Ireland House Museum
Burlington, Ont.
March 18, 2023
As quickly as the sun came out, another round of snow squalls came back in. Suddenly the snow was falling and conditions where near white-out. But then they were gone and the sun was shining again. Another strange weather day, but it wasn’t anything we weren’t use too. The team was heading to Burlington and no matter the weather, we were on our way. After a quick visit to the Mystic Tree (A metaphysical shop in the area) and a bite to eat (East Side Mario’s for the win!), we had made it to our destination.
Built in 1835-1837 by Joseph Ireland, the Ireland House and Oakridge Farm would be the home of 4 generations of the Ireland family. Emigrating from England in 1819 at the age of 21, he met and fell in love with Ruth Best. They would eventually marry (1823) and have a total of eight children. Joseph would eventually purchase the land that the house was built on from a prominent lawyer from the Hamilton area. When Joseph died in 1869 his youngest son, John Ireland, inherited the house and large farm. John Ireland was newly married a second time just before inheriting the house and farm. His first wife and daughter had tragically passed away within days of each other in 1861. John and his second wife, Eliza, married in 1868 and would have 12 children. When John died in 1904, he left the house and farm to his unmarried children. Eventually, George Ireland (his 10th child) would buy out the house and farm in 1917. That same year, George would marry Lucy Davis Springer and a few years later would welcome their only child, Lucie Marie Ireland. In 1972 George passed away, leaving the house and property to his only daughter. Marie, as she was called, was a teacher and spent many years teaching in Thunder Bay and Ottawa. In 1963, she returned to the family farm to marry, only to have that marriage end in divorce years later. The couple never had any children. Marie stayed in the area and taught in Hamilton until she retired in 1977. Marie passed away in 1985 and the house was sold to the city of Burlington in 1987. It was then established as a museum, with 90% of the furnishings being original to the Ireland families.
Built in 1835-1837 by Joseph Ireland, the Ireland House and Oakridge Farm would be the home of 4 generations of the Ireland family. Emigrating from England in 1819 at the age of 21, he met and fell in love with Ruth Best. They would eventually marry (1823) and have a total of eight children. Joseph would eventually purchase the land that the house was built on from a prominent lawyer from the Hamilton area. When Joseph died in 1869 his youngest son, John Ireland, inherited the house and large farm. John Ireland was newly married a second time just before inheriting the house and farm. His first wife and daughter had tragically passed away within days of each other in 1861. John and his second wife, Eliza, married in 1868 and would have 12 children. When John died in 1904, he left the house and farm to his unmarried children. Eventually, George Ireland (his 10th child) would buy out the house and farm in 1917. That same year, George would marry Lucy Davis Springer and a few years later would welcome their only child, Lucie Marie Ireland. In 1972 George passed away, leaving the house and property to his only daughter. Marie, as she was called, was a teacher and spent many years teaching in Thunder Bay and Ottawa. In 1963, she returned to the family farm to marry, only to have that marriage end in divorce years later. The couple never had any children. Marie stayed in the area and taught in Hamilton until she retired in 1977. Marie passed away in 1985 and the house was sold to the city of Burlington in 1987. It was then established as a museum, with 90% of the furnishings being original to the Ireland families.
Jim and Ceileighn (pronounce K-Lynn) were awaiting our arrival at the museum. After a quick introduction, they led us over to the Ireland House. We entered the house and immediately felt at home. We had just placed our equipment in the hallway when Lisa started receiving messages. “Is it really okay if we keep our shoes on in here?” she asked. “Because the lady is telling me that it’s not,” she added. Jim was quick to assure us that we could keep our shoes on as the majority of the floor covering that were accessible were not original, for that purpose, and that the only original floor covering we would be able to walk on was upstairs in the master bedroom, as it would have been impossible to avoid. “The lady is telling me it’s not fine,” she repeated. “We allow it,” replied Jim. “Yeah, she doesn’t like it,” said Lisa. The team then headed up the stairs to the second floor. “Somebody is making my head feel funny right now,” Lisa said, as she stood at the foot of the stairs that went to the third floor (unfortunately we were not allowed into this area for safety reasons). “Do children get heard up here? Two children get heard up here? Do you know?” Lisa asked. “Not specifically children, but footsteps up and down the stairs, a lot. They aren’t big footsteps,” Ceileighn answered. “There are two children running around right now,” said Lisa. “I feel like I am getting choked. Do you know why?” Lisa asked Rachel. “Could be a bunch of things,” Rachel replied. “Did someone pass in this room?” Lisa asked next, referring to the sitting room to the left of the stair. “From my knowledge, no one died on this floor. There was a room on the main floor that they were brought to,” answer Ceileighn. “I feel like someone passed in this room. Female. Something to do with the