critical hit gaming lounge
courtice, ont.
​january 25, 2025

It was almost 10:00pm when the team pulled up to the large building that overlooked the valley in Courtice.  The crisp January air combined with the leafless trees from the forest behind gave the building an ominous looking and feeling.  It’s infamous past also lurked in the air and minds of the team.  As the clock struck 10:00pm, the team entered the building and headed to the upper floor where staff were waiting.  After a brief introduction, and wait for Alison, the team was ready to get the investigation started.  It was time to see what stories the building had to share.
 
Critical Hit Gaming Lounge is located on the second floor on a building located on the top of the hill just off of Highway 2 in Courtice.  While this building has had a few businesses in it throughout the years, it is most infamously known to locals as the Tanglewood.  Before the building existed, the land was owned by Jacob Stalter.  According to an 1874 map, Jacob owned land on both sides the road, and he would construct a mill on the south side.  At some point in time, perhaps in the late 1870’s, Augustus Tooley would purchase the Mill and operate it until it was not longer viable.  Augustus Tooley and his family would also live on the mill property in a house and the area became known at Tooley’s Mill.  Fast forward to 1930 when a small, white house was built on the top of the hill on the north side for Robert Preston.  Mr. Preston was Mayor of Oshawa, and is whom the road Prestonvale is named after.  Robert Preston lived in the house with his wife and children.  This property would also be turned in a campground, Wonderland Park Motel.  Visitors could rent small cabins and enjoy the amenities of the area, including “Happy Hallow” – a local swimming hole.  Wonderland Park Motel had an old railcar that was located where the current parking lot entrance is that was a restaurant.  There was also a large teapot that was a landmark, and it was said that it would blow smoke every now and again.  The camp was sold in 1942 shortly after the death of Robert Preston

​Eventually in 1982, the land would see the construction of large building that still stands today.  The British Bulldog was the first owner of the building – a British-themed upper scale restaurant and banquet room, owned and operated by Doug Roy and Graham Jackson.  This establishment used the top floor as the banquet hall, the middle floor as its upper scale restaurant and the basement has a pub/bar, called “Ye Olde Tanglewood”.  This bar was first known for the telephones that it had at each table.  You could use these phones to call the other tables throughout the bar.  Sadly, The British Bulldog would go bankrupt.  This resulted in the main floor and the second floor to shut down in the mid-1980s.  However, the bar in the basement would continue on.  An older couple – John and Helen Pajak – would operated the Tanglewood as an adult entertainment facility.  For more than 40 years, John and Helen would also own and operate a handful of other pubs and bars in the area.  The Tanglewood would serve its patrons up until 2004 when a new bylaw was introduced that made it hard for the adult entertainment business to be profitable in the region.  By 2011, the building had undergone significant renovations and was now opened and operating as Hilltop Restaurant and Banquet Hall.  The main floor of the building became Stuttering John’s Smokehouse.  Today, the main floor consists of another food service, while the upper floor is Critical Hit Gaming House.  The basement hosts Sir Monty’s Brewing Company.  Next door to the building sits an old, white house that is much older than the building that it is attached it.  This may be the original house that was built for Robert Preston and survived the tearing down of the camp.
 
It should also be noted that just west of the building, on the other side of the creek where the Tim Hortons now sits, was once the property of another motel.  The Tremeddon Motel, which was eventually renamed to Oshawa Motor Court.  The Tremeddon had a bit of seedy history.  In the 1960’s a fire would destroy the main office of the motel.  On December 25, 1976 the last three rooms on the east side ended up in flames.  When they were extinguished, the body of an unidentified man was found in one of the rooms.  The owner of the motel was also said to be quite the gambler and rumor has it that he placed the ownership of the motel as a bet during one of his poker games, and lost.  Eventually the motel would be torn down and Tim Hortons was put in its place.

