Macaulay Heritage Park
Picton, Ont.
June 4, 2022
The light turned red and Lisa slowly came to a stop at the top of the bridge. “Not again,” said Alison as she diverted her eyes away from the windows. The sun was shining and it glistened over the water that flowed underneath us. We had been stopped once again by the red light on the top of the Skyway Bridge. “It’s so pretty!” exclaimed Rachel as she giggled about being stuck there again. It seemed to be a ritual – every trip to Picton had us stopped on top of this bridge, only to terrify Alison. Soon the light turned green and we were on our way down the other side. “That side of the bridge is missing,” said Rachel with a giggle in her voice. Alison was not amused, but that didn’t stop them from all having a good laugh. After a short drive, the team rounded the corner to see a centuries old cemetery with a church. Nestled in the back, stood the most beautiful house that we would be investigating that evening. We pulled up to the large house and exited the vehicle. Jessica, our host for the evening, was waiting for us. We had finally arrived to Macaulay Heritage Park.
Macaulay Heritage Park is located a block away from the Courthouse and includes the Macaulay House, the former church of St. Mary Magdalene, the old St. Mar Magdalene Parish Cemetery, a heritage garden, and a carriage house. The county acquired the Church in 1967, and in 1974 they purchased the house and the ground. The properties were combined to form the Heritage Park and the museums were open.
The Macaulay House was our first place of interest. We decided to begin with a walk through and let Lisa get a feel for the location. Built in 1830 for Reverend William Macaulay and his first wife, Ann Geddes. Ann died in 1849 of Pneumonia, leaving the Reverend alone. They had no children. William remarried in 1853. His new wife, Charlotte Le Vesconte, bore him two children: Charlotte Anne (“Annie”) and Mary Rose. Sadly, Mary Rose would only live to 13 months. Annie would go on to live into adulthood, but moved away to England with her husband. William would eventually pass away in 1874, with his cause of death listed as senile decay.
Like all road trips, bathroom breaks are a must. Alison, Lisa and Sheena all excused themselves to use the washroom before we began our walk thru. The bathroom was located at the top of the landing to the right. “What a unique layout,” said Lisa as she made her way towards the bathroom. Once inside the bathroom, she noticed she wasn’t alone. “There is a little kid up here. In this closet,” she said. “Was it under the sink?” asked Sheena. “It wasn’t a sink,” Lisa replied. “Yeah, but is that were he is right now?” questioned Sheena. “Yeah,” answered Lisa. The two of them were now standing in the room. “I’m having a very hard time breathing in here,” said Lisa. “Like asthmatic, winded,” she added. The two of them then returned to the group who were standing in the kitchen. Lisa then shared her experience of seeing the little boy in the bathroom with the team. “Roland?” she questioned. No one could validate as much of the history of prior owners and tenants is not known. The team then made their way to the front of the house and into the room that is currently set up as a Parlor. “I actually see a bed in here,” said Lisa. “Somebody passed in this room for sure. An older lady,” she added. “Do you know what the misses died of?” Lisa asked next. Only to stop and questioned her choice of words. “Oh, I’ve never called somebody that,” she said. “Are we talking about the first misses?” asked Jessica. “Yes,” answered Lisa. “Something respiratory,” Jessica replied. “Yes, pneumonia,” Rachel added. “Yes, my chest is heavy,” added Lisa. It was then that Alison and Rachel heard a noise. It was as if something was confirming what Lisa was picking up on. “Did she pass here?” Lisa asked next. “Possibly, but probably,” answered Jessica. “I feel like she passed in this room,” added Lisa. “Looking at the dates, I would say yes,” said Alison. “You have her name, right?” questioned Lisa. “Yes,” answered Rachel. Lisa nodded. “Is the number 74 significant to here? Cause she is saying 74,” said Lisa. “Well her husband died in 1874,” Rachel replied. “Oh, I heard 1874. I should have said it. I don’t know why I try to filter these things through,” Lisa said with a sigh. “But she died well before he did,” she added. “Yes,” replied Rachel. “Perhaps they are reunited,” Alison added. “Did she pass within 10 years of a child?” Lisa asked next. “No. She had no children,” Rachel answered. “The bottom of my lungs,” Lisa said as she felt shew as having a hard time breathing. “There is something significant with a child and 10 years before. 