Spooky Speculations

Imperial Theatre - Walter Golding's Haunting Presence

12 King Square South, Saint John

In 1913, on the site of the old Lanergan’s Dramatic Lyceum, the Imperial Theatre was built. Walter Golding, a passionate and ambitious theatre manager, envisioned something grand for the city. Inspired by his friend, film producer Louis B. Mayer of MGM Studios in Hollywood, Golding persuaded the vaudeville chain Keith-Albee to bring his dream to life. Billed as the “Finest Theatre on the East Coast,” Golding had some of the most prominent entertainers of the era perform at the Imperial, including master composer John Philip Sousa, the dazzling Ethel Barrymore, and world-renowned illusionist Harry Houdini.

Spooky Speculations: The Imperial Theatre is more than just a historic stage for the arts; it's also believed to be a stage for lingering spirits. Among them, the most famous is Walter Golding himself. Golding lived with his family in an apartment just above the upper lobby - now fittingly named "Golding's Lounge". His life was deeply entwined with the theatre, and even in death, it seems Golding never truly left. Some say they've spotted Walter in the dim light of the lobby; some say they feel like they're being watched walking through the lounge after dark. Could Walter still be watching over the theatre he loved so dearly?

Loyalist Burial Ground - James Putnam's Crypt

Sydney Street & King Street East, Saint John

Established in the wake of the United Empire Loyalists' arrival in 1783, the Loyalist Burial Ground holds the stories of those who fled the American Revolutionary War, seeking refuge in a new land. For more than a century, the cemetery served as a reminder of the past, with generations of Loyalists and their descendants laid to rest within its boundaries. Today the site stands as a memorial to the courage and determination of immigrants who left their homes to establish a new life free from persecution. Among the many gravestones in the grounds, the oldest belongs to Coonradt Hendricks, dated July 13, 1784.

Spooky Speculations: The Loyalist Burial Ground is more than a resting place for the city's founders - it also harbours dark stories. Deep within the grounds lies the crypt of Chief Justice James Putnam, a descendant of the infamous Thomas and Ann Putnam, whose names are linked to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Thomas Putnam, a cunning landowner, was suspected of accusing his neighbours of witchcraft, with the goal of seizing their land after their execution. Their grandson, James Putnam, eventually became a lawyer and moved to Saint John. After his death in 1789, he was entombed in the Loyalist Burial Ground, where his crypt is encircled by a cast iron fence - meant to keep grave robbers at bay, and to form a barrier between the living and the dead. But does it truly serve its purpose? Many visitors who claim to have felt the lingering spirit of James Putnam would say otherwise...

The County Courthouse - Gallows Hill

20 Sydney Street, Saint John

In 1825, the County Courthouse began to take shape in the heart of Saint John, designed by architect John Cunningham, who was known for his designs of many prominent Saint John buildings of the period. One of the most striking elements of the Courthouse was the stone staircase that still today spirals upward for three stories, even without a central support. Legend has it that this staircase once raised eyebrows among the government of the day, who deemed it unsafe and refused to cover the costs of its construction. Cunningham gathered 49 men off the street and stood them on the stairs all at once. To everyone's astonishment, the staircase held firm, and the bill was finally paid. The Courthouse was used until late 2012, yet the story of this historic building continues, as the Saint John Theatre Company begins to transform the space into a vibrant performance venue.

Spooky Speculations: Behind the Courthouse lies a dark piece of Saint John's history: Gallows Hill. What remains now is a partial rock wall which once stood as the final sight for many who met their fate there. This space was the site of public executions. Visitors to the area today claim to hear faint, echoing creaks carried by the wind. Others have spoken of shadowy figures glimpsed near the wall. Though the physical remnants may be few, the lingering energy is something that just can't be ignored.

