maddy's pub & restaurant - bowmanville
May 14, 2016
“Come to the bathroom with me! There’s ghosts in there!” a local patron said loudly to the group he was with. Everybody laughed. It was not a typical evening at the local pub, but a fun one nonetheless. The patrons were having a fantastic time – laughing, joking, and enjoying some brews. There was even a pair on their first date. The team had arrived early to enjoy the food and get some business in order. It would only be a matter of time before the locals had left and the establishment was quiet and ready to tell us its story.
Maddy’s Pub & Restaurant is located on a semi-quiet street in Bowmanville. The building, which was built in the 1800’s, became a licensed establishment in the early 1970’s. Before, the building was said to be a rooming house, where many had come and gone, and come back to.
When the doors were locked up for the evening, we began to unload our equipment and figure out our plan for the evening. During this time the current owner, Anne, told us of the experiences, activity and other interesting tidbits about the building. We were first told that there had been a tragic accident when the building located to the south was a coal operation. A little girl was trampled by a horse and killed in the laneway between the two buildings – and her spirit was said to be wandering the building. We were also told about a woman named Sybil. Sybil had once lived in the house and was a woman who hated alcohol and was all for prohibition. Sybil had returned to this location after her death and was causing quite the ruckus. She would make loud noises at the bar and her presence could be felt in the hallway by the bathrooms. Anne told us that during one evening, a former cook was helping staff clean up after closing. The electrical sockets are located above the door frames so when the vaccum suddenly stopped, they figured it had been fallen out of the socket. The staff member went to check and found the cord leviating in mid air before it was tossed in their direction. After this, a Medium was brought in to perform a clearning. It was said that Sybil had left willingly and they have had no issue with her since. We were also told about William. William is a spirit that people have seen. Anne had said that she had had an encounter with William were all she saw was his waist down. As Anne continued to talk about William, a glass of water that Paula had just placed on the table beside her fell onto the floor. It was quite a shock as it came out of nowhere and the table was level. The glass had also been quite a ways away from the edge. William must have wanted us to know he was still there with us. Anne continued on to tell us that Mediums have said that the back banquet room has a spirit portal in it, and that the current upstairs tenant had mention that they have felt a negative energy in their apartment. It was also noted that this particular energy could not come down to the restaurant because of the cleansing. Anne also noted that she finds a lot of dimes in weird places – not the kind of places where they would land if they fell out of a wallet or pocket. With all this in hand, we were ready to begin our investigation.
Maddy’s Pub & Restaurant is located on a semi-quiet street in Bowmanville. The building, which was built in the 1800’s, became a licensed establishment in the early 1970’s. Before, the building was said to be a rooming house, where many had come and gone, and come back to.
When the doors were locked up for the evening, we began to unload our equipment and figure out our plan for the evening. During this time the current owner, Anne, told us of the experiences, activity and other interesting tidbits about the building. We were first told that there had been a tragic accident when the building located to the south was a coal operation. A little girl was trampled by a horse and killed in the laneway between the two buildings – and her spirit was said to be wandering the building. We were also told about a woman named Sybil. Sybil had once lived in the house and was a woman who hated alcohol and was all for prohibition. Sybil had returned to this location after her death and was causing quite the ruckus. She would make loud noises at the bar and her presence could be felt in the hallway by the bathrooms. Anne told us that during one evening, a former cook was helping staff clean up after closing. The electrical sockets are located above the door frames so when the vaccum suddenly stopped, they figured it had been fallen out of the socket. The staff member went to check and found the cord leviating in mid air before it was tossed in their direction. After this, a Medium was brought in to perform a clearning. It was said that Sybil had left willingly and they have had no issue with her since. We were also told about William. William is a spirit that people have seen. Anne had said that she had had an encounter with William were all she saw was his waist down. As Anne continued to talk about William, a glass of water that Paula had just placed on the table beside her fell onto the floor. It was quite a shock as it came out of nowhere and the table was level. The glass had also been quite a ways away from the edge. William must have wanted us to know he was still there with us. Anne continued on to tell us that Mediums have said that the back banquet room has a spirit portal in it, and that the current upstairs tenant had mention that they have felt a negative energy in their apartment. It was also noted that this particular energy could not come down to the restaurant because of the cleansing. Anne also noted that she finds a lot of dimes in weird places – not the kind of places where they would land if they fell out of a wallet or pocket. With all this in hand, we were ready to begin our investigation.
