In books, it seems every small town has numerous ghosts. But I really can’t remember many ghost stories from back home growing up. There may be many I’ve never heard, and if so would love to hear about them, so let me know!
I do have two stories of a “ghostly” nature, though how ghostly you can decide. One remains unexplained and backed up by rumor I’ve heard, the other, well…. you’ll see.
The first story may have been a prank, I don’t know, and not sure anyone would remember the story now but me. But back home in Apsey Brook, near the old one room school, was a shed for coal, aptly enough called the coal house. Years after the school was no longer used for school, the coal house was still there, with its kilroy was here drawn on the wall, and small pieces of coal caught in the seams and corners. It had sliding doors; just wood in a groove, with a hole through for a handle to pull.
Usually the main door was usually partly open, but the day in question, Keith and Lorne and I (I being the younger brother tagalong) were over near there, and the door was shut. Suddenly Lorne points at the door and says look! We look, and, and to our (or mine anyway) surprise, and a little fear, a big eye was looking out of the hole in the closed door. We stared for a few seconds and finally Lorne runs over and yanks the door open. To the tune of a loud “Baaaaa” one of Jim Phillip’s sheep runs out. Looking back now I can’t imagine anyway it got in there, so I’m going to assume the kid had a prank played on him!
The second story is mostly rumor I heard, and “common knowledge”. How true any of it was is anyone’s guess, but I do have a small recollection that backs it up. Uncle Ingham Smith died in 1972, and his wife Sybil eventually(maybe immediately? I don’t recall, I was only 7 :)) moved in with her son, Roy. Their grandson Roger when he got married moved into the old house for a period before building his own in Elliott’s Cove and moving. Rumor has it though, that the reason he moved was that Uncle Ingham was haunting the house. Lights would go on and off, the fridge would open, footsteps would be heard. Of course this may have been just that, rumor, but it was an interesting story. I do have one memory though that backs it up, though perhaps faulty electrical could be the cause. I recall one evening in particular, when no one was home in the old house, looking over across the brook and seeing the light over the door go on and off several times.
Ghosts? Perhaps a sheep got in the house as well? I don’t know, but those are the only ghost stories I know of from Random Island. Share yours in the comments?
Raised in outport Newfoundland in a town of 65 people, I pursued a post secondary diploma in Information Technology right out of High School.
I’ve always been a geek at heart, but yet I love the rural life I grew up with. Fishing, hunting, camping and the great outdoors are still loves of mine, even if I don’t pursue them as often as I once did. Sports were always a big part of our lives, and I played many (badly) and loved them all.
Very much enjoyed. Look forward to more
My dad tells a story about a ghost in Dean’s Cove in Hickman’sHarbour, up the hill from the United Church.
You should get him to write it down and share!