Phantoms of the Past: From Theatre Seats to Lamp Posts

 

New Brunswick's stages, streets, and stones tend to echo with more than just history...they pulse with the spectral energy of lives unfished and stories left untold. 
In this edition of The Mirror Watches, we turn our gaze to the haunted heart of New Brunswick's cultural and judicial landmarks. For example at Moncton's Capitol Theatre, there is a ghostly woman who lingers near the ticket booth, her presence being felt long after the curtain closes. In Saint John, the Imperial Theatre is said to be haunted by Walter Golding, an ambitious founder who may still oversee the stage that he had once dreamed into existence. Tucked away in the Loyalist Burial Ground, one can also find James Putnam's Crypt that holds more than bones - harboring whispers of vampires, unrest, and mystery. Nearby, the County Courthouse and Gallow Hills mark the site of many grim justice and public executions where echoes of the condemned are still rumored to stir in the are. And standing watch over all of it, the Three Sisters Lamp Post flickers with an eerie significance, a beacon for sailors and perhaps something else. All of these places are not just historic, they are indeed haunted. And as always, The Mirror Watches...and sometimes, it sees what others fear to face. 

Capitol Theatre, Moncton, New Brunswick

In Moncton, New Brunswick stands the Capitol Theatre, a beautifully restored 1920s vaudeville house that has a rich history and resident ghost that is said to haunt the ticket booth and backstage areas. This spirit is believed to be a former performer who's spirit still lingers in the building long after her death and a former employee who haunts the back stage areas, helping with operations long after his death. 

The theatre first opened in 1922, along side it's sister venue, the Empress Theatre on the site of Moncton's original stage, The Dominion Theatre, 1911.  It was originally intended for vaudeville performances, and it featured an ornate architecture and classic backstage dressing rooms that still exist today. It was in 1926 that a fire at the Empress spread into the Capitol's back stage area that caused significant damage. 

It reopened seven months later with reduced seating and was converted into Moncton's first movie house which showed a variety of silent and black and white films. However, after extensive restoration, the venue now serves as a live performance venue that hosts live plays, concerts, and cultural events. 

The building is said to be haunted by a female spirit often said to be a former performer from it's cinema days. Most of the sightings of her occur at night, especially near the ticket booth and backstage dressing rooms. Staff have reported the feeling of being watched, hearing phantom footsteps, and experiencing random cold spots in association with her spirit in certain areas of the building. While her ghost is not considered to be malevolent, her presence in the building only adds a mysterious charm to this historic venue. Her presence has also drawn the attention of paranormal investigators and is listed as one of New Brunswick's most haunted places. 

Aside from her, the venue is also said to be haunted by a spirit named sandy Lindsey. He is believed to be a former staff member or perhaps another performer. His presence is often felt backstage and during the quiet hours in the theatre. He is described as a friendly ghost who likes to watch people and is often associated to technical issues and unexplained noises. The theatre aslo has an email address where you can write to him, if you dare. 

Many staff members and performers have shared many stories of flickering lights, doors opening all on their own, and equipment acting strangely, especially when the theatre is empty, all of these things have been associated with the spirit of Sandy. 

Imperial Theatre, Saint John, New Brunswick

Located in Saint John, New Brunswick the Imperial Theatre is a century old cultural landmark that has a rich vaudeville past as well as a resident ghost named Walter Golding who's spirit still lingers backstage and in the balcony. 

The theatre opened on September 19th, 1913, on the same site as the former Lyceum Theatre which had been destroyed in the Great Fire of 1877. The building was designed by Albert Westover of Philadelphia, in the Beaux-Arts style. It was built by the Keith-Albee-Orpheum vaudeville chain, and was once actually billed as the "Finest Theatre in Eastern Canada." 

In it's day they theatre had hosted stars like Ethel Barrymore, John Phillip Sousa, and possibly Harry Houdini. Yet, in the 1920s it became a movie house and then in the 1950s it was a church for a while. It was designated as a National Historic site of Canada in 1985. However, the building was restored and reopened in 1994 as a performing arts venue. 