10 years before she died,” continued Lisa. “Well they never had children,” Rachel repeated. “It must have been a miscarriage, because she is saying 10 years after is when I passed,” said Lisa. “53. Something 53,” she blurted out. “He married his second wife in 1853,” said Rachel. “Oh, okay. Did they have children?” asked Lisa. “Yes,” Rachel answered. “Okay, so they got married in 53, had a child. Did she die when the child was 10?” Lisa asked. “No,” answered Rachel. At this time Rachel and Alison begin to discuss what Lisa may be picking up and trying to piece together whom Lisa was connecting with. “10 years after they got married they had a daughter, but she died just after her first birthday,” Rachel stated. “Oh,” replied Lisa. “Was the second one much younger?” Lisa asked, in regards to the second wife. “Oh yeah,” answered Rachel. “Okay. It wasn’t love. That is what she said – ‘I didn’t marry him because I loved him’,” Lisa said with a smug look and some attitude in her voice. “That’s fascinating,” said Jessica. “That’s how she said it to me,” said Lisa. “I feel like the first wife did die in this room,” she added. “The second wife, Eliza? Elizabeth?” questioned Lisa. “There is an Elizabeth here now,” she added. “Why does my stomach hurt? Like a lot,” she continued. “No idea,” replied Rachel. “I feel like…” Lisa trailed off. “It’s not my pain,” she finished. “Bowels or something?” questioned Alison. Lisa wasn’t sure. “Is there a Nora?” she asked next. “Not that I have,” said Rachel. “I have very limited names,” she added. “I have 1874 to, like 1974, that we don’t have much names, info on,” said Jessica. After a few moments, the team moved on to the next room.
Macaulay Heritage Park is located a block away from the Courthouse and includes the Macaulay House, the former church of St. Mary Magdalene, the old St. Mar Magdalene Parish Cemetery, a heritage garden, and a carriage house. The county acquired the Church in 1967, and in 1974 they purchased the house and the ground. The properties were combined to form the Heritage Park and the museums were open.
The Macaulay House was our first place of interest. We decided to begin with a walk through and let Lisa get a feel for the location. Built in 1830 for Reverend William Macaulay and his first wife, Ann Geddes. Ann died in 1849 of Pneumonia, leaving the Reverend alone. They had no children. William remarried in 1853. His new wife, Charlotte Le Vesconte, bore him two children: Charlotte Anne (“Annie”) and Mary Rose. Sadly, Mary Rose would only live to 13 months. Annie would go on to live into adulthood, but moved away to England with her husband. William would eventually pass away in 1874, with his cause of death listed as senile decay.
Like all road trips, bathroom breaks are a must. Alison, Lisa and Sheena all excused themselves to use the washroom before we began our walk thru. The bathroom was located at the top of the landing to the right. “What a unique layout,” said Lisa as she made her way towards the bathroom. Once inside the bathroom, she noticed she wasn’t alone. “There is a little kid up here. In this closet,” she said. “Was it under the sink?” asked Sheena. “It wasn’t a sink,” Lisa replied. “Yeah, but is that were he is right now?” questioned Sheena. “Yeah,” answered Lisa. The two of them were now standing in the room. “I’m having a very hard time breathing in here,” said Lisa. “Like asthmatic, winded,” she added. The two of them then returned to the group who were standing in the kitchen. Lisa then shared her experience of seeing the little boy in the bathroom with the team. “Roland?” she questioned. No one could validate as much of the history of prior owners and tenants is not known. The team then made their way to the front of the house and into the room that is currently set up as a Parlor. “I actually see a bed in here,” said Lisa. “Somebody passed in this room for sure. An older lady,” she added. “Do you know what the misses died of?” Lisa asked next. Only to stop and questioned her choice of