Place Fort La Tour - The Spirit of Madame La Tour

10 Fort Latour Drive, Saint John

As civil war raged across Acadia in 1640, a remarkable woman emerged as a beacon of courage and resourcefulness: Françoise-Marie de Saint-Étienne de La Tour. Madame La Tour became the wife of Charles de Saint-Étienne de La Tour, one of 2 claimants to the colony's governorship. She proved to be her husband's greatest supporter, travelling to France, England and Boston to secure supplies and men to fight his rival, Charles de Menou D’Aulnay. In 1645, with Charles away on business, d'Aulnay launched a fierce attack, and Madame La Tour took command of the Fort. Despite her defense over three days, her outnumbered forces were defeated. Madame La Tour surrendered to d'Aulnay, accepting his assurance that no prisoners would be harmed. However, d'Aulnay did not stay true to his word, and Madame La Tour was forced to watch the execution of her entire garrison. Just three weeks later, she died as a captive. 

Spooky Speculations: It is believed that Madame La Tour's spirit has never left the Saint John waterfront, where Fort La Tour still stands. On misty nights, some claim to have seen the figure of a woman wandering along the shore; others claim to have heard the faint echo of sobs carried by the wind. Many believe they have caught a glimpse of Madame La Tour standing at the water's edge, staring out into the harbour, forever haunted by the events of that fateful day.

Loyalist House - The Spirits Within

120 Union Street, Saint John

Stepping into Loyalist House is like stepping back in time, with its stately rooms and period furnishings offering a glimpse into Saint John's earliest history. The historic home, built in 1817, offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the Merritt-Harrison family, whose many generations kept the house continuously occupied for 150 years until it was acquired by the New Brunswick Historical Society in 1959. Remarkably, Loyalist House was one of the few structures to survive the devastating Great Fire of 1877, and stands today as the oldest wooden building in Saint John that has not been structurally altered. The home’s Georgian features remain largely untouched, including its original grand staircase.

Spooky Speculations: Every corner of the Loyalist House whispers tales of the past - but some say they hear more than just whispers. Many claim to hear children laughing and playing as they explore the home, but whenever someone investigates, no one is there. Even more puzzling is the tale of disappearing shoes that vanish from one spot and turn up in an entirely different room. Though the spirits of the house seem more mischievous than malevolent, you can't help but wonder whether those who called this place home ever truly left.

Three Sisters Lamp Post - The Waiting Sisters

St. Patrick Park, Saint John

Nestled along the shores of Saint John, the Three Sisters Lamp Post has long been a source of intrigue and legend, playing a vital role as a nautical tool for navigators. Strategically positioned in line with the steeple of Trinity Church, the Three Sisters Lamp served as a beacon of safety for sea captains seeking to enter the harbour after dark. The three red gas lamps, visible from three miles out to sea, were stationed at the end of Prince William Street, casting their glow over the water. If the three red lamps were visible at once, sailors knew they were on a direct course into the harbour; however, if only one or two could be seen, sailors knew they needed to alter their course. 

Spooky Speculations: Though no one knows for sure how the Three Sisters Lamp received its title, legend has it that it was named for a group of sisters who waited daily by the shore for their sea-faring husbands to come home. Through calm days and stormy nights, the sisters waited with lanterns in hand, but their husbands never returned. Some believe the sisters never gave up waiting, and their spirits continue to wander the harbourfront, waiting for ships that will never sail home. Though no one has ever seen the sisters themselves, the lanterns serve as a haunting reminder of their loves lost to the sea.

Partridge Island

NOTE: Partridge Island can only be accessed via a booked, guided excursion with River Bay Adventures.

Partridge Island, just off the coast of Saint John, holds a dark and haunted past. First established as a quarantine station in 1785, the island received its largest influx of immigrants in the 1840s during the Irish Potato Famine. In 1800, a signal station, gun platform, and barracks were built on the island, with the island battery acting as a principal point of defense in the War of 1812. During the famine, over 30,000 immigrants were processed by the island's visiting and resident physicians, with 1,196 dying at Partridge Island during the Typhus Epidemic of 1847. The battery was used again during the Fenian Raids of 1866, and during the First and Second World Wars.

Spooky Speculations: Visitors on a guided excursion to Partridge Island often speak of an overwhelming sense of dread as soon as they step onto its shores, as if the island itself remembers the suffering that took place there. There are tales of voices carried on the wind, and sudden cold drafts in the dead of summer.