The History of Mississauga’s Spooky Spirits!

The City of Mississauga is home to countless ghost stories, haunted happenings, legends and myths that connect with the “other side” of history.

There are several purportedly haunted historic houses in our city that have become restaurants and public houses over time. They include the Franklin House and Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub in Streetsville, each site has well documented ghost stories. Does “Jessie” still wander the Franklin House, and what causes the disturbances at Cuchulainn’s? Perhaps you need to visit and see for yourself!

Of course, Mississauga is home to the famed Cherry Hill House, reportedly one of Canada’s most haunted and documented sites, having been covered in several paranormal publications and tv shows. Historic Cherry Hill House is now home to the Dear Delhi restaurant and lounge – yet another place with a haunted twist to visit.

You can also wander the grounds of the Cawthra Estate, the Adamson Estate, and Riverwood, each with their own stories of spirit activity. Also, the chilling apparitions associated with the grounds of the Harding Waterfront Estate have both intrigued and frightened visitors over the years.

But the stories do not stop there. Over the years we have heard stories of hauntings scattered all over our city.

The “Lady in White” in the proximity of historic Moore’s Cemetery on Derry Road has often been recounted, believed to be the spirit of a woman who was killed while sleepwalking around 1860… and perhaps she is still sleepwalking today.

The “Faceless lady” of Port Credit and the “Black Widow” of Dellwood Park are other ghost stories that have been oft recounted, terrifying those who have encountered them in the dark hours of the night. Another “faceless” entity has been spotted in the wooded ravine behind River Grove Community Centre – reportedly the “shadow” of a young boy who drowned in the river and whose spirit flits amongst the trees, watching those that pass.

Reportedly there is also a spirit who is said to wail in the vicinity of Lake Wabukayne and Wabukayne Creek – reportedly the spirit of an unsolved and unknown murder victim from before the 1920s.

Spirit activity has also been related from several historic cemeteries in our city, each telling a similar tale of wandering apparitions or “shadows” seen within in the cemeteries – these include Trinity Methodist Cemetery and the old section of Streetsville Public Cemetery. Then there is also the story of Lachlan McLachlan, who died in 1824, and whose spirit is said to inhabit Streetsville Memorial Cemetery.

And there are more stories. Many more. For those looking to explore more of these stories, we suggest reading the ghostly tales yourself in “Haunted Mississauga” by Terry Boyle (2005). Please share your Mississauga ghost stories with us – we would love to learn more! We wish everyone a safe, fun and spooky Hallowe’en, and to enjoy the “spirits” of the season!