words. “Oh, I’ve never called somebody that,” she said. “Are we talking about the first misses?” asked Jessica. “Yes,” answered Lisa. “Something respiratory,” Jessica replied. “Yes, pneumonia,” Rachel added. “Yes, my chest is heavy,” added Lisa. It was then that Alison and Rachel heard a noise. It was as if something was confirming what Lisa was picking up on. “Did she pass here?” Lisa asked next. “Possibly, but probably,” answered Jessica. “I feel like she passed in this room,” added Lisa. “Looking at the dates, I would say yes,” said Alison. “You have her name, right?” questioned Lisa. “Yes,” answered Rachel. Lisa nodded. “Is the number 74 significant to here? Cause she is saying 74,” said Lisa. “Well her husband died in 1874,” Rachel replied. “Oh, I heard 1874. I should have said it. I don’t know why I try to filter these things through,” Lisa said with a sigh. “But she died well before he did,” she added. “Yes,” replied Rachel. “Perhaps they are reunited,” Alison added. “Did she pass within 10 years of a child?” Lisa asked next. “No. She had no children,” Rachel answered. “The bottom of my lungs,” Lisa said as she felt shew as having a hard time breathing. “There is something significant with a child and 10 years before. 10 years before she died,” continued Lisa. “Well they never had children,” Rachel repeated. “It must have been a miscarriage, because she is saying 10 years after is when I passed,” said Lisa. “53. Something 53,” she blurted out. “He married his second wife in 1853,” said Rachel. “Oh, okay. Did they have children?” asked Lisa. “Yes,” Rachel answered. “Okay, so they got married in 53, had a child. Did she die when the child was 10?” Lisa asked. “No,” answered Rachel. At this time Rachel and Alison begin to discuss what Lisa may be picking up and trying to piece together whom Lisa was connecting with. “10 years after they got married they had a daughter, but she died just after her first birthday,” Rachel stated. “Oh,” replied Lisa. “Was the second one much younger?” Lisa asked, in regards to the second wife. “Oh yeah,” answered Rachel. “Okay. It wasn’t love. That is what she said – ‘I didn’t marry him because I loved him’,” Lisa said with a smug look and some attitude in her voice. “That’s fascinating,” said Jessica. “That’s how she said it to me,” said Lisa. “I feel like the first wife did die in this room,” she added. “The second wife, Eliza? Elizabeth?” questioned Lisa. “There is an Elizabeth here now,” she added. “Why does my stomach hurt? Like a lot,” she continued. “No idea,” replied Rachel. “I feel like…” Lisa trailed off. “It’s not my pain,” she finished. “Bowels or something?” questioned Alison. Lisa wasn’t sure. “Is there a Nora?” she asked next. “Not that I have,” said Rachel. “I have very limited names,” she added. “I have 1874 to, like 1974, that we don’t have much names, info on,” said Jessica. After a few moments, the team moved on to the next room.
Rev. William Macaulay
Church and Macaulay House as it would have appeared in its early days.
“This is original, right? Because I feel like this was the kitchen,” said Lisa. “Yes, it was,” Jessica confirmed. The team then headed to the basement. Jessica, Paula, Alison and Sheena led the way. “Why am I dreading this right now?” Lisa asked as she took her first step down. “Because it’s a basement,” said Rachel who was right behind her. “Oh wow! This is so cool,” exclaimed Alison. “Oh, it’s cool down here,” said Lisa. “There is water back here?” Lisa asked, pointing to the area behind the stairs. “Yeah, or at least there was. There are two big cisterns,” confirmed Jessica. “Is there a tunnel?” Lisa asked next. “A what? A tunnel?” repeated Rachel. “Yeah, and why are there bars?” Lisa questioned. “On the windows,” added Alison. “I feel like someone got smacked in the face down here. Like my nose feels broken,” said Lisa. “I can’t even feel my nose,” she added. “Such a big basement for such an old house,” she said as she walked the hallway and looked in each room. “Yeah, they stored, dried, cured meats, preserves. They probably had a root cellar,” Jessica said. Lisa was at the point that she no longer wanted to be down there. “Okay, I’m good to go,” she said. “People were trapped down here,” she added as she made her way back up the stairs. Alison agreed. “Could they have held people here for the courthouse? Possibly?” Rachel quizzed.
