Post by merangel on Feb 25, 2016 8:47:35 GMT -5
One of my favorite haunted sites. It's local to me and public.
Of the many souls that have come back to relive the exciting grand opening ball over a 100 years ago, I had the opportunity to see the famous lady in white. She wears a white or very light coloured ball gown, carrying a closed fan. She has curly tendrils framing her face and appears to a select few. I caught a glance of her in the mirror by one of the banquet rooms on the main floor to the right of the entrance. It was a fleeting moment and I felt it was special. So special that I didn't mention it to anyone else while I was there or anyone else I knew for a long time.
History and tidbit facts:
- Built in 1913 by Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, owned by Charles Melville who died on the Titanic (1912) before his railways, Chateau Laurier and Fort Garry Hotel was finished.
- During construction, bricklayer, John Leighton, was killed when he fell down an elevator shaft.
- French Chateau Style Architecture.
- Celebrity guests have frequented the hotel: Charlie Chaplin, Liberace, Louis Armstrong, King George IV, Queen Elizabeth II (in 1939), etc.
- John Draper Perrin family of Winnipeg owned the hotel 1979-1987.
- Currently run as an independent hotel.
- Today it holds a spa, swimming pool, a ball room, restaurant, lounge, banquet rooms, a small shop with an immaculate vintage style diner/shop area, among other areas. It's a popular wedding venue and there is a fancy brunch, I think it's every week. It's sort of a mish-mash of eras.
- In one of the towers there used to be a printing press area where they drew up their own menus and stationary. The very large printing press is still there and is accessible through a rooftop doorway, but it's unknown if the area is off limits to the public or not. Ask first.
- The unmarked and open little hallway to the right of the stairs leading to the 2nd floor is a restricted area. (They really need to put some signs there or something.)
Folklore and legends:
- Room 202 is famously haunted. Story goes that a lady hung herself in the room after catching news her husband died in a car accident. There is no confirmed reports of this. A lady felt someone sitting and laying down beside her in bed. When she turned to see if it was her husband there was no one there.
- People have reported odd behaviours of the elevators. It is believed to be the cause of John Leighton.
- There is speculation a cook was killed and beheaded in the kitchen. (Kinda makes you not want to eat there.
- An old hag has been spotted in the fire escape stairwells. She is described as terrifying.
- Another old lady, but a nicer one, has been witnessed by family in an elevator. She talks to kids and remarks on how much the styles have changed. When she reaches her floor she disappears into the air as she leaves the elevator.
- Some guests feel odd presences in their rooms, sometimes.
Charles Melville - died on Titanic