head,” added Lisa. “Like an aneurism? Blunt force trauma?” questioned Sheena. “More like an aneurism,” Lisa clarified. “And now she is making my breathing laboured. Stroke. Did someone pass away from a stroke?” she asked next. “I think so, possibly,” said Rachel. The team then made their way into the Master bedroom. “Do you hear the creak of the floor from in here?” asked Lisa. “I’ve never noticed,” answered Jim. The team was now standing in the Master bedroom. “Was there a strong ‘K’ name?” asked Lisa. “No. No ‘K’s’,” answered Ceileighn (although come to think about, perhaps they were trying to validate that they knew Ceileighn). “This furniture isn’t original, is it?” Lisa questioned. “Yes, it is,” replied Jim. “It is? She is saying it is not,” said Lisa, referring to what the woman she was communicating with had told her. “90% is original, but to different periods of the house. Some to the first generation of the family, some by the second, some by third,” Ceileighn added. Lisa popped her head into the room that was attached to the Master bedroom. “First, the layout isn’t done the way it should be, she says. I actually think the bed was on that wall,” Lisa described, pointing to her left. “And I don’t know what she is sad in this room,” she added. “It’s the safe room. For when the older girls wanted to sneak out, they would have to pass their parents’ bed. It was also a nursery. The larger bed would have been for an older girl whose job was to look after the baby, not the mother’s,” explained Jim. “I’m getting myself confused. Is this a Mary Elizabeth?” Lisa asked as the team was leaving the master bedroom. “Oh, it probably is,” laughed Rachel. “Everywhere we go. It’s a name of the time,” she added. The team entered the hallway, and Lisa was immediately drawn back to the room directly across from the Master bedroom. “Where does that door go?” she asked. “For where the handyman lived, with access to the kitchen. It only locked from the one side,” answer Jim. “Pink was not the original colour was it,” said Lisa. “That is correct,” answered Ceileighn. Lisa was sure there was some type of pattern wallpaper, but no one could confirm or deny. “The way I’m seeing this is as a bedroom, not a sitting room,” described Lisa. “Were there two sons in the original? Well probably more than two, but I feel like two sons in here,” she stated. “Could be, from the original owner,” said Jim. The team then made their way down the hallway to the bedroom that is located at the top of the stairs. “Was there a mother, or mother-in-law to the original owner that stayed in this room?” asked Lisa. Ceileighn could not provide a definitive answer. “She was from England, so whether or not she came to visit, I don’t know,” she said. It was at this point that Lisa felt drawn to go back downstairs.
“Somebody is making my head really funny,” said Lisa as the team made their way into to the front and into the dining room. As the team looked around, Rachel started laughing. “Oh my gosh, that picture looks like Aaryn, Heather’s husband!” she exclaimed. “Yes!” Sheena replied. Aaryn and Heather are the lovely couple who own the former funeral home in Dresden that was featured on the Discovery+ show “We Bought A Funeral Home” that we had the privilege to investigate in February. The team continued to marvel at the grandiose set up of the room. “There was a couch here. Do you know?” Lisa asked, pointing to just under the windows. “That is likely. This room was converted,” replied Ceileighn. The team then headed into the Kitchen area. “Did someone live here till the sixties?” asked Lisa. “Yeah, and beyond. Till the eighties,” answered Rachel. “Something about 1964,” said Lisa. The closes thing that Rachel could find was that the last owner, Marie Ireland, was married at the farm in 1963. The team then made their way to the basement, but first had to cross over a plexiglass floor that allowed visitors to see down into the well. Lisa was not a fan of this crossing, and after a little hesitation and some giant steps, she made her way over the well and down the stairs into the basement. “Don’t touch my hair. Why do you do that?” she whispered under her breath. “This is one of the nicest basements we have ever been in,” stated Sheena. “Like it’s not dirt floors. It’s not creepy,” she described. “Do you happen to know if they had anything to do with the underground railroad?” asked Lisa. Ceileighn was unsure. “We were a main area though,” added Jim. “I see boxes. Almost like pews,” said Lisa. “The little old lady from upstairs is down here now,” she added. “Do you notice if things get moved from over there? Or anybody notices?” asked Lisa. “Things have moved,” replied Ceileighn. “It’s them. It’s not staff they’re telling me,” said Lisa. Sheena was still in awe over the basement. “I think this might be my favourite spot in the whole house,” she said. The team made their way into the smaller room. “Was there like meat hanging?” asked Lisa. “Yes,” replied Ceileighn. “Do you remember the smell at Knob Hill Farms? That is what I am smelling in here,” stated Lisa. “Yeah, like the meaty, platsticky, warehouse smell,” described Rachel. It was at this point that Rachel smelt that old aroma. “There is like a twelve-year-old boy sitting there,” Lisa said, pointing towards the corner. “He’s just watching us. I’d say twelve to sixteen,” she described. Lisa then asked Ceileighn if their security cameras notify them a lot to movement down in the basement. Ceileighn was quick to say yes, though sometimes it was from the frequent movement of staff, other times, there was no one there.
