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    • Archives - 2024

Historic Bovaird House
Brampton, Ont
April 6, 2024

Picture
“There it is!” exclaimed Rachel as the team drove by the location that they would be investigating that evening.  It wasn’t as if Rachel had missed the turn in, it was more of a centre median prevented her from turning Left.  After a quick turn around up the road, Rachel had made it safely to the entrance and pulled the truck into the driveway and into the parking lot.  The old farm house and neighbouring log cabin were visually out of place, as they were now surrounded with new homes in a subdivision.  It was easy to see how this was once sprawling farmland, bought up by developers.  The team had arrived and were ready to investigate.
 
The historic Bovaird House sits on property that was granted to John Silverthorn Jr in 1819.  Silverthorn Jr. would build a log cabin on the 100-acre site, but didn’t stay long. His first wife, Edna, was found shot on the property around 1821.  Not wanting to stay, Silverthorn Jr sold his property to Peter Chisholm.  Mr. Chisholm was a baker from New York state.  After purchasing the property, he retuned to New York, leaving the property in the care of a neighbour.  Peter Chisholm would return to the property in 1828 with his family, building the house that stands today.  When Peter Chisholm died in 1872, his son, Peter Renwick Chisholm inherited the house and property.  Eventually this would be passed down to his children – Amelia, Florence Grace and Renwick James.  The Chisholm children never lived in the house, choosing to rent it out.
 
In 1929, James Marshall Bovaird would purchase the home.  Like the Chisholm children, he chose to rent out the home.  However, he chose to use the grounds for breeding his thoroughbred horses. James Bovaird and his wife, Fannie Ward, would have 11 children during their marriage – all surviving till a ripe old age.  James Marshall Bovaird died on June 16, 1938.  The house and property were then inherited by William Bovaird.  William was the youngest son, and second youngest child, in the family.  He was also in the horse business, but was also into local politics.  William married Mossie Wood in 1946.  They were the first Bovaird family to actually live in the house.  They updated the house to bring it into the 20th century.  William and Mossie did not have any children.  William passed in September 1985, leaving Mossie the house.  Before his death, the couple had been determined to preserve their home and property as a historical landmark.  They formed an agreement that the home would eventually be donated to the city of Brampton.  Mossie kept her word and “sold” the house and property to the City of Brampton for $2.00.  Mossie Bovaird passed away in October 1991, never cashing the $2.00 cheque.

​The team entered the Bovaird house and was greeted by Joanne, a board member of the Bovaird House.  After introductions the team was off on a walk thru.  It was noted right away that there were a lot of black sheets hanging, especially over mirrors.  This was to honor the mourning period of the recent passing of Michael Avis.  Michael was pivotal in the establishing of the Bovaird House as a living museum.  It was only fitting that the mourning period be observed.  Prior to our arrival, Alison had sent Rachel a message.  In the message she described a man and a woman.  She said the house had “many” fireplaces, but one was special.  Rachel knew immediately who Alison was talking about.  During her research, Rachel had come across a photo of William and Mossie Bovaird, taken in the front parlor room.  They were standing in front of a fire place.  The team toured the rooms, noting the different furniture and full-figured mannequins that could definitely be mistaken as apparitions in the dark (they were covered in white sheets and literally looked like ghosts).  We ventured into each room, taking in the energies.  We reached the master bedroom and was show the infamous crib.  This crib was donated to the museum.  But it seems that more than just the crib entered.  Stories and reports of a woman standing over the crib have been shared.  Nothing menacing or negative, but the idea is that someone may have lost a child who had once slept in this crib.  Today, the crib is filled with creepy looking dolls.  Which, quite frankly, is scarier than any spectral mist.  Eventually the team made their way back down stairs and towards the Servant/Staff Quarters.  This large open area above the kitchen was said to house the hired help, and even occasional boarder.  We were then told hold one staff member had heard the sounds of little feet running around up there, with a few disembodied child giggles.  It was also noted that the house was extremely sound-proof, considering it is located on a main throughway.  “They just don’t make things like they use to,” said Rachel.  The team then visited the gift shop, which was once the garage. Mossie Bovaird’s car caught fire in the garage, and luckily did no damage to the house.  It was then that Mossie decided she had had enough of driving and no longer needed the garage.  It was in this room that we were told that John Silverthorn Jr. wife was found shot on the property and that after this incident he no longer wanted to be here.  “Was she shot through the heart?” asked Alison. “I got a terrible pain right in my back where my heart is,” she added.  No one knew for sure.  It was then decided to head outside and visit the other building on the property.
 
