Video: Cemetery tours on site of bloody War of 1812 battle set to spook Niagara Falls
Published October 12, 2022 at 11:41 am
Are the ghosts of slain War of 1812 soldiers wandering the grounds at Drummond Hill Cemetery, near the site of one of those bloodiest battles ever fought?
The Battle of Lundy’s Lane was a battle fought in July 1814 near the end of the war between an invading American army and a British and Canadian army on the site where Drummond Hill Cemetery now lies.
It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, as well as one of the deadliest battles ever fought in Canada, with 84 killed on the Canadian side and 174 left dead on the American side. In the end, there were 1,731 casualties including 83 soldiers who went missing.
The two armies fought each other to a stalemate; neither side held firm control of the field following the engagement. However, the casualties suffered by the Americans precipitated their withdrawal, and the British held the strategic initiative.
You’ll hear the whole story when the Drummond Hill Cemetery Tours start this weekend on October 15 and 16 at 2, 3 and 4 pm. As well, it will happened the following weekend on October 22 and 23 with the same time slots.
Tour guides dressed in period costumes will walk you through the tombstones, sharing stories about the people in those graves.
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Say the organizers, “The human drama unfolds as guests wander the grounds and happen upon theatrical performances that provide a glimpse into the lives of some of the people from our City’s history.”
However, is the graveyard considered haunted? Back in October 2003, a ghost-chasing couple from Hamilton, George and Cathy Brady, went to take pictures one evening. The pair believes it caught plenty of “ecto-mist” on film, something they say is spirits of the dead.
That said, they ruled out any haunting aspect. “If I were asked ‘Is the Cemetery Haunted?’ my reply would be no, but it does have signs of paranormal activity to the area. Most folks ask what is the difference between Haunted and Paranormal Activity,” said George in an online post, which included dozens of pictures.
“Haunted is when a spirit makes its presence known by making physical contact or when things get whipped around,” he continued. “Paranormal Activity is when you capture things on camera or you get the sense you are not alone or you may see ghostly images of a person, but in all cases there is no physical contact.”
He added, “Drummond Hill has activity to it without a doubt. The hill is well worth the visit and has many stories to tell if only one stops to listen.”
“You just never know what you may experience on this hill known as Drummond Hill, where many men had died in battle that has been noted as one of the bloodiest battles to take place in the war of 1812.”
Tickets must be purchased in advance; rain or shine and they are non-refundable. Ticket price $12 per person. Post tour refreshments and open house are offered at Battle Ground Hotel Museum just across the street.
In the meanwhile, here’s a quick video that’ll give you an idea of the spooky tour.
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