The Old Bank of Montreal and the New Hockey Hall of Fame

Written by Matthew Didier

I used to work as a bank teller for the Bank of Montreal (BMO) when this Front St. building was still a functioning branch. Stories about a mysterious teller abounded, and a few employees would refuse transfer to this branch because of its resident ghost.

Built in 1888 for BMO, the building remained a branch until 1993 when it became the new Hockey Hall of Fame. The story I heard as a teller goes like this...

In the early part of this century, there was a robbery at the branch in which a young woman was shot and killed. Her apparition is said to wander around the bank, especially near the area where she died --the vault. Another version of the story gives a name to the teller -- Dorthy -- and describes her as a distraught teller who took the bank's pistol, went upstairs and shot herself over a love affair gone bad.

Either way, the tales of the ghost are effectively the same; a woman in old-fashioned dress appearing near the offices and vault, and also poltergeist activity, such as lights going on and off and doors opening, closing and locking by themselves. Once, I was in the building (before its conversion to the Hockey Hall of Fame) and noticed several cold spots in and around the branch, but nothing more than that. If the new tenants have experienced anything, I have yet to read or hear of a report. Perhaps Dorthy isn't a fan of hockey.

UPDATE: This was recently sent in by one of our readers...

I saw the article on your organization in the GTA Today newspaper (October 13th, 2000), so I decided to take a look at your site. I have had a fascination with ghosts etc. since childhood, (I used to make my parents take me to graveyards just in case they were haunted) and I am always interested in any local lore so your site and organization really appeal to me.

I looked at the article about the old Bank of Montreal Building, now the Hockey Hall of Fame. I noticed that the author says that no reports have been given of any activity there since the building's conversion to the Hall of Fame. I've had communications with someone there and they have told me on a number of occasions that although they had personally not had any dealings with Dorothy (by the way, the second scenario is the better known one at the Hall), the people they work with have experienced cold patches and poltergeist activity, and a couple of the night staff have also seen her.

So Dorothy is still around, whether she likes hockey or not!

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