5 Ghost Stories
From historic homes to century-old landmarks, Windsor Essex is filled with places where the past still lingers and sometimes, it’s said those stories never truly fade away. Through our CROSSROADS Historical Guide, visitors can explore more than 50 heritage locations that connect today’s communities with the people and events that shaped them. Now, we’re diving into a different side of history, one filled with unexplained footsteps, lingering spirits, and chilling tales shared by our CROSSROADS partners. Get ready to step into the shadows as we uncover five ghost stories that prove history can be just a little haunting.
Canadian Aviation Museum – Airplane Hangar
During WWII, Windsor was home to No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School. Young men from across Canada arrived to begin the first steps of their journey to becoming pilots. They flew fragile Fleet Finches and Tiger Moths, circling over the fields of Essex County. The training was dangerous. For many cadets, Windsor became their final posting. They were sons, brothers, and friends—gone before their time. Though they never fought in Europe, their sacrifice here was part of Canada’s war effort. The Canadian Aviation Museum remembers them, not only as names in a record book, but as lives cut short in service. Yet some say their stories are not entirely finished.
- People have claimed to hear the sputter of a Finch circling above, only for the skies to remain empty. Sometimes, the sound ends with an eerie silence—as if an aircraft had just struck the ground.
- In the Tiger Moth on display, volunteers occasionally find the seatbelts buckled tight, as though a cadet has strapped in for a flight that never was.
- Guests have reported fleeting figures—young men in wartime flying coats and helmets—standing at the edge of the hangar, only to vanish when approached.
The ghosts of No. 7 EFTS are said to linger not in sorrow, but in determination. They remain cadets forever, tied to the field where they once dreamed of flying. So, as you walk among these historic aircraft, if you feel a sudden chill, or hear the faint drone of a long-silenced engine, pause for a moment. You may not be alone. Perhaps the fallen of No. 7 EFTS are still with us—flying, watching, and reminding us of the price of freedom.
Information provided by the Canadian Aviation Museum
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Capitol Theatre
From eerie sounds and mysterious shadows to inexplicable occurrences, the Capitol Theatre has long been rumored to be haunted. It’s said that the spirits of circus performers and seamstresses roam the halls, devoted to safeguarding the theatre against any harm. If you ever have the misfortune to be alone on the main stage at night, avoid letting your gaze wander to the balcony unless you’re ready to face the man in the top hat who wanders around the upper levels. But have no fear, the spirits aren’t dangerous. That is, unless you pose a threat to The Capitol. While the identities of The Capitol ghosts largely remain a mystery, who’s to say that there aren’t supernatural forces at play… especially in long forgotten spaces like the abandoned projection room.
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Curse of Peche Island
In the middle of the Detroit River lies a small island – just over 100 acres. In the 18th century, it was a popular fishing spot for the Indigenous people and the French settlers. It wasn’t until the 1800s that Peche Island finally saw its first permanent residents.
The Curse: In 1833, Hiram Walker’s sons bought nearly the entire island, except for 4 acres belonging to Leon Laforet. When Leon died, he left the land to his widow Rosalie. Supposedly, the Walkers sent thugs to Rosalie’s home who pushed their way into the house, threw money on the table, and forced her to sign over the deed. When she left, Rosalie issued a chilling curse saying, ‘No one will ever do anything with this island.’ The Walkers didn’t think anything of it and began building a summer mansion on Peche Island, but a series of misfortunes would soon befall them.
Hiram Walker’s son, Willis, died suddenly at just 28 years old. Not long after, Hiram himself became gravely ill, succumbing to a stroke in 1899. A few years later, his daughter sold the property to the Windsor Detroit Ferry Co. They had plans to turn the island into a resort – but fate had other plans. That very same year, the company’s president mysteriously died. Then, in 1929, the mansion burned to the ground.
Over the years, Peche Island fell into disrepair. In the 1950s, a plan to build housing collapsed due to the instability of the land. Then, in the 1960s, another company took a chance with plans to develop a ski resort, but bankruptcy forced them to abandon the island as if some unseen force was determined to keep Peche Island untouched.
Today Peche Island remains undeveloped, with no plans to do so.