Almost immediately the team begin to sense that they were not alone.  “Oh, don’t touch me,” exclaimed Alison. Cathy had also felt someone touch her.  “I hit the last few stairs before the top and I got uncomfortable,” Alison described.   The team made their way to a back gaming room to get acquainted with the building.  Immediately Alison had an adverse reaction.  “Why is it so yucky back here?” she asked.  Cathy agreed that she was not going to like the room.  “Nope.  Don’t like it,” added Alison.  As she got closer to the gaming room, the table caught her eye.  “Whoa, whoa whoa.  Where did this table come from?  Do we know where its from?” she asked.  At the time, our host for the evening, Keith, did not have that information.  Alison had felt that rituals, or even a Ouija board was used on this table.  “Oh my god.  The pain in my… Owww,” she exclaimed.  “I’m getting cold,” added Cathy.  Alison stood in the doorway, unable to move.  “I feel like I can’t cross a boundary,” she said.  Cathy, walked past here and into the room.  “I can, but my body feels like it is on guard,” she said.  With a couple of deep breaths, Alison was able to step foot into the room and walk around.  “I don’t like it in here.  It took me a bit to cross that threshold.  My head was really heavy coming in here,” she said.  Paula was now inspecting the large table that was in the room.  “It looks like an old dining room table,” she described.  Alison asked if the table had a stamp or marker on it from its manufacturer.  Paula, joking that she was the closest to the ground, said she would take a look.  She didn’t see anything at the time.  “I think maybe an Estes in here?” questioned Rachel.  Cathy agreed.  “That was my first thought.  Don’t know why,” she said.  The team exited the back room and began to set up equipment.  Paula stayed behind in the back room to look over the table further.  Upon closer inspection she found something that was out of place. She informed Keith and it looked to be as if someone was cheating at a game.  This back room was set up for Dungeons and Dragons and was consistently booked out.  Whomever was still in the building clearly wanted this to be found.  Thanks to Alison’s question and Paula’s quest for the truth, it was.

