The Hermitage Ruins
The Hermitage Ruins are located in Ancaster, Ontario. The town of Ancaster has a very rich history, being the third oldest community in Ontario. The land that surrounds the Hermitage is believed to be shrouded in mystery, with folklore telling of hearing death all around, including feelings of pain and sadness. The first owner of the land was Reverend George Sheed who came to the town of Ancaster in 1830. He built a home here, and it was then sold to Colonel Otto Ives. Around twenty years later, the house was sold to George Leith, who put major renovations on the house, making it a two-story mansion.
Several fires destroyed the house over the years, and the ruins were transferred over to the city of Hamilton where they would be kept as a tourist attraction. The Hermitage and the road across the street from it called Lover’s Lane, have their own tale of tragedy. In the late 1800s, a man named William Black fell in love with the niece of Otto Ives. When he went to ask her uncle for marriage, he rejected it. Distraught, Black went to the back of the property and hung himself. Ives buried his body across the street where Lovers Lane currently is. It is said that on the night of a full moon, you can see the sight of the ghost of William Black, walking the grounds and calling for his lost love. People have reported seeing glowing corpses sinking into the ground and seeing visions of the ruins as if it was back in its former renovated appearance.
(Source: Belanger, Jeff. Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. 2005.)
