The Dark Legend in the Cambridge Post Office tells a haunting love story entwined with the history of the old Galt Post. Designed by famed architect Thomas Fuller.
The tale of Postmaster William Turnbull and his secret affair with a young woman named Emily. Leading to Emily’s despair and death in the building’s clock tower.
Though historical records reveal no evidence of Emily, the legend persists. With unexplained phenomena fueling belief in her ghost.
by Ghost Guide Daniel
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LEGEND | DEBUNK | HAUNTING | CREEPY STORY
* Tour a Victorian Masterpiece not far from Cambridge in Baden’s Castle Kilbride (near Kitchener) *
Dark Legend in the Cambridge Post Office
Designed by the renowned English architect Thomas Fuller. The man responsible for many British architectural triumphs and Canada’s iconic Parliament Buildings. The old Galt Post Office now in Cambridge, Ontario is a masterpiece of stone.
Currently being run by the Idea Exchange Cambridge Library.
But with a shadow hanging over it. Because despite its prestigious design, the building is better known for a dark legend.
Fuller likely never realized he was designing the haunting grounds for a tragic love story. With a clerk named Emily and her secret lover … Postmaster William S. Turnbull.
The Legend of Emily and the Postmaster
In the realm of local legends, stories passed down as history sometimes lacks record. This is one of those.
This tale begins roughly 21 years into the career of William Turnbull. He served as the Galt Postmaster from 1898 until 1919.
According to the legend, Turnbull employed a beautiful young woman named Emily.
An affair blossomed and was carefully hidden from the public. Mostly because Turnbull was married! To a woman named Anna Isabel Gerrie (since 1899).
In this era, reputation was everything. Revealing such a scandal would obliterate William’s career and social standing.
Eventually, the weight of the deception became too much. Emily was fueled by either…
- Anger at being sidelined as the ‘other woman’ caused her to threaten to take the affair public and ruin Turnbull.
- Or she was simply exhausted by the lies and heartbroken she’d never be more than the ‘mistress’.
The one thing the legend does know … Emily ended up dead.
A Tragic End
Not long after, Emily was found dead. Hanging from a rope inside the post office’s clock tower.
Under normal circumstances, such a grisly discovery would have hit the headlines. However, Emily’s death was immediately overshadowed by another … the death of Postmaster Turnbull himself!
William died in April 1919. Said to be only days after Emily.
Official records cite his demise as a “second stroke of paralysis”. The legend suggests a romantic, somewhat vengeful cause. That he died of a broken heart.
The weirdest of them all … Emily reached back from death to pull her lover across the veil. So that they may remain together for eternity.
Fact vs. Folklore | Debunking Emily
Is there truth to the legend? When looking at historical records, the legend frays.
- The Paper Trail … While newspaper archives confirm William S. Turnbull’s death in 1919. There is no mention of any suicide or a body found in the Galt / Cambridge Post Office clock tower.
- The Missing Girl … Expanded searches of Canadian records at the same time turn up no trace of any “Emily” working at the post office or dying under such strange circumstances.
A woman found hanging in the clock towner of a public government building is sensational news! Yet the archives are silent.
Leading me to think the legend is false. An unfortunate realization for those who love a good local mystery.
However, such lack of “proof” has done little to quiet the old Cambridge Post Office.
Unexplained Phenomena
False legends rarely stop ghost stories. And the Post Office has had its fair share of activity over the decades.
The Self-Opening Windows
The building’s windows have developed a “nasty habit” of opening on their own.
Workers from the different businesses and groups inside the building over the years have reported open windows. Preceded by a sudden, unnatural cold breeze sweeping through the halls.
They’d search the building to find random windows were wide open. Driving some so crazy, they’d try painting or nailing them shut.
In some instances, the windows still opened up.
The Wrath of a Scorned Spirit
During the era when the building housed the Fiddler’s Green Pub (1980s to 2007). Emily reportedly made her presence known to those who spoke ill of her.
Musicians who mocked the ghost story during their sets often faced consequences.
Such as …
- Snapped strings on their guitars repeatedly during performances.
- Random equipment failure of sound systems and monitors. Functioning perfectly for most bands. Then inexplicably fail for those who were disrespectful towards the “lady of the house”, Emily.
Chilling Phone Call in the Building
Perhaps the most chilling account comes from a man named Scott.
He was conducting a tour of the building. When his cell phone rang. Ignoring it to remain professional and not interrupt the stories.
Afterwards, he pulled up the number and didn’t recognize it. Returned the call and after one ring, an elderly woman answered the phone.
“Hi, this is Scott. You called me.”
The woman was confused. She wasn’t calling for any Scott.
He asked her to say back the phone number back and he confirmed it was his number.
Still, wanting to help, he asked, “Maybe I know who you’re trying to reach. Who is it?”
And she answered … “I’m trying to call my daughter. Her name is Emily.”
Still standing in the old Post Office building, a chill ran down Scott’s spine. All he could answer back, “I don’t know and Emily”, and quick hung up the phone.
* Tour a Victorian Masterpiece not far from Cambridge in Baden’s Castle Kilbride (near Kitchener) *