CREDIT: EMILY STEWART
Eldon House is located at 481 Ridout Street and hosts their Great Annual Ghost Hunt on Oct. 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The possibilities are endless when celebrating the spookiest time of year. Along with binge watching Halloween movies, carving pumpkins and crafting the perfect costume, telling ghost stories is another way to spend the occasion. To take it one step further, some visit places in London that many believe are haunted.

Some people in London have made it their mission to search for ghosts. Mike Wells, who created the Spectre Team, became interested in ghost hunting after recent experiences in his life. He said strange things started happening around him during the past year, including while he was at work.

“The one time I’ve seen a shadow figure, other times, it was noises, and another time, somebody whistled behind me,” Wells explained.

He added about a month ago, when sitting in Hewitt’s Dairy Bar, he felt someone tugging on his shirt. However, when he looked around no one was there.

“I asked them if anyone else has experienced something there, and nobody had reports of it,” he said, “But they did say it could be the old owner.”

Wells also said he’s noticed some paranormal activity when taking care of his father. He explained his dad’s wife passed away about two years ago, and he still feels her presence in the home.

“I’ve seen this small shadow go across, below the ceiling. I thought that maybe it was my father that was up, so I checked on him, and he was snoring so there’s no way it was him.” Wells added he’s also felt someone breathing in his ear, and woke up early in the morning to the sound of pounding.

Wells said most of his research focuses on Hamilton, and surrounding areas of Woodstock. He filmed in the tunnel nearby London’s Terry Fox Park, after hearing from other people about strange happenings in the area.

He is currently looking to film in Lucan-Biddulph because of the Donnelly’s’ family story. Wells described the Irish clan as “a bunch of ruffians: they liked to drink, they liked to fight and they ticked a lot of people off.”

On Feb. 4, 1880, a gang of people went into their home, killed six of them and burned their house down.

The team plans to stay in the remaining barn overnight as part of the film project. Wells said they are planning on recruiting actors to re-enact the story.

He and his crew plan to film about eight to 10 different haunted places total, but added that researching haunted places in London is time consuming. They are hoping to talk to more people for research, including talking to museum curators. The team is looking for more Canadian content for their film project.

“Most of the paranormal shows that you see on TV are American based,” he said.

For more information, you can search for Spectre Team on Facebook.

The Grand Theatre

Another place paranormal activity occurs is at London’s Grand Theatre, which is located at 474 Richmond Street.

The Grand Theatre’s website has a section about Ambrose Small. Small was a Toronto entrepreneur who built the theatre; he disappeared mysteriously Dec. 2, 1919 after depositing one million dollars into his bank account and went out to lunch with his wife.

“Many believe Mr. Small’s ghost still keeps a benevolent eye on his beloved theatre,” wrote the company.

Although the Grand doesn’t have any special events to tell the ghost story, they host plays all year round; 2 Pianos, 2 Hands is playing until Oct. 31.

Eldon House

It should be no surprise the oldest home in London, located at 481 Ridout Street, has some ghost stories behind it.

Christopher Doty wrote on Notebook From Yesterday in an article entitled “The Spector of Eldon” about the incidence that occurred at this house.

Doty wrote that Sarah Harris, one of the seven Harris family daughters, was dating Lieutenant Wennan Wyniatt, who she asked to attend one of the dances. The day of the event, he was seen horseback riding, but disappeared mysteriously.

He added Wyniatt came into the room, but seemed aloof and wasn’t talking to Harris. A few days later, his dead body was found covered in sand in the middle of the Thames River.

The Eldon House is holding their Great Annual Ghost Hunt Oct. 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

However, if you miss it, you still have a chance to explore the grounds. To get a tour of the house arrive between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Fanshawe Pioneer Village

Not only does the village, located at 2609 Fanshawe Park Road East, host the popular Haunted Hayride, it is the site of paranormal occurrences.

Mary Baxter of Our London, formerly London Community News, said executive director Sheila Johnson was given reports from the Paranormal Knights of London of many spotted ghosts, such as “a man in overalls and a blue shirt who felt guilty about the drowning of a young girl, an aggressive man bent for revenge in the brewery, and an unmarried stern woman, perhaps a governess or teacher.”

The Fanshawe Pioneer Village will show The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde until Oct. 30.