Back on ground level, Jessica took them to the Summer Kitchen next. The room was currently use to hold artifacts from the main level as they were doing renovations thanks to some water damage. Just off the back of the Summer Kitchen is a stair case that led to an upper floor that had a bedroom. After moving a couple pieces of flooring, the team headed up the back staircase to check it out. “Oh, this is cool,” said Alison as they entered the room. “Whose quarters are these?” asked Lisa. “The Handyman,” answered Jessica. “Gardener,” stated Lisa. “Someone still sleeps in this bed,” Alison said as she walked around the room. “There is an indent on it,” Rachel pointed out. “I feel like there were two men in here,” said Lisa. “Two men slept in here,” she added. “It is very possible,” Jessica replied. “I heard gardener. I see two beds. Not one big one, possibly three, actually,” stated Lisa. “We probably don’t have any info on that,” she said looking at Rachel. “I have one name. That’s about it,” Rachel said. “Does it start with an ‘R’?” questioned Lisa. “No,” answered Rachel. “I can see cards being played in here,” Lisa said. After a few moments, Lisa exited the room and made her way to a smaller room on the right. “I see a bed in here, though,” she said as she peered into the room. “Could have been,” replied Jessica. “Someone just put their hand on my back too,” said Lisa. “Why are you doing it again?” Lisa questioned, feeling the same sensation. “I got the name Leroy,” she said. “Leroy?” quizzed Alison. “Le- Roy, La-Roy,” Lisa said. The team decided to head back down stairs at this point and check out the reminder of the Heritage Park. “Character. That’s what I just heard,” Lisa said as she descended the staircase.
Back outside, the team decided to take a few moments and explore the property. They made their way over to the St. Mary Magdalene parish cemetery. The first burial at this cemetery was registered in 1819 and predates the church. There are over 300 burials at this location with about half of them with marked gravestones. The Macaulay family is buried in a plot to the back right of the church. Other prominent community members are also buried in this cemetery, including Samuel Merrill (Father of Edwards Merrill – of Merrill Inn/House fame) and Philip Low (First Mayor of Picton). The cemetery also has a unique stone with a death date of February 31. “There is one particular one I want you to look at,” Rachel said to Lisa and they were wandering amongst the stones. “Was there a fire here with a white church with a black door?” Lisa asked as she stood on the edge of the cemetery looking at the church. “Oh, I don’t know,” replied Rachel. As Lisa looked around she stopped and commented on a specific plot that was surrounded by a fence. “There’s some royalty over there. They need their own gate,” she joked. “I wonder if they are connected to the house?” she asked. “Right here! Found it!” exclaimed Rachel, as she called Lisa over to take a look. “I don’t think they’re actual royalty…” Lisa said as she made her way over to Rachel. “Read the date on it,” Rachel said to Lisa. “February 31,” Lisa stopped. “That’s not even possible!” she exclaimed. “Exactly,” said Alison. “Is William Pierce actually even here?” she questioned. “Oh, he’s here,” Rachel answered. “They don’t know if it was a mistake or the family was superstitious with the number so they switched it, or if the engraver was illiterate,” explained Rachel. Lisa wasn’t too sure either, but felt as if the engraver had made the mistake. The team moved towards the back of the church to look at more of the markers. “It reminds me of were Sir John A. MacDonald is buried,” Lisa said and she navigated to the section at the back. “Who is making my chest…” she trailed off. “Oh wow!” exclaimed Alison, as she stood in front of the gated family plot at the back that Lisa was joking about earlier. “Yes, they’re connected to the house,” she said. Alison moved towards the back centre. “There is an Elizabeth here,” she said, but that was all she could read from the worn-out stone, so she moved on the one beside it. “Was there a child named Maggie?” asked Lisa. Alison suddenly bursts out laughing. “Why are you laughing?” Lisa asked. “This is Maggie Llewelyn,” Alison said, doing her best Vanna White impression at the gravestone she was standing in front of. The team then made there way back to the front of the cemetery and church where they found half a dozen hawk feathers and a beautiful Moth, sunning itself on a gravestone. The team decided it was an appropriate time to visit the church and headed inside.