As we gathered our equipment, Paula was still trying to figure out how the glass of water fell off the table. To this day, she is unable to figure it out. As we turned on the equipment, one by one, they all began to show low battery. This shouldn’t have been possible since all batteries were changed right before we arrived. Someone or thing seemed to be gathering energy. After another battery change, we started placing equipment. A REM pod was placed on the bar countertop and had been sitting in the same location for a good ten minutes when it all of a sudden activated. “Can you make that light up again?” asked Susan. The REM Pod activated. “Is this William? Light up one for yes, two for no,” asked Vanessa. The REM Pod lit up two colours. “Blue and green, it’s a no,” stated Vanessa. “Is this Sybil?” questioned Vanessa. Again, the REM Pod lit up two colours. “Nope, two colours,” stated Vanessa. Rachel made note that the Mel Meter, which was sitting beside the REM Pod, was not indicating any change. “Are you upset that we are here this evening” asked Vanessa. “One for yes, two for no,” she continued. The REM Pod remained quiet. “Did you knock Paula’s glass on the floor?” Vanessa asked next. The REM Pod activated 3 colours. “What does three mean?” Vanessa asked. “Maybe?” Paula answered. “Are you the little girl? One for yes, two for no?” Vanessa questioned. Again, the REM Pod activated 3 lights. “If there is a little girl here, can you tell me what your name is?” she asked. The REM Pod activated 3 lights. At this point we were all still a bit confused, so Jay decided to change the batteries of the REM Pod. The REM Pod was placed back in the same spot, but now the Mel Meter was indicating a temperature change. Sean had also thought he had captured a loud sigh on his audio recorder. “As soon as I go down the hallway my head hurts,” stated Jay. It was at this point that the Ovilus spoke the first time – ‘E’. It was also when Vanessa had noticed a big change on the Mel Meter. “Come here quick!” she stated. “The EMF is rising,” she pointed out. “It was at zero and now its a 1.1 and its going down,” she exclaimed. “Are you leaving us?” she asked, as the EMF on the Mel Meter began to drop back down. “Can you make the REM Pod go off? Are you the little girl?” she went on to ask. However, nothing was captured on audio and the REM Pod remained quiet. We waited a few more minutes, but things seemed to have settled down. The team took a quick break to gather some more things. While Rachel, Susan and Vanessa were outside, Paula and Jay had remained in the bar area. The Ovilus spoke another word – ‘Now’. Only Paula had heard it as she was scanning the room with the infra red camera looking for thermal changes. Jay re-enters the pub area complaining of a headache, but hoping he captured something he had just witnessed on camera. “I felt someone walk by me. It was like a mist,” he said as he went over his photos. Paula then also notices a strange heat signature coming from the dining room that resembles a lit candle. As she was describing what she was seeing to Anne, the REM Pod activates. It was at this point that the second REM Pod was placed in the corner behind her. The girls had rejoined everyone in the bar area at this point. Anne then let us know that a former patron, who was a regular, sat in that particular spot before a tragic accident took their life. As she continued with the story, the REM Pod activated as if it was almost indicating that this patron was still there, visiting. Rachel also noticed that the K2 Meter was lighting up over one of the tables. “There must be something underneath, as it stays the same all the way to the floor,” she noted. “I get the name John,” Jay blurted out. “Is there a John here? Light up one for yes, two for no,” asked Vanessa. But the REM Pod remained quiet. “I am also getting a lot of headaches in this place,” Vanessa stated. It was then decided that a ghost box session should be tried.