“Somebody is making my head really funny,” said Lisa as the team made their way into to the front and into the dining room. As the team looked around, Rachel started laughing. “Oh my gosh, that picture looks like Aaryn, Heather’s husband!” she exclaimed. “Yes!” Sheena replied. Aaryn and Heather are the lovely couple who own the former funeral home in Dresden that was featured on the Discovery+ show “We Bought A Funeral Home” that we had the privilege to investigate in February. The team continued to marvel at the grandiose set up of the room. “There was a couch here. Do you know?” Lisa asked, pointing to just under the windows. “That is likely. This room was converted,” replied Ceileighn. The team then headed into the Kitchen area. “Did someone live here till the sixties?” asked Lisa. “Yeah, and beyond. Till the eighties,” answered Rachel. “Something about 1964,” said Lisa. The closes thing that Rachel could find was that the last owner, Marie Ireland, was married at the farm in 1963. The team then made their way to the basement, but first had to cross over a plexiglass floor that allowed visitors to see down into the well. Lisa was not a fan of this crossing, and after a little hesitation and some giant steps, she made her way over the well and down the stairs into the basement. “Don’t touch my hair. Why do you do that?” she whispered under her breath. “This is one of the nicest basements we have ever been in,” stated Sheena. “Like it’s not dirt floors. It’s not creepy,” she described. “Do you happen to know if they had anything to do with the underground railroad?” asked Lisa. Ceileighn was unsure. “We were a main area though,” added Jim. “I see boxes. Almost like pews,” said Lisa. “The little old lady from upstairs is down here now,” she added. “Do you notice if things get moved from over there? Or anybody notices?” asked Lisa. “Things have moved,” replied Ceileighn. “It’s them. It’s not staff they’re telling me,” said Lisa. Sheena was still in awe over the basement. “I think this might be my favourite spot in the whole house,” she said. The team made their way into the smaller room. “Was there like meat hanging?” asked Lisa. “Yes,” replied Ceileighn. “Do you remember the smell at Knob Hill Farms? That is what I am smelling in here,” stated Lisa. “Yeah, like the meaty, platsticky, warehouse smell,” described Rachel. It was at this point that Rachel smelt that old aroma. “There is like a twelve-year-old boy sitting there,” Lisa said, pointing towards the corner. “He’s just watching us. I’d say twelve to sixteen,” she described. Lisa then asked Ceileighn if their security cameras notify them a lot to movement down in the basement. Ceileighn was quick to say yes, though sometimes it was from the frequent movement of staff, other times, there was no one there.
The team headed back up to the main floor. This time, we didn’t have to cross the well, as there are two entrances to the basement. The team headed towards the room at the front of the house. “The room to the left, cigar room? Pipe room?” Lisa asked. Ceileighn told her that she was correct. The team entered the room to look around. “I see a glass jar, that had something in it,” said Lisa. “Oval. Gold top. Whiskey in it,’ she continued. “Like a decanter?” asked Rachel. Lisa agreed. The team then moved on the last room that they had not visited. This room was the Coming and Going room. “Do you know how many people actually passed in this building?” asked Lisa. “Not off the top of my head,” answer Ceileighn. “Would it be more than 10?” asked Lisa. Ceileighn nodded. “I heard 18,” said Lisa. “But I think the bed was this way,” described Lisa, placing the head of the bed at the side wall. “And bigger, actually. This way to see out the window,” she added. “Someone is not happy there are houses there,” she said. “George Ireland converted this to a bedroom,” said Jim. “I wonder if he is the one that is not happy with the houses over there,” said Lisa. “Oh, that’s George,” said Jim. Jim then went on to tell us that when George sold off his land, he wanted to see families with children build and grow up there. While some kept their promise, one person decided that a plaza was a better option. This supposedly made George quite upset. The team exited the room and re-entered the Dining room. “Does someone see a shadow in this room?” asked Lisa. Ceileighn did not know for sure. “I feel like a shadow has been seen in this room,” said Lisa. “This space was not always one room. It was two, but when John had like 100 children they needed more space,” Ceileighn said. “John was the second one?” quizzed Lisa. “Yes,” answered Ceileighn. “Was he the oldest?” she asked next. “No. He was the oldest without property,” answered Jim. “I think he was the sixth,” added Ceileighn. After a few moments, and another jump scare for Lisa from the sound of the Well kicking on (she can see and talk to the dead, but loud noises scare her), it was time to get the equipment set up and the investigation underway.
