Claims: Numerous residence of Hillsborough and various 'Walker's' claim that the walkway surrounding, and leading up to the 'Hillsborough Psychiatric' Hospital is haunted. People who have ventured the walkway have reported strange occurrences; being touched,whispering in their ear, and snapping sounds that emerge from the woods beside them. There's also been claims of animal like grunts and growls.
PRG's First Exploration:
Field Run (1)
Aug 5, 2011
12:00am
Having rounded the corner of the walkway, my flashlight dies, and yet! I stated various times on the audio recording that the batteries were fully charged. Aside from my dead flashlight, and before an abandon, boarded up building - my voice recorder was next to die, although prior to its expiry, the batteries indicator was flashing full. In the process of swapping batteries, I happen to note a bat, which rapidly circled Nicole's (former member) head. While this was taking place, 'Pockets' was searching around for an animal he swore he heard growl.
Managing to get the recorder up and running, I proceeded to approach the empty building. Someone or something lightly pinched the side of my neck just as I stepped up to the buildings door, and 'Pockets' whose ear was against it, claims to have heard two men talking, their words too muffled to make out. But there were no lights on, the building appeared abandon, indeed empty. Having called it a night, we headed home, but two streets away from my own, I again encountered bizarre activity. Over a slight breeze I heard a series of snapping sounds; sounds that actually resembled footsteps. Although I questioned this odd occurrence, I couldn't for the life of me find any logical means to its source. Giving up the chase, I then turned up my street, and proceeded to inch my way home. But two houses down from my own, I heard a female voice state clearly “tisk, tisk” in my ear.
EVP Session:
Aug 7, 2011
12:00am
Although review of the EVP is still pending, Nicole and I did at one point hear a woman say very faintly “help me” over the headphones, connected to the voice recorder.
PRG's Second Exploration:
Field Run (2)
Aug 17, 201111:30pm
Five (5) minutes down the walkway – leading up to the hospital. Cheryl (former co-founder) Nicole (former member) 'Pockets' and I began to experience odd occurrences. Snapping sounds emerged from the woods beside us – in which I noted that this patch of wooded area led to the back of the hospital. Aside from the snapping sounds, two of our camera's die, forcing us to begin switching batteries. At one point Nicole thought she saw an apparition of a boy, standing in a small clearing of the woods (the exact location for which the snapping sounds appeared) These unexplained event's proceeded to grow stronger the moment we rounded the corner, taking a second pathway that circles the grounds of the hospital.
Having decided to split up, Cheryl and I remained on the path, allowing 'Pockets' and Nicole to station themselves at the back of the hospital. While standing at a particular spot on the path, Cheryl's video camera goes on the fritz. The tape indicated it was full, but we only captured 15 mins of footage. Than suddenly the battery indicator flashes 'low' and the camera dies. While Cheryl proceeds to swap batteries, I spot a solid shaped figure standing on the wide lawn of the hospital. After a few seconds of observation, this figure then begins to move towards us. Assuming it was a man and hospital security, I took my eye off him for a few moments. Mentioning him to Cheryl, I turned back around, prepared to encounter him, but the figure was no longer there.
To this very day, I strongly question if this figure had been there at all? The space for which he stood, the hospital lawn is large and wide. later in the exploration, I timed by my voice recorder the duration of a trip across the lawn, my recorder clocked 15 minutes, and yet! This figure was gone in a span of 5 (min) Surly I would of seen him cross the grounds. It was shortly after this encounter that Cheryl and I felt surrounded, caged in by something unseen. Cheryl gearing up her digital began snapping pictures, in which strange light anomalies appeared, but these unexplainable 'ropes' of light weren't there when she took them. Remaining on the path, in the same spot, and still feeling surrounded. Cheryl then catches a glimpse of a shadow, but just as she steps onto the lawn to snap a picture, I heard someone behind me scamper across the grass.
