Haunted Halloween Community Ride - 5km - Heritage Route Guide - Mississauga Bikes

Haunted Halloween Community Ride – 5km
                                   Heritage Route Guide

   1. Cuchulainn’s Irish Pub

158 Queen Street South

United Empire Loyalist John Barnhart built this house around 1832 as a wedding gift for his
daughter, Minerva, and her husband William H. Paterson. Minerva operated a school for young
ladies here. Paterson was a merchant who came to Streetsville around 1825. The property was
acquired by Lewis Moffatt in 1856, who in turn sold it to William J. Pinney in 1867. In 1920 the
house was purchased by William Eake. After serving as a private family home for around 150
years, in the early-1980s the house was converted to commercial purposes and was the location
of the Heritage Arms and the Winchester Arms pubs. Since 2005 it has been home to Cuchulainn’s
Irish Pub. The modern veneer of brick hides the original finish of this historic house.

According to several stories, there is a ghost associated with the building. A spirit named “Beth”
often whispers in people’s ears and is known to give an embrace. Some also hear the jingling of
keys or see the turning of doorknobs. As for who “Beth” might be, it is uncertain. However the
first owners, Minerva and William Paterson, did have a daughter named Elizabeth Caroline
(1838-1901).

2. Franklin House

263 Queen Street South

Originally built as a private residence for Peter Douglass between 1842 and 1855, the building
gets its name from its second owner, Bennet Franklin (1809-1876). Franklin was the brother-in-
law and business partner of the Barber brothers of nearby Barberton and the Toronto Woollen
Mills. Franklin purchased the building for his house in 1859, shortly after he lost his earlier home
in a fire. Franklin lived here until his death in 1876.

A major fire occurred in Streetsville in September of 1876, which claimed the Telegraph Hotel,
located further north in the village. Hotel keeper John Lennon, looking for a new location,
purchased Bennet Franklin’s house in the late fall of 1876. The following spring, after significant
re-fitting to serve as a hotel, Lennon’s new hotel was ready for business. Lennon chose to name
the building the “Franklin House”, acknowledging that people had come to refer to it as such,
and would likely continue doing so regardless if he chose another name. From the Brampton
Conservator, August 1877:

Having opened out and re-fitted the large brick building next to the Odd-fellows’ Hall, I am prepared to
offer good accommodation for travellers and the general public. The Bar is well supplied with genuine, pure
and good liquors and cigars, and the table amply provided for. Good stabling and a good Hostler in charge.
Franklin House, Streetsville
J. Lennon, proprietor

John Lennon was succeeded by innkeeper Thomas Campbell by 1887, who was followed by
Charles Strong and, in April 1898, by John Ough, who advertised: “First class accommodation for
man and beast.” In short order a new proprietor arrived later in 1898 in William Strong, formerly
of Port Credit, followed by George Swift, and in 1902 by the return of proprietor Charles Strong.
In 1910 the Franklin House Hotel was sold to Harry Kumpf, who changed its name to the Queen’s
Hotel. In 1914 the hotel was purchased by John McIntyre who operated it as a temperance house.
In 1920 George Merrydew bought the old hotel, and in 1927, after 50 years as a hotel, the building
was purchased by H.E. Jones, who converted it to apartments and a tea room, reverting to the
name “Franklin House”. Over time, the old building fell into disrepair, and narrowly escaped
demolition in 1979. Restored in 1983 and re-opened as a public house, the Franklin House (known
for a time as the Sundance Saloon) remains a vital part of Streetsville’s historic core, and is
Mississauga’s oldest operating public house.

Stories have been told that a young woman named “Jessie” has been haunting the building since
the early 1900’s. Jessie’s identity is unknown, although some suggest she might have been an
employee or a patron. She reportedly met her death in a room on the second floor. If you visit the
building, “Jessie” is said to be seen in the vicinity of the room where she died – although the
second floor is now one large space with the individual rooms having been removed. She can
also be seen looking out of a second floor window.

   3. Streetsville Memorial Cemetery

299 Queen Street South

Timothy Street, after whom Streetsville is named, donated land for a Protestant cemetery on
February 24, 1824, to be used by all Protestant denominations. For many years this cemetery
remained the only Protestant burying ground for a wide area.

According to the 1856 official survey map of Streetsville, the Cemetery was known as the Scotch
Burying Ground. The first Presbyterian Church in Streetsville was built within the cemetery
grounds c1825. The original church building was replaced in 1867-1868 when the adjacent St.
Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, which stands today, was built.

