Ghosts of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

History and hauntings are natural partners and, as one of the oldest settled areas in Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake is a natural choice for the title of the province’s “haunted capital.” The town is home to a wealth of historic sites reputed to shelter “inhabitants not of our time.” From these, Da Silva and Hind select 15 locations, introducing the history of each site and detailing the reports of paranormal activities there. Putting location first and letting the ghosts become part of the site’s catalogue of interesting points goes a long way toward disarming those who would be quick to debunk a ghost-focused approach: It’s possible to enjoy visiting an historic site, even if you don’t enjoy—or believe—everything there. Yet make no mistake, these are ghost stories, told for fun and, perhaps, to generate tourism. Nonetheless, a tone of calm and unsensationalized reporting lend a sense of pseudo-reality. The ghosts are allowed their dignity, so readers can keep theirs.

The haunted sites are all open to the public. They include former residences, hotels, restaurants, forts, battlefields, a pharmacy museum, a courthouse, even a cemetery. Location and contact information is given for each, so readers can arrange to visit.

The most famous ghost included is Laura Secord. Most of the others are nameless; a few are presumed to be figures from local history. Some are gentle ghosts, choosing to simply weep softly or enjoy Christmas music. Others are so rude as to slam doors, glare unpleasantly, or spill drinks. Throughout, the authors attempt to portray the Niagara-on-the-Lake ghosts as suitable for roaming the streets “on equal footing” with the tourists for which the area is well known.

A bibliography, research/resource notes, and an index support the historical side of the work. On the haunted side, the book is a work of gifted storytelling, employing the traditional artifices of spooky tales with elegance and restraint.