Having decided to call it a night. Cheryl and I proceed to circle the hospital, to round up the other two members, but they were no where to be found. After an hour of searching, our concerns grew prompt. Against group protocol, we trucked it back to IPRG headquarters and dialed 'Pockets' cell phone. Although someone did answer, what we heard over the line wasn't a voice. The sound that emerged resembled someone walking through a heavy wooded, muddy trail.
Assuming that 'Pockets' and Nicole had took the 'East Royalty Trail' I prompted 'Pockets' to answer me, but I received (over the line) no response. I then handed the phone to Cheryl to listen, but I quickly snatched it back when her facial expression took on a mixture of fear, shock and utter confusion. The sound I had heard prior was gone, and I was now hearing many voices. All of them whispering various things at the same time. Sadly enough, this encounter never got electronically logged. The notion to slap my voice recorder to the phone never struck me until the next day. Shortly after this bizarre occurrence 'Pockets' called in, but according to him and Nicole they never left the Hospital grounds, nor did his phone at any point ring. And all of us remained puzzled as to why we never connected on our search for each other.
Also 'Pockets' not prone to paranormal experiences, outlined his brief moment of sadness, tears connected to a woman grieving over a loss. Both him and Cheryl – although in two different locations, had sighted the apparition of a woman, dressed in a hospital gown, wandering the grounds. This emotional outburst 'Pockets' experienced is beyond a doubt out of character for him. I've known him for a long time, he's not an extremely emotional person. Aside from that, 'Pockets' and Nicole both claim to have heard animals fighting all around them, this claim backed up by the video footage Nicole captured. In the audio, we could clearly hear the snaps, growls and squeals of various animals.
Founder's Log:
Aug 18, 2011
That night, in conjunction to the unexplained occurrences. I endured a dream that involved the shadowed figure of the man I saw standing on the hospital lawn. And the dream involved our team member 'Pockets' Although as strange as this dream was, its not unusual (out of the ordinary) for those involved in a haunting, or investigating one to perceive unexplained dreams, feelings, or insight relating to the activity, or case. But a hard core review of this dream, the unexplained light anomalies in varies pictures, the shadowed figure that disappeared, and the woman in the gown wandering the grounds.
Therefore also adding the EVP session in which I head a woman say “help me” The video footage of animals fighting, and the strange phone occurrence in which 'Pockets' phone logged two missed calls, but neither of them from home base. We at Island Paranormal (PRG) have chalked the 'Hillsborough Psychiatric' Hospital and its surrounding pathways (walking trails) to be extremely haunted. A hot spot for paranormal activity.
Case Theory (Nicole's Log)
It's possible that the spirits from the original Asylum on Brighton Rd, may of moved along with others to the new location (Falconwood) Especially the spirits of the keeper, Doctor, and a few noted abused and neglected patients. If this theory stands, then the spirits of the patients are as trapped in death as they were in life. And if that's the case, then the spirit of the keeper may be continuing the patients suffering. Whereas the Doctor is extremely attached to his medical work. In order to pass the spirits of the patients along, the Doctor must also be passed, and the Keeper removed. Only then would the ghosts of Brighton and Flacon wood be finally laid to rest.
The Dream (theory):
Going by research that various members of Island PRG has complied on the case, the man I saw could possibly have been a lawyer (no name given) Although this lawyer was an intelligent man, he was also fraudulent of his clients, and to avoid jail, he was declared insane and placed in Falcon wood. During his stay, this lawyer spent his time tutoring a young ward attendee, they sat together in the very spot for which the shadow figured man I saw stood. In conjunction to that piece of information, I also learned that the lawyer and the Doctor (replacement of the previous Doctor) use to sit on the bench Cheryl and I stood beside. I'm beyond a doubt ( strongly believe) the man I saw at the hospital, and later in a dream was this lawyer. Its noted that the lawyer stay at Falcon wood was brief, he managed to escape. He then joined the Army and was later buried in France.
Case Results/Findings:
Snippet's (regarding hospital)
- Eight people died in a fire that broke out in the hospital.
