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Ghosts and Legends fill Gananoque on Haunted Walk EMC News - “Submitted for your approval…” - Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone Gananoque is a quiet little town, not much happening. The people are friendly, the businesses small and respectable. But as the shadows fall and daylight wends its way to darkness, a caped figure carrying a lantern can be seen to emerge. Wandering the streets with a following of strangers, this not-so-ethereal apparition guides them through the older portion of the town, introducing them to the finest of the local ghosts and legends as they participate in a Haunted Walk. A special edition of the walk was brought out specifically to tease the mind and awaken the imagination for the Halloween season. Tour guide Natalie Wood started with her group at the Blinkbonnie Inn on Main Street, carefully weaving her tales as she brought them from one highly haunted spot to another. “The Blinkbonnie is one of Gananoque’s most haunted buildings,” said Wood. “We do a lot of research before using any story on one of our tours, and we rely very heavily on first hand witness accounts. We try to get multiple accounts to back these up. We also do research in the archives, the local library, and old newspapers to ensure accuracy. “Our first story of the evening has to do with this very building…” And so the darker, more interesting history of the people of Gananoque begins to unfold, one strange and twisted tale after another, making us perhaps wonder about our esteemed ancestors and whether there are more skeletons than closet lurking behind the scenes. Tales of hauntings, of odd and unexpected happenings, it’s all there at the twilight edge of town. Charles MacDonald, a well respected resident, was associated with many of the buildings and locations in town, and many tales revolve around him. Others come up as the darkening streets are navigated, going site to site, always with something slightly twisted and sinister hiding just beneath the sheets. Many know that Joel Stone had a price on his head, and quite an admirable one for its day. Fewer know that the gravedigger, a man quick to take advantage of a lucrative opportunity, removed and kept that head in order to collect on that handsome reward. For more than 50 years Stone’s skull remained missing, until it turned up in use as an ashtray in a tavern. Although it has since been returned to its rightful position at the head of Gananoque’s founder, this is a tale of skulduggery designed to make the flesh crawl in anticipation.
Gananoque’s former jail, now an ice cream parlour, also places well in tales of the unusual. For it is known that the contractor who created that tiny house of detention was also resident inside its walls not long after its completion. Arrested on charges on drunkenness and disturbing the peace, he holds the distinction of being the first person to do time in a cell of
his own construction. From Donevan’s Hardware Store to the Clock Tower to Town Hall itself, the town is steeped in mystery and legend. And not all of it falls into the shadowed past. Stories continue to this very day. On the night of October 27, 2012, a local reporter had joined the group to cover the spooky goings on. She had
just come from a successful session of photographing young people in costume enjoying some of the seasonal festivities. However, upon entering the Blinkbonnie to join the other members of the tour, the shutter on her camera ceased to function. The battery was fine, every other aspect worked perfectly, but everything went dead each time she touched the shut-
ter in an attempt to get even one picture with which to illustrate her story. As they meandered the streets, she tried again and again but to no avail. The camera was obviously out of commission. However, upon arriving home just after completing the tour, the shutter again worked perfectly with no sign of ever having been faulty. Coincidence, or yet
another tale to add to the collection for haunted Gananoque? You decide… Haunted walks are available throughout the warmer seasons. Lasting about 90 minutes each, they make 12 stops and give an insight into the true ghost stories, legends and history of the town. For more information, please go to www.hauntedwalk.com .
Brockville Concert Association | 65th Anniversary
Photo Credit: Sian Richards
Toronto Symphony Orchestra Saturday, November 17th, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $40 - $10 for students - Free for under 18 years old Brockville Arts Centre 613-342-7122
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By LORRAINE PAYETTE
Founded in 1922, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is one of Canada’s major cultural institutions and is recognized as a leading orchestra in the world. The Orchestra comes to Brockville for the 65th Anniversary of the Brockville Concert Association.
This is an exceptional event. Not to be missed. Reserve your tickets NOW Please join us for a half hour pre-concert chat at 6:30 pm in the Brockville Arts Centre auditorium, featuring Toronto Symphony Orchestra Music Director, Peter Oundjian, and host Eric Friesen.
Program Beethoven Triple Concerto Peter Oundjian, conductor | Jonathan Crow, violin | Shauna Rolston, cello | Andre Laplante, piano Glinka: Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila Beethoven: Concerto for Piano, Violin, and Cello “Triple Concerto” Shostakovich: Symphony No. 12 “The Year 1917”
Sponsors In memory of Mrs. Florence Lindsay ST. LAWRENCE EMC - Thursday, November 1, 2012 9