Autumn's Haunted Adventures
Spirits of the season: Explore Haldimand's haunted side!
Fall in Haldimand isn’t just about pumpkins and cozy sweaters—It’s also the perfect time to get spooky! Enjoy lantern-lit ghost walks, haunted mansion tours, and creepy tales that will send a chill down your spine.
Book your tickets now and make your autumn unforgettable.
Haldimand's Haunted History
Keep reading if you dare
Cayuga Courthouse
Step back in time at the Cayuga Courthouse, a striking landmark built in 1851 that has witnessed some of the most dramatic moments in Haldimand County’s history. This heritage building was once the site of several public executions, including the infamous hanging of two members of the Townsend Gang in 1855 for the murder of resident John Nelles.
One of the most gripping stories dates back to 1875, when Abel MacDonald of Jarvis was tragically murdered on his way home from Caledonia. The culprits, John and James Young, were said to have followed Abel after spotting him with a large sum of money at a local hotel. After a violent robbery, Abel was left to die in his buggy. The brothers were arrested and sentenced to hang—but they escaped custody, evading police for a month before being recaptured. James’s sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, but John was executed on September 22, 1876.
Today, the courthouse stands as a powerful reminder of Cayuga’s dramatic past and is a must-see for history lovers.
The Cayuga Curse
Cayuga’s past isn’t just steeped in history—it’s wrapped in mystery. According to local legend, one of the individuals executed at the Cayuga Courthouse proclaimed his innocence until the very end. In his final words, he placed a curse on the village, declaring that Cayuga would not prosper for a hundred years.
Some residents believe the curse came true. With a population that has remained relatively unchanged since the late 1800s, the town’s slow growth has fueled speculation that the curse still lingers. Later accounts suggest the man may have been innocent after all, adding a haunting twist to the tale.
Other versions of the story claim the curse was cast by a witch, adding even more intrigue to Cayuga’s folklore. Whether fact or fiction, the Cayuga Curse remains one of the town’s most captivating legends.
Information taken from “Cayuga Courthouse: Heritage Study,” compiled by The Ventin Group Ltd. Architects
Poem about the Cayuga Curse
"Justice Will Prevail" by Doug Murray
Then they slipped the noose, so smooth and loose,
Down around their throttles;
The trap was sprung and there they swung,
Like Coca Cola bottles.
People often wondered,
Why the prisoners didn’t repent;
I’ve heard folks say that the very next day,
It was found they were innocent.
I’ve been told we’re being punished,
And told by men who know;
That a curse came down on our little town,
And that’s why it didn’t grow.
If you pass our jail at midnight,
When there’s a low hung fog;
You’ll hear the report of a popping cork,
And the bay of a lonely dog.
Ready to Visit?