Ghost WalksThe Pellatt family barely got a chance. His home, Casa Loma, taken away so quickly after being built.
$3.5 million ($100 million today). 299 workers and 3 years to build. All for only 9 years inside his castle before the City of Toronto kicked out Sir Henry Pellatt and his family.
The following took place inside the Ottawa Jail. This is the historic local prison in Canada’s Capital. Today it’s a working Hostel where tourists can stay… on the cheap and for a story.
Many question the guilt of Patrick Whelan. This included, of course, his descendants. They still believe he’s innocent for the murder of Thomas D’Arcy McGee to this day.
The Ottawa Jail (or Carleton) was opened in 1862. Served as the Capital’s local jail for over a century. This was the site for the Hanging of Patrick Whelan.
He led a solitary life from as young as 14 years old, travelling all over until ending in Canada. It’s 1865 and Whelan would serve in the military fighting the Fenian’s who went against British rule. But many believed him to be sympathetic to the enemy.
Many ask, “Why did Evelyn Dick dump the torso in the Albion woods?”
Look deep into the story of Mrs. Dick and find that one moment which explains it all. For example, the first time police officers visited the mysterious wife of murder victim John Dick. The Torso found near Albion Falls in the 1940s.
Hamilton mobsters are like no other in Canada. Albion Falls proves this.
This city was on par with Chicago in the 1920’s. And like Chi-town, we had our own famous bootlegger, Canada’s Capone, aka Rocco Perri.
A girl lived in the once prosperous Albion Falls (Mills).
At the age of marriage, she loved a dashing man named Joseph Rousseau. From a wealthy family, he courted the impoverished Riley. It was frown upon by society, and more importantly by his own mother.
The Ottawa Jail (or Carleton) was opened in 1862. Served as the Capital’s local jail for over a century.
At the time our most “modern” facility in Canada. Modern didn’t mean luxury but suffering.
It was now about 4:30am 29th April, 1944. I looked over the side of the Athabaskan at that cold uninviting water of the English Channel by now covered with thick, dirty, fuel oil.
My first thought was “Gee, I can’t jump into that”, but when I turned around and looked at the burning ship, which was beginning to settle to her watery grave, I suddenly decided, “Hell, I can’t stay here neither”.
Ghost Guide Daniel – – Casa Loma is Spanish for “Hill House”. There are none more impressive than this one in Toronto. They called Sir Henry Pellatt “crazy” for building it. But he had a dream… to create a medieval castle in Canada!
Today it’s part of King’s Forest Park. But a century ago the area around Albion Falls was one of the darkest towns in the region.
Called Albion Mills. It was wiped off the map by the progress of time. If existing today… this is the height of dark tourism for all of Canada.