The team decided it was best to start upstairs. With equipment in hand, they headed back up to the second floor. The REM pod was placed in the Master bedroom, along with the Music Box. The 360 Puck was placed at the top of the stairs leading to the third floor. The flux was placed on one end of the sewing table, while the K2 meter was placed at the opposite end. The EMF trip wire was laid out down the hallway and down the stairs. Lisa had the Ovilus 5 and was utilizing the SLS camera while Sheena took some pictures. Rachel had the Tempest and the Ghost box. After placing the Music Box in the master bedroom, Rachel stood in the doorway and Lisa noticed something mapping on the SLS camera. “There is something above your head right now Rachel,” she said. “Right here?” asked Rachel, pointing up and to the left. “Yes,” replied Lisa. “Funny, cause when you were standing her earlier talking, I thought I could see something by your head in the same spot, but I thought it was just my eyes,” said Rachel. “It’s on the ceiling right now. Oh, now it’s gone,” said Lisa. She continued to scan the area but nothing else was captured. The Ovilus 5 was now turned on. The first three words came quickly – ‘Opening’, ‘Washington’, ‘Pam’. Rachel turned on the Tempest, which also immediately spoke – ‘Open window’, ‘It was me’, ‘He’. “Who is he?” asked Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘You must have’, ‘Asylum worker’. “Do you see our pretty lights?” asked Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘Please understand’. By then the Ovilus has said more words. “It said Washington, presidents, July,” said Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘Not now’. “Can you tap or knock for us if you’re here,” asked Sheena. “We have lots of equipment with pretty lights, you can change their colours,” she said next. Rachel thought she had seen one of the trip wire lights light up. Lisa thought so as well but wasn’t sure. “This blinking blue light on the sewing table will turn red or green if you go near it. We can use it as yes or no. Can you do that for us? Change it to green or red?” asked Rachel. But the flux continued to blink blue. The team asked for a few more signs, but nothing activated. It was decided to try the ghost box. “If there is somebody here right now, could you tell us your name please? It could be a first or last name,” asked Rachel. A male voice is heard through the ghost box – ‘Ireland’. “Did you hear it?” asked Rachel excitedly. “Can you say it again?” she asked. But no response was heard. “The K2 is going off,” stated Sheena. “Are you setting our K2 off?” she asked. A female voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Yes’. “Who’s here with us right now? Can you give us a name please?” asked Rachel. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘No’. “Can you set off the K2 again?” Sheena asked. But it remained inactive. “We have a lot of these lights on the floor and throughout. Are you able to make them change colour or light up?” Rachel asked. “All you have to do is walk close to it,” added Sheena. Everything remained quiet. “Is there a room in this house you would like us to go to?” Rachel asked next. Lisa thought she heard someone say ‘down low’, but nothing was recorded. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Don’t give up. Don’t’. “Don’t give up. Don’t,” repeated Sheena. It was at this point that the green light on the flux was activated. “Thank you,” said Lisa. “That’s awesome,” said Rachel. “Can someone tell us who made that light turn green?” she asked. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Me’. “Yes, okay. So, you’re a gentleman. What’s your name?” Rachel asked. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘spirit’. “Who’s the spirit? What is your name?” asked Sheena. No response was heard. “You can even touch the other side and make it light up red if you want. We have this red glowing pod here you could light up. The closer you get, the more lights,” added Sheena. But everything remained quiet. “Is there a room you would like us to go to?” Rachel asked again. This time the Ovilus spoke – ‘Casket’, ‘January’, ‘Shaken’, ‘Robert’. “Was there a Robert?” questioned Lisa. Rachel told her that there was, but that she was unsure if he had died in January and that she would have to take a look at her notes to find out. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Bob. John’. “I keep hearing John,” said Rachel. “Can you go close to those blue lights again please?” asked Lisa. “They won’t hurt you,” added Rachel. “None of our equipment will hurt you,” said Sheena. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Other room’. “Other room? What other room?” questioned Sheena. But there was no response. “Is there another part of this house you would like us to go to?” she continued. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Girl’. “Which girl?” asked Lisa. “Living girl or dead girl?” questioned Rachel. The Ovilus spoke – ‘Triangle’, ‘Finger’. “Yeah, stick your finger on the side of the triangle and it will turn red or green,” replied Rachel. “Right side is red, left side is green,” she clarified. The Flux remained inactive, so Rachel went back to asking about the girl. “You’re talking about a girl. Is she living or dead, like you?” she questioned. A female voice was heard through the ghost box – “Not dead’. A few more questions were asked about the girl, but nothing was heard or recorded. “Is there somewhere else that you want us to go?” Sheena asked. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Up’. “We can’t go up,” stated Lisa. “Come down. It’s warmer down here,” joked Sheena. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Yes’. “Did you own this house?” asked Rachel. It was noted that the K2 meter activated. “Do you want us to go into the room that Jim is in?” asked Sheena. Jim was currently standing in the door way to the room at the top of the stairs. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘You’. “Me?” questioned Sheena. “Alright, have fun!” Rachel said as Sheena made her way down the hallway to the room. The Ovilus spoke – ‘Want’, ‘Sad’. “I did say sad in the other room,” said Lisa. The Ovilus spoke again – ‘Find’, ‘Word’, “Cable’. “Is Joseph here?” asked Rachel. Lisa thought she had heard ‘‘here’’ through the ghost box, but it wasn’t captured on audio. “Is John here?” Rachel asked next. But no response was heard. In the other room, Sheena could be heard bargaining with the spirits, asking them to move items to freak out another staff member of the museum, and in return no one would be upset at their actions. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Listening’. “I am listening,” responded Lisa. The Ovilus spoke – ‘Well’, ‘Basement’. “The well goes to the basement. Do you want us to go to the basement?” asked Rachel. It was decided that we would move our investigation downstairs to the main floor. Upon picking up the music box, Rachel noted that it was completely dead, even though new batteries were placed in the device before the investigation. Sheena was still negotiating with the spirits in the one room, when a voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Scare’. “Do you like to scare people?” asked Rachel. “Do you think it’s funny when they get scared?” she added. No response was heard. “Move some toys around, scare Robin on Monday,” Sheena said as she exited the room. The team gathered the remaining equipment and headed downstairs, but not before Lisa indicated that she had felt someone place their hand on her shoulder.