Is it Rosalie’s curse that has condemned development of the island? Or is it merely a string of tragic misfortunes masked as coincidence? It is up to you to decide.
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Park House Museum and Gordon House
Park House Museum is one of the most haunted buildings in Amherstburg. Many sightings have been reported by people that are unaware that the Museum is haunted.
One of the best known stories is about a visitor who came in on a slow day. The curator was working in the basement. When she returned to the main floor, she was surprised to see visitors descending the stairs from the second floor. She apologized to the visitors for not being able to tour them through the museum. The visitors said not to worry, the staff woman dressed in a black dress had provided incredible detail about the museum and toured them throughout the upstairs. The curator was confused and explained that she was the only staff working that day. After the stunned visitors left, the curator went upstairs to check. There was no one there. Furthermore, it would have been impossible for anyone to have left the building without being noticed. The spirit of Mrs. Park is thought to inhabit the second floor of the Park House Museum. Strange happenings occur fairly regularly on the back staircase and second floor, and almost every staff member has a story. Doors open and close, footsteps and singing are heard upstairs when no one is there, the cradle rocks itself, and table settings move on their own. At an afternoon tea event happening outside, a little girl repeatedly asked if she could go upstairs stating ‘the lady upstairs keeps asking me to come up and play’. There was no one on the second floor. It was closed for the event.
James Gordon moved into the Gordon House in the early 1800s. Staff members still feel the spirit of Gordon’s wife, who died in the home at the young age of 25. Piano music has been heard coming from upstairs in the former parlour, where there is no longer a piano. One staff member heard sounds of glass breaking or loud crashes coming from that parlour frequently upon opening the building in the morning. No one else was there. Sounds of someone walking up the stairs have been a common occurrence; other times, people have felt wind rush up their back while on the stairs, like someone was trying to help them to the second floor -no one was there. With over 200 years of history in this building, there have been other reports of strange occurrences. From 1932 to 1934, the building was used as a maternity house. Inside the building to the left is a small room that was used as the birthing room, where babies can still be heard crying. Figures of fully dressed soldiers, perhaps from the War of 1812, have been seen walking through the building. Perhaps the strangest occurrence happened one afternoon after a meeting, when a staff member entered an office to see the desk hovering off the floor and come back down.
Are there spirits present in the Gordon House? Stop in to see the house, which is now a Visitor Centre, and judge for yourself.
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Texas Road
Texas Road is steeped in chilling legends – a place where shadowy figures and creepy feelings are commonplace. Mysterious lights glow through the night and strange sounds echo through the air. Many believe Texas Road to be one of Essex County’s most haunted locations.
It’s said that in 1881, a man’s body was found abandoned in a ditch along Texas Road. Since then, legend has it that his restless spirit haunts those who pass by that area around the cemetery. Travelers also report glimpses of a lantern swinging wildly in the darkness, the gallop of ghostly horses echoing through the night, and the chilling crack of a whip wielded by a headless horseman.
There are also dark stories about the bridge on that lonely stretch of road. One night, a couple was driving when the boyfriend suddenly lost control, crashing their Jeep. His girlfriend was thrown through the windshield and into the nearby creek. Distraught, the boyfriend returned to search for her—but she was nowhere to be found. In his despair, he tragically took his own life. Legend says that his spirit haunts the bridge, forever searching for her. Drivers tell of a Jeep—its single headlight piercing the darkness—chasing them off the road, though no Jeep is ever seen coming around the bend in the road.
Possibly the victim of a farming accident, a decapitated woman in white roams the cemetery searching for her missing head. She appears on foggy nights in the graveyard wearing a dress covered in blood. Many motorists have claimed to see a mysterious figure in a shroud walking along the side of the road, only to vanish as their car gets closer.
PLEASE NOTE that the Cemetery on Texas Road is private property. Trespassers may be fined or prosecuted.
Whether you believe in ghosts or simply love a good story, these chilling tales are just a glimpse into the rich and fascinating history waiting to be discovered across Windsor Essex. Ready to explore even more? Register for CROSSROADS Historical Guide and start your journey through the region’s historic sites, where every stop has a story to tell. Some legendary, and some a little mysterious.