- The first psychiatric hospital which was called: 'York Lunatic House' became overcrowded, and 'Falcon wood' property was bought – which is now 'Hillsborough Hospital'
Hillsborough Hospital (info)
The Prince Edward Hospital comprises 120 acres (0.42km 2) of land along the Hillsborough River, north east of Charlottetown. It succeeded a facility for the care of the mentally ill which had been built in 1845, located at 'Brighton Shore' and doubled in services as a poor house. Although the grounds of the Hospital are private, the walkway's surrounding the area are open to the public.
In 1707 the provincial infirmary was built on the west end of the facility, this section of the building later became part of Prince Edward Island Hospital, housing the insane. In 1911 the name of the facility was then changed to 'Falcon wood' in 1831 a disastrous fire claimed the lives of 8 people, and in 1933-34 the building then underwent re-construction. In 1957 the facility was re-named 'Riverside Hospital' and a central section of the building was completed – connecting tunnels to east and west wings were added. Although the 'Active Treatment Centre' was named 'Hillsborough General Hospital in 1970, the entire facility was renamed 'Hillsborough Hospital' in 1882. The 'Queen Elizabeth Hospital' was opened on an adjacent property.
(Excerpt From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsborough- Hospital/)
Asylum Fire, Dec 15, 1931:
The 'Falcon wood' Hospital for the insane was in ashes following a fire, which left two known dead and three missing, believed to have also lost their lives in the flames. One man fell from a top floor window as he tried to grab hold of an extension ladder. Another man jumped from another window. Three others believe to have perished, amongst them an Indian whose name was not ascertained. The fire, the origin of which was not determined, drove the hospital's remaining patients out into the biting cold.
(Excerpt From:http://www3.gendisaster.com/fires/10819/Charlottetown-pei-insane-asylum-fire-dec-1931)
Hillsborough Hospital (history)
- Deeply rooted in the Hospital's History, are various reports describing in detail the abusive and negligent behavior of the hospital's Keeper 'Richard Moore Gidley.
- 'Gidely locked patient Mary McCormack in an un-ventilated, underground cell, nude. Orally abused, she was fed improper food in insufficient quantities.
- In the hands of 'Gidely' patients Catherine Moan & Isabella Knowlan endured similar treatment, while another woman was beaten and dragged by her hair.
- 'Gidley (the keeper) also abused patient George Roberston, beating him with a rake handle, and tormented him the use of cold water.
- In one small compartment, in the basement, a young woman was found. She was entirely naked, except for a rag tied tightly around her neck.
Founder Log:
(Although we at PRG try our best not to jump to conclusions, this particular bit of info took me by surprise. The 'pinch' I felt on my neck in the field run (1), truly added up to the rag tied tightly around this woman's neck. And aside from that, I had also noted that where I stood (at the abandon building) would have been (according to original structure of the building) the general area for which she was held)
- In a third report dated July 9,1874, it was noted that the conditions at the 'Lunatic Asylum' were largely the result of its Medical Superintendent – Dr. John Mackieson (1795 – 1885) who tolerated the filth, failed to see all the patients, and overlooked the inferior food.
- Due to 'Political Events' neither 'Gidely' or 'Mackieson' were charged.
- Under the 'Lunatics Act' of 1845 – On Jan 21,1875, it was noted that the asylum was not suited for its purposes. New Medical Superintendent Dr. Edward S. Blanchard called for the erection of a new building.
- Before 'Brighton Shore' the mentally infirm were housed at the old 'Charlottetown Jail' (Case 7) it was the cheapest and most efficient mode of supporting them.(10) The Origional Asylum was built on a site in the Charlottetown common at 'Brighton'(Case 12) The North River, near what is now 'York Lane'(11) Dr. John Mackieson was also Medical Attendant at the Charlottetown Jail. (Case 7)
~ Note ~
(PRG) Case File 7 – 'County Jail 191.
(PRG) Case File 12 – The Ghost of Brighton Rd.
Picture of Original Hospital:
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