Some visitors apparently never left the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. Strange noises and even stranger apparitions are seen -- and heard -- in Exhibition Place, CNE archivist Linda Cobon says. "Most are in the archives," at the General Services building on Manitoba Dr. at Strachan Ave. It is filled with mementoes, photos, record books, documents, models, posters and written accounts dating from the late 1800s.
Many of the odd sights and sounds have been experienced by security staff, some by archivists. "We don't know why so many occur here," Cobon mused. "Perhaps it's because of the things we have."
Most sightings are at night. Reports include echoes of girlish giggles, a dark figure later dubbed "the Man in Black," as well as sounds of a party with men and women talking and glasses klinking. The partygoers are never seen, only their voices and the party sounds appear to exist.
Perhaps the most interesting of all is the perpetual night watchman, who goes around checking doors, clinking his keys. He has been seen by several Exhibition employees. Film archivist Christina Stewart, who saw him on her first day of employment, later recognized him from a file photo.
You can read more in an article by Ian Robertson in the Toronto Sun web site at http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/08/16/10476136-sun.html.
Could someone ask these apparitions if they knew my great-great-grandfather?