Built around 1845 and originally located near McVean and Countryside Drive in Brampton, the Pendergast Cabin is now one of the last remaining log cabins in the city.  Captain John Abraham Odlum was granted the land in 1829.  When he died in 1857, his son, William George Odlum inherited it, selling it in two parts.  The part with the cabin was sold to Nicholas and Frances Berry.  Frances was the older sister of William, running a tavern with her husband.  In 1877, the property was sold to William Shaw.  Eventually a man by the name of Samuel Shaw would end up owning the property.  In 1883 Samuel sells the property to his son, Robert Shaw.  John Pendergast would lease the farm from Robert in 1890.  Part of his lease agreement was to build a barn on the property.  In 1910, John Pendergast would purchase the property from Robert Shaw.  Once he obtained ownership, he began to renovate the log cabin.  By the 1920s, the cabin was encased in bricks.  John Pendergast passed away on March 10, 1937 leaving the house and property to his son Joseph Edward Pendergast.  Joseph would carry on the farm, even though he had suffered his own loss.  His wife, Margaret Mary Davis, died on August 15, 1935.  Her cause of death is listed as Puerperal Sepsis.  Puerperal Sepsis is an infection of the genital tract that occurs any time between rupture of membrane or labour, or 42 days postpartum.  It should be noted that his wife was not listed as being pregnant or having given birth at the time of her death.  There also appears to be no record of a child born.  Joseph would marry again in 1939 to Marion Kathleen Kearns. They would have large family, tending to the farm.  In 1975, Joseph retired from farming.  The house would eventually become empty and alone.  In 2015, it was moved to the Bovaird property after a developer figured it was historically significant and worth saving
The team entered the old log cabin and immediately were transported back in time.  The smell of the wood planks, specifically cedar, was so strong but comforting.  Once the door closed, the outside world was once again hushed.  For a log cabin, the rooms were quite big and inviting.  The team made their way to the upper floor, where a few artifacts were being stored.  Amount these artifacts was a bible.  Alison was immediately drawn to it.  Family bibles were known to hold all the important information about the family who owned it, but this one didn’t have anything.  Other than the scriptures, the bible stated that it was printed in Toronto in 1877.  Alison joked that the bible was 147 years old – being 100 plus her 47 years.  We had no idea that this little fact would be used later during our Estes Method, by a spectral being in an attempt to woo Alison (watch our live video to see what happened!).  After a few more minutes in the cabin, the team decided it was now time to gather the equipment and begin our investigation.
 
