Churchill Mansion Inn
Churchill Mansion Inn, circa 1890, was once the private residence of a Captain Churchill and according to legend, is haunted by his wife. The lady’s ghost has been seen in a rocking chair by the window, waiting for her husband to come home. Sometimes a rocking chair there will rock by itself. The lady’s apparition also has been seen in a nightgown walking in the halls.DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC PLACEChurchill Mansion is a large, two storey Italianate style house built as a summer residence for Aaron Flint Churchill in 1889-1890. It is prominently located on a hill at Darling’s Lake, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. The municipal heritage designation applies to the land and the building.HERITAGE VALUEChurchill Mansion is valued for its historical association with Aaron Flint Churchill and for its intact Italianate architecture.Aaron Flint Churchill was one of Yarmouth County’s most prominent native sons. At age 16 he had become a hero by jury-rigging a rudder on the vessel “Research” eight times in a November gale at sea, to bring the vessel safely to port. Both he and his uncle, George Churchill, the ship’s captain, were recognized for the feat with gifts from Lloyd’s of London, who insured the vessel. By age 21, Mr Churchill had become a sea captain himself, but at age 24 he quit the sea and opened a stevedoring business at Savannah, Georgia. Later, he established the Churchill Steamship Line at Savannah and also gained a reputation as an inventor. One of his inventions was a cotton baling press that saved the industry millions of dollars. He was later a Director of the Savannah Bank and Trust Company, and became one of the most prominent and wealthiest Canadians working in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century.This imposing house, also known as “Anchorage” was built as a summer residence for Aaron Churchill and his wife on a hill overlooking several lakes and the sea. Its Italianate style is exemplified by the rectangular massing, low pitched hip roof, bracketed cornices and window crowns, cupola and verandas. Most of the numerous architectural trim elements remain intact and is a good example of the style.To learn more, watch this www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDlf4vbsKU8Source: Municipal Heritage Property files: Churchill Mansion
Shag Harbour UFO Landing Site
An extraordinary event in 1967 would practically put the small fishing village of Shag Harbor on the map. Located at the southern tip of Nova Scotia, this rural community would be host to one of the best-documented UFO events of the past 40 years.Named after the "shag," a bird of the cormorant family, the harbour was literally left off most maps of the time, but that would be changed once and for all.The tiny fishing community has always had its stories... stories of giant sea serpents, man-eating squid, and ghost ships. The list of local colours would see one more addition to its list: a story of a visit of a mysterious flying craft of unknown origin. This craft would visit the waters of Shag Harbor, permanently stamping the village's name in the public eye.Orange Lights in the SkyThe first indication of this mysterious occurrence would come from local residents who noticed strange orange lights in the sky on the night of October 4, 1967. Most witnesses agreed that there were four orange lights that evening. Five teenagers watched these lights flash in sequence, and then suddenly dive at a 45-degree angle toward the water's surface. The witnesses were surprised that the lights did not dive into the water, but seemed to float on the water, approximately one-half mile from the shore.Witnesses at first thought they were watching a tragic airplane crash, and quickly reported as much to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which was located at Barrington Passage. Coincidently, RCMP Constable Ron Pound had already witnessed the strange lights himself as he drove down Highway 3 in route to Shag Harbor. Pound felt that he was seeing 4 lights, all attached to one flying craft. He estimated the craft to be about 60 feet long.The ResponseConstable Pound made his way to the shore to get a closer look at the phenomenal sight. He was accompanied by Police Corporal Victor Werbieki, Constable Ron O'Brien, and other local residents. Pound clearly saw a yellow light slowly moving on the water, leaving a yellowish foam in its wake. All eyes were glued on the light, as it slowly either moved too distant to be seen, or dipped into the icy waters.Coast Guard Cutter #101 and other local boats rushed to the spot of the sighting, but by the time they arrived, the light itself was gone. However, the crewmen could still see the yellow foam, indicating that something had possibly submerged. Nothing else could be found that night, and the search was called off at 3:00 AM.The RCMP ran a traffic check with the Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax, and NORAD radar at Baccaro, Nova Scotia. They were told that there were no missing aircraft reported that evening, either civilian or military.The ReportThe following day, the Rescue Coordination Center filed a report with Canadian Forces Headquarters in Ottawa. This report stated that something had hit the water in Shag Harbor, but the object was of "unknown origin."The HMCS Granby was ordered to the location, where divers searched the bottom of the ocean for several days, but without positive results.Soon, the story of the mysterious crash at Shag Harbor died as quickly as it had begun. That is, until 1993. As the original story faded from papers and newscasts, several theories were put forward. One explanation was that a Russian spacecraft had crashed, which would explain the