Thomas House Museum
oakville, Ont.
August 26, 2023
“Oh my gosh!” exclaimed Alison and Rachel pulled into the small parking lot. “Those damn statues!” she added. Rachel looked up and saw statues of coyotes and a moose. Kaz and Leanne also laughed at the surprise. After the quick laugh, the team exited the vehicle and began gathering equipment. It was a quick walk across the street to the location they would be spending the next few hours at. The area was busy, since they were right at the lakefront. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and the evening was shaping up to be the same way. The team made their way to the small, old wood cabin that would give them the most amazing experience – they just didn’t know it yet.
Located at Lakeside Park, the Thomas house could once be found just west of Sixteen Mile Creek (that site now is occupied by a cemetery and catholic high school). It was built in 1829 and lived in by Merrick Thomas, and his wife, Esther. The couple had seven children – three girls and four boys. Two of the girls were twins. Sadly, none of their daughter survived. The twins would die 2.5 weeks after their birth. Their other daughter passing away at the age of two. All four of their sons would make adulthood. The youngest, Robert, would eventually inherit the house. Robert was born deaf and mute. He would overcome these disabilities and become a teacher, teaching children who were deaf and mute. In 1955, the house was moved to its present location at the park. It is now operated and cared for by the Oakville Historical Society.
The team was greeted by Steve, and other members of the Oakville Historical Society, who were eagerly awaiting what the night might bring. After introductions, and learning about the area, the team entered the two-room log cabin and was immediately immersed in what it may have been like over 100 years ago. “Is the bed original?” asked Lisa. “Yup. They found the bed in the house too,” answered Rachel. “I heard Tom, Thomas. But that name comes up so much,” said Lisa. Rachel agreed. “My heart is giving me a hard time again,” added Lisa. “Your heart is giving you a hard time?” questioned Leanne. “I was getting it earlier,” answered Lisa. “When you have a congenital heart defect, would it cause fluid in your lungs?” she questioned. “Yes, it can cause fluid in your lungs,” Rachel replied. Rachel was looking up the causes of death in her notes to see if anything matched. “There isn’t much for the first. I could tell you what the wife died of,” said Rachel. “There isn’t much. Just for the women. Which is weird because is usually men,’ she added. “There is someone connected to the are that died of myocardial failure. It was a man. He is not one hundred percent connected to the house,” she continued. “I heard ‘Sarah’,” Lisa blurted out. “Maybe it is one of the Chisholm’s,” added Rachel. “There was a Sarah. One of the Chisholm’s’ sons married a Sarah,” she continued. “Do you know how she passed?” asked Lisa. Rachel shook her head no. “My throat is very constricted,” described Lisa. “John Alexander married a Sarah,” Rachel added. “Was there an Emily?” asked Leanne. “Not that I know of,” answered Rachel. “There is an Emma,” she added. “Oh, maybe that’s what I heard,” said Leanne. “These are kids of kids,” stated Rachel. “There are two that definitely hang out here. Very often. They leave, but not a lot,” said Lisa. The team then set up a variety of equipment and explained, out loud, how each piece of equipment worked and how to activate it. The music box was placed in the bedroom, as well as some motion activated sensor balls. A couple more of the balls were placed on the floor of the main room, as well as the K2 meter an REM pod. “Did someone pass in this bed?” questioned Lisa. “Probably. There weren’t any hospitals,” said Rachel. “That’s what I heard. They passed in this bed,” Lisa repeated. “Watching people on the bed, but not in that way,” she added. “Did somebody hear the bed move when they were in here?” questioned Lisa. Rachel was unsure, so she went to inquire with Steve. “No. Too much noise to hear it around here,” he answered. “Okay. Ya. They said they have moved the bed in here,” continued Lisa. “I didn’t notice,” replied Steve. “You might now. It would be like a creak,” added Lisa. Steve described how the bed was a rope bed, so the sound of creaking would be subtle. “Ya, it’ll be like its shifting,” added Lisa. Lisa shifted back to the main room. “Don’t believe everything you hear. That’s what I am hearing,” she said. She suddenly stopped and started making a weird face. “There is something going on with my mouth, and that someone was accidentally poisoned,” she said. It was then shared that there was an accidental poisoning in the area years back, that involved a doctor prescribing a wrong dosage of prescription medicine. The incident had made the local newspaper, and there was an inquiry into the incident. “Did someone pass from pneumonia?” Lisa asked next. “Yes, one of the originals,” answered Rachel. “The person who built this house, their wife died of pneumonia,” she added. “They had seven children. Three girls, four boys. All three girls died. The first two were twins,” she continued. The Flux activated to Green, as if whomever was there was agreeing with what Rachel had said.
