Caledonia Mills

Caledonia Mills in Nova Scotia

Caledonia Mills is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Antigonish County.[1]

Alleged haunting

It is well known as the community of the Mary-Ellen spook farm, also known as the fire spook. It was alleged that the community experienced mysterious fires and poltergeist effects between 1899 and 1922. The case drew attention of Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes.[2] Mary-Ellen's biological parents were John and Annie (Duggan) MacDonald and she was later adopted by Alexander and Janet MacDonald of Caledonia Mills.

Walter Franklin Prince, research officer for the American Society for Psychical Research in 1922 investigated and concluded that the mysterious fires and alleged poltergeist phenomena were caused by Mary-Ellen in a dissociated state.[3] Prince had discovered inflammable liquid and noted that "the fires were undoubtedly set by human hands, judging by the unmistakable signs left in the house. The burns are never found on the wall paper higher than the reach of a person five feet tall, which is the height of [the] girl in the family."[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Place-names and Places of Nova Scotia. Public Archives of Nova Scotia. Mika, 1974. p. 97
  2. ↑ "The Fire-Spook of Caledonia Mills". The Town of Antigonish.
  3. ↑ Colombo, John Robert. (2000). Ghost Stories of Canada. Dundurn. p. 43. ISBN 0-88882-222-7
  4. ↑ Ghost Was a Girl, Dr. Prince Reports. The New York Times. March 16, 1922.

Further reading

External links

Coordinates: 45°29′58″N 61°49′1″W / 45.49944°N 61.81694°W / 45.49944; -61.81694 (Caledonia Mills, Nova Scotia)

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