During a ghost-hunting TV show at Hamilton’s Custom House, Ghost Guide Daniel was frustrated by fake experiences. Highlighted by a producer moving the “cursed” boots off-camera to manufacture ghosts.
Later at the Hermitage, Daniel experienced a genuine paranormal moment. Disgusted by the crew’s staging, he hid the encounter from the producers to keep the real spirit exploitation.
This is that story…
Article by Ghost Guide Daniel
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Custom House | Boots | Hermitage | Experience
Legendary Hermitage Ruins
Walk the Haunted Woods for an evening with stories of ghosts, mystery & history.
Bad Shoot Turns to Real Ghosts in Hamilton
The following story happened early in my career as a paranormal investigator and tour guide. Put into an awkward situation with people who didn’t really care about the subject of spirits.
Back in the early 2000s, ghost tours weren’t the booming, mainstream industry they are today. Back then, just starting out at a couple of the most haunted places in the City of Hamilton. The promotion was important to spread the word about the Ghost Walks.
I was a paranormal investigator nearing the tail end of my active run, equipped with standard tools like pendulums and EMF detectors.
Then, out of the blue, a major TV station showed interest. Called The Space Channel. Today it’s been turned into CTV Sci-Fi.
They were filming a high-quality show on ghost hunting and wanted experts to work alongside their psychic. To show off Paranormal Investigative tools and show how to use them.
Truthfully, I was flattered! To have such a large Canadian station reach out. It was big.
Hamilton Haunts
The show featured two legendary, haunted locations in Hamilton. Both of which were featuring ghost tours at the time…
- The Custom House (in the north end of Hamilton)
- The Hermitage Ruins (up in Ancaster)
Note, the Custom House tour has since ended. But click the above link to see details about the Legendary Hermitage Ruins.
Custom House Shenanigans
While driving to our first set at the Custom House, I had a nagging feeling. Something wasn’t right.
My experiences were limited back then. Not tuned to some of the fakery now seem coming miles away. But some red flags were obvious.
However, a binding contract was signed. And preparation is done with money exchanging hands. Location fees, staff and such. Last time I’d want to do is ruin this for others … along with the fear of being sued.
Lesson for future shoots … ask questions about the format and research your co-presenters!
Now inside the Custom House, the crew focused mostly on the basement. Strangely avoiding the infamous vault room where the “Dark Lady” (one of Canada’s oldest known ghosts) was supposed to reside.
Instead, they set up in the room across from it, which looked a bit creepier for camera.
Then meeting the show’s psychic. Off camera, she was a perfectly normal, down-to-earth lady. But the moment the cameras rolled, she transformed into the “over-the-top” psychic popular in the day. Dramatically gesturing and describing intense feelings.
If you’ve ever been on the Custom House Ghost Walk, you might remember the old boots once in the basement, under the stairs. Same space once buried in dirt during the building’s abandonment.
When the room was cleared out, they uncovered the boots. Quickly sparked rumors they were cursed.
Employees were strictly warned never to touch them, but one manager ignored the warning. Shortly after handling the boots, a chain-link fence collapsed right on top of her.
Unforgivable Act
The producer heard about the boots and decided to create some drama. Went like this…
- He grabbed a boot, walked across the hall into the filming room, and tossed it roughly on the table.
- Off-camera … he joked, “Maybe people will think the Dark Lady moved the boot!”
Fast forward days later, around Halloween.
I’m watching a local news segment covering the Custom House. And there it was, the boot, on camera. With the reporter asking, “Did the Dark Lady move the boot?”
Off to the Hermitage Ruins in Ancaster
Next, we headed to the Hermitage Ruins in Ancaster. A small, very historic town amalgamated into Hamilton in 2001. A deeply atmospheric location nestled in the dark woods.
The site has amazing history dating back to the 1850s. With the Leith house which burned down in 1934. And land tethered to the Canadian ghost legend of “Lover’s Lane”.
The producers continued their playbook of letting the psychic lead the show. After a bit of exploring, there was a break.
I then slipped away to the back ruin, once the Laundry House. An intact ruin with a window frame. Just me and my EMF Meter.
Around there have been a few stories. This specific spot has seemingly boring history, yet it always felt charged with energy for unknown reasons.
The Ghosts Show Up
I scanned the area and turned facing toward the pitch-black woods, up on the hill behind the stones.
My EMF Meter spiked from zero straight to the absolute top. Holding that charge as I looked around for anything to explain why.
There were no electrical outlets, no water pipes and no hidden wires out in the middle of the woods! It stayed pinned at maximum for a full minute while I stood frozen in shock.
Then dropping to zero almost in sync with the producer’s voice calling out in the distance, “Is everything okay back there, Daniel?”
My quick reaction was to yell back, “Everything’s fine! Nothing back here!”
Why I Kept It a Secret
I never told the crew. But why Daniel, you may ask?
Because I was deeply peeved off by all the fakeries. Staging and manufactured drama with the boots of the Custom House.
I didn’t want this show to capture a genuine spirit interaction at one of the greatest paranormal hotspots in Canada. And it was my one and only true ghostly encounter during the production
Easy decision to keep it for myself.
I’m pretty sure the show aired on the Space Channel. Don’t normally seek them out as I can’t watch myself on camera. Think it was well-received. Which makes me happy that some good came out of an uninspiring experience.
Article by Ghost Guide Daniel