The resident ghost, Walter Golding was the original manager of the Imperial Theatre. A passionate showman who had a life long dream of bringing world class entertainment to Saint John. Staff and visitors have constantly reported cold spots, flickering lights, and unexplained footsteps especially in the balcony and backstage areas that they associate with Walter. Some witnesses have even seen a shadowy figure in period clothing, who they believed was Golding, watching rehearsals or pacing the upper levels. 

The theatre hosts season ghost tours, where guides wearing vintage attire recount takes of his lingering spirit, and other eerie happenings in the theatre. Though it can be completely unsettling, Walter's ghost is said to be benevolent. A bit more curious than malevolent, and perhaps he is still managing the theatre from beyond. 

In addition to Walter's spirit, the Imperial Theatre is home to a variety of eerie happenings. These include phantom footsteps, slamming doors, flying objects and unexplained elevator rides, which makes it one of the city's most haunted landmarks. 

Often times, doors have been known to close on their own, even when no one else is nearby. There have been a number of reports of items such as office supplies being thrown or knocked over without explanation, and one staff member even reported a knife falling from a shelf in the kitchen area when no one was around to move it. 

The elevator in the Imperial has been known to move between floors on it's own. Stopping and opening it's doors with no one inside or calling it. While there are sudden and random cold spots reported in the balcony and backstage areas, staff have reported the feeling of being watched especially when they are alone in the building after hours, and some have even glimpsed shadowy figures in period clothing moving through the aisles or peering down from the balcony only to vanish just as quickly as they appeared. 

James Putnam's Crypt

This is a mysterious tomb that is located within the Loyalist Burial Ground in saint John New Brunswick. It is tied to eerie legends and rumors of ghostly sightings and vampire myths. Despite the fact that James was an infant when he passed having been born in 1824 and having died in 1825. He was said to be the son of Charles S. Putnam and Eleanor Milledge who were members of a prominent Loyalist family. 

The tomb, known locally as James Putnam's Crypt is a structure of unusually large size and is extravagantly ornate for a child's grave, and it's that which has spawned speculation and curiosity of ghost stories and vampire mythology for generations. 

The Putnam tomb is one of the most recognizable monuments in the old cemetery, which is often visited by historical and ghost tours within the city. Though James was an infant, the Crypt has become the center of ghostly lore and vampire mythology. 

It's unusual size, and wrought iron rails, being on a grand scale, has led some to believe that it was built for more than one person or was meant to honor the family legacy. Other's believe that something sinister happened, and there is either no child in the tomb or something much darker lies within the tomb with him. 

However, many visitor's to the burial ground which is now a public park have reported seeing a small figure near the tomb which many believe is the spirit of James or another child. There are claims of sudden chills and hearing a soft crying near the crypt especially after dusk. This is often included in Saint John Haunted Walking Tours where guides recount tales of unexplained lights, phantom footsteps, and a lingering presence near the monument. 

The vampire mythology that is tied to the crypt, suggests that this sealed crypt was built to contain a vampire, which has helped spark eerie speculation and ghostly tales. The tomb is massive and ornate, far larger than is expected for a child. Therefore locals often suggest that it was actually built to imprison something much more sinister. That it was built to contain a vampire that at one time reigned havoc on the port city. This rumor was possibly due to unexplained deaths or the fear of the supernatural activity in the area at the time. 

The tombs sealed structure and lack of inscriptions beyond the basic details provided have fueled the vampire theory. Visitor's to the crypt often report cold spots, strange sounds, and a sense of dread near the tomb especially at night. There are no official records of Vampirism in Saint John, New Brunswick. However, the question remains, is this tomb the grave of an innocent baby? Or is it sealed and surrounded in iron to keep in a blood sucking vampire. 

County Courthouse and Gallow Hills, saint John New Brunswick

Both of these sites which sit next to each other are steeping with history and ghostly lore. In a place where public executions turned over lingering spirits and eerie encounters which has haunted the area for generations. The building is located at 20 Sydney Street, facing King Square is now closed to the public but the ghosts still manage to roam the grounds. 

