Sask Hauntings

Most people only know about the Woodlawn cemetery in Saskatoon. Others also know about the Nutana heritage cemetery. But most do not know about the other heritage cemetery. The Smithville or Summerdale Cemetery is located west of the city. This heritage graveyard is small in size but dates back to 1901 - maybe earlier. On occasion it is still used but it does not see much activity these days unless you are talking paranormal. I spent an evening photographing in this cemetery for a  project and I have to say it was uncomfortable. There are very few cemeteries in this province that make me uncomfortable but this one did. After talking to some people I found out there are stories attached to it. People have seen lights, heard noises, some voices and some have seen unexplained mists. So why not take a walk around a this cemetery and see for yourself.

There are many rumours about hauntings that don't make sense. Like people thinking morgues are haunted. Why would they be haunted? No one died in a morgue so why would their spirit follow there body and then stay in a morgue? Doesn't make sense. However, a hospital being haunted - where people come to seek help and some never leave. That makes sense to me. The Regina General hospital is no exception to the hospitals being haunted in this province. Built in 1900 it was not until 1907 that this hospital was known as the General Hospital. The south wing was added in 1912, a nursing home added in 1915 and the north wing was added in 1926 to accommodate more people. After the province bought the hospital in 1974 the hospital underwent a major additions and renovations due to the need for increased capacity this hospital became what it is today. You can still see the original parts of the hospital surrounded by its many additions. The hospital has many stories attached to it an...

The Estevan area is in the southeast corner of the province. It is known for its industrious coal mining and oil industry. Today there are two giant mines that mine use what is called strip mining. They have stripped most of the landscape to mine coal and created many new hills from the mining. Years ago it was a very different scene. Mining for coal was done in underground coal mines and they were all over the place. People could start up there own coal mines and there were different styles of them. They were everywhere, around Estevan, Beinfait, Taylorton, Roche Percee and surrounding areas. Eventually they were covered by the new strip mines, others collapsed and in the past few years they have filled in the rest because teenagers have gotten into the mines and died from the gases inside. There were very dangerous places and that is why you will not find them around anymore. Along with most history, especially in areas that date back before Saskatchewan was a province there are ...

1800 College Ave was originally owned by a judge and family, then home to various other groups, a coffee house and now a computer repair clinic. This beautiful unique home located in Regina is built mostly of stone and is considered a heritage location. As with most heritage locations there are speculations about the site behind haunted. Although the haunting's did not start coming to the surface until the building was turned into a coffee shop. Was this because spirits are believed to become more active when a building is being renovate? Was there to much change going on in the building that awoke some spirits? There have been many suspicions about why the location is haunted, such as the nanny committing suicide, a woman drowning in the cistern and even a death in a fire. All of these have been debunked by families who have lived in the home. So what are these spirits? People have said to hear footsteps on the stairs, others hear voices and some smell baking comin...

The Senior Drop In Center located in Warman Saskatchewan is anything but boring. This location is not only a senior drop in center but also a historic site. This location is actually an old railway station that has been saved and converted but still holds original architecture of the old station. Here is some history... "The heritage value of the Warman Senior Drop-In Centre lies in its association with the development of the railway and the establishment of Warman. The community, located approximately 25 kilometres north of Saskatoon, exists due to its strategic location at the intersection of the north-south Canadian Pacific Railway and the east-west Canadian Northern Railway (CNR) line established in 1904 (which became part of Canadian National Railway (CNR) after 1919). The station was used by CNR until 1942 when it was moved from its original location near the intersection of the two rail lines. The heritage value of the building also lies in its architect...

I have decided to make a post about a very unique historic cemetery in the province. It is a Jewish Cemetery and what makes it unique is the "grave houses." The cemetery features many old graves dating back to 1902 and has about 60 graves. Some of these graves have grave houses which are rare for Saskatchewan Jewish cemeteries.  This style of graves reflect an Eastern European traditional influence. When I first found this cemetery I was intrigued at first by the houses. I had never seen anything like it and could not believe how many there were and different styles. Some were even updated to modern metal siding. The Jewish families have all moved away in the last 100 years leaving this cemetery the only remains of their settlement. So why grave houses? Well some believe that they were built to keep animals and livestock away, keep the rain off, provide shade, comfort to the dead spirit and providing a home for the spirit of the dead are just some theories. Whatever the ...

Old wives lake seemed like any other lake in the province until I inquired about the name. Hearing the tale about the lake and how it got its name I did some research to find out if it was true and to my surprise, it is an accurate historic tale. So if you don't know the tale let me share with you..... A group of Cree were camping on the edge of lake and were discovered by a party of Blackfoot. The Cree who were with families could not get to safety before the Blackfoot returned with a larger party. Since they figured the Blackfoot would return in the morning to attack with a larger group the elderly Cree women offered to stay behind and be decoys as the younger people escaped during the night. Sure enough the Blackfoot attacked in the morning and finding that only the elderly woman remained they killed the "Old Wives."  It is said today that the spirits of the women inhabit Old Wives Lake and you will here there laughter that mocks the Blackfoot. I have drive pas...

Recently in the news they have been talking about Nutana, an area of Saskatoon and how the ground has been shifting. This is one of the oldest areas in Saskatoon which in turn means it has the oldest cemetery. A heritage cemetery that was started in 1903.   The reason I find this cemetery interesting is its history. This cemetery is located on the edge of the river. Of course being on the edge of the river means that the ground shifts and the riverbank can collapse because of water erosion. Not only has this river bank collapsed 3 times but the coffins were floating down the river. Yes, it's true. I have spoken to people that remember the most recent collapse in 1984. The bank collapsed and the graves closest to the river fell into the river. Coffins floated down the river that day. With all this ground shifting again, could this happen again? When something like this happens where there is so much disturbance to the graves, it makes me think that this would upset the spiri...