presence of a Russian submarine in the area. There was also the rumor of American involvement in the follow-up investigation, but there was no official statement from the United States.Chris StylesThe Shag Harbor incident would have new life breathed into it through the efforts of MUFON investigator Chris Styles. The case intrigued him so much that he decided to search for more details. Styles found the names of many of the original witnesses through newspaper clippings and was able to interview many of them.Styles was assisted by MUFON investigator Doug Ledger. These two men would uncover some extremely compelling evidence through their interviews. They discovered that when the divers of the Granby finished their work, the case was not over, after all.The divers, along with other witnesses related these events: The object that dove into the waters of the harbour had soon left the Shag area, traveling underwater for about 25 miles to a place called Government Point, which was near a submarine detection base. The object was spotted on sonar there, and Naval vessels were positioned over it. After a couple of days, the military was planning a salvage operation, when a second UFO joined the first. The common belief at the time was that the second craft had arrived to render aid to the first.The NavyAt this time, the Navy decided to wait and watch. After about a week of monitoring the two UFOs, some of the vessels were called to investigate a Russian submarine that had entered Canadian waters. At this point, the two underwater craft made their move. They made their way to the Gulf of Maine and putting distance between themselves and the chasing Navy boats, they broke the surface and shot away into the skies.These extraordinary events were corroborated by many witnesses, both civilian and military. Unfortunately, the reports were given "off the record." Ex-military personnel feared the loss of their pensions, and civilian witnesses feared ridicule, and their privacy being invaded. The unusual events of Shag Harbor command an important place in the study of UFOs. There is little doubt that something "unknown" crashed into the waters of Shag Harbor on October 4, 1967.Written by: B J BoothAdmission to the museum is $5 and includes a Q&A at the end
Peculiar Beach Structure
A long-standing mystery in Shelburne County, N.S., is one step closer to being solved, thanks to the dedication of locals and the help of an archeologist.For years, people on Cape Sable Island have wondered about a peculiar structure poking out of the sand at the Hawk, a beach at Nova Scotia's southernmost point.Explanations have ranged from the remnants of a sheep's pen to a Viking fortification, but ultimately the site contained more questions than answers.Recent archeological work has pushed those questions closer to a resolution, with preliminary results suggesting a fishing stage or a wharf."All of this time, I've known in my heart … there's something historically significant here," said Cape Sable resident Linda Symonds.It's important to preserve sites like this and understand them, she said.For the full story, click this link www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/the-hawk-beach-wooden-structure-nova-scotia-archeology-mystery-1.5399667
The Loyalist Inn
A slight tickling on the back of your neck, an apparition of a woman standing in a room and the mysterious thumping of running up and down a staircase that lies empty; these are the mysterious tales of the unknown to occupy the local Shelburne Inn.One such haunting was broadcasted nationally at the Loyalist Inn, where the popular television show Rescue Mediums swept in to ‘rescue’ the found spirits haunting the old Inn.It did not take long to hear rumors and stories of things that go bump in the night at other local haunts.For Pat Dewar, owner and operator of the Cooper’s Inn on Dock Street, strange things began to happen the first summer she moved in. “When I was in the kitchen I started washing the dishes and had my hands in the dishwater when I felt like somebody was standing behind me and tickling my neck,” said Dewar.When she looked behind her there was no one there. The strange tickling sensation continued every once in a while and Dewar said once it was so strong a sensation that she gasped out in surprise, dropping the wine glass she was holding.By this point, she knew there was something paranormal occurring in the 225 year old Inn.Her suspicions were given more leverage when she heard the tales spoken by her winter tenant, Milford Buchanan, who would tend to the Cooper’s Inn while the Dewar’s were away.The first night he was there a racket of thumps and bangs awoke him from his sleep.The noises continued at night but on further inspection, no cause for the disturbance was discovered.One day on his regular check of the rooms, Buchanan stopped in one of the bedrooms overlooking Dock Street to find the apparition of a woman staring out of the window.She turned to look at him, her back straight in her high-collared dress. She had a towel wrapped over one arm.The next day Buchanan was conversing with a neighbour across the road and explained to him what he saw. He was asked to describe her and when he did, the neighbour nodded and said, “Yup, that’s her.”The neighbour had seen her staring out of a window two years previous and could not explain who she was. “We call her Mrs. Crowell,” said Dewar admitting that she could not be sure she was the wife of the second owner of the Cooper’s from 1805 to 1859.Guests of the Inn have told the Dewar’s of loud noises in the night banging up and down the stairs. Noises that no one else heard despite the full occupation of the Inn.Despite these occurrences, Dewar is not upset to be sharing her in with a ghost or spirit but is happy