Our first place of interest was the Master bedroom of the Bovaird house.  We set up the REM pod on the floor at the infamous crib.  The music box was placed close by, facing towards the crib.  The EMF trip wire was laid on the floor from the small nursery, through the master bedroom and out into the hallway. The EMF pod was placed on the small love chair outside of the Master bedroom.  Alison was in control of the Ovilus 5. Rachel was operating the SLS camera.  No sooner had we turned on the REM pod, it started activating.  “What the hell is it doing?” asked Rachel.  “Playing with our REM pod,” replied Alison.  Kaz turned on the Ovilus 5 and it immediately started saying words, without a break.  “This is going insane,” said Kaz. “What? The Ovilus?” asked Alison.  Kaz shook her head in agreeance. “As soon as it said ‘pendant’, I pulled out the necklace I found,” said Alison.  “I forgot I had taken it off and put it in there,” she explained.  The team returned their focus to the REM pod in the nursery room.  “What colour do you like?” Kaz asked, changing the IR lights.  “Yellow? Green? Blue?” she questioned.  “Light up the REM pod to show us what colour you like,” asked Alison.  Rachel went to turn on the K2 meter and noticed it was completely dead – she had changed the batter prior to arriving.  This was the first piece of equipment to become fully drained of its energy source that evening. Rachel then turned her attention to the SLS camera and began to scan the room.  “Are those your dolls?” asked Kaz.  “Do you play with them?” she added.  “Do we have any spirits here with us tonight?  Anyone want to talk to us?” she continued. Rachel was still scanning the room when she captures a figure on the SLS camera.  This figure appeared to be sitting on the small love seat just outside of the master bedroom door. “Whoa! I caught someone on the chair! And, they’re gone,” she exclaimed.  “Big person or little person?” questioned Paula.  “They were sitting.  I don’t know,” replied Rachel.  “They weren’t there long enough,” Paula added.  “Yes, they weren’t,” agreed Rachel.  “It’s very quiet now,” Alison commented.  The team agreed.  “Come back!” called out Rachel as she scanned around the room and the upper floor.  Not capturing anything, Rachel put the SLS camera down and focused on another piece of equipment.  This time, she grabbed the EMF Pod sensor and placed it on the love seat where she had captured the figure of the SLS camera. 
​
​ The Ovilus was prompting words without a break when the EMF sensor Pod indicated a change.  “There is something there,” said Alison.  “It keeps going off. Like someone is sitting there,” she added.  “If you’re a man or male, can you make that go green again please?” she asked.  No response.  “If you’re a female, can you make that go green again please?” she then asked.  Again, no response was heard or recorded.  Meanwhile the Ovilus was still talking away – ‘Unholy’, ‘Oxygen’, ‘Tesla’, ‘Rent’, ‘Pattern’, ‘Call’, ‘Steamy’.  “This is just babbling away.  Ovilus diarrhea,” joked Alison.  “Should we go downstairs and see if anything is happening there?” asked Kaz.  The team agreed and began to make their way to the main floor.  “I feel like someone is attached to something in here,” Alison said as she passed the little room at the top of the stairs. “Something medical,” she added.  The Ovilus began speed talking again.  “Wow, you have a lot to say,” noted Alison.  “Can you tell me your name or the letter that it starts with?  Rachel has a lot of history,” asked Alison.  “Pendergast?” she questioned.  As Alison said that, the EMF sensor pod activated and made a noise.  “Oh, you said that and the green light went off,” stated Rachel.  With no other responses heard or recorded, the team made their way down the stairs.  “Whoa…” Alison said, stopping dead in her tracks at the bottom of the stairs. Rachel questioned if she was alright, since the tone of her voice was questionable.  “I’m alright,” replied Alison.  “I just walked into somebody’s energy field,” she added.
 