The team decided it was best to start upstairs. With equipment in hand, they headed back up to the second floor. The REM pod was placed in the Master bedroom, along with the Music Box. The 360 Puck was placed at the top of the stairs leading to the third floor. The flux was placed on one end of the sewing table, while the K2 meter was placed at the opposite end. The EMF trip wire was laid out down the hallway and down the stairs. Lisa had the Ovilus 5 and was utilizing the SLS camera while Sheena took some pictures. Rachel had the Tempest and the Ghost box. After placing the Music Box in the master bedroom, Rachel stood in the doorway and Lisa noticed something mapping on the SLS camera. “There is something above your head right now Rachel,” she said. “Right here?” asked Rachel, pointing up and to the left. “Yes,” replied Lisa. “Funny, cause when you were standing her earlier talking, I thought I could see something by your head in the same spot, but I thought it was just my eyes,” said Rachel. “It’s on the ceiling right now. Oh, now it’s gone,” said Lisa. She continued to scan the area but nothing else was captured. The Ovilus 5 was now turned on. The first three words came quickly – ‘Opening’, ‘Washington’, ‘Pam’. Rachel turned on the Tempest, which also immediately spoke – ‘Open window’, ‘It was me’, ‘He’. “Who is he?” asked Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘You must have’, ‘Asylum worker’. “Do you see our pretty lights?” asked Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘Please understand’. By then the Ovilus has said more words. “It said Washington, presidents, July,” said Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘Not now’. “Can you tap or knock for us if you’re here,” asked Sheena. “We have lots of equipment with pretty lights, you can change their colours,” she said next. Rachel thought she had seen one of the trip wire lights light up. Lisa thought so as well but wasn’t sure. “This blinking blue light on the sewing table will turn red or green if you go near it. We can use it as yes or no. Can you do that for us? Change it to green or red?” asked Rachel. But the flux continued to blink blue. The team asked for a few more signs, but nothing activated. It was decided to try the ghost box. “If there is somebody here right now, could you tell us your name please? It could be a first or last name,” asked Rachel. A male voice is heard through the ghost box – ‘Ireland’. “Did you hear it?” asked Rachel excitedly. “Can you say it again?” she asked. But no response was heard. “The K2 is going off,” stated Sheena. “Are you setting our K2 off?” she asked. A female voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Yes’. “Who’s here with us right now? Can you give us a name please?” asked Rachel. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘No’. “Can you set off the K2 again?” Sheena asked. But it remained inactive. “We have a lot of these lights on the floor and throughout. Are you able to make them change colour or light up?” Rachel asked. “All you have to do is walk close to it,” added Sheena. Everything remained quiet. “Is there a room in this house you would like us to go to?” Rachel asked next. Lisa thought she heard someone say ‘down low’, but nothing was recorded. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Don’t give up. Don’t’. “Don’t give up. Don’t,” repeated Sheena. It was at this point that the green light on the flux was activated. “Thank you,” said Lisa. “That’s awesome,” said Rachel. “Can someone tell us who made that light turn green?” she asked. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Me’. “Yes, okay. So, you’re a gentleman. What’s your name?” Rachel asked. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘spirit’. “Who’s the spirit? What is your name?” asked Sheena. No response was heard. “You can even touch the other side and make it light up red if you want. We have this red glowing pod here you could light up. The closer you get, the more lights,” added Sheena. But everything remained quiet. “Is there a room you would like us to go to?” Rachel asked again. This time the Ovilus spoke – ‘Casket’, ‘January’, ‘Shaken’, ‘Robert’. “Was there a Robert?” questioned Lisa. Rachel told her that there was, but that she was unsure if he had died in January and that she would have to take a look at her notes to find out. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Bob. John’. “I keep hearing John,” said Rachel. “Can you go close to those blue lights again please?” asked Lisa. “They won’t hurt you,” added Rachel. “None of our equipment will hurt you,” said Sheena. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Other room’. “Other room? What other room?” questioned Sheena. But there was no response. “Is there another part of this house you would like us to go to?” she continued. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Girl’. “Which girl?” asked Lisa. “Living girl or dead girl?” questioned Rachel. The Ovilus spoke – ‘Triangle’, ‘Finger’. “Yeah, stick your finger on the side of the triangle and it will turn red or green,” replied Rachel. “Right side is red, left side is green,” she clarified. The Flux remained inactive, so Rachel went back to asking about the girl. “You’re talking about a girl. Is she living or dead, like you?” she questioned. A female voice was heard through the ghost box – “Not dead’. A few more questions were asked about the girl, but nothing was heard or recorded. “Is there somewhere else that you want us to go?” Sheena asked. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Up’. “We can’t go up,” stated Lisa. “Come down. It’s warmer down here,” joked Sheena. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Yes’. “Did you own this house?” asked Rachel. It was noted that the K2 meter activated. “Do you want us to go into the room that Jim is in?” asked Sheena. Jim was currently standing in the door way to the room at the top of the stairs. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘You’. “Me?” questioned Sheena. “Alright, have fun!” Rachel said as Sheena made her way down the hallway to the room. The Ovilus spoke – ‘Want’, ‘Sad’. “I did say sad in the other room,” said Lisa. The Ovilus spoke again – ‘Find’, ‘Word’, “Cable’. “Is Joseph here?” asked Rachel. Lisa thought she had heard ‘‘here’’ through the ghost box, but it wasn’t captured on audio. “Is John here?” Rachel asked next. But no response was heard. In the other room, Sheena could be heard bargaining with the spirits, asking them to move items to freak out another staff member of the museum, and in return no one would be upset at their actions. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Listening’. “I am listening,” responded Lisa. The Ovilus spoke – ‘Well’, ‘Basement’. “The well goes to the basement. Do you want us to go to the basement?” asked Rachel. It was decided that we would move our investigation downstairs to the main floor. Upon picking up the music box, Rachel noted that it was completely dead, even though new batteries were placed in the device before the investigation. Sheena was still negotiating with the spirits in the one room, when a voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Scare’. “Do you like to scare people?” asked Rachel. “Do you think it’s funny when they get scared?” she added. No response was heard. “Move some toys around, scare Robin on Monday,” Sheena said as she exited the room. The team gathered the remaining equipment and headed downstairs, but not before Lisa indicated that she had felt someone place their hand on her shoulder.