In 1890, Streetsville Council closed this Cemetery and the last burial occurred in 1895. Streetsville
Public Cemetery was opened in 1890 on the East side of the Credit River. On June 28, 1959, a new
stone gate was erected and the cemetery was dedicated as Memorial Cemetery. Today, the
cemetery is maintained by the City of Mississauga. According to records, there are approximately
500 burials in the cemetery. The remaining stones within the cemetery account for only 293 of
these burials.

Lachlan McLachlan, a Scottish-born man, is reportedly buried in this cemetery, although no
cemetery stone survives. He was one of the first burials in this cemetery.

On April 10, 1824, an immense amount of logs and rafts of timber were going down the Credit
River. In a bend just below where the Streetsville Power Dam once stood, a jam occurred. Lachlan

McLachlan, one of the most daring log drivers, accepted the challenge to break the log jam. He
mounted the churning mass, found the key log and dislodged it with a handspike. With a mighty
roar the mass leapt forward and a desperate fight for life began. He did not make it. They found
his body caught on a small pine tree. In the hands of his corpse was found a tiny sapling about
eight inches long. It was planted at the head of his grave, it became a mighty tree covering the
grave. When preparing the body, they found around his neck a locket of a lovely young girl. In
his cabin was found a bundle of letters, presumably from the same girl.

Lachlan had come to Canada to prepare a home. Reportedly Lachlan was buried with the locket
and letters. This mighty tree is now gone, struck by lightning long ago, leaving us to wonder
where lies the remains of Lachlan McLachlan. However the spirit of Lachlan is said to haunt the
cemetery, sitting in the tree that is no longer there, waiting for his love to come. Sometimes he is
said to throw acorns at visitors, while at other times humming an old song.

   4. Barber House

5155 Mississauga Road

The Barber brothers, who also owned a large mill in Georgetown, expanded their operation in
1843 when they purchased William Comfort’s mill-site and farm. In 1852, the Barbers built a large
four-storey stone woollen mill, which burned in 1861. Three months later the mill was rebuilt and
back into production. Due to the early success of the mill, the site continued to expand and by
1865 included several additional buildings. The mill complex, known as the Toronto Woollen
Mills, produced 1000 yards of cloth daily and employed 100 people. By 1870, the mill was the
fourth largest textile mill in Ontario. It is the stone mill built in 1861 which survives today and
the end of Barbertown Road near the Credit River.

The small community that began to develop around the mill site became dubbed “Barberton”.
Barberton never gained village status on its own, but it grew steadily. The Barbers built 43
buildings for mill workers and their families. Some of the workers came from Scotland as skilled
weavers. Most of the workers lived in close proximity to the mill. Entire families often relied on
the mill for their income and livelihood. In many cases, members of an entire family were
employed in the mill.

The Barber House was built c1862 for the Barber family, possibly by local builder Robert Leslie.
William Barber and his family lived here until 1876, when the property passed to his nephew,

Robert Brock Barber, who lived here until 1883. The building remained a private family home
until 1981.

The youngest daughter of William Barber, Louise was born about 1860 was known for being a
very precocious and lovable child. She died of cholera or diphtheria at 3 years of age in 1863. With
his daughter’s death, William was ordered to burn his extensive library, as the disease was
believed to live in the fibers of the books. There have been sightings of a little girl playing with
her toys on the main staircase. Her name is also recorded as “Louisa”, and some have referred to
her as “Martha”. 3-year-old Louise Maud Barber was buried in the Scotch Burying Ground
(Streetsville Memorial Cemetery) in 1863.

This historic house is currently undergoing a major renovation as part of a new development.

   5. ADM Milling Office

1770 Barbertown Road

The staff of ADM Milling refers to the ghost who inhabits the second floor of the modern
company office as “Annie”. She is believed to be the friendly spirit of a seamstress who once
worked at the Barber brother’s Toronto Woollen Mills. The modern company office building was
once the tailor shop and company store for the Barber Brothers. It has since been converted to an
office. The spirit is said to be friendly, but also a bit mischievous, as she reportedly hides things,
or mixes up things. Singing is also occasionally heard.

Barbertown Road Bridge

The iron bridge was built in 1898, replacing an earlier wooden bridge. Not only did this bridge
provide access to the mill, but was the only crossing of the Credit River here until 1961 when the
Eglinton Avenue Bridge was completed over the Credit River just to the south. If you look north
from the bridge, you will see another “ghost” on the landscape – the concrete remains of the mill
dam that were once part of the mill complex before the conversion to electricity.