​The team was now busy setting up equipment throughout the upper level.  The REM Bell Square (a new piece of equipment) was set up on the west side of the room.  The REM pod was set up on east side of the room.  The Dead Bell was placed on the counter at the back.  The music box and REM square was set up in the back room.  The trip wire was laid down the centre of the room.  Sensor balls were placed in the middle of the room on the floor and the back counter.  The Ovilus and Spirit Talker were turned on, as well as the SLS camera.  One everything was set in place, including the team, the Dead Bell activated.  “Thank you,” Alison and Cathy said.  “It didn’t scare me this time,” laughed Rachel.  “Are you here to talk to us?” asked Cathy.  “My name is Alison and I’m here with The Paranormal Seekers.  None of this equipment will harm you.  We aren’t going to send you away or do anything to make you feel uncomfortable,” said Alison.  “I’d love for you to ring the bell again,” she added.  All was quiet.  “I keep hearing ‘I aint afraid of no ghost’,” Alison joked.  “I’m Cathy.  Is there somebody here that would like to make themselves known?” Cathy asked.  Again, all was quiet.  “Do you like hanging out here? Do you scare the staff here?  Don’t be shy,” she added. The REM Bell square activated.  “Whoa! Thank you,” exclaimed Alison.  “There are lots of gadgets for you to use here,” said Cathy.  The REM Bell square activated again.  “They are literally walking closer to us,” stated Alison.  “Where is the closest cemetery?” Alison inquired.  Rachel had to think for a moment before stating that the closest cemetery to their current location was the Ukrainian cemetery that was at the end of Prestonvale Road near Baseline and the 401.  The REM Bell square activated again.  “Are you from the cemetery?” asked Cathy.  The device continued to go off.  “Can you step away from that please?” she asked next.  The device stopped.  “Thank you.  I really appreciate that,” she said.  “Are you a child from the cemetery?”  No response.  “Are you and adult from the cemetery?” No response.  “Are you a teenager from the cemetery?” Again, no response.  The Ovilus 3 spoke – ‘Worry’.  “What are you worried about?” asked Cathy.  The REM Bell Square activated.  “Thank you,” said Alison.  It was at this point that Alison noted that she was mapping a figure on the SLS camera.  This figure seemed to be hanging out in the rafters, right about the REM Bell square.  “Are you Ukrainian?” asked Cathy.  The REM Bell square activated.  “Is this John?” asked Rachel.  The REM Bell square activated again.  “Hi John,” greeted Cathy.  “Are you happy with the way things are here?  If you are can you step away from the device?” she asked.  The REM Bell square stopped.  “Thank you very much,” she added.  Alison was still mapping the figure about the device.  “Can you please wave to us?” Alison asked, as she stood still, filming the area with the SLS.  “If you’re John, can you raise your arm please?” she asked.  The REM Bell square activated.  “Thank you, John,” said Alison.  “John, is your wife here with you?” asked Rachel.  “Is Helen here with you?” she added.  This time the REM pod activated.  “Helen, is that you?” asked Rachel.  The devices remained quiet.  It was then decided to turn on the Necrophonic.  “John are you still here?” asked Rachel.  The REM Bell square activated.  “Thank you,” replied Alison.  “John is your wife here with you?” questioned Rachel.  The REM pod then activated.  “Oh wow! Thank you!” exclaimed Alison.  “Can you play with the lights on the floor please?” Cathy asked.  “Can you walk down the centre of the room where the lights are?” she clarified.  But the lights remained stagnant.  “John, where you were here, what was this place to you?” asked Rachel.  No responses.  “Who’s near me?” asked Cathy.  “Who’s here with me?  I can feel you right behind my back.  All the hair on my body is standing up,” she stated.  It was at this point that Alison though she heard the word ‘Help’ come through the Necrophonic, but nothing was captured.  “Who needs help?” she asked.  “What do you need help with?” added Cathy.  A couple lights on the Tripwire activated.  Keith then noticed that the laptop at the back of the room had suddenly turned off.  This may have just been the device going to sleep, but it seemed strange at the time.  “Who is here with us right now?  Can you tell us your name please?” asked Rachel.  No responses.  “Are you part of this building or from the land?” she asked next.  No responses.  “Are there two spirits here with us tonight, or just John?” asked Cathy.  No responses.  “Are there any children here?  Is there anyone connected to the campground here?” she continued.  No responses.  “Did you work here or did you live here?” asked Rachel.  A female voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Lived here’.  “Where you here when it was the Tanglewood?” asked Cathy.  No response.  “Does John want to talk to us again?” she continued.  No response.  Alison was sure she heard ‘He’s gone’ through the Necrophonic, but it was not captured on audio.  “Is Helen here?” asked Rachel.  “Helen are you still here?” she added.  No response.  “Is there anybody else here that would like to communicate with us?” asked Cathy.  No response.  After a few moments of silence and the Necrophonic going through its cycle, the sound of footsteps walking towards the back room was heard by Keith, Rachel and Alison.  The Necrophonic also spoke – ‘Shhhh’.  “Is anyone from the Preston family here?” asked Rachel.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Yes’.  “Who from the Preston family is here?” A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Boy’.  “What’s your name?” asked Paula.  No response.  “Can you make a noise?  Knock on a wall, move chair.  Just to confirm you’re actually here with us,” asked Cathy.  No noise was heard but a couple lights on the Tripwire activated.  “Thank you,” Alison replied.  “Why did you whistle last week?” Keith asked.  A voice as heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Heard’.  Alison repeated the word.  “That is my last name,” replied Keith.  Alison was a bit shocked, explaining how she thought it was someone saying that Keith had heard them.  “A few weeks back you whistled and I whistled back.  Did you like that?” he asked.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Yes’.  Hearing the response, Keith whistled into the open space.  “You don’t like Kevin’s whistles, do you?” he asked.  No response.  “I feel like there is something peaking from that back room on the left,” said Alison. Keith then shared that it was a newer room, having just been built.  “John, did you leave us or are you still here?” asked Cathy.  No response was heard, and the equipment remained quiet. The team then decided that it was now a good time to go live and bring our followers along on our investigation.
 
Watch our video below to see what happened during our Live broadcast!