Once on the main floor, Rachel took the opportunity to change the batteries in the music box. Sheena asked to use the bathroom, and the Ovilus spoke – ‘Enjoy’. “I will,” she replied with a laugh. Once the batteries had been changed, Rachel reached for her notes to see about Robert. “The Ovilus said Robert, Casket, January. Robert Best Ireland. Joseph’s first born, died January 24, 1886,” she said. “Oh wow!” exclaimed Lisa. Sheena had returned at this point so Rachel filled her in on her findings. “Said he died of peritonitis,” said Rachel. Peritonitis is caused by a collection of blood, body fluids, and/or pus in the belly. It is the inflammation of the peritoneum. The team gathered the equipment and Lisa turned the ghost box back on. “Do you want us to stay up here or go down to the basement?” asked Rachel. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Hallway’. “So, we stay here,” said Rachel. The REM pod was placed in the lady’s sitting area, the Flux was placed in the dining room, the 360 puck was placed near the foot of the stairs leading to the upper floor, the music box was placed in the dining room, facing an area no one could walk by, and the EMF trip wire was laid out down the hallway and into the coming and going room. The K2 Meter was placed in the middle of the hallway on the floor. “Do you want these lights in here?” asked Rachel. “They are really pretty,” she added. “All of a sudden I feel really cold,” stated Lisa. “Like I feel like I’m outside. That’s how cold I am,” she described. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Hang on’. “Do you feel the cold?” Lisa asked Jim, who was standing beside her. He indicated that he could not feel it. “Like I’m cold. Frozen, freezing,” she added. Lisa called Ceileighn over to see if she could also feel it. Ceileighn indicated that she could not feel it as well. Turning to Sheena, Lisa asked if she could feel the cold. “Nope,” replied Sheena. “Why can’t they share with other people?” Lisa asked. Rachel then let everyone know that she was about to turn the Music Box on. After the device had calibrated, Rachel walked away, only for the device to activate. “That’s not me! That’s nobody,” she said as the device played. “Hi,” said Ceileighn. The music box activated again, and again. “Is that going off by itself again?” asked Lisa. “Yes,” answered Rachel. “It’s having a grand old time,” she added. The EMF trip wire also had a couple of lights change to blue. “Can you do that again please?” asked Lisa. “You can make is change colour. Almost as fun as the music box,” Sheena added. “If this is a woman, can you,” Rachel said, but was cut off by the music box activating. “Make the music box go off?” she finished. “So, you’re a woman,” she said. The EMF trip wire flashed blue. “So, this is a woman. Is this Ruth?” she asked next. The music box activated and the EMF trip wire flashed blue. “So, this Ruth,” continued Rachel. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘I’m Ruth’. “Hi Ruth. My name is Rachel,” she said. “I’m Sheena.” “I’m Lisa. We have Jim and Ceileighn with us.” “You have a very beautiful house, Ruth,” added Rachel. The EMF trip wire flashed blue. “I really like it. It’s really pretty. Ruth, are you here with anybody else?” continued Rachel. No response was heard. “Ruth, if you are here with somebody else, can you light up the lights in front of me?” she asked next. “Ruth are you here with your husband?” she continued. The EMF trip wire flashed blue. “Are you walking back and forth?” she asked next. A female voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘All through’. “So, you walk all through the house?” asked Rachel. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Waiting’. “What are you waiting for?” she asked next. But nothing was heard. The music box had been continuously activating during this time. “Can you make the music box stop playing for a few seconds so we can ask you some questions?” Rachel inquired. The music box stopped for a few seconds (literally) and started again. “Ruth, if you’re here with us right now, can you tell us who you are here with?” she asked. “Is your husband here with you?” No response was heard. “Is your son here with you?” No response was heard. “Which son is here with you?” Again, no response was heard. The music box was still activating. Sheena was scanning the area with the SLS, but did not map anything. “Can you stop the music box? It does get annoying,” asked Rachel. It continued to play. The K2 Meter then activated, followed by the flux turning to green. “Can you turn the red side on?” asked Sheena. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Leave’. “We aren’t going to leave yet,” replied Lisa. Rachel tuned the Tempest – ‘Them’, ‘It is so,’. “Can you make the red side light up please?” asked Lisa. The Tempest spoke – ‘I am sad’. “Why are you sad?” asked Sheena. Lisa noted that the K2 meter was activating. “Is this your home?” asked Lisa. A female voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘House’. The Tempest also spoke – ‘Gentle person’. Sheena was sure it had sounded like it had said Jennifer. “Who is this gentle person?” asked Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘You are missed’. “Who is missed?” asked Lisa. “The gentle person?” questioned Rachel. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Bridget’. The Tempest spoke – ‘I cannot’. “What can you not do? You cannot what?” asked Rachel. “Why can’t you make someone else cold,” Lisa questioned. The Tempest spoke – ‘It is acceptable’. “It is not,” stated Lisa. “Make Sheena cold,” she said. The Tempest spoke – ‘I don’t think so’. Lisa then startled. “You didn’t see that did you?” she asked. “See what?” questioned Rachel. “Something went down through the floor,” she answered. The Tempest spoke – ‘Please leave’. “Is this still Ruth?” asked Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘No’. “Is this Joseph?” she asked next. The Tempest spoke – ‘Here I am’. “Where are you?” asked Rachel. No response was heard. “Ruth, if this is you, walk by the music box,” said Sheena. The Tempest spoke – ‘Don’t believe so’. The flux also activated the green light. A woman was heard through the ghost box – ‘I am here’. “Can you do that again?” asked Lisa. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Nope’. “Who is the one that like to move things here? What is your name?” questioned Rachel. No response was heard, but Rachel then indicated that she felt a cold breeze. “I felt it in front of me, not behind me where the door is,” she said. Sheena, who was standing right beside her, said she didn’t feel anything. The Tempest spoke – ‘I will not’. “Please leave, you should, I will not,” Rachel said, repeating what the Tempest had said. The Tempest spoke again – ‘Please leave’. “We are not going to make you leave. We just want to chat with you,” said Rachel. “Yes, that’s not our job,” added Sheena. The Music box activated again, and played continuously. “Can you make the music box stop? I know it’s awesome and fun, but we have others,” said Sheena. Lisa then noted that the K2 meter was activating. “I’m going to turn that music box off,” said Rachel. It was at that moment that Rachel then felt the cold breeze on her legs. A few seconds later, Rachel and Sheena both hear the door behind them open. “Sounded like somebody came up,” said Lisa. Ceileighn then said that the door we heard open would be hard to pop open on its own, and that even with the wind it would still be difficult. Rachel and Sheena quickly review the footage of the incident on video. “Sounded like a rusty hinge,” described Sheena. The EMF trip wire flashed blue. “Can you make a bigger bang for us?” asked Rachel. But nothing was heard. Rachel then turned the music box off as it was still activating, but placed it in the Coming and Going room and turned it back on. The Ovilus was heard – ‘Robert’, ‘News’. “Robert are you here?” asked Rachel. The Music box activated again. “I stuck the triangle in this room now. Left will go green, right will go red. Can you go to the left side please?” she asked. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Don’t want to’. “Do you like everything that has been done to this house?” she asked next. No response was heard. “Can you show our friends how you can interact with us?” asked Lisa. Rachel was feeling cold again. “Getting a cold breeze on my hands,” she described. “Are you beside me right now?” she asked. “Are you standing near me? I’m cold on my right side,” she added. Lisa stated that her left hand was now cold. “Male or female?” asked Rachel. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Male’, ‘Sheena’. “Do you know what my name is?” asked Rachel. “Can you say my name?” she asked. But not response was heard. “I really appreciate all the had word you are doing to communicate with us,” added Rachel. “Don’t know if it’s Ruth? John? Joseph? George?” continued Rachel. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘All’, ‘Me’. “Lucie?” questioned Rachel. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Marie’. It should be noted that the last family member to own the home was Marie Ireland. However, her baptism record shows she was baptized as Lucie Marie Ireland. Lisa was now paying attention to the upper level, as she was hearing something moving about on the second floor. “Who does Lisa hear upstairs?” asked Rachel. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Jesus’. “Wrong upstairs,” joked Lisa. With that sarcastic response, the team decided it was time to head to the basement to continue the investigation.
