It's rare to hear a report that mimics the worst types of hauntings you might find in fictional accounts on TV, in books or the movies, but according to Barabara Smith in Ontario Ghost Stories, a house that fits that bill existed (and may yet exist) in Appleton, Ontario.
According to Ms. Smith, the house was built in the 1830's for a well-to-do husband and wife. Since the home was more room than they needed, the husband invited his sister (referred to as a 'spinster' in the book) to live with them as well. All was well in the home until another sibling, a brother of the husband, passed away orphaning twelve children.
The three in Appleton took these children in, and according to Ms. Smith, the strain of raising twelve children drove the spinster sister to the brink of insanity and possibly brought on a premature death. It's the "spinster" that was assumed to be the ghost that still haunted the place.
This story pacified, if a little strangely, the folks who, in the 1970's picked up this "bargain" in real-estate... complete with it's private cemetery containing seven graves.
Apparently, the owners had noticed things "from the corner of their eye" and had noted an 'air' in the place... especially when it came to their young daughter. They surmised, on hearing the tale, that the ghost of the women drove almost mad by children being thrust into her home was none-to-happy about yet another child coming in... despite this being long after her own demise.
According to Ms. Smith, this made the events somehow tolerable (we note that to many, understanding will ease things as much in some cases as ridding a home of "something",) and they eventually became comfortable in their haunted home.
Many thanks to Ms. Smith and Lone Pine Publishing for allowing us to put up this report.
If this story sounds familiar and you have something to add to the report, or even if you have a report of your own to impart, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know. We promise your anonymity and privacy are assured as we are compliant with the privacy laws of Ontario brought in on March of 2004.
According to Ms. Smith, the house was built in the 1830's for a well-to-do husband and wife. Since the home was more room than they needed, the husband invited his sister (referred to as a 'spinster' in the book) to live with them as well. All was well in the home until another sibling, a brother of the husband, passed away orphaning twelve children.
The three in Appleton took these children in, and according to Ms. Smith, the strain of raising twelve children drove the spinster sister to the brink of insanity and possibly brought on a premature death. It's the "spinster" that was assumed to be the ghost that still haunted the place.
This story pacified, if a little strangely, the folks who, in the 1970's picked up this "bargain" in real-estate... complete with it's private cemetery containing seven graves.
Apparently, the owners had noticed things "from the corner of their eye" and had noted an 'air' in the place... especially when it came to their young daughter. They surmised, on hearing the tale, that the ghost of the women drove almost mad by children being thrust into her home was none-to-happy about yet another child coming in... despite this being long after her own demise.
According to Ms. Smith, this made the events somehow tolerable (we note that to many, understanding will ease things as much in some cases as ridding a home of "something",) and they eventually became comfortable in their haunted home.
Many thanks to Ms. Smith and Lone Pine Publishing for allowing us to put up this report.
If this story sounds familiar and you have something to add to the report, or even if you have a report of your own to impart, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let us know. We promise your anonymity and privacy are assured as we are compliant with the privacy laws of Ontario brought in on March of 2004.