The building was built between 1826 and 1829, and was designed by architect John Cunningham. It had served as the seat of court of quarter sessions, handling both criminal and civil cases for Saint John County. In 1974, the building was recognized as a National Historical site of Canada, for both it's architecture and judicial significance. The building is a fine example of neoclassical design, and features a grand façade and interior courtroom, with a curved bench and ornate wood work. It is currently being renovated to house a performing arts facility and theatre. 

While Gallow Hills, mostly gone now sat behind the court house and were historically used as the site of public executions in the 18th and 19th centuries. Criminal's who were sentenced at the courthouse were often hanged on Gallow Hills, which included famous Architect, John A. Munroe who was hung in 1870 for murder. 

The area is said even today to carry a heavy energy, especially after dusk, with many locals reporting a sense of unease and even dread. While inside the courthouse, staff and visitors over the years have reported hearing footsteps echoing through the empty halls, especially near the old holding cells. There have also been reports of cold spots, which are common in the courtroom and stairwells. While there are other claims of being watched while alone in the building, particularly in the basement where prisoners' were once held. 

While out on Gallow Hills, witnesses have described dark shadowy figures appearing briefly on the hill and vanishing when approached. And on quiet nights, some hear faint voices or cries which are believed to be echoes of the condemned souls. 

Paranormal investigators who have investigated the area have suggested that this is a residual haunting, a replay of the emotional trauma from it's grim past. However, there is a local lore about a man who was hanged on Gallow Hills, who vowed to haunt the building to prove his innocence. The story centers around the area, and says that the man was convicted of a murder he didn't commit in the 1800s and was sentenced to hang. Even at the Gallows he proclaimed his innocence, and had reportedly shouted, "I did not do this! I will not rest until the truth is known!"  it is said that after his death was when these eerie occurrences had began at the courthouse, and unexplained footsteps echoed through it's empty halls. Doors are known to slam shut without cause, and cold spots and feelings of dread creep up on you when you least expect them, especially in the old holding cells.

Three Sister's Lamp Post, Saint John, New Brunswick

The Three Sister's Lamp post in Saint John, New Brunswick is a historical maritime beacon with a mysterious nickname and is surrounded by local legends that involve ghostly sightings, and eerie symbolism tied to the sea. The lamp post is located at the end of Prince William Street near the Saint John Harbor. They were originally built in 1877 and consist for three red gas lights that are mounted together on a tall Victorian style post. It served as a navigational aid for sea captains who would enter the harbor. When all three lights were visible, sailors knew they were on the right course. If only one or two lights were visible they had to adjust their heading. The lamp is also aligned with the steeple of Trinity church, creating a visual guide for ships that are approaching the port. 

While the nickname The Three Sister's Lamp has no confirmed origin many believe that it refers to Three Sister's who waited for their sailor husbands to return watching from the harbor. While others believe it is a nautical reference to a trio of stars in the constellation Perseus. 

The Three Sister's Lamp is not widely known for a spike of paranormal activity but it has inspired many local ghost stories and eerie associations. Some say that three spectral women in period clothing have been seen near the lamp, gazing out to sea. This is believed to be the Three Sister's watching from the harbor. 

The lamp is also a symbol of Maritime Omens, saying that if the lights of the lamp flicker or dim unexpectedly, it is said to foretell a storm or tragedy on the sea. Visitors at the lamp have given many reports of feeling watched or have experienced sudden chills near the lamp especially at night or during foggy weather. 

From the velvet drapes of theatres to timeworn crypts and flickering lamp posts, New Brunswick's haunted landmarks continue to remind us that the history of these places never truly rests. The Capitol and Imperial Theatre's that echo with unseen footsteps and lingering glances from beyond to James Putnam's crypt and the shadowed grounds of Gallow Hills stir with the weight of justice long passed. And the Three Sister's Lamp Post standing as a silent sentinel, it's glow casting more than light...memory. These places are stitched with stories that refuse to fade, and as always The Mirror Watches...and sometimes the reflection isn't yours.