Once in the basement, the equipment was set up. The REM pod was placed on the table by the hearth. The EMF Trip Wire was placed from one staircase to the other. In the side room, the Flux was placed on the table, the 360 puck was set up on the floor, and the music box was set on a chair, facing towards a large empty space. “Oh, it’s chilly down here now,” stated Lisa. “It’s a little chillier than usual,” added Ceileighn. Rachel turned the Tempest on – ‘Don’t do it’, ‘Gentle person’. “Don’t do it, gentle person,” repeated Rachel. The Tempest spoke again – ‘I will not’, ‘Open mind’. The team entered the side room in an attempt to communicate. Lisa turned the ghost box on. Jim and Ceileighn staying the main part of the basement. “We are trying to get validation of life after death, but we need your help to do so,” said Lisa. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Are you there’. “Who is down here with us?” asked Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘Please’, ‘Let me out’. “Who needs to be let out?” she questioned. But no response. “There was a lady calling me over there,” Lisa said, pointing to the larger room. “But I asked her to come over here,” she added. The Flux activated green. “Thank you,” said Lisa. The Tempest also spoke – ‘I am’. “See how you lit it up green. That could be yes. Making it red can mean no,” said Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘I cannot see’. “Is it too dark for you? Do you need the light on?” asked Rachel. Lisa was smelling that familiar Knob Hill Farms smell again. “Did you use to hand your meat in here?” she asked. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Did’. The Tempest spoke – ‘I am sad’. “Are you sad because?” Rachel said, but the Tempest spoke again – ‘I cannot see’. “Was one of them blind?” questioned Lisa. No one knew for sure. “Why can’t you see?” asked Rachel. But no response was heard. “We will be leaving soon, I promise,” said Lisa. “All of ya’ll can stay here. You don’t need to come back with us,” said Rachel. “Stay here,” added Sheena. The Tempest spoke – ‘There is no trust’. “Have others come before and tried to push you out?” asked Rachel. The Tempest spoke – ‘He’. “Have other groups come here before and tried to make you leave?” she asked. A voice as heard through the ghost box – ‘Hush’. “This is where you stay. It’s where you are happy,” Rachel stated. Lisa indicated that she was freezing again. “This is your house. This is where you stay,” continued Rachel. “I have goosebumps, only on my front,” said Lisa. Rachel said she had the same feeling as well. Feeling this, Rachel continued to tell the energy that the house was their happy place and that they can stay. “This is your home, not ours,” added Sheena. “If anyone comes in here and tells you to move on, you can tell them no,” stated Rachel. “We are really appreciative of you allowing us in and chatting with us” she continued. It was at this point that the music box activated. “This is your space and we respect it,” added Lisa. “Are you still looking for baby James?” asked Lisa. The music box activated. Rachel then told Lisa and Sheena that Joseph and Ruth had twins: John and James. Records indicated that John was born on March 12, 1826 and James was born on March 13, 1826. Sadly, John died in 1829 and his younger brother and future owner of the house was named after him. James would survive into adulthood, however would meet an untimely death. It was recorded, and wrote about in the newspaper at that time, that James was in a drunken state when he fell in the middle of the street and ended up dead. His official cause of death on his record was suffocation. When describing this, the music box activated. “Is this who we are talking to? James?” asked Rachel. “No judgement,” she added. Feeling like they have hit on something, she continued. “Maybe you shouldn’t have been drinking that day, but again, no judgement,” she said. “Did you like to drink?” asked Lisa. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Yup’. The music box activated. “Ooh! Somebody just grabbed my butt!” exclaimed Lisa. “I told you!” replied Rachel. “I felt someone lightly touch me earlier,” she said. “Someone getting a little frisky?” she questioned. “Oh James,” Sheena said. “You were a ladies’ man, weren’t ya? But you were married,” added Rachel. “Is there something else you want to say before we start packing up?” she asked. The music box activated. “That’s what you want to tell us? I have no idea what it means,” said Rachel. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Don’t leave’. “First you want us to leave and now you don’t. Do you like us?” she asked. “We can come back another time if you want. Just set it up,” added Sheena. “Even if you can’t say my name, I still appreciate you talking to me,” said Rachel. The 360 puck then picked up on movement, away from the team. “Thank you. Amazing. I’m glad you’re using the puck,” stated Rachel. The music box activated again. “My whole front is cold again,” stated Lisa. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Sorry’. “You probably didn’t mean to set that off, but it was pretty awesome. Can you do it again?” asked Rachel. But the 360 puck remained quiet. The team then asked if whomever was in the basement to set of the REM pod, that was sitting on the table behind Jim and Ceileighn. But it remained quiet. “Thank you very much for talking to us,” said Rachel as she and the team collected the equipment and headed upstairs.
The evening had winded down and the house seemed to be settling quietly into the darkness. The energies seemed to be at peace with us being there, and were no longer on edge, anticipating that we might try to remove them. It seemed that they were satisfied, just as we were with the amount of communication we had received. The team packed up and said our goodbyes to Jim, Ceileighn and the Irelands who still call the house home.
Is the Ireland House haunted? Without a doubt, we can tell you that family members are still very present in the house. It was a home – a place of love and growth. Four generations grew and expanded within the walls. It saw plenty of change – including death and sadness. But it also saw plenty of good times and happiness. The house still exudes those feelings. If you’re lucky, you may just get to experience all of it on your visit. Perhaps the next paranormal team who investigates will hear “Rachel” come through their ghost box and question who that is.
For more information or to plan you visit to the Ireland House, check out their website at: https://museumsofburlington.ca/visitor-information/ireland-house-museum/
The evening had winded down and the house seemed to be settling quietly into the darkness. The energies seemed to be at peace with us being there, and were no longer on edge, anticipating that we might try to remove them. It seemed that they were satisfied, just as we were with the amount of communication we had received. The team packed up and said our goodbyes to Jim, Ceileighn and the Irelands who still call the house home.
Is the Ireland House haunted? Without a doubt, we can tell you that family members are still very present in the house. It was a home – a place of love and growth. Four generations grew and expanded within the walls. It saw plenty of change – including death and sadness. But it also saw plenty of good times and happiness. The house still exudes those feelings. If you’re lucky, you may just get to experience all of it on your visit. Perhaps the next paranormal team who investigates will hear “Rachel” come through their ghost box and question who that is.
For more information or to plan you visit to the Ireland House, check out their website at: https://museumsofburlington.ca/visitor-information/ireland-house-museum/