Before the P-SB7 was turned on the Ovilus spoke – ‘Girl.’ Quickly after, it spoke another – ‘Hi’. Rachel turned on the P-SB7 and began. “Anybody here with us right now?” she asked. “If there is, can you tell us what your name is?” she continued. No response. “Is there a little girl here with us?” asked Rachel. A female voice is heard – ‘Sure’. “William, are you here with us?” she asked. A male voice is heard – ‘I am.’ “Is Sybil here with us?” Rachel questioned. There was no response. More questions were asked, but no responses were heard. “Can you make the lights on the REM Pod light up?” Rachel asked. A male voice is heard – ‘Which one?’ “Whatever one you want,” Rachel answered. Some more questions were asked, but no more responses were heard. It was decided to end the ghost box session at this point. Jay then began to describe what he was getting. “It feels like you’re being watched,” he said. “I see people in the windows, looking in. But they can’t come in,” he went on to say. The Ovilus spoke again – ‘Wash’. Did it mean ‘Watch’, perhaps? Anne began to talk about previous tenants, who had once lived in the house, before it was turned into a restaurant, and who had said that strange things occurred while they lived there. The REM Pod activated in what appeared to be someone agreeing to what she was saying. “I feel pacing coming from upstairs and the basement gave me pains,” stated Jay. The Ovilus spoke – ‘Poppa’. Anne began to tell us how a lot of customers have mentioned to her about strange things that have happened while dining at the pub. During this time the REM Pod would activate, leaving us to believe that someone was once again, agreeing with everything that she was telling us. Jay’s focus was once again brought to the front window. “I keep getting an older woman outside,” he stated. The REM Pod activated as to agree. “She’s older. Black hair with grey streaks. She’s hunched over. She’s really scraggly looking. It’s kind of freaking me out,” he went on to say. As Anne described how some former tenants may have been transients, the REM Pod would activate as if to confirm. The Ovilus spoke again – ‘Past’. It was true, we were talking about the past.
Before the P-SB7 was turned on the Ovilus spoke – ‘Girl.’ Quickly after, it spoke another – ‘Hi’. Rachel turned on the P-SB7 and began. “Anybody here with us right now?” she asked. “If there is, can you tell us what your name is?” she continued. No response. “Is there a little girl here with us?” asked Rachel. A female voice is heard – ‘Sure’. “William, are you here with us?” she asked. A male voice is heard – ‘I am.’ “Is Sybil here with us?” Rachel questioned. There was no response. More questions were asked, but no responses were heard. “Can you make the lights on the REM Pod light up?” Rachel asked. A male voice is heard – ‘Which one?’ “Whatever one you want,” Rachel answered. Some more questions were asked, but no more responses were heard. It was decided to end the ghost box session at this point. Jay then began to describe what he was getting. “It feels like you’re being watched,” he said. “I see people in the windows, looking in. But they can’t come in,” he went on to say. The Ovilus spoke again – ‘Wash’. Did it mean ‘Watch’, perhaps? Anne began to talk about previous tenants, who had once lived in the house, before it was turned into a restaurant, and who had said that strange things occurred while they lived there. The REM Pod activated in what appeared to be someone agreeing to what she was saying. “I feel pacing coming from upstairs and the basement gave me pains,” stated Jay. The Ovilus spoke – ‘Poppa’. Anne began to tell us how a lot of customers have mentioned to her about strange things that have happened while dining at the pub. During this time the REM Pod would activate, leaving us to believe that someone was once again, agreeing with everything that she was telling us. Jay’s focus was once again brought to the front window. “I keep getting an older woman outside,” he stated. The REM Pod activated as to agree. “She’s older. Black hair with grey streaks. She’s hunched over. She’s really scraggly looking. It’s kind of freaking me out,” he went on to say. As Anne described how some former tenants may have been transients, the REM Pod would activate as if to confirm. The Ovilus spoke again – ‘Past’. It was true, we were talking about the past.
At this time Vanessa, Susan and Paula had headed to the banquet room, and Sean had emerged from the basement. The K2 meter was placed on a side table and left alone. It was then noticed that it was lighting up. “If you’re sitting over there can you make it light up one more colour?” Rachel asked. Everyone sat there watching, as another light was lit up. Susan had returned to grab another piece of equipment and mentioned that the K2 meter in the back was also lighting up. Rachel had to go take a look and joined the others in the banquet room.