​The live broadcast had ended and the team sat in the back room around the table, discussing what had happened while Rachel was under.  Wanting to included everyone, Rachel turned Necrophonic on and set the device on the table.  “Now you can talk to everybody and not just me,” she said.  The device was strangely quiet and it was noted that this was not the normal.  “Are you a man or a woman?” asked Rachel.  It was noted that it sounded like a voice said ‘Sit’ but it was not captured on audio.  “Who’s not sitting?” asked Rachel.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Fuck’.  “Are we pissing you off?” asked Cathy.  No response, but Keith was sure something was in the little room that was connected to the game room they were currently sitting in.  “Who is in this little room to my right?” asked Rachel. A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Boy’.  “Does the boy have a name?” asked Rachel.  “Can the boy tell us his name?” she asked.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Mike’.  “Who is Mike?” questioned Rachel.  “Are you a customer that use to hang out here” asked Cathy.   A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘No’.  “Did he rent a cabin?” asked Rachel.  No response.  “Is it the gentleman who died in the fire that was at the other motel?” she asked.  No response was captured, but Alison and Cathy were both certain that they heard the word ‘leave’ come through the Necrophonic.  “Do you want us to get out?  Are we bothering you?” asked Cathy.  “Are we digging into your business?  Do you not want us in your business?” added Rachel.  No response.  Cathy then began to feel cold across her back, and Keith began to describe how the right side of his body was feeling exceptionally cold.  “Who is standing between Cathy and Keith?” asked Rachel.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘What the fuck’. “What the fuck,” repeated Alison.  What sounded like a female voice coming through the Necrophonic was heard, but no one could figure out what she was saying.  Even on the audio recording it is difficult to make out what it says.  “Is this Helen?” asked Rachel.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘No one’.  “Nope, not the one,” said Alison.  “Is this Elizabeth or Lizzie?” asked Rachel (the Spirit Talker had said that there was some there named Lizzie earlier that evening).  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘No’.  “Is this April?” asked Keith.  “Was April a dancer?” added Cathy.  A few voices were heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Yup’, ‘Fuck off’, ‘Leave’, ‘Looking’.  “Looking for what?” asked Cathy.  A female voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘I’m home’, followed by two more voices – ‘Suck’, ‘Come’.  “A little too much information,” laughed Cathy.  “This is going south fast,” Rachel joked.  “April is that you?  Can you tell us what happened here?” asked Cathy.  No response.  “Are you in pain?” asked Keith.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘A _____ _____’, ‘Searching’, ‘Going’ (we were unable to distinguish the other two words that were heard and recorded).  “Who’s going?” asked Cathy.  Keith then noted that he heard a noise coming from the small room that was attached.  Cathy asked if the noise could be replicated, but nothing was heard.  “Don’t touch me please,” blurted out Alison.  “Are you touching Alison?” asked Cathy.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Why’.  “Don’t question why.  Just don’t do it,” Alison said firmly.  After a few minutes, Rachel continued to ask questions.  “Did you enjoy working here?” she asked.  “What was your favourite thing about working here?” she added.  No response.  “Was it the money?  Was it the attention?” added Cathy.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Yes’.  “Did you get a lot of attention while working here?” she continued.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Some’, ‘Sure’.  “Where the floors sticky?” Alison jokingly asked.  Alison and Cathy, who were standing near the door thought they heard on of the REM’s activating.  Rachel got up from the table to take a look, but nothing was out of the ordinary and the devices were all quiet.  “Do you know any of my ancestors?” asked Keith.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic, but no one in the room heard it at the time – ‘William’.  “Where you here when this was a campground?  Did you place in the creek?” asked Cathy.  No response.  “Is there another girl in here now?” asked Rachel.  “Is there a stripper fight?” she added jokingly.  A male voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Yup’.  Everyone laughed.  “That was a joke question,” Rachel said in between her giggles.  “Do you have a message for Keith?” asked Alison.  No responses.  “I keep hearing the name ‘Donna’ in my head.  Was there a Donna that worked here?” asked Cathy.  No response was heard, although Rachel could now here Ritchie Valens singing in her head.  Rachel then thought she heard a voice over the Necrophonic saying ‘tantrum’.  “Are you upset?” she asked.  A female voice was heard – ‘A little bit’.  “Are you done with us right now?  You want a break?” asked Cathy.  No response.  “Do you like that it’s a gaming lounge now?” asked Alison.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Nerd’.  “Do you like the people that hang out here?” asked Cathy.  A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘Nerds’, ‘Cult’.  “Ya, they could be a cult,” laughed Rachel.  “Do you have fun watching people play here?” asked Cathy. A voice was heard through the Necrophonic – ‘No’, ‘It’s not good’.  “Unfortunately, they can’t bring the adult entertainment business back to this part of town,” stated Rachel.  Once again, Alison was sure she heard one of the REM’s going off and stated that we should probably go back out to the main room.  The team agreed and headed back out, leaving the gaming room behind.