The team the entered the Parlor room.  Alison and Kaz spread out, while Rachel operated the SLS camera to scan the room and its surroundings.  “Is there someone in here?” asked Alison.  “This is the room that I saw the couple in,” she described.  “What was his name? William?” she questioned.  It was at this point that Paula let us know that the EMF sensor pod that we left upstairs on the love seat had beeped.  Rachel then noted that she had captured something on the SLS camera.  “Ooh, I got someone on the chair!” she exclaimed.  “Which chair?” Alison questioned.  “Right in front of me,” answered Rachel.  “The rocking chair,” replied Alison.  “Can you make the rocking chair rock for me?” asked Kaz.  “Show us how it works,” she added.  Rachel then also noticed a second figure quickly appear on the SLS camera.  But as quick as they both appeared, both were gone.  “Someone just come out by the card table, and then they were gone,” she said.  “Like a man and a woman?” questioned Alison.  Rachel was unsure as both figures were gone before she could figure out stature.  “You can come out.  We are different,” said Rachel.  Everything remained quiet, except the EMF sensor pod upstairs.  
“That thing keeps beeping upstairs,” stated Rachel.  “At least they are engaging. But they waited till we came down stairs,” added Alison.  The Ovilus was hears saying ‘Date’.  “Date.  Can you tell me what date it is?” asked Kaz.  Nothing was heard, except for the EMF sensor pod methodically beeping upstairs.  “Okay, I’ll come in here,” said Alison as she felt she was wanted in the Dining Room.  “What do you want to say?” she asked.  The Ovilus spoke – ‘Southern’, ‘Guy’.  “We can talk, Southern Guy,” she said.  The Ovilus was heard again – ‘Dash’, ‘L’.  “Interesting,” said Alison.  “How many spirits are in here right now?” she asked next.  No response was recorded, but Rachel noticed that the SLS was mapping out a figure in the Parlor room again.  “Oh, they’re back!” she exclaimed.  “Very cool!” replied Alison and she peered over Rachel’s shoulder to see the screen.  “Oh, they’re gone”, she stated as the captured figure quickly disappeared.  It was then that the Ovilus weirdly closed out of its dictionary mode.  “The Ovilus just closed itself out,” said Alison.  “It put itself back to the home screen, without being touched,” she added.  With that, Alison set the Ovilus back into dictionary mode.  Immediately it began to spit out words at a rapid pace.  “Wow, that thing is talky talky,” said Rachel.  “It’s got verbal diarrhea.  Not sure what it all means,” added Alison.  The team stood silently for a moment.  “Its very quiet in here,” noted Alison as she made her way into the Parlor room.  While Alison was in the Parlor room, we captured this EVP on her audio.  It sounds like a woman say “Harry”.  This was only heard after, upon review of the audio.
**Through research, Rachel uncovered that the neighbour who had watched the property for Peter Chisholm during his return to New York, was Henry Carter.  Harry is a name synonymous with Henry.  Could this be who the woman was calling?  Perhaps it was the name of one of house’s renters?**
​“Okay, where do you want us to go?” asked Alison.  The Ovilus spoke- “Chilled’, ‘None’.  “There are no chills in here, cause it’s warm,” responded Rachel.  Alison was adamant that she had just heard the REM pod activate, but no one else did.  The EMF sensor pod then beeped, to indicated an EMF reading.  “There is no EMF there,” said Rachel.  “If there was, it should be going off constantly,” added Kaz.  The team was now standing at the foot of the stairs, listening to see if the REM pod was actually activating or if Alison was just hearing things.  “I keep feeling drawn into here,” Alison said, as she stepped back into the Parlor room.  “What do you want to tell me?” she asked.  “Are you attached to the chair or house?” she continued.  The Ovilus spoke – ‘Southern’.  “Southern, again,” commented Alison.  “Rachel, does anyone here have southern roots?” she asked.  Before Rachel could answer the Ovilus went on another word spree.  “This thing hasn’t stopped talking.  Its nuts,” stated Alison.  “Like I know the UEL came up from the States.  They came across,” Alison said.  Rachel did agree.  “Chisholm came from New York.  He was a United Empire Loyalist,” added Joanne, who had joined us a bit earlier.  After a few moments the team observed how quiet the home had once again become.  “It’s eerily quiet now,” said Alison.  “They are around.  Taking care of it.  There is someone who want to connect in the one room upstairs,” she added.  With that, the team decided that they would head back upstairs and get ready to go live.
 
