Fri, Oct 3 2008 - Exhibition Place: Ghostly Secrets Revealed (View Original Event Details)
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Conditions were appropriately cold and dark for this ghostly themed event. The turnout was absolutely phenomenal with many making the trek down despite crowded streetcars/buses. There were over 120 people in attendance with TOCers making up a large part of that figure.
After introductions we were led through the General Services building. Out back were heard about grisly murders in the past. Also, many staff members, both past and current, tell of hearing strange sounds emanating from that particular edifice.
We walked upstairs through the archives. Purportedly one of the areas with the highest amount of noted paranormal activity.
Then it was off to the back of the old Marine Museum. There we learned about the strange knocking heard at all hours.
The Horse Palace was next. All sorts of folks have reported seeing a ghostly mounted police officer making the rounds in this place. Historical records indicate that indeed an officer died there.
We walked by BMO stadium and heard how the old Exhibition Stadium had loads of strange goings on. The only thing currently haunting BMO however is a soccer team that just can't seem to win.
The Musik building was arguably the creepiest of all. It served as a makeshift morgue for bodies pulled from the SS Noronic after a deadly fire in 1949. The scariest thing was a security guard's account of the loud banging he heard from a locked main door. He opened and discovered flooding in the building after he had already checked the whole place for trespassers. Odd because only a specialized tool can open this type of valve. Odder still because it happened on Sept 17. The same date as the fateful fire.
We went on to check the flagpole site which was built above a reported army grave site. We learned about the 'phantom' of the Ex that used to appear during the CNE. He was, in fact, a trickster with access to costumes and a smoke machine.
Finally at Scadding cabin the ghost of Mr Scadding popped out. He invited us in to tour the building (the oldest in Toronto). After we were treated to cider and cookies.
A few brave souls made the trek up to Queen for an apres. Some got spots at the Rhino and others at the Cadillac Lounge.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.