Back on ground level, Jessica took them to the Summer Kitchen next. The room was currently use to hold artifacts from the main level as they were doing renovations thanks to some water damage. Just off the back of the Summer Kitchen is a stair case that led to an upper floor that had a bedroom. After moving a couple pieces of flooring, the team headed up the back staircase to check it out. “Oh, this is cool,” said Alison as they entered the room. “Whose quarters are these?” asked Lisa. “The Handyman,” answered Jessica. “Gardener,” stated Lisa. “Someone still sleeps in this bed,” Alison said as she walked around the room. “There is an indent on it,” Rachel pointed out. “I feel like there were two men in here,” said Lisa. “Two men slept in here,” she added. “It is very possible,” Jessica replied. “I heard gardener. I see two beds. Not one big one, possibly three, actually,” stated Lisa. “We probably don’t have any info on that,” she said looking at Rachel. “I have one name. That’s about it,” Rachel said. “Does it start with an ‘R’?” questioned Lisa. “No,” answered Rachel. “I can see cards being played in here,” Lisa said. After a few moments, Lisa exited the room and made her way to a smaller room on the right. “I see a bed in here, though,” she said as she peered into the room. “Could have been,” replied Jessica. “Someone just put their hand on my back too,” said Lisa. “Why are you doing it again?” Lisa questioned, feeling the same sensation. “I got the name Leroy,” she said. “Leroy?” quizzed Alison. “Le- Roy, La-Roy,” Lisa said. The team decided to head back down stairs at this point and check out the reminder of the Heritage Park. “Character. That’s what I just heard,” Lisa said as she descended the staircase.
Back outside, the team decided to take a few moments and explore the property. They made their way over to the St. Mary Magdalene parish cemetery. The first burial at this cemetery was registered in 1819 and predates the church. There are over 300 burials at this location with about half of them with marked gravestones. The Macaulay family is buried in a plot to the back right of the church. Other prominent community members are also buried in this cemetery, including Samuel Merrill (Father of Edwards Merrill – of Merrill Inn/House fame) and Philip Low (First Mayor of Picton). The cemetery also has a unique stone with a death date of February 31. “There is one particular one I want you to look at,” Rachel said to Lisa and they were wandering amongst the stones. “Was there a fire here with a white church with a black door?” Lisa asked as she stood on the edge of the cemetery looking at the church. “Oh, I don’t know,” replied Rachel. As Lisa looked around she stopped and commented on a specific plot that was surrounded by a fence. “There’s some royalty over there. They need their own gate,” she joked. “I wonder if they are connected to the house?” she asked. “Right here! Found it!” exclaimed Rachel, as she called Lisa over to take a look. “I don’t think they’re actual royalty…” Lisa said as she made her way over to Rachel. “Read the date on it,” Rachel said to Lisa. “February 31,” Lisa stopped. “That’s not even possible!” she exclaimed. “Exactly,” said Alison. “Is William Pierce actually even here?” she questioned. “Oh, he’s here,” Rachel answered. “They don’t know if it was a mistake or the family was superstitious with the number so they switched it, or if the engraver was illiterate,” explained Rachel. Lisa wasn’t too sure either, but felt as if the engraver had made the mistake. The team moved towards the back of the church to look at more of the markers. “It reminds me of were Sir John A. MacDonald is buried,” Lisa said and she navigated to the section at the back. “Who is making my chest…” she trailed off. “Oh wow!” exclaimed Alison, as she stood in front of the gated family plot at the back that Lisa was joking about earlier. “Yes, they’re connected to the house,” she said. Alison moved towards the back centre. “There is an Elizabeth here,” she said, but that was all she could read from the worn-out stone, so she moved on the one beside it. “Was there a child named Maggie?” asked Lisa. Alison suddenly bursts out laughing. “Why are you laughing?” Lisa asked. “This is Maggie Llewelyn,” Alison said, doing her best Vanna White impression at the gravestone she was standing in front of. The team then made there way back to the front of the cemetery and church where they found half a dozen hawk feathers and a beautiful Moth, sunning itself on a gravestone. The team decided it was an appropriate time to visit the church and headed inside.
