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2.7
3 votes

The Hermitage

838 Mineral Springs Road, Ontario L9G 3L3 Canada

  • Independent
  • Wifi
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“An incredibly haunted location with a tragic history..”

The Hermitage was a large residence situated in Ancaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada which now exists as ruins and is part of The Hermitage and Gatehouse Museum maintained by the Hamilton Conservation Authority. The location is a popular destination for hikers and people interested in the paranormal. In 2004, the KWPRS paranormal investigation team shot an episode of the "Girly Ghosthunters" television show at The Hermitage, showing results that included footage of the terrified group being chased by a pair of shadowy figures. Since then, the location has been deemed extremely haunted. The Hermitage was originally built in 1830 by the Reverend George Sheed. The property is about two miles west of Ancaster, in the Dundas Valley. Otto Ives (1804-1835) was the third land owner. He was an English officer who had fought in the Greek War of Independance against the Ottoman Empire. He met Magdalene Diamanti, a daughter of the Governor of an Aegean island. They married in Corfu in 1824, and had arrived in Ancaster by 1833. They brought her sister or niece with them to act as a companion for Mrs Ives. It was here that Otto Ives purchased the Hermitage from the heirs of the Rev. George Sheed. Ives had hired a coachman by the name of William Black. Although it is said that Black was also a tutor in the English language, evidence exists that this post was filled by Mary Rosebeury (later Mrs Peter Filman of Hamilton). The ladies of the household spoke only Greek, and it is said that Black fell in love with the sister or niece. Black went to Otto Ives and asked for his niece's hand in marriage. Ives was very upset by the thought, and rejected the proposal. The next morning, Ives and his wife were to go out for the day, but the coachman was not at the front door with the carriage as planned. Ives went out to the barn to see why the coachman had not appeared, and discovered Black's body dangling from the rafters in the barn near the first Hermitage. There is also a note appended to deeds of sale, mentioning that a family friend had hanged himself from a tree in the bush, because of love for the niece. In 1853, the Hermitage was purchased by George Gordon Browne Leith (1812-1887) and his wife Eleanor Ferrier (1814-1900). Over the next several years, a large stone house, attendant outbuildings, a farmhouse, barns, and entrance lodge were constructed. After Mrs Leith's death, the property was purchased by her youngest daughter, Eleanor Alma Dick Lauder (1854-1942). She lived here until the house was destroyed by fire in 1934, and afterwards, in a small house constructed inside the ruins. Caretakers now whisper that the spirit of the doomed lover still haunts the ground along with other more nefarious spirits that stalk the surrounding woods.

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Reviewed by
JasonSchwanke

  • 3 Reviews
  • 0 Helpful
July 16, 2014
Rated 3.0

Its a nice hiking train, but really nothing to see around the ruins. Might be creepy at night, but the place sin't really open late.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Dana Newkirk

  • Road Warrior
  • 298 Reviews
  • 377 Helpful
March 26, 2014
Rated 4.0

One of the scariest and coolest places I've ever visited. The ruins are rumored to be haunted by the spirit of the woman who built the home. When the house partially burned down, she stayed living in the ruins until she died. The land is also visited by the "green ghost", who has been heard howling in the nearby woods. The Hermitage was featured on an episode of the Canadian television series, "The Girly Ghost Hunters".

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Dana Newkirk

  • Road Warrior
  • 298 Reviews
  • 377 Helpful
September 30, 2014
Rated 4.0

The Hermitage has been saved! Last week the city announced that they wouldn't be knocking the building down so there will be plenty of years ahead for this wonderful hiking spot.

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The Hermitage

838 Mineral Springs Road
Ontario
L9G 3L3 Canada
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2:00 pm
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12:00 pm
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