EPISODE 11March 18, 2021

The Baldoon Mystery – Part 1

The Baldoon Mystery is an odd bit of Canadian folklore. It's supported by recorded eye-witness accounts, has ties to real people and real history, and has the strange distinction of being one of the few ghost stories in the world that doesn't actually feature a ghost. At least, not in the way you might expect. It's a prime example of a Settler Gothic folktale, and it deserves a closer look. In this episode, Part 1 of 2, you'll hear a retelling of the legend based on a book written by one of the survivors.

Sources

Colombo, John Robert. Mysteries of Ontario. Toronto: Hounslow Press, 1999. 197.

 

Colombo, John Robert. The Midnight Hour. Toronto: Dundurn, 2004. 

 

Dunning, B. “The Baldoon Mystery.” Skeptoid Podcast. Skeptoid Media, 5 Aug 2014. Web. 5 Aug 2014. http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4426

 

Holder, Geoff. What is a Poltergeist?: Understanding Poltergeist Activity. F+W Media, Inc., 2012.

 

Jones, P. History of the Ojebway Indians; with especial reference to their conversion to Christianity. London: A. W. Bennett, 1860. 157-159.

 

Lambert, R. S. Exploring the Supernatural: the Weird in Canadian Folklore. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1955.

 

Laursen, C., Cropper, P. “The Baldoon Mystery.” Fortean Times. 1 May 2014, Number 315: 28-37.

 

Malcolm. “Unsolved Mystery: haunted house of the Baldoon settlement, a Tale of Forty years Ago.” Toronto Globe. 8 Sep. 1894, Newspaper: 10.

 

Mann, Frank. A History of Wallaceburg and Vicinity, 1804 to Present. Wallaceburg, ON: The Town of Wallaceburg. April 7, 1968.

 

McDonald, Neil T. The Belledoon Mysteries; an o’er true story. Wallaceburg, Ont.: Wallaceburg News Book and Job Print, 1870?.

 

McDonald, Neil T. The Baldoon Mystery: wierd [sic] and startling. Wallaceburg, Ont.: W. Colwell, 1910.

 

Phillips, Lisa and McDougall, Allan K. “The Baldoon Mysteries.” Phantom Past, Indigenous Presence: Native Ghosts in North American Culture and History. ed. Boyd, Colleen E. and Thrush, Coll-Peter. Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2011.

 

Reaney, James. “TROYER, JOHN.” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 7, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed October 29, 2018

 

Robinet, Don. “Selkirk History Faire perpetuates lore of Baldoon Mystery.” Wallaceburg Courier Press. August 24, 2014.