Did you know Canada’s second-oldest lighthouse sits upon the Toronto Islands? And in classic lighthouse fashion, it’s also super haunted.
Gibraltar Point Lighthouse was completed in 1808, making it one of Toronto’s oldest buildings. Back in 1973, Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe selected Toronto as the military centre of Southern Ontario, and wasted no time building a lighthouse on the waterfront.
The then-52-foot-tall lighthouse wasn’t always the best at protecting ships. Sometimes the light would confuse sailors, and other times, they’d wreck upon the shore regardless. A particular haunting can be linked to a fatal night in 1815, courtesy of lighthouse keeper John Paul Radelmüller and his unruly guests. When a party of visiting soldiers became too drunk, Radelmüller refused them more alcohol. Naturally, they beat him to death.
From here, reports begin to differ. Some say his body was cut up and buried around the islands. Others believe that a human skeleton buried close to the lighthouse must have been his. Either way, his remains were never entirely found. If that’s not a good enough reason to haunt a lighthouse, I don’t know what is.
Over the years, people have reported bright flashing lights coming from the lighthouse, while others have seen a mysterious old man roaming around. Not the worst ghostly behaviour imaginable, but frightening nonetheless.
Since the lighthouse is on Toronto Island, you’ll need to take a ferry from the Mainland Ferry Docks. Once you reach Centre Island, head south to Lakeshore Road and walk two kilometres to reach your destination. It’s definitely worth checking out — especially if you’re into eerier aspects of Toronto history.
Where: Centre Island, Toronto, Ont.
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