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The Hermitage

On September 17th, 2005 the group packed up and drove up to Hamilton. After getting lost, stopping for directions, and being completely disoriented, we finally found our way to the hotel!! (Note of caution the lake is to the North not South so your sense of direction gets screwed up).

We had a full night ahead of us and wanted to relax until we did some investigating. When the time came, we jumped back into the car and headed out towards our first destination. But first, we purchased a map, which became our Bible!

Our first destination was the Hermitage, which has an extensive history. The ruin of this old house still stands today, out in the woods of Ancaster. We arrived at 6pm and parked in the parking lot of the park. We originally signed up for an after hour tour on the net to see the Hermitage, but to our surprise there was no tour! It was a good thing we did not pay online for this tour!! (Note - please call any location you want to book a tour for off the net!). It didn’t matter to us though; we still wanted to check the place out.

While in the parking lot, we met with the park ranger, but cannot remember his name sorry! He was very nice and engaged in a conversation with us about the Hermitage and the strange things that go on there. He left us to explore the ruins and said he would return. The path to the ruins was a large hiking path. On the way up, we noticed some very strange things. After just minutes into our walk, Rachel noticed that one leaf on a small plant was moving like crazy, fast and wiggly, as if someone was holding that leaf in their hand, and that leaf only, shaking it vigorously. Funny thing was, there was no wind whatsoever and the rest of that plant was not moving …only that leaf.

We walked a little further and noticed that a small tree was also shaking very violently. It was the only thing moving and there was still no wind! Not even a breeze! Soon our walk was done and our eyes lay upon the Hermitage Ruins.

Brenda began feeling pulled to the left of the ruins to where she said was once a driveway. Instead we went straight at this point. We noticed there were numerous people at the site, taking pictures and what not. We decided to wait for these people to leave, so Brenda would sense other energies rather than sensing theirs. We strolled around the ruins, and headed to the back of the property. At this point Brenda said that a man had told her that he had carved the name of a young girl who had an affair with a slave on the back wall of the place. Each of us searched but could not find the name (due to the amount of graffiti).

Brenda also began to describe how she felt and saw the presence of another man. She said he was like a nobleman with a long dress-like coat. He walks the grounds a lot, Brenda said to us. People began to leave the ruins and eventually we were the only ones left there.

Brenda began to wonder around the yard. She stated that she felt the young girl, who wore a long yellow dress, with white ruffles. She liked to sway & twirl around that part of the yard, which would be behind the main house to the right, facing the very back. Brenda also showed us the way this young girl moved about with her dress being held in her right hand, so she would not trip on it. Brenda felt that we were being watched, but could not pinpoint where they were hiding. Brenda said the young girl went to the back of the buildings to wait for someone, who did not show, but could not understand why. Brenda did mention the young girl was waiting for her lover to meet her. Brenda also described how the buildings looked when they were still in tact. She described which building was for what, and that the stables were not where most thought they were.

Brenda also spoke about the water hole at the back of the house, just off into the woods. We searched and found an old well cemented over. Brenda also said there was another spirit there, one of an elderly lady. She kept trying to coax Brenda to follow her down the path behind the house, but Brenda felt uneasy about the woman's request. At another point when we walked out, Brenda said, Goodbye. When we asked whom she was speaking to, Brenda said “Oh it's just the older lady. She is kind of sad we are leaving and mentioned how nice it would have been to have us for tea. When Brenda looked over her shoulder, back towards the house, she said it was different…it wasn't stone, but wood and was a two story home, different from how the ruins make it look today.

It was beginning to get dark, so we headed back, but not before we took a few more pictures. Brenda looked at the front of the ruins from the trail and said, Take a picture now. After that, we headed back through the forest, which was completely calm, no wind, no moving plants. Once we returned to the parking lot, the forest ranger was waiting for us to come back out safely. We talked to him about our experiences out there and we think we scared him pretty good. We left the Hermitage and headed to our next destination: Lover's Leap.

History

It started in 1830 when a Presbyterian Minister named Reverend George Sheed bought the property and built his home. He then began work on his dream of building and ministering in his own church. Sadly he never saw those dreams realized. He died before the church was finished and the congregation had his funeral as the first service held in that church.

In 1933 a man by the name of Otto Ives bought the Hermitage and with his wife and niece they moved in. It wasn't long before his niece, who was considered to a true beauty, managed to catch a local coachman's attention. His name was William Black, and because of his station in life he was denied permission by Otto when he asked for the beauty's hand in marriage. He went to the gatehouse and killed himself. They buried his body at the nearest crossroads that now been aptly renamed Lover's Lane. To this day if you listen closely enough you can hear William crying over his lost love. Maybe you'll see him wandering the grounds. Sometimes he's alone and occasionally he walks with a woman at his side.

In 1855 the house was sold again to George Gordon Browne Leith. He was the second son of Major-General Sir George Alexander Leith. As the second son he would not inherit the title or estate so he was given a pension and he moved with his family to Canada. George poured two thousand pounds into building a new and modern home with attendant buildings on the property. By 1861 the property was a well-developed farm with 150 of 250 acres cleared and cultivated, a farm that he used to feed his family and several others.

In 1865 George sold 10 acres to his daughter and her husband, Mr. And Mrs. Wright. They built their 18-room home on their new parcel of land. It was only five years later that they sold their 10 acres and it wasn't until 1880 that the home became a hotel and summer spa that boasted the Mineral Springs. The springs healing effect was felt by all those that patronized the beautiful hotel.

Shortly after George and Alexander died in 1901, George's youngest daughter, Alma Dick-Lauder, bought the estate for $5,500 from the surviving family. By 1910 the hotel had been ravaged by two fires and the hotel was shut down. An era had ended but it was not over.

Alma lived and laughed, cried and loved there for many years but in 1934 during a party at the house they were once again victims to fire. The fire burned out of control and the house was left in ruins. Alma was 79 years old and she was not about to leave the house and home that she loved. She erected a tent beside the ruins and lived in it until they built her another home.

It was in 1942 that Alma died at the age of 87. It is possible that she remains at the home she loved so much.

Strange Happenings

It is rumored that sometime during the mid 1800's one of the young black slaves fell in love with his white master’s daughter. Although it is not known which family she belonged to, it is known that she loved him equally as much. They had a wildly romantic love affair but when they were caught it devastated her. Shortly after, she killed herself and when he heard the news he hung himself from a willow tree.

Others say there have been murders and satanic rituals in the woods surrounding the Hermitage. All the rumors and stories added to the very daunting woods. Terry Boyle on one episode of "Creepy Canada", told the story of a young man who saw an apparition of the house restored to it's former glory with lights on in the windows and very obvious signs of life, along with the full apparition of a elderly woman.

Others have reported hearing footsteps following, whispers behind them and one person reported having seen a glowing corpse that vanished when they went in for a better look at it.

The Hermitage is filled with history and romantic tragedies. The rumors and dark stories as well as the sightings and chilling woods make it a place that will forever be whispered long after you go home and wonder were you alone?

Word of Caution

As told to us by the park ranger, the trails are closed by 8pm due to strange happenings after hours. We were told by some folks that go up there that they claim to be that of cults and so forth. As we have no proof, we do have the rangers own words that he has found some less than creditable folks in the early hours of the morning. Please remember folks, this is a historical landmark for all to enjoy. Please do not deface it or destroy any part of it just for something neat to do and please obey all park laws.