Ghost stories of British Columbia

178 Pages·2015·2.2 MB·English

by  Christensen

Ghost Stories
of
British Columbia
For
Steven Christensen Shappka;
my newest inspiration.
Ghost Stories
of
British
Columbia
JO-ANNE
CHRISTENSEN
Ghost Stories of British Columbia
Copyright © 1996 by Jo-Anne Christensen All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise (except brief passages for purposes of review) without the prior
permission of Hounslow Press. Permission to photocopy should be requested from the Canadian Copyright
Licensing Agency.
Hounslow Press
A member of the Dundurn Group Publisher: Anthony Hawke Editor: Nadine Stoikoff Designer: Sebastian
Vasile Printer: Webcom
Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
Christensen, Jo-Anne Ghost stories of British Columbia Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-88882-191-3
1. Ghosts - British Columbia. I. Title.
BF1472.C3C56 1996 133.1'09711 C96-930605-9
Publication was assisted by the Canada Council, the Book Publishing Industry Development Program
of the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the Ontario Arts Council.
Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the
publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credit in subsequent editions.
Printed and bound in Canada Third printing: January 2000
Hounslow Press Hounslow Press Hounslow Press
2250 Military
8 Market Street 73 Lime Walk
Road
Suite 200 Headington, Oxford Tonawanda, NY
Toronto, Ontario, Canada England U.S.A. 14150
M5E 1M6 OX3 7AD
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Mysterious Museums
– Mandy: Quesnel’s Haunted Doll
– From Gold to Ghosts: The Black Nugget Museum
– A Greenwood Ghost Named “Charlie”
– The Chilliwack Legend
– Rudolph Schultz: The Creston Crypt–Keeper
Chapter 2: Three Stories from a “Sensitive”
– The Walker
– An Unwelcome Premonition
– An Impatient Presence
Chapter 3: The Haunted Hotels
– Rights of a Ghost: The Harbour House Hotel Story
– “We Call It ‘Casper’ ”
– A Spirit Summons
– Whistler’s Mocking Ghosts
– Haunting at the Heriot Bay Inn
Chapter 4: Destinations: Unknown
– Miss Stiff: The Sooke Spinster
– A Time-Shift on Shelbourne Street
– A Soldier’s Last Moments
– The Chinese Hitchhiker
– The Mists of Time
Chapter 5: The Spooky Standards
– Doris Gravlin: The April Ghost
– The Good Ghost Photo
– The Presence in Carr House
– Ghosts in “Them Thar Hills”
– Ratz’ Return
– The Haunting of Heron Street
– The Headless Brakeman
– The Ghostly Gallery
– A Lady in Blue
– Eerie Art: The Hetty Fredrickson Story
Chapter 6: The Dunsmuir Homes
– Craigdarroch: Castle for a Coal Baron
– Hatley Park: The Next Generation
Chapter 7: Unfinished Business: Messages from Beyond
– The Gift
– The Debt
– Surrounded by Angels
– Grandmother’s Visit
– A Promise Kept
– Bill Drops In
– Tara’s Light
– “A Warm, Wonderful Feeling”
– The Heirloom
– Norman Taylor’s Message
Chapter 8: Children and the Paranormal
– Kukin and Frindon
– Phantom Footsteps
– The McIntyre Mystery
– Caitie’s Friend
– Quiet Companion
– An Eventful Year
– Melinda’s Stories
– The See–Through Man
Chapter 9: Apparitions
– The Woman Through the Wall
– The Appearance of “Abe”
– The Intruder
– The Doppelganger
– The Party Scene
– The Suspect Returns
– The Reverse Ghost
Chapter 10: The “Explained”
– The Ross Bay Mistake
– The Haunting of the St. George Hotel
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
It is important to acknowledge that I did not write this book alone. I had help and
support every step of the way, and I wish now to thank those who provided it.
Thank you Dennis, my husband, who is my partner in every way.
Thanks to my family and friends, who can always be counted on for their
enthusiasm.
For all contributors who took the time to write down their personal
experiences, then, at my request, often found more time to elaborate their
accounts and search for accompanying photographs—and, for those guardians of
our past; the many helpful folks employed at BC’s museums, libraries, and
archives—I am most grateful. You are the people who shaped this book.
My appreciation goes to Stoddart Publishing for permission to quote from
one of their books in the story, “Grandmother’s Visit.” This tale is based upon a
story originally written by Sheila Hervey.
And finally, many thanks to my publisher, Tony Hawke, who has been
patient and encouraging, as always.
Introduction
I’ve always hated it when people ask me what I do for a living.
If you say you’re a writer (and this may hold true for any slightly flaky non-
nine-to-five occupation), people’s eyes just sort of glaze over. Back in the days
when I wrote advertising, I would add that fact so that the blank stare would at
least be replaced with a look of thinly veiled contempt. (“Oh, so you lie for a
living,” one master of tact actually said. Ironically, he was in sales.)
But for the past few years, what I’ve been writing are these true ghost stories,
so if anyone presses me to be more specific about what I do, this is what I must
tell them. And if the eyes were glazed over to begin with, we’re talking full-
blown cataracts, in response to this.
I have to assume that most folks don’t know how to comment on such a
senseless choice of profession. As for those who do say something, they seem
motivated by the subject matter, rather than the fact that I have written about it.
Interestingly, the reactions vary wildly.
Religious conviction seems to influence the response—but I’m a little
confused as to how. It leads some people to believe in the earthly presence of
spirits, and others to adamantly reject such a possibility. Yet, both camps credit
their faith as the source of their conviction.
A similar division can be found among those considering the possibility that
their own departed loved ones may be lingering, in some form, among us. Some
people are comforted and reassured by the notion; others are horrified by it,
feeling that the person cannot be at rest if they remain earthbound in any way.
And then there are those who just find the concept of ghosts generally
upsetting. If you are one of them—and I must confess, I find it strange that
you’re even reading this book, if you are—I encourage you to enjoy the stories
simply as stories. After all, if there is a subject matter that falls into the “believe-
it-or-not” category, this is it.
For the record, I do believe in ghosts. I have found it impossible to disbelieve