“I just got the chills,” stated Vanessa as Rachel and Susan enter the room. Vanessa was standing there, filming the room, Paula and the K2 Meter. Rachel walked up beside her and place the Ovilus on the table. As soon as she set down the device, it spoke – ‘Nick’. “Whose Nick?” asked Vanessa. “Nick, are you here with us?” she questioned There was no response. “Can you make four lights go on?” Paula asked, as she held the K2 meter. The K2 responded with four lights. “We have this other toy here. Can you make it go off?” Susan asked, referring to the REM Pod she had placed on the table. However, it remained quiet. “I’m gonna move this over here. Come turn on the lights, “ stated Paula, as she moved the K2 Meter to another table. The K2 still continued to light up. “Is there a Nick here with us?” asked Susan. “Can you light something up for us, please?” Susan asked nicely. Again, everything remained quiet. “If Nick is here, can you do something?” questioned Vanessa. Again, quiet. “Nick, did you come from the funeral home? Let us know by light up something or talk into my audio recorder,” said Vanessa. Nothing was heard, but it was noted that the K2 meter had continued to light up the entire time. “Who else is here with us?” asked Vanessa. At this point Vanessa thought she had heard something. “Can you do that again please? Just a little louder?” she asked. Everyone was quiet, but nothing was heard. “If there is someone in this room with us, can you do something for us please?” asked Vanessa. Again, the only thing lighting up was the K2 meter. At this point Vanessa thought that it would be a good idea to see if we could do a question and answer session with the K2 meter. “Do you come from the funeral home? Two lights for yes, Three lights for no,” she asked. The K2 meter showed three lights lit. “Is your name Nick?” she continued. But the K2 continued to light up. Vanessa asked more questions, but no discernable responses were noticed. “Can you make the REM Pod go off please?” asked Vanessa. Nothing. “My ears are starting to feel really plugged,” Rachel stated. It was a strange feeling, since earlier they had been fine. The K2 Meter was still lighting up and no one could figure out why. A good fifteen minutes was spend discussing different things that could cause it to light up, but none of those factors were currently present. It was then the Ovilus spoke – ‘Factors’. “What are the factors?” Vanessa questioned? She was still wracking her brain for an answer as to why the K2 meter was still lighting up. “What is this floor?” she asked. “Concrete,” replied Rachel. “Why? Why is this happening?” Vanessa asked. Vanessa and Paula moved about the room with the Mel Meter and K2 Meter. The Mel Meter didn’t indicate any kind of significant change of EMF or temperature. Paula had placed the K2 meter on a table and noticed that it had stopped lighting up. “Since I moved the K2 to this table, it hasn’t lit up once,” she stated. “Maybe the portal is very big and we aren’t sitting in it,” stated Rachel, referring to being told that the banquet room held a portal. “Where is the portal? Up? Down? Sideways?” Vanessa asked, confused. “If I’m in the portal, light up two lights please,” she asked. Everything remained dark. It was decided that now would be a good time to do a ghost box session.