It was now time to start the live video.  The team headed back upstairs to the Master Bedroom to start.  Watch below to see what happened!
​Sadly, the phone died before we could properly end the live video.  It wasn’t the first piece of equipment to drain that evening.  Since the battery was dead, it was decided to tap Rachel out of the Estes Method. “Her phone died,” said Kaz as she tapped Rachel out.  “My phone died?” questioned Rachel.  “Like the dead people, it’s dead,” joked Alison.  Rachel then went on to describe the voices that she was hearing through the ghost box.  “It sounded like someone was hitting on Alison,” laughed Rachel.  “I remember that the first thing I heard was a male voice saying ‘Alison’,” she added.  The team laughed at the idea of a spirit trying to pick up Alison, and decided it was best to head back to the Bovaird house to finish the investigation.
 
The team headed up to the Hired Help/Servants quarters.  It was decided to try a dual Estes Method.  Alison and Kaz volunteered to go under.  Sitting on opposite sides of the room, the two put on their headphones and began to listen.  Although listening to the same radio waves, both were getting different responses.  Kaz, however, seemed to have been able to tune into an argument.  Afterwards, she described hearing two women and a man arguing and telling each other what to do.  From Rachel and Paula’s end, it sounds like Kaz was arguing with herself.  Watch the video below to see how the Dual Estes Method went down.
 
​After this session, the House seemed to grow quiet.  It was decided that it as now time to end the investigation and let the house enjoy the sound of silence.  We gathered our equipment and said our goodbyes to the volunteers and house.  Outside, the traffic was still zooming by.  “I still can’t believe how that house is so quiet inside, with all this noise outside,” said Alison.  Its true.  They don’t make them like they used to.
 
Is the Historic Bovaird House haunted?  Well, there a few spirits still there, watching out for the place.  The nursery off of the Master bedroom, where the infamous crib is, definitely has a bit more activity than the rest of the house.  This location is a happy haunt – the spirits are content.  Even the Pendergast Log Cabin is a happy place.  It seems like the spirits are genuinely happy that these buildings are now used for historical education.
 
For more information on the Historic Bovaird House and Pendergast Cabin, or plan you visit, check out their website at www.bovairdhouse.ca

oVILUS 5 WORDS - BOVAIRD HOUSE & PENDERGAST CABIN

ALONE                 
MAGIC                 
CONTINUED             
GRACE                 
OXYGEN                
AHEAD                 
HALO                  
PARAGRAPH             
CONTRITION            
THE                   
WIRE                  
PUSHED                
RAN                   
WEST                  
GROUP                 
LEDGE                 
ASHES                 
SAD                   
ABOVE                 
SH                     
PERIODICAL            
WARM                  
WEEPS                 
KILLED                
PUNCTURE              
SHOW                  
ANGLES                
CLUB                  
PLACEBO               
WRITING               
REEL                  
PENDANT               
SOUL                  
EGGS                  
PRESENT               
WAGON                 
JUDGMENT              
COMMUNICATE           
BURNING               
OI                     
MINISTER              
COW                   
SACRIFICE             
BIG                   
LEAVEN                
SCREW                 
UNHOLY                
OXYGEN                
TESLA                 
RENT                  
PATTERN               
CALL                  
STEAMY                
FEELING               
HAIR                  
WINGS                 
RODGER                
PROVIDENCE            
EUROPE                
LIBERTY               
STAY                  
SHOES                 
RONDA                 
POUNDS                
DESK                  
KNEE
​PLANTS                
LADY                  
MILK                  
SALVATION              
MONUMENT              
THIRD                 
PETER                 
CONSTANT              
SMELL                 
AGO                   
AHEAD                 
CHARACTER             
BOOTS                 
NINE                  
DRESS                  
VOICE                 
WALK                  
SCORE                 
TEMPERATURE           
EIGHTY                
OCEAN                 
DAY                   
DATE                  
SOUTHERN              
GUY                   
PURIFIED               
                   