“What are your initial thoughts?” asked Steve. “Well, I just picked up on a lady, who passed from pneumonia,” replied Lisa. “They also said that eight people died in that bed,” she added, pointing to the bedroom. “We know it came with the cabin. We just don’t know how old it is,” Steve added. “I’m surprised that person on the bed right now isn’t making the ghost box go off,” said Lisa. Lisa then begins to talk about the impressions that she had picked up before arriving (see below for her impressions). It was confirmed that there was a fire in the downtown area, and that her impressions of the surrounding area seemed to go along with what the historical society knew. “Someone is making my throat feel blocked,” described Lisa. “So, to me, that means someone didn’t communicate what they should have,’ she added. Lisa and Steve began to chat about the surrounding area. Lisa had attempted to draw an area that she was seeing. It was an area with a lot of grass, a little hill with trees and a path that went through them. Steve was sure that he knew what area that Lisa was describing and wanted to know what prompted her to see this specific area. “There is an indigenous burial ground,” said Lisa. “They’re telling me, I think, there has been some unrest with the graves,” she continued. Steve then asked if Lisa wanted to go for a walk to see the area that she was picking up on. The two of them left for the area that Lisa was seeing.
Located at Lakeside Park, the Thomas house could once be found just west of Sixteen Mile Creek (that site now is occupied by a cemetery and catholic high school). It was built in 1829 and lived in by Merrick Thomas, and his wife, Esther. The couple had seven children – three girls and four boys. Two of the girls were twins. Sadly, none of their daughter survived. The twins would die 2.5 weeks after their birth. Their other daughter passing away at the age of two. All four of their sons would make adulthood. The youngest, Robert, would eventually inherit the house. Robert was born deaf and mute. He would overcome these disabilities and become a teacher, teaching children who were deaf and mute. In 1955, the house was moved to its present location at the park. It is now operated and cared for by the Oakville Historical Society.
The team was greeted by Steve, and other members of the Oakville Historical Society, who were eagerly awaiting what the night might bring. After introductions, and learning about the area, the team entered the two-room log cabin and was immediately immersed in what it may have been like over 100 years ago. “Is the bed original?” asked Lisa. “Yup. They found the bed in the house too,” answered Rachel. “I heard Tom, Thomas. But that name comes up so much,” said Lisa. Rachel agreed. “My heart is giving me a hard time again,” added Lisa. “Your heart is giving you a hard time?” questioned Leanne. “I was getting it earlier,” answered Lisa. “When you have a congenital heart defect, would it cause fluid in your lungs?” she questioned. “Yes, it can cause fluid in your lungs,” Rachel replied. Rachel was looking up the causes of death in her notes to see if anything matched. “There isn’t much for the first. I could tell you what the wife died of,” said Rachel. “There isn’t much. Just for the women. Which is weird because is usually men,’ she added. “There is someone connected to the are that died of myocardial failure. It was a man. He is not one hundred percent connected to the house,” she continued. “I heard ‘Sarah’,” Lisa blurted out. “Maybe it is one of the Chisholm’s,” added Rachel. “There was a Sarah. One of the Chisholm’s’ sons married a Sarah,” she continued. “Do you know how she passed?” asked Lisa. Rachel shook her head no. “My throat is very constricted,” described Lisa. “John Alexander married a Sarah,” Rachel added. “Was there an Emily?” asked Leanne. “Not that I know of,” answered Rachel. “There is an Emma,” she added. “Oh, maybe that’s what I heard,” said Leanne. “These are kids of kids,” stated Rachel. “There are two that definitely hang out here. Very often. They leave, but not a lot,” said Lisa. The team then set up a variety of equipment and explained, out loud, how each piece of equipment worked and how to activate it. The music box was placed in the bedroom, as well as some motion activated sensor balls. A couple more of the balls were placed on the floor of the main room, as well as the K2 meter an REM pod. “Did someone pass in this bed?” questioned Lisa. “Probably. There weren’t any hospitals,” said Rachel. “That’s what I heard. They passed in this bed,” Lisa repeated. “Watching people on the bed, but not in that way,” she added. “Did somebody hear the bed move when they were in here?” questioned Lisa. Rachel was unsure, so she went to inquire with Steve. “No. Too much noise to hear it around here,” he answered. “Okay. Ya. They said they have moved the bed in here,” continued Lisa. “I didn’t notice,” replied Steve. “You might now. It would be like a creak,” added Lisa. Steve described how the bed was a rope bed, so the sound of creaking would be subtle. “Ya, it’ll be like its shifting,” added Lisa. Lisa shifted back to the main room. “Don’t believe everything you hear. That’s what I am hearing,” she said. She suddenly stopped and started making a weird face. “There is something going on with my mouth, and that someone was accidentally poisoned,” she said. It was then shared that there was an accidental poisoning in the area years back, that involved a doctor prescribing a wrong dosage of prescription medicine. The incident had made the local newspaper, and there was an inquiry into the incident. “Did someone pass from pneumonia?” Lisa asked next. “Yes, one of the originals,” answered Rachel. “The person who built this house, their wife died of pneumonia,” she added. “They had seven children. Three girls, four boys. All three girls died. The first two were twins,” she continued. The Flux activated to Green, as if whomever was there was agreeing with what Rachel had said.