“I just got the chills,” stated Vanessa as Rachel and Susan enter the room. Vanessa was standing there, filming the room, Paula and the K2 Meter. Rachel walked up beside her and place the Ovilus on the table. As soon as she set down the device, it spoke – ‘Nick’. “Whose Nick?” asked Vanessa. “Nick, are you here with us?” she questioned There was no response. “Can you make four lights go on?” Paula asked, as she held the K2 meter. The K2 responded with four lights. “We have this other toy here. Can you make it go off?” Susan asked, referring to the REM Pod she had placed on the table. However, it remained quiet. “I’m gonna move this over here. Come turn on the lights, “ stated Paula, as she moved the K2 Meter to another table. The K2 still continued to light up. “Is there a Nick here with us?” asked Susan. “Can you light something up for us, please?” Susan asked nicely. Again, everything remained quiet. “If Nick is here, can you do something?” questioned Vanessa. Again, quiet. “Nick, did you come from the funeral home? Let us know by light up something or talk into my audio recorder,” said Vanessa. Nothing was heard, but it was noted that the K2 meter had continued to light up the entire time. “Who else is here with us?” asked Vanessa. At this point Vanessa thought she had heard something. “Can you do that again please? Just a little louder?” she asked. Everyone was quiet, but nothing was heard. “If there is someone in this room with us, can you do something for us please?” asked Vanessa. Again, the only thing lighting up was the K2 meter. At this point Vanessa thought that it would be a good idea to see if we could do a question and answer session with the K2 meter. “Do you come from the funeral home? Two lights for yes, Three lights for no,” she asked. The K2 meter showed three lights lit. “Is your name Nick?” she continued. But the K2 continued to light up. Vanessa asked more questions, but no discernable responses were noticed. “Can you make the REM Pod go off please?” asked Vanessa. Nothing. “My ears are starting to feel really plugged,” Rachel stated. It was a strange feeling, since earlier they had been fine. The K2 Meter was still lighting up and no one could figure out why. A good fifteen minutes was spend discussing different things that could cause it to light up, but none of those factors were currently present. It was then the Ovilus spoke – ‘Factors’. “What are the factors?” Vanessa questioned? She was still wracking her brain for an answer as to why the K2 meter was still lighting up. “What is this floor?” she asked. “Concrete,” replied Rachel. “Why? Why is this happening?” Vanessa asked. Vanessa and Paula moved about the room with the Mel Meter and K2 Meter. The Mel Meter didn’t indicate any kind of significant change of EMF or temperature. Paula had placed the K2 meter on a table and noticed that it had stopped lighting up. “Since I moved the K2 to this table, it hasn’t lit up once,” she stated. “Maybe the portal is very big and we aren’t sitting in it,” stated Rachel, referring to being told that the banquet room held a portal. “Where is the portal? Up? Down? Sideways?” Vanessa asked, confused. “If I’m in the portal, light up two lights please,” she asked. Everything remained dark. It was decided that now would be a good time to do a ghost box session.
The P-SB7 was turned on and the session started. “Is Vanessa standing in the middle of a portal?” asked Rachel. There was no response. Before Rachel could ask her next questions, Vanessa saw a man moving on the other side of the glass door. After freaking out for a few seconds, she realized that the door led directly into the hallway and the man she saw was actually Sean. “I almost peed myself,” she stated, as we all laughed. “Good thing you saw that and not Susan,” joked Rachel “For sure,” agreed Susan. After a few more laughs, they continued on with the ghost box session. “Who’s in here with us right now?” asked Rachel. A male voice is heard – ‘Hello’. “Can you tell us what your name is?” Rachel asked. “Is your name William?” she continued. The same male voice is heard – ‘Yup’. More questioned where asked towards William, but he seemed to have gone quiet. “Is your name Nick?” asked Vanessa. No responses were heard. Vanessa began to ask questions about the portal, but no responses were heard. “Can you tell us what your name is again?” asked Rachel. This time a few names where heard – ‘Tom’, ‘Don’, ‘Sam’ – all said in different male voices (these were heard much clearer during audio review). “Can you say it again, just a little clearer?” Rachel asked. A female voice was heard this time – ‘Fran’. “Who else wants to say their name? We’re all ears,” Rachel stated. But no more names were heard. “Are you William?” asked Vanessa. A male voice is heard – ‘No’. “That sounded like a ‘no’,” stated Rachel. “Are you Nick?” questioned Vanessa. A male voice is heard – ‘Hello!’ “Hello to you too!” Rachel exclaimed. “Did you use to live here?” asked Rachel. The same male voice is heard – ‘Yes’. “What year did you live here? Nineteen what?” Rachel questioned. A male voice is heard but it was hard to understand. It sounded like ‘thirty’ or ‘three’. “How old are you Nick?” Rachel asked. But the ghost box had gone quiet. Rachel and Vanessa continued to ask questions but no responses were heard or recorded. They decided that it was time to rejoin Jay, Sean and Anne in the pub area.