CHART                 
DASH                  
L                     
VAN                   
THOUGHT               
REMOTE                
WIRE                  
STARS                 
MAXIMUM                
CHILLS                
NONE                  
INNER                 
IDLE                  
IRON                  
EVERY                 
HEARD                 
SOUTHERN              
BRAVE                 
ALWAYS                
FINISH                 
GLOVE                 
CHILDREN              
LAW                   
SEEM                  
DUNE                  
DIVES                 
STUDENTS              
GAG                   
LIVING                
CHEST                 
WRONG                 
CHARACTER             
PAM                   
WIN                   
PLEASE                
NORTHERN              
FARMERS               
PEOPLE                
CRESCENT              
HOMICIDE               
FRESH                 
PUSHED                
IDA                   
NEXT                  
ROSE                  
BEG                   
AKASHA                
AROUND                
CAVE                  
MOTHER                
ZINC                  
LEADER                
MATTER                
WENT                  
RELEASE               
DIFFERENCE            
LEATHER               
WISH                  
VENUS                 
PLACEBO               
INDIAN                
SCRUPLE               
CALM                  
ESPECIALLY            
AM NOT                
CRESCENT              
HUNT                  
MONTH                 
LAGOON                
BLACK                  
HARRY                 
JANUARY               
FILE                  
CABLE                 
INDICATE              
RON                   
GEORGE                
KILL                  
RAISED                
HONOR                 
RESULT                 
GRANDMOTHER           
MIND                  
TASK                  
SACRIFICE             
FOLLOW                
FIND                  
WIN                   
ALTER                 
BASEMENT              
INSIDE                
HUNTING              
BEING                 
CONTINUED             
ALCOHOL               
GRAVE                 
ANOMALIES             
CUBE                  
PILLOW                
SEAT                  
YARD                   
BUY                   
CLOSET                
SIFT                  
LAW                   
CRASH                 
UNDERLINE             
FILTER                
WELL                  
MAP                   
AQUA                  
DAWN                  
FIRST                 
WILL                  
BODY                  
AROUND                
THIRST                
MOTHER                
ALONE                 
ANN                   
CANCER                
COMMON                 
BASE                  
POUND                 
MEAN                  
JUPITER               
THAN                  
MASTER                
BRAVE                 
PLACEBO               
SANDRA                
THIRD                 
SUFFIX                
SOON                  
FRIENDLY              
PROVIDE               
THEY                  
WILD                  
DOCK                  
MAN                   
SEVENTY               
GAG                   
WAVES                 
ARMS                  
RON                   
MADE                  
LOOSE                 
MAGNET                
CEMENT                
ED                    
PUDDLE                
OXYGEN                 
ESPECIALLY            
SIGHT                 
FINISH                
PEOPLE                
CONGRUISM             
FREE                  
MONTHS                
FADE                  
NOD                   
GIVE                  
MORES                  
ANYTHING              
BEING                 
ANGLES                
PALACE                
POEM                  
CAR                   
BEGIN                 
MONACHI               
HOBBLE                
GRAVITY               
RIVER                 
DRUNK                 
SCAN                  
STUDENTS              
AMELINE               
DAY                   
FAMOUS                
R                     
LINGER                
COAST                  
L                      
​SLAVE                 
RAISED                
AGE                   
STAB                  
ROADWAY               
HOLY                  
HAT                   
WEEPS                 
EERIE                 
MIND                   
U                     
CLOUD                 
VAST                  
HOUR                  
BECOME                
ALMOST                
PLACEBO               
OFTEN                 
ROLL                  
EIGHTY                
BESIDE                
WINDOW                
MEDICINE              
CHRIS                 
SNAP                  
BURNING               
ORB                   
REPRESENT             
THEY                  
KATE                   
CONTINUED             
TIGHT                 
SENSE                 
LAMB                  
SYNN                  
BUILD                 
KNOWN                 
EVEN                  
ASK                   
STEAMY                
CHIEF                 
WOUND                 
LEAVEN                
LATER                 
MODERN                
FINISH                
MONUMENT              
RECORD                
PLANTS                
LASTING               
JOKE                  
PEOPLE                 
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