Toronto's Most Famous Haunted Houses

Curiosities
Written By Michael Jacobson

Toronto, the bustling heart of Ontario, stands not only as a testament to Canada’s modernity but also as a mirror reflecting the city’s vibrant historical tapestry. Among the threads of this tapestry, the tales of haunted houses echo the whispers of older Toronto, inviting both the curious and the brave on a journey through time. In the spirit of the season, Laura and I have collected some of our favourites below.

Mackenzie House:

Where is it Located: Downtown Toronto

The last home of William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto's first mayor, Mackenzie House at 82 Bond St is known for its eerie ambiance.

Mackenzie, who led the Rebellion of 1837 in Upper Canada, resided here from 1859 until his death in 1861. Built in 1858, this Georgian-style residence now doubles as a haunting ground post-sundown. Ghostly appearances include sightings of Mackenzie and his wife, with frequent reports of a small man in a wig and frock coat in the third-floor bedroom. The house is often considered the most haunted place in Toronto, with many visitors claiming to see the ghost of Mackenzie and an unknown woman roaming the hallways. Visitors and staff have even reported the eerie trill of piano music wafting through the halls, despite the absence of a piano. Spooky!

 

Colborne Lodge:

Where is it Located: High Park-Swansea

Perched in High Park, Colborne Lodge is a window into the 19th-century life of its original inhabitants, John and Jemima Howard.

Built in 1837, Colborne Lodge in High Park was the residence of John and Jemima Howard, the park's original owners​​. Known for its picturesque setting, the lodge also holds eerie tales of Jemima's spirit lingering in the rooms she once inhabited. Visitors claim to have seen her silhouette drifting through the hallways, a gentle reminder of Toronto’s bygone days. Haunting tales include a 1969 sighting of a figure in a second-floor bedroom window by a patrolling police officer, although the room was empty upon investigation​​.

The house hosts a "Haunted Walk" during Halloween, exploring the legends of the lodge​​.

 

Spadina House:

Where is it Located: Casa Loma

The Spadina House, with its roots tracing back to 1818, stands as a captivating meld of Toronto’s historical, architectural, and paranormal tapestry. Originally constructed by Dr. William Warren Baldwin, a prominent figure in Toronto’s early socio-political scene, the house underwent a rebirth after a fire in 1835, emerging as a Regency-style cottage. The subsequent owners, the Austin family, imparted their own architectural imprint during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, augmenting the mansion to its current form, a picturesque embodiment of various architectural styles echoing through time.

Amidst the silent whispers of its long corridors, the Spadina House harbors ghostly tales that add a spectral dimension to its rich history. Staff and visitors alike have reported eerie encounters with greyish apparitions and unknown figures darting through the private chambers of the mansion, entwining the physical and the ethereal into the house’s very fabric​​.

As one explores the Spadina House, they not only traverse through the architectural evolution of Toronto but also venture into a realm where the past residents seemingly continue to dwell, blurring the lines between the historical and the supernatural. The essence of old Toronto reverberates through the mansion’s architectural grandeur, while the reported paranormal sightings add a mysterious allure, inviting the curious to delve deeper into the narrative of Toronto's bygone days.

 

Check out these other spooky stories

 

The Grange:

Where is it Located: Grange Park

The Grange, one of Toronto’s oldest surviving houses, has been a silent witness to the city’s unfolding narrative since 1817. With its elegant architecture, it holds tales of well-dressed phantoms strolling through its rooms, possibly reminiscing about the grand balls once held within its walls. Built by D’Arcy Boulton Jr. and his wife Sarah Anne Robinson, this Georgian-style house exhibits a pristine example of the lifestyle led by Toronto’s elite during the 19th century​​​.

The Grange doesn't just cradle the whispers of the high-society that once graced its halls but also holds within its aged walls haunting tales that are as old as the mansion itself. The apparitions of a lady in black and a lady in white have often been reported, each sighting adding a spectral layer to the house's already rich narrative. These ghostly figures are said to linger around the library, staircase, and bedrooms, narrating eerie tales of the mansion’s past with their silent yet disconcerting presence​​.

The architectural charm of The Grange, entwined with its spectral tales, serves as a riveting concoction of Toronto’s architectural evolution and ghostly folklore. As visitors traverse through its elegant rooms, they not only glimpse the city's high-society lifestyle of yesteryears but also venture into a realm where the ethereal residents of The Grange continue to narrate tales of Toronto’s bygone days. This meld of historical richness and paranormal intrigue invites a deeper exploration into the city’s fascinating past, making The Grange a captivating chapter in the spectral story of Toronto.

Casa Loma

Where is it Located: Casa Loma

Perched upon a hill in the heart of Toronto, the majestic Casa Loma emerges as a grand architectural marvel echoing the aspirations and grandeur of the early 20th-century aristocracy. Commissioned by Canadian financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt and designed by architect E.J. Lennox, this Gothic Revival castle-style mansion was constructed between 1911 and 1914, becoming a tangible dream of medieval romanticism amidst a burgeoning modern city​​​.

Yet, within the grand halls and lavish rooms of Casa Loma, lies a spectral realm where the past seemingly coalesces with the present. Tales of haunting reverberate through its stony corridors, with eerie episodes of strange noises, ethereal voices, and ghostly apparitions becoming a part of the castle's rich tapestry. Among the phantoms, a mysterious Lady in White is often sighted, her presence shrouded in a tale believed to be tied to a maid who served in the mansion during the early 1900s​​.

The grand architecture of Casa Loma, with its regal towers and lavish interiors, serves as a magnificent backdrop to the haunting tales that envelop the mansion. Each ghostly narrative adds a mysterious allure to the castle, inviting the curious to delve into a journey through time, exploring the lavish lifestyle of Sir Henry Pellatt while brushing against the ethereal veil that seemingly separates the past from the present.

Casa Loma, with its architectural splendor and haunting tales, opens a fascinating window into a bygone era, inviting visitors to traverse a path where Toronto’s rich history and ghostly tales intertwine, rendering a narrative that is as captivating as it is eerie.

Each of Toronto’s hauntings holds unique stories, bound to the bricks and mortar by the echoes of the past. They invite us to step into a realm where the present meets the past, exploring these historic haunts to feel the whispers of old Toronto. Through the veil of mystery, one can touch the heart of the city's rich history, one ghostly tale at a time.

 
Michael Jacobson

The owner of Forest Hill Boutique Brokerage and proud member of the JF team, Michael is known for his no-nonsense approach and deep commitment to honesty in the real estate sector. A respected voice in the industry, Michael shares his insights and expertise on housing trends and realities through the Modern Realty Blog, guiding clients with clarity and precision in Toronto's vibrant property market.

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