said to keep rowdy patrons in check. According to legend, the ghost is Simon Girty, a controversial Loyalist who frequented the establishment in the 1700s. Girty’s spirit allegedly pushes unruly customers or causes their drinks to move mysteriously across the table.
Witnesses have described moments where aggressive confrontations between patrons were suddenly interrupted by an invisible force, leaving those involved stunned and confused.
Duff-Baby House: The Ghost Dog
The Duff-Baby House in Sandwich Town is one of the oldest and most haunted homes in Windsor. The house, now open by appointment only, is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a dog. Many have heard the unmistakable sound of paws walking across the hardwood floors or scratching at the doors, even though no animals have been allowed in the house for years.
Caretakers have shared stories of hearing barking late at night, only for the noise to stop once they announce themselves, as though reassuring the spirit of the dog that no harm is coming.
Canadian Club Distillery: The Phantom Figure
The Canadian Club Distillery in Windsor is a popular venue for weddings and events, but it also has a chilling paranormal history. Years ago, armed security guards reported seeing a shadowy figure walking toward them during a nighttime patrol. Despite shouting warnings and eventually firing their weapons, the figure continued to approach. The bullets passed right through it, and the apparition eventually vanished without a trace.
These unsettling experiences have left many wondering who—or what—roams the halls of this historic building.
Artisan Grill: A Wrongful Conviction Haunts
Amherstburg’s Artisan Grill has its own share of ghost stories. The building, once home to Bullochs Tavern, is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a man who was wrongly convicted and hanged for a crime he didn’t commit. According to the tale, a tenant assaulted one of the Bulloch daughters while she was alone in the restaurant. In the chaos that followed, another tenant was falsely accused and executed for the crime. Years later, the true perpetrator confessed.
Today, the ghost of the innocent man is said to linger in the building, with reports of objects moving on their own and doors opening and closing mysteriously. Tenants of the upper floor apartments have even claimed to hear shouting in the middle of the night, only to find no one there.
The Gordon House: Music From Beyond
The Gordon House in Amherstburg, now used as a tourism office, has a long-standing reputation for being haunted. The daughter of the house’s original owners was a talented musician who was arranged to marry a man who disliked music. Heartbroken, she passed away, but it’s said her spirit still returns to play the piano.
People visiting the building have reported hearing music, even though there is no piano inside. This ghostly melody is believed to be the grieving daughter expressing herself from beyond the grave.
Texas Road Cemetery: The Headless Bride
Texas Road Cemetery is the source of many chilling legends, but none more so than the story of a headless woman in white. According to the tale, a husband, enraged by his wife’s infidelity, took her to the cemetery where he brutally murdered her with a cleaver, severing her head. He confessed to the crime but never revealed the location of her head.
Visitors to the cemetery have reported sightings of a headless figure wandering the grounds, seemingly searching for what was taken from her on that tragic night.
Park House Museum: The Woman in Black
The Park House Museum in Amherstburg has one of the most well-documented ghost sightings in Essex County. Visitors often report seeing a woman dressed in black colonial clothing in the upstairs rooms. Many believe this spirit is Mrs. Park, mourning the loss of one of her children who died at a young age.
The ghost is so lifelike that visitors sometimes mistake her for a member of the museum staff, only to be told that no one was upstairs when they saw her.
Mackenzie Hall: The Ghost That Drags Objects
Mackenzie Hall in Windsor, originally a courthouse and jail, has a long history of paranormal activity. Among the many stories, one of the most unnerving is that of the “Dragging Ghost.” Late at night, objects are said to move across rooms on their own, with the sound of something heavy being dragged across the floor.
One former employee recalled leaving a ladder on the second floor, only to find it moved across the room the next day. He had been the only person in the building at the time, adding to the eerie mystery of the site.
Conclusion
Windsor – Essex County is full of ghostly legends and eerie tales, each contributing to the rich, haunted history of the region. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, visiting these haunted sites is sure to be a memorable—and spine-tingling—experience. From the mischievous George at King’s Landing to the sorrowful piano melodies of the Gordon House, these ghost stories continue to captivate and fascinate those who dare to explore them.
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in Windsor and Essex County, The Dan Gemus Real Estate Team has the experience to assist you in the Windor-Essex County real estate market. Reach out to the team with experience you can trust 7 days/week: 519-566-5565 / www.DanGemus.com