to have the interest that lends to the history of the Inn. “There’s no way we would want to be rescued,” said Dewar, “we are quite happy.”An episode of Rescue Mediums was filmed at The Loyalist Inn, with internationally renowned psychics and hosts of the show, Jackie Dennison and Christine Hamlett.Owner of the Inn, Linda Deschamps, contacted the show after realizing the existence of spirits that seemed to haunt the third floor of the building.The crew filmed for four days in Shelburne but producer Michael Lamport was unwilling to release their findings at the Shelburne landmark until the show airs on the Women’s Network. “I’m not going to say what we found here because it will give the show away,” explained Lamport. “The whole premise of the show is two psychics from the UK come to places that have haunting or spirits and they show spirits into the light or identify who they are,” he said.As for Lamport he claims the show has changed his belief in the spirit realm. “I sat on the fence quite a bit,” he said, “but now having done 28 episodes I’m totally a believer.”According to Lamport all of the crew has experienced something spooky. Hair pulled, one cameraman physically overcome by something unexplained and anomalies on film.After experiencing first hand the haunting all over the globe Lamport does not buy the Hollywood version of ghost stories. “The concept of the Amityville horror stuff I don’t believe that’s true,” he said, “we’ve never come across that. We’ve come across disturbed spirits and they are scary but I think that is a Hollywood manifestation that a spirit comes out and kills you.”Before the show began both hosts worked at developing peoples gifts in the paranormal. “We believe everyone has some gift whether it be healing or clairvoyant abilities,” explained Hamlett, “it’s just a case of getting to the right people to develop those gifts so they can use them properly.”Crew wrapped up the filming last Monday without giving so much as a hint to the story behind the Loyalist haunting but Deschamps hopes the publicity from the airing of the show will bring tourists to the county to experience East Coast ghosts for themselves. “This is the oldest area of Canada,” said Lamport, “there’s bound to be remnants of spirits here.”Full story and video found here - www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/federal-election/spooky-shelburne-94050/
Mahone Bay
The ship Young Teazer exploded and sank in 1813 here in Mahone Bay, and since then folks have reported a burning phantom ship with ghostly crewmen running about on the deck, aflame. The reports seem to come most often near the anniversary of the ship’s sinking: June 17. The site has been featured on Creepy Canada.The story of the Young Teazer inspired one of the best-known ghost ship stories in Eastern Canada. The Young Teazer, a typical sailing schooner of its day was a privately owned ship—a privateer, which exploded in Nova Scotia during the War of 1812. A year after this, strange sightings of this ship began to be recorded. The “Teazer Light” as it has become known has been seen for over two centuries and is described by witnesses as a fiery ship seen in Mahone Bay.It was a common practice among countries to allow privateers in times of war to attack enemy merchant ships and claim any loot they found. This was a big help because it robbed the enemy of needed supplies. It also gave naval ships more time to fight battles. Privateering was a hazardous way to make a living, but many ship owners participated for it was a quick way to make a fortune. During the War of 1812, many American privateers chased down British ships along the the southeastern coast of Nova Scotia.In June of 1813 one of these American privateers, the Young Teazer, became the hunted instead of the hunter. On June 27th the HMS Hogue encountered the Young Teazer and forced her into Halifax Harbour (spelled: Harbor in the U.S.) but the Young Teazer managed to escape. A few days later the frigate HMS Orpheus chased the Teazer into Luneburg Harbour. But the Orpheus lost her near Mahone Bay due to light winds. The Hogue then picked up the chase again, after 18 hours she was able to trap the Young Teazer in Mahone Bay. The Hogue began to fire upon the Teazer viciously. Soon the Orpheus joined in.That evening the Hogue readied five boats to board the Teazer. Meanwhile, Captain Dobson on board the Young Teazer discussed plans to defend his privateer with his 38-man crew. * Lieutenant Johnson known for erratic behavior on previous cruises, argued with the captain and then disappeared below. The schooner exploded a few minutes later. Johnson, who was a British deserter knew that once his identity was discovered, he would be hanged. So in desperation, he threw a lit torch into the ship’s supply of gunpowder.Of the few Teazer men who survived the explosion, several were severely burned. They were found by local residents clinging to the burning spars and bow of the shattered hull of the schooner. Approximately, 30 of the Teazer crew died. The local militia secured the survivors including the captain. These men were sent to the Melville Island prisoner war camp in Halifax. Most were eventually returned to America in a prisoner exchange. The locals buried the dead in unmarked graves in the St. Stephens’ Anglican cemetery in Chester. They also took charge of the Young Teazer’s wreckage. **Almost a year later to the day a ghost ship was first seen near Chester in Mahone Bay. This was the first of many appearances. Hundreds have seen a burning ship out on the Bay. Many witnesses state this ship just appears out of nowhere. Others have reported seeing this flaming ship head right for them. Terrified, they felt it was about to run them down-- only to see it vanish at the last second.