Once most of the team was back together in the bar area, Rachel began to tell Vanessa, Susan and Paula that Jay had earlier felt that people were constantly looking in the front windows, particularly the woman he had described earlier. “A real lady?” ask Vanessa. “No, one of the dead variety,” replied Rachel. It was then decided that things were quieting down and it may be a good time to call it a night. As Anne was walking through the building, she noticed that in the hallway she could smell something burning. Not everyone could smell it and nothing was found that could have caused such a scent. When we had all returned to the pub area, we began to discuss the possible portal in the banquet room and how the building seems to have a energy to it. As we talk about the different things still going on, the K2 meter, which is still sitting on the side table, continues to light up. No one could figure out why. Shortly after discussing everything, Jay began to feel like he had been run over by a Mack Truck. “My arm hurts. My chest feels like it’s been smashed in and it’s hard to breath. It feels like I got crushed,” he stated. “Like you got trampled by a horse, perhaps?” Rachel questioned. Vanessa wasn’t feeling very well either. “I’m really edgy,” she said. “Ya, you’re really jumpy tonight,” Rachel confirmed. It was then that Sean had come back to join the group. As we talked, we all heard a voice come from the front hallway area. “I heard a male voice,” Vanessa said. “We are the only ones here,” stated Paula. “And we are all in this room,” Rachel stated. It was true. Everyone was accounted for. “I heard a male voice,” exclaimed Vanessa. Vanessa and Sean searched for the root of this disembodied voice, but nothing was found. Sadly, the voice was not captured on audio. With this last experience we thought we would end our investigation. The equipment was packed up, goodbyes’ were said and we headed home to do footage review.
Maddy’s Pub & Restaurant sure has some strange activity occurring behind its doors. The good news is, is that we found no evidence that Sybil was still hanging around and is clearly enjoying life on the other side. William and ‘Nick’ seem to be hanging around, visiting those who work and dine there. Perhaps they will join you on your next visit.
If you’re looking for a great place to dine with a little side of spooky, you can visit Maddy’s Pub & Restaurant – located at 7 Division St. Bowmanville, or call 905-697-4022 to make your reservations.
Once most of the team was back together in the bar area, Rachel began to tell Vanessa, Susan and Paula that Jay had earlier felt that people were constantly looking in the front windows, particularly the woman he had described earlier. “A real lady?” ask Vanessa. “No, one of the dead variety,” replied Rachel. It was then decided that things were quieting down and it may be a good time to call it a night. As Anne was walking through the building, she noticed that in the hallway she could smell something burning. Not everyone could smell it and nothing was found that could have caused such a scent. When we had all returned to the pub area, we began to discuss the possible portal in the banquet room and how the building seems to have a energy to it. As we talk about the different things still going on, the K2 meter, which is still sitting on the side table, continues to light up. No one could figure out why. Shortly after discussing everything, Jay began to feel like he had been run over by a Mack Truck. “My arm hurts. My chest feels like it’s been smashed in and it’s hard to breath. It feels like I got crushed,” he stated. “Like you got trampled by a horse, perhaps?” Rachel questioned. Vanessa wasn’t feeling very well either. “I’m really edgy,” she said. “Ya, you’re really jumpy tonight,” Rachel confirmed. It was then that Sean had come back to join the group. As we talked, we all heard a voice come from the front hallway area. “I heard a male voice,” Vanessa said. “We are the only ones here,” stated Paula. “And we are all in this room,” Rachel stated. It was true. Everyone was accounted for. “I heard a male voice,” exclaimed Vanessa. Vanessa and Sean searched for the root of this disembodied voice, but nothing was found. Sadly, the voice was not captured on audio. With this last experience we thought we would end our investigation. The equipment was packed up, goodbyes’ were said and we headed home to do footage review.
Maddy’s Pub & Restaurant sure has some strange activity occurring behind its doors. The good news is, is that we found no evidence that Sybil was still hanging around and is clearly enjoying life on the other side. William and ‘Nick’ seem to be hanging around, visiting those who work and dine there. Perhaps they will join you on your next visit.
If you’re looking for a great place to dine with a little side of spooky, you can visit Maddy’s Pub & Restaurant – located at 7 Division St. Bowmanville, or call 905-697-4022 to make your reservations.