8 Historic haunts in St. John's that will send a shiver down your spine
These stories will keep you up at night! 👻
A wine cellar. Right: A large brick building
Newfoundland — the most easterly province in Canada, with jagged cliffsides wrapped in thick fog and chilled air most of the year. From Vikings in 1000 A.D. to the Europeans of the 15th century, Newfoundland has seen many a visitor, ghosts included.
Over time, folklore and superstitions have persisted, lending themselves to more than a few urban legends. While these ghost stories cannot be proven by fact, locals agree these St. John’s spots hold more than just history. Get ready for a chill down your spine, because these historical spots on The Rock will keep you up at night.
Deadman's Pond
The name of this spot is a hint of how chilling its history is. Its small picturesque pond on Signal Hill was long believed to be bottomless. Found beside Gibbet Hill — a former place of public executions — Deadman’s Pond got its name from the many bodies that would be disposed of from the gallows above.
To this day people curiously debate how deep the pond actually is and the lore attached to it. Locals warn of a strong undertow rumoured to pull people over 100 metres deep into the depths of the St. John’s harbour below.
"It's haunted b'y," one local wrote on Reddit.
Masonic Hall
The impressive Victorian-style stone façade seems innocent enough, but caretaker John Warren has had some eerie encounters, that he told CBC news about.
One afternoon Warren was looking for his cell phone, after closing up the doors and windows of the building. Upon finding his phone he picked it up and stepped backwards, straight into "something as solid as a rock," he recalled. Assuming he bumped into a person he apologized, only to see the figure disappear right in front of his eyes.
"I didn't tell anybody about that for quite a while," Warren said.
Newman Wine Vaults
Built in the early 1800s the Newman Wine Vaults is among the oldest standing structures in the city of St. John's — so you know there are more than a few ghosts tucked away inside.
Now operating as a museum, visitors speak of spirits much more sinister than others on this list. Tales of pinching, shoving and other disembodied disturbances have been told. In 2011 CBC News even reported on a "ghostly image" taken at a wedding reception at the wine vaults.
Anglican Cathedral Graveyard on Church Hill
Supposedly haunted by a stone worker who fell to his death, this unmarked graveyard will send shivers down your spine. Historians say it's hard to know how many bodies could be buried on the grounds, the oldest graves dating back to the 1600s.
The story goes that one of the workers helping construct the cathedral here fell to his death. Once they had finished the construction the workers took a photo in front of the cathedral, which the ghost of their dead peer appeared in as well.
The Anglican Cathedral is also a stopping point on the well-known St. John's Haunted Hike.
The Duke of Duckworth
Workers at the establishment have reported feeling "watched" or even seeing apparitions. Colin Dalton, one of the owners, has told stories of TVs inexplicably turning on, ashtrays being moved and other bizarre occurrences. He believes the pub is home to a ghost named Fred, described as "mischievous, not mean".
Bartenders here even tell Fred goodnight before heading home at the end of a shift!
LSPU Hall
Now called the Resource Centre for the Arts, this spot is found on one of St. John’s most haunted stretches — Victoria Street. This site has suffered several fires before the LSPU Hall was built as it stands today. Locals recall hearing untraceable footsteps and seeing shadowy figures.
Some believe LSPU Hall has a resident ghost — a former maintenance man named Fred, who tragically died in 1995. He's said to be seen sitting in the audience of the theatre. Yes, there are two ghosts named Fred haunting downtown St. John’s.
The Four Sisters
These houses were built by the well-known stonemason Samuel Garrett, famous for the iconic Cabot Tower. Garrett is said to have started building the houses in 1893 for each of his daughters, though only two ever moved in.
Some of the properties are believed to be haunted by a woman. Locals say you can sometimes see her standing in the window watching the street with a vacant gaze.
Majestic Theatre
Nicknamed the "flat iron building," this theatre was erected in 1918 and is yet another Duckworth Street haunt. Said to be built on haunted grounds, visitors to the theatre have reported poltergeist-like activity. On a Reddit thread, one local says they used to work at the theatre and "used to hear people running around upstairs when no one was up there and the toilets would flush on their own."
The theatre is now beautifully renovated though, and still running shows.
Whether you're a local or visiting the city for the first time you might want to keep an eye out for ghostly encounters while exploring the city of St. John's and its many haunts.
This article has been updated since it was originally published on March 1, 2017.