Oak Island
This unassuming dot of land was paid little attention until 1795, when a teenaged boy discovered a circular depression in the ground and started digging. As he and his friends dug, they discovered layers of logs and what were believed to be pick scrapings along the walls of a pit. Soon after, another group of treasure seekers took over, convinced that the so-called ‘Money Pit’ was the site of long-lost buried treasure, possibly belonging to Captain Kidd or Blackbeard. They even claimed to have found a flagstone etched with symbols that, according to an amateur cryptologist, translated into “forty feet below, two million pounds lie buried”.Over the past 200 years, despite the difficulties and risks (six men have died while digging), there have been many determined efforts to find Oak Island’s treasure, even attracting the interest of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Today, The History Channel's popular TV series, "The Curse of Oak Island", is filmed on Oak Island as the Lagina brothers continue the search for treasure and likely won’t stop until the mystery of the money pit is solved. Oak Island is privately owned, and visitation is only through pre-booked guided tours.
Peggys Point Lighthouse
Peggys Point Lighthouse is rumored to be haunted by a European woman and shipwreck survivor named Margaret who lived here in 1800. So her story goes, her husband was attempting to cheer her up by dancing a jig on the rocks, but he slipped and died. Later, she walked out to the area where he fell and was never heard from again—alive, anyway. When the lighthouse was built in 1868, tourists began to see Margaret’s ghost standing along the rocky shores in a blue dress, and she has spoken to a few folks as well. The site was featured on Creepy Canada.
Bedford Basin
This site is reportedly haunted by spirits of Native Canadians, French, British and Canadian soldiers and family members. There have been reported touches, pushes and pulls by invisible presences, light anomalies, apparitional footsteps, shadowy figures disembodied voices and other unexplained noises.(Update: This restaurant has since moved to Halifax. However, the property that it used to sit on at 1516 Bedford Highway in Bedford is where the hauntings occurred.)The property is said to be a farm that used to be owned by the honorable James Butler of Halifax in the 1800’s. Although it is believed that a woman named Elizabeth was murdered on this property in 1809 while it was still a farm, the activity began just 20 years ago when a body was found in a bag washed up on the shore behind the building before it was the Cellar Bar and Grill. It is said that the smell of the body came through the restaurant. Nobody knows whose body it was.Staff members of the old restaurant when this property housed The Cellar Bar and Grill reported “severe” temperature drops before seeing the “misty” figure of a human. Furniture was found out of place, adding machines operating on their own even when turned off, the smell of cigar or pipe smoke, phantom footsteps, cutlery and glasses found to be moved around when the tables were set the night before, and water taps “surging” on their own.Sometimes staff would see somebody walking into the back dining room, but upon investigation nobody is there. The chef said that he would also find his cooking utensils missing, then later on find them in the same spot it was left.WARNING: Do not trespass! Permission from the location owner must be granted to investigate this location!
Halifax Explosion of 1917
On the morning of 6 December 1917, the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in the waters of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Mont-Blanc, laden with high explosives, caught fire and exploded, devastating the Richmond district of Halifax. At least 9000 were injured and many more were made homeless. The Explosion immediately disrupted communications linking coColisionntinental North America, Nova Scotia, and the world overseas. Rail lines, roadways, telegraph and telephone lines, submarine cables: all passed through The Narrows and were disrupted by the blast.