“What are your initial thoughts?” asked Steve. “Well, I just picked up on a lady, who passed from pneumonia,” replied Lisa. “They also said that eight people died in that bed,” she added, pointing to the bedroom. “We know it came with the cabin. We just don’t know how old it is,” Steve added. “I’m surprised that person on the bed right now isn’t making the ghost box go off,” said Lisa. Lisa then begins to talk about the impressions that she had picked up before arriving (see below for her impressions). It was confirmed that there was a fire in the downtown area, and that her impressions of the surrounding area seemed to go along with what the historical society knew. “Someone is making my throat feel blocked,” described Lisa. “So, to me, that means someone didn’t communicate what they should have,’ she added. Lisa and Steve began to chat about the surrounding area. Lisa had attempted to draw an area that she was seeing. It was an area with a lot of grass, a little hill with trees and a path that went through them. Steve was sure that he knew what area that Lisa was describing and wanted to know what prompted her to see this specific area. “There is an indigenous burial ground,” said Lisa. “They’re telling me, I think, there has been some unrest with the graves,” she continued. Steve then asked if Lisa wanted to go for a walk to see the area that she was picking up on. The two of them left for the area that Lisa was seeing.
Kaz took this quiet opportunity to take a seat in the house and start investigating. She set up the cameras, turned on some of the equipment and took a seat in the rocking chair. The Tempest spoke – ‘I will not’, ‘No trust’. “Can you see me?” asked Kaz. The Tempest spoke – ‘Killed Them’. “Who killed them?” The Tempest spoke – ‘I will not’. “You will not what? Did you make this ball go off?” The Tempest spoke – ‘Where I am’. “You are here with me. Do you know where you are?” The Tempest spoke – ‘You must have’, ‘Them’. “Them who?” No response was heard. “Where did you go? You were talking to me and then left. Are you still here with me?” No response. “Who did I see in the bedroom?” The Tempest spoke – ‘Puppy’. “Is there a puppy here?” No response. “Who are the two children I saw in the bedroom?” The Tempest spoke – ‘They’. “What is your name?” The Tempest spoke – ‘Hence’. “Hence? Hence was your name?” No response. “Can you see us?” The Tempest spoke – ‘Ordinary’. “We are far from ordinary,” said Kaz. “How many are here with us right now?” she continued. The Tempest spoke – ‘Strip’, ‘Fault’. “Who were the children I saw in the bedroom earlier?” “The Tempest spoke – ‘Open door’. “Yes, there is an open door. Which door? To the bedroom or the front door?” The Tempest spoke – ‘Please leave’. Leanne had now joined Kaz, but was standing the bedroom. It was decided to turn on the ghost box. “We are here to talk to you. Would you like Leanne to leave the bedroom?” asked Kaz. The Tempest spoke – ‘Gentle Person’. “I am a gentle person,” stated Leanne. “Do you like us being in your home?” asked Kaz. The Tempest spoke – ‘There are more here.’ “How many more? What number?” There was no response. “Merrick?” questioned Leanne. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Yes’. “Hello Merrick. Is this your house?” asked Kaz. The Tempest spoke – ‘It was him’. “What was him?” asked Kaz. No response. “Merrick, is your wife here as well?” asked Kaz. The Tempest spoke – ‘We’. “You’re both here?” she asked. “What are your names?” A voice was heard through the Ghost Box – ‘Bishop’. “The Ovilus said Bishop earlier,” stated Leanne. “Is there a Bishop here?” asked Kaz. A voice as heard through the ghost box – ‘Help’. “Who needs help?” asked Alison, as she was now sitting in the room with Kaz and Leanne. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Lady’. “Lady? What’s her name?” questioned Alison. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Bishop’. “Bishop? Was that a last name?” asked Alison. No response. “Who’s the Bishop?” Leanne then questioned. No response. Rachel had now joined the group in the cabin. “How many spirits are here?” she asked. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Two’. “I heard two,” said Kaz. “What are your names? Can you tell us your names please?” Rachel asked. A voice as heard through the ghost box – ‘Help’. “Who needs help?” questioned Leanne. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Girl’. “That was clear,” stated Alison. “How can we help?” she asked. No response. “Who’s upstairs?” questioned Kaz. At this point, Sheena had ventured to the attic to take pictures. “Can you show yourself to Sheena?” asked Alison. The team waited a few moments to see if they could hear any possible encounters Sheena might be having, but all was silent. “Can you touch these lights and make them change colour?” asked Leanne. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Nope’. “You just have to walk by them,” added Alison. “Can you lay on the bed and make…” Kaz didn’t even get to finish her question before being cut off by a voice heard through the ghost box – ‘No’. “Do you not like us asking you to do things?” she continued. No audio response was heard, but the motion sensor ball that was sitting quietly on the floor activated. “That was easy, wasn’t it?” said Leanne. “Can you do that again so we know that you can do it?” asked Kaz. “Are you able to touch the balls in the middle?” she continued. The motion sensor ball activated again. “Thank you so much!” said Leanne. “We are very impressed when you do those things,” stated Kaz. “Who are we speaking too?” she inquired. Leanne was certain she heard the name Merrick come across the ghost box. “It sounded like Merrick,” she said. The Motion sensor ball activated again. “Thank you, Merrick,” said Kaz. “Merrick, are those your boots in the bedroom?” she asked next. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘It is’. “Is that your gun as well?” she asked. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Gun’, ‘Oh ya’. “Is there an Esther here?” A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘He’s home’. “Merrick, is this your house?” asked Leanne. No response. The team then rearranged the equipment location. Rachel took this moment to set up the SLS camera. Once everything was situated and up and running, the team continued with the investigation. “Merrick, are you still here?” asked Leanne. “If you are, can you touch that ball again?” she questioned. Alison was sitting on the far side of the room, scanning with the SLS camera when it began to map something out. “Do you feel anything Rachel?” she asked. “No, but I felt something rub against my leg earlier,” answered Rachel. “But not anything right now?” questioned Alison. “Nope,” replied Rachel. Alison was mapping someone, or thing, standing right beside Rachel. “Who is trying to touch Rachel?” asked Alison. A voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘I am’. “What’s your name?” asked Kaz. A male voice was heard through the ghost box – ‘Murray’. Both Kaz and Alison questioned the response. Rachel then stated that the youngest child of Merrick and Esther was named Robert Murray. “Well hello Murray,” Leanne said. “Murray, can you see the lights in the middle of this circle? If you go near them, they will make sounds and light up,” said Kaz. No response. Leanne then got up to demonstrate how to activate the equipment. “It doesn’t have to be you, Murray. It can be anyone that is here,” said Kaz. “There as a little girl in the bedroom before. Do you want to come out and play with the light?” she asked. Everything remained inactive.
Lisa and Steve had returned from their walk. Lisa was convinced that it was the area she has seen, but it was landscaped a little different now. Since the team was all back together it was now time to start the Live video. Watch below to see what happened
Lisa and Steve had returned from their walk. Lisa was convinced that it was the area she has seen, but it was landscaped a little different now. Since the team was all back together it was now time to start the Live video. Watch below to see what happened
Watching the cabinet door open was truly an unbelievable experience. While we thought it might be Kaz, we tried numerous times to debunk it. We just could not figure it out. It was no sooner than we stopped, that the upper cabinet door began to open! It shocked us all again. And we just couldn’t figure it out because the door had been latched. Of course, this was after the camera’s had been turned off (always seems to be the case). It was another unbelievable experience that we still can’t figure out how it occurred.
After these two events, the team decided that it was a good idea to call it a night. It seemed that whomever opened the cabinet doors had used up most of the energy. The old log house seemed to settle right down. It was now a quiet little cabin, surrounded by the darkness of the night. Comfy, cozy and relaxed. It was a good time to pack up and say our goodbyes. The lights were turned on, the equipment put back in their cases and the house was locked up. It was another end to an eventful investigation.
Do we believe the Thomas House Museum is haunted? It definitely has a spirit or two, that’s for sure. They appear to come and go, visiting their old home where they made memories. If you’re lucky enough, you may get the opportunity to check out the Thomas House Museum when one of them is visiting.
To plan your visit to the Thomas House Museum, or to learn more about the Oakville Historical Society, visit their website at: www.oakvillehistory.org
After these two events, the team decided that it was a good idea to call it a night. It seemed that whomever opened the cabinet doors had used up most of the energy. The old log house seemed to settle right down. It was now a quiet little cabin, surrounded by the darkness of the night. Comfy, cozy and relaxed. It was a good time to pack up and say our goodbyes. The lights were turned on, the equipment put back in their cases and the house was locked up. It was another end to an eventful investigation.
Do we believe the Thomas House Museum is haunted? It definitely has a spirit or two, that’s for sure. They appear to come and go, visiting their old home where they made memories. If you’re lucky enough, you may get the opportunity to check out the Thomas House Museum when one of them is visiting.
To plan your visit to the Thomas House Museum, or to learn more about the Oakville Historical Society, visit their website at: www.oakvillehistory.org