Built in the early 1820’s, the former St. Mary Magdalene was the first Anglican Church in Prince Edward County. Reverend Macaulay used his own money to build it and was appointed its first Rector. In 1967 the Church was declared unsafe and turned over to the County to use as a museum. After 6 years of extensive renovations and repairs, it re-opened. “Do you happen to know if there was a white church with a black door before is one that caught fire?” Lisa asked Jessica, who had been taking a dinner break while we were wandering the cemetery. “The original? There was a chapel here before the church. That would have been made out of wood and fires were possible. I couldn’t tell you for sure,” answered Jessica. “Yeah, I picked up a white church with a black door earlier. It was an odd shaped door, but it burned down and they then built this one. Was it 73?” Lisa asked. “1820’s brick part, limestone after. Macaulay died in 74, so it was probably 73,” replied Jessica. The team walked into the church and towards the front. The large stain glass windows before them. “What was the religion? I thought I heard Ang..” “Anglican,” Rachel said, cutting off Lisa, who just smiled. Something then caught Lisa’s eye on the upper level. “Is that John A. MacDonald up there?” she asked. “Yes, and we have a bust of him in the stair well. He’s still creeping around here,” Jessica joked. The team then headed to the upper level to look around. “It’s so pretty up here,” said Lisa. The team then entered the storage room. “Somebody is attached to something in here,” said Lisa, almost immediately upon entering the room. “Something is making it hard for me to breath in here,” she said. “There is that pain in my stomach again,” she added. “There is definitely activity up here, but it is because of the stuff,” stated Lisa. Jessica then opened the door to the tower room and the team entered. “Oh Wow!” exclaimed Alison. “Look at this,” added Sheena. Jessica then pointed out something interesting. “You can see were people have carved their names,” she said pointing to an old wooden beam above the door way. “1870s to 1920s, there are names. The museum opened in 1974,” she said. After a couple of minutes of looking at names, the team exited the tower room and made their way back through the storage room. “Marilyn. I have a Marilyn,” Lisa blurted out. “Is it Marilyn or Merrill?” questioned Rachel. “Nope, she says Marilyn,” stated Lisa. The team then made their way back downstairs and decided that it would be a good time to take a quick break, gather equipment and begin the investigation.
After a quick break and a snack, the team gathered up the equipment and headed back to the House. It was now time to start the investigation. To see what happened, watch our live video below!
After a quick break and a snack, the team gathered up the equipment and headed back to the House. It was now time to start the investigation. To see what happened, watch our live video below!
After the conclusion of the live broadcast, the house seemed to settle down for the night. It became quiet and peaceful as if everyone had retired to bed. It was determined at that time to end the investigation and call it a night. The team packed up the equipment and headed off on their journey back home.
The Macaulay House is still a mystery to us. Who lived in the house after the Macaulay family? Who is this man who likes the ladies? Is there any record of a white church with a black door burning down? So many questions that we hope to be able to answer through more research and investigating. If you have any information you would like to share with us about the structures at Macaulay Heritage Park, we would love to hear it. You can email us directly or use the contact form on our website.
For more information about Macaulay Heritage Park and to plan your visit, check out the county’s website: https://www.thecounty.ca/residents/services/museums/macaulay-heritage-park/
We hope Reverend Macaulay is waiting for your arrival.
The Macaulay House is still a mystery to us. Who lived in the house after the Macaulay family? Who is this man who likes the ladies? Is there any record of a white church with a black door burning down? So many questions that we hope to be able to answer through more research and investigating. If you have any information you would like to share with us about the structures at Macaulay Heritage Park, we would love to hear it. You can email us directly or use the contact form on our website.
For more information about Macaulay Heritage Park and to plan your visit, check out the county’s website: https://www.thecounty.ca/residents/services/museums/macaulay-heritage-park/
We hope Reverend Macaulay is waiting for your arrival.