The Alexander
Dating back almost two centuries, this ironstone and granite building on Hollis Street has seen a lot of foot traffic.The building, three-stories high with a flat roof, was bought in 1820 by brewmaster Alexander Keith, who was looking to expand his business. Keith passed away in 1873, but his spirit is said to have stayed behind.But Keith isn’t the only spirit said to roam the halls.Last year, a young man was alone in the basement doing some cleaning. He was whistling to himself while he worked, when he heard someone, or something, whistle back.“He thought, ‘OK, someone must be playing a trick on me’,’ says White. She explains that when the man looked up he saw a flash of a woman in green and purple, with her hair piled loosely on her head.He then looked away for a second to see if anyone else was around. When he looked back, she had disappeared.
Acadia University
Acadia University is said to be home to a ghostly Baptist girl who hanged herself in the stairwell when she learned she was pregnant. Besides this, witnesses have reported lights that go on and off, doors that open and close, strange light anomalies, unexplained sounds, voices, moving objects, and having strange visions in the vicinity of the suicide.According to legend, a young female student in the late 1800s discovered she was with child and hanged herself, to spare herself and her family the embarrassment of an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, taking her life in an area on the building’s second floor that’s known as “The Well,” a large opening with a banister in the second floor under the skylight.Over the years, there have been many paranormal activities have been reported at the Seminary House. Lights turn on and off, footsteps are heard going up and down the back stairwell, doors open and close on their own, objects move by themselves, and disembodied voices can be heard throughout the residence. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, some believe that her name was Constance Hagan, so the residents in the Seminary have given her the nickname “Connie”.Some guests claim to have seen a young blond female wandering about the rooms and hallways, closing doors behind her, and all believe this to be the ghost of the unfortunate unwed mother-to-be. She’s been described as a polite and demure, not surprising for a young Baptist woman.
The Great Amherst Mystery
In the late summer of 1878, a sleepy Nova Scotia town found itself in the middle of a mystery. Unexplained banging sounds rang from a home on Princess Street, buildings combusted into flames and a disturbing message was scratched above a young woman's bed: "Esther Cox, You Are Mine to Kill."If you're from Amherst, this ghost story needs no introduction. Newspapers from as far away as New York documented the troubling events — later dubbed the Great Amherst Mystery by American actor Walter Hubbell who sought to profit from Cox's story.The 18-year-old's haunting continues to inspire books and podcasts about the paranormal, and there's even a town festival in her honour. In 1878, Amherst, Nova Scotia, made international headlines when Esther Cox, an 18-year-old resident of the town, reportedly found herself at the centre of a bizarre series of events that became known as The Great Amherst Mystery.Strange rappings and bangings were heard throughout her home. Objects flew through the air. Esther writhed in pain and swelled to twice her normal size. Countless people watched as fires were started and an unknown hand scratched into the wall above Esther's bed: “Esther Cox You Are Mine To Kill.”The story has become known in paranormal literature as one of the best documented cases of poltergeist activity on record. The New York Sun said it was, “...in all probability the greatest (tale) of its kind in this or any age.” MacLean’s magazine called it, “Canada’s most famous ghost story and a classic Poltergeist case.”The story has been featured in a number of books and television programs about the supernatural.You can find The Great Amherst Mystery mural and others paying tribute to our history throughout downtown Amherst.
The Caledonia Mills
The Caledonia Mills holds a mysterious history that dates back to 1899. The MacDonald family consisted of Alexander, Mary, and their foster daughter Mary-Ellen, who was 16 when the fires began. Thirty fires sprang out of nowhere in the end, and even with increased vigilance, they never caught the arsonist. Suspicion was placed on Mary-Ellen: supernatural suspicion, as people thought she might have been possessed by a poltergeist. The MacDonalds eventually moved away, but visitors through the decades have reported that the fire-spook seems to be around still. According to legend, you shouldn’t take anything from the property with you—it might cause fires in your own home.
Cossit House Museum
This house is one of the oldest, and perhaps the oldest on Cape Breton Island. Now a museum, you’ll find interesting tours with costumed guides surrounded by period décor (the period being the 1780s). But there will be things going on there that you may not be able to see. Ghost hunters and mediums alike have made trips here and reported strange sounds and energy around the place. As this is a stop on the Old Sydney Society ghost walk tour, you can get a feel for this place both in the daytime and the nighttime.
