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Jester's Court

The book “Ontario Hauntings”, by Terry Boyle touches on a restaurant in Port Perry, Ontario called Jester's Court. After reading his book, we have visited many times.

The Manager and staff are very open and will share their experiences and stories with you, like about the Woman in blue. They will also tell you stories of table 13; when everyone has gone home in the late hours of the night, you can see two elderly people enjoying tea by candle light. The staff has also witnessed pictures on the walls move, or spin around, the taps in the washrooms turn on and off on their own, salt and pepper shakers fire across tables, and numerous other occurrences. The waitresses don't like being in the restaurant alone during close up because it’s unsettling and especially they don’t like to go to the cellar for anything.

Our Experiences

During one of our visits, we sat at a table near the fireplace. From there, a former member saw a Victorian dressed woman walking around. At first she thought it was a publicity stunt put on to draw people in, but then soon realized the woman was not of this world. She then saw a small boy playing on the stairs with a wooden train set, but would vanish when others climbed the stairs.

A few times, we have sat upstairs and have smelt the odour of a cigar.  No one could have been smoking because it's the law that in public restaurants smoking is prohibited.

The waitresses told the story of a woman upstairs that seemed to be somewhat of a practical joker. She liked to lock the washroom stalls from the inside when people would use the facilities. They also told us that a man was using the washroom and when he went to wash his hands, there was ghost of a old woman standing behind him! It gave him quite a fright and he left in quite a rush. When our members have been into the washroom we have not seen her. On one occasion one member did notice all but one stall was locked. Once she was finished, she opened the stall door to wash her hands and all the doors were swung open. The prankster is actually the little boy who haunts the house.

The manager did note that since Terry Boyle’s book was released, they get people from all over, coming to seek out ghosts or at least try and spot one. The staff at Jester’s Court is more than willing to tell you their experiences with the spirits that share their work space.

We have returned as a team only to experience more strange happenings. As we were eating dinner the lights in our booth would flicker off and on. So we asked the waitress if this was normal for the lights to do this, the waitress replied "No, it only happens for you".

On another team trip to the Jesters Court a member commented on the little boy who plays on the stairs with a wooden train set, he's also the one who giggles up in the woman's washroom when it is not in use. Amanda has seen him before, as we all left the restaurant. On our way to our cars, she saw him standing in the creek.  Rachel then told her that the boy had drown in that creek years ago.

Members of the group who have psychic ability have given a description of the man who is upstairs to Rachel. Rachel, is responsible for the researching and history of our investigations prior to our visit. While researching Jester's Court, Rachel found a picture of several men in a photograph from the library. She asked Brenda, a former member, if the man she saw was in the picture. Brenda pointed to a tall older man and said "this was the one". Rachel was amazed how she pointed out the former owner, James Carnegie. This was the man who built the house that is now known as The Jester's Court. He is the man who sits upstairs to smoke his cigars.

Everyone has felt the high energy inside the restaurant. When we were dining someone would start playing with our hair and moved the glasses on the table.  A Waitress told us that on one occasion she was getting the upstairs prepped, refilling the sugar packets and so on. She went downstairs to fetch something and came back upstairs to find sugar packets scattered all over the table.

From Rachel's research we found out that in 1890 Port Perry had fires which ravaged the town twice and families may have been lost in the fire. This may explain some of the hauntings in this location.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Not only does Jester's Court Pub and Eatery have a brand of energy that is different than most restaurants, but serves up awesome food at extremely reasonable prices. You can check it out at 279 Queen Street, Port Perry, Ontario and take a glance at their menu while you’re there! Be warned, if you’re going in the evening you better reserve a spot – YES! they are that good and that popular!