As soon as the team re-entered the main room the REM Bell square activated.  “Are you still happy that we are hanging out here?” asked Cathy.  A few lights on the Tripwire activated.  “Thank you,” she replied.  “Can you set off the REM pod if you’re from the Tanglewood days?” she asked.  The REM pod remained inactive.  “Is there anybody from the house next door?” asked Alison.  No response.  “So, you’re not from the Tanglewood.  Are you the original owner or Mayor Preston?” she asked.  No responses.  “How long have you known me?” asked Keith.  The Spirit Talker spoke – ‘Thank you for visiting’, ‘You are unique’, ‘Nineteen’.  “Is nineteen the number of years you have known me?”  questioned Keith. A couple lights on the Tripwire activated.  “Is that a yes?” he questioned.  The Spirit Talker spoke – ‘I’m feeling tired’.  “Why are you feeling tired?” asked Cathy.  The Spirit Talker spoke – ‘Intense’.  “Are you done? Finished?” asked Cathy.  “If you’re done, can you ring the bell, set off one of the REMs?” asked Alison.  It was at this point that the laptop turned back on.  No one was near it to bump it out of its sleep.  “Oh my god!” exclaimed Keith.  “All right! Thanks! That awesome,” said Alison.  The Spirit Talker spoke – ‘Where are my ashes?’  “I can’t help with that.  Are they at the cemetery?” asked Cathy.  The REM pod activated.  “Oh, thank you!” replied Alison.  The team asked a few more questions, but taking the hint that whomever was there was tired, it was decided to wrap up the investigation and make plans to return.  Hopefully to investigate the basement and the old house that is still on the property.
 
Investigating an infamous landmark in the Durham Region was surreal and impressive.  Not only does the building host an interesting past, but the land that it sits on is just as enchanting.  Is the former Tanglewood building (now Critical Hit Gaming Lounge, a few other businesses) haunted?  We believe there are a few energies still hanging around, and a lot of residual ones.  From our experience we believe that the former owner and operator of Tanglewood, John Pajak, is still there – taking care of his building.  His wife, Helen, makes an appearance every now and then.  There is another energy there, but we just don’t know for sure who that may be.  We hope to be able to return one day soon and be able to investigate other areas of the building to get a better response and idea of who may still be there.
 
Note – John Pajak passed away in 2012, while Helen Pajak passed away in 2013. Both of them were cremated.  However, they were left in the care of the funeral home as it appears they had no children or immediate family.  Rachel was unable to located where they may have been interred, if they had been at all.
 
Keith messaged the Facebook page after the team had left with information on the table in the private game room.  This table had once been previously owned by a Priest.

ovilus 5 words

spirit talker

​WORRIED
COAT                  
SO                    
DEAL                  
WINGS                 
SHOW                  
GAIL                  
GROUP                 
CONTRITION            
FAR                   
JO                    
SPOON                 
COFFIN                
MASTER                
GOVERNMENT            
LEDGE                 
TROOP                 
OPPOSITE              
RATE                  
RELIGION               
PENDANT               
MINI                  
BEING                 
FOREVER               
HERNIA                
PEOPLE                
DISEASE                

​GOT                   
AGO                   
US                    
SCORE                 
WALK                  
MIKE                  
EUROPE                
KNEE                  
FIND                  
SOLSTICE              
SLUR                  
HURT                  
HEARD                 
EGGS                  
RAPTURE               
FOREIGN               
RESULT    

​MY NAME IS LIZZIE
SICKNESS TOOK ME
I’M WALKING AROUND
KINDNESS
I WAS WEALTHY
AGREE
I THREW SOMETHING
BROWN
MEDAL
HATE
WORRIED
HELLO ALL
NOW
THANK YOU FOR VISITING
YOU ARE UNIQUE
NINETEEN
I AM FEELING TIRED
INTENSE
WHERE ARE MY ASHES