Ghost Town in Broughton
If you want to have a ghostly experience even in the daytime, what better place than a ghost town? Only 19km outside of Sydney, Cape Breton, Broughton has been a ghost town since 1916. There are still a couple of people who live nearby…and if you believe the stories, there’s a few spirits ‘living’ there too. Bring your ghost-hunting equipment and day or night; you’ll find the experience eerie. Whether there’s ghosts nor not, Broughton is haunted by the potential it once held to become the big town it was designed to be.Some say Broughton, Cape Breton, is haunted but it once had a coal mine, many buildings and North America's first revolving door! Here’s the story.Coal was discovered near Loon Lake by E. T. Mosely and a small amount was mined from an outcrop in 1901. A wagon road, about three miles in length, was built to the Mira river, a tiny wharf was constructed, and four or five tons of coal were hauled down. The Cape Breton Coal, Iron & Railway Company was formed, headed by Englishmen Colonel Horace Mayhew and Thomas Lancaster, and millions of dollars in capital were raised, mostly from England.Mayhew, as president of the company, quickly set about building one of Canada’s first planned cities in 1905. A town was designed to house 10,000-12,000 people with ten miles of streets. 60 buildings were built, including offices, 43 miners houses, churches, four stores, a school and two modern hotels. One of the hotels, the Broughton Arms, was considered the finest hotel east of Montreal and it had the first revolving door in North America, an indication of how modern and progressive the company intended its operations to be. The Crown Hotel had a bowling alley in the basement.Electric lights, running water, sewer, telephone and telegraph were established. Two hundred men worked on the construction and as many as 1000 people lived in the town in 1906.Mayhew named the town Broughton after his family estate at Broughton Hall in Hawarden, England.After all that construction, Broughton seemed to have everything it needed…except a significant coal mine to pay for it all!The problem was a lack of rail to get the coal to port. Since Broughton is inland, it needed a rail line to haul its coal to harbours in either Louisbourg or Sydney. Unfortunately, the main Sydney-Louisbourg rail line was operated by the Dominion Coal Company which, understandably, did not want to help a competitor get its coal to market.Dominion even bought some land that the Broughton mine needed for mining operations in another effort to block the Cape Breton Coal, Iron & Railway Company.Because Mayhew had spent so much money building the town, he did not have enough capital to build his own railway. Mayhew went back to England in 1906 to seek more funds and left his son, Horace Dixon Mayhew Jr., in charge at Broughton. Sadly, his son committed suicide while on a hunting trip on August 12, 1906.The cost of building the town bankrupted the company in 1907 and what little actual mining was being done came to a halt.Mayhew returned to Flintshire, England, and established a new practice with his remaining sons. The firm Mayhew & Mayhew later owned several coal mines in England. In 1913, Mayhew started raising more capital and a steel bank-head was built at the mine, new miners houses were built and coal mining restarted under the management of C. J. Coll.Before Coll’s involvement, construction of a railway had been started from the pit mouth to Mira bay. Coll stopped the railway construction, perhaps fearing that the cost would again bankrupt the mine. He instead focussed on actual mining and in 1914, 35,000 tons of coal were mined and shipped to Halifax – the company had finally succeeded in gaining access to the Sydney-Louisburg railway to haul coal to Louisburg. Unfortunately, despite the increased demand and inflated price of coal during wartime, the mine failed again and the town was abandoned.In 1916, Broughton was used to house and train over 1200 soldiers from the 185th Cape Breton Highlanders. Shortly after the battalion’s arrival in April, the Crown Hotel burned down due to an accident with a plumber’s torch. Emergency replacement buildings were quickly built to house and feed 500 men. When the 185th shipped out in October, the 184th moved in and stayed for three weeks.Several coal mines operated in Broughton, mostly for short periods, between 1934 and 1969. The largest was the Four Star mine which opened in 1948 and was shut down by the Cape Breton Development Corporation (Devco) in 1969.Since then, the ruins of Broughton have been slowly reclaimed by the forest and, some believe, by the ghosts of miners and soldiers who spent time there in the early 1900s.Eleanor Anderson’s book “Broughton: A Return To Cape Breton’s Ghost Town” and Mike Parker’s “Gold Rush Ghost Town of Nova Scotia” are both great reads for more tales of ghostly happenings at historical mines.Address: 1179 Broughton Road, Cape Breton
