Haunted Western NY

Hello and Greetings from Western NY,

I hail from a land that has been soaked in blood and tragedy for thousands of years. Some souls have departed peacefully, others have decided to stay. Many spirits inhabit this area, some watch us quietly other will make themselves known. The purpose of this page is to share the haunted history of Western Ny and Southern Ontario. If you know of a haunted area, house or Cemetery in this area, feel free to drop me a line.

When you venture through Western NY and Southern Ontario, its hard to imagine what this area might have been like 100 years ago. Go back even farther, hundreds of years before white man came and this area would take on a whole other light. In the mid 19^th century, the great Seneca Red Jacket came to the falls. He broke down in tears, it is said he saw a vision of the area in the future. I know from what I see walking through Niagara Falls, I can understand his reaction. Western NY, is home to broken dreams, shattered hopes and abandoned buildings. Our greatest and most historical architecture has been torn down, as all traces of our great past are obliterated.

The area of Western NY and Southern Ontario was much different hundreds of years ago. The whole area was thick forest, the only clearings were the various village sites. It was the hunting ground of the Seneca nation., but this area had inhabitants long before the Seneca. The whole region is dotted with ancient monuments, and burial mounds. The whole area is covered with sacred areas and places believed to conduct supernatural power.

They say some land is just cursed to be haunted by events of the past. Look at the events in this areas past and we can understand why there is so many haunting and ghost in the area. We have the genocide of the Erie nation and the Neutral tribes. Huge battles have raged in this area long before White man came to the area. White mans arrival brought murder and conquest, along with many years of war and destruction. This area witnessed the French and Indian wars, The American revolution, and The War of 1812. The British and the French used their Indian Allies to massacre innocent settlers to bring terror to the area. The ground has been soaked with the blood of thousands of people. The spirits of the dead still roam the area, unaware of their own demise, and totally oblivious to the changes in the landscape. The go on reliving the past that they are cursed to repeat, like a video tape that loops.

White man came to this area and settled areas starting I the early 1600’s. Permanent settlement was made at Fort Niagara in the Early 1700’s . It was the French that first settled here, building a military structure that they deemed “A House of Peace”. This is better known as the French castle. It was built in 1726, and from this building was the building block of the most strategic military base in the West. The French controlled Fort Niagara until July 1759. During the French and Indian Wars the British saw Niagara as a threat. The British landed at Four mile creek and made the march to Niagara. The British laid siege to Niagara and bombarded the fort constantly. The only chance the French had was a large relief force, that consisted of French Soldiers and their Indian allies. The British were aware of the relief force and were awaiting when they arrived. This will be known as the battle of La Famille. The French and their allies by the British and their allies. Thousands were butchered and their blood soaked the ground, all French hopes died on the battle ground. So much blood was lost that a small creek ran red with human blood. It will forever be known as Bloody run.

Within days the Fort was surrendered to the British, destroying the French dreams of a North American Empire. The British would hold the fort until after the American Revolution. The British reign would prove to be a bloody reign. Human scalps were purchased here, torture and murder were dealt from within the stone building. The Bloody massacres at Wyoming and Cherry creek were planned and carried out from Niagara. From Niagara the hamlets of Youngstown, Lewiston, and Niagara Falls emerged.

After the hold over period, Fort Niagara was officially given to The United States. Peace and settlers were brought to the area for a short time. Then the United States and Great Britain went back to war, this was known as the War of 1812. The war of 1812 brought large scale bloodshed, and terror to the area. These events happened in the area, and imprinted a psychic footprint in the area, that can still be felt today. These events include the bloody takeover of Fort Niagara, The burning of Lewiston, Buffalo, and Niagara on the lake. US ambitions were to conquer Canada. These ambitions lead to the Battle of Fort Erie, Battle of Chippewa, Battle of Lundy’s Lane, The Battle of Queenston Heights, and the Battle of Fort George. The US invasion from Lewiston to Queenston, stole the lives of thousands. Bloodshed was normal until the treaty of Ghent in 1815. Western NY and Southern Ontario were left in desolation.

Since 1815 the area has been in relative peace, slowly rebuilding itself and gaining prosperity, but the ghosts of the past still walk the area. Forever damned to relive the horrors of their lives. This leaves one question. Do You Believe In Ghosts?

Whitehaven Cemetery and Grand Island Holiday Inn

On the eastern shore of Grand Island there is two sites that are right next to each other they are the Whitehaven Cemetery and on the opposite side of Spicer Creek is Grand Island’s Holiday Inn. While these are two separate sites with different activities, they are connected in the past.

Long before white man came to the area Western NY was inhabited by

Native American tribes. Grand Island was home to many village sites. One large village was located on both sides of Spicer Creek, and it accompanied the area that now contains the Whitehaven Cemetery, a marina, and The Holiday Inn. This Village was in a ideal location, the heavy woods were abundant with game animals, and the river and creek were full of fish. This village was inhabited by the Erie tribe.

The Erie thrived here and the village grew to be very large. They lived in structures very similar to the Iroquois longhouses, and lived in peace. Then around 1650 war broke out between the Seneca and the Erie. The warriors left to meet the Seneca in their homeland. In a bloody battle, the Erie warriors were destroyed. This sealed the fate of the Erie.

During the night large numbers of Seneca Warriors landed on the Eastern shore of the Island, and they made their way to sleeping village. Soon the war cries pierced the night. Within a few hours all the Women, Children, and Elderly were murdered, and the ground was soaked in their blood. In the end the Erie tribe ceased to exist. The Seneca destroyed the village and left the bodies where they lay.

The land was left undisturbed for a couple of hundred years, the slain Eries were left where the were killed to be reclaimed by nature. The Seneca considered the site as cursed and avoided the area. White man settled this area in the early 1800’s and established a lumber camp. In latter years a ferry stop was established here. In about 1865 a Cemetery was formed on the site, which is still in use today. In the 1960’s land on the opposite side of the creek was cleared and a marina was built. During excavation many bodies were unearthed and were disposed of with the excavated soil. In the early 1970’s a Holiday Inn was built on the site.

These events have had an effect on the area, the spirits of the vanquished Erie still walk the area. The woods behind the cemetery have a forbidding feeling, and you can feel the presence of these departed souls as you walk around. Strange sounds emit from this area, and you will feel unseen eyes watching you. Spirits hang around their graves waiting to be remembered. There are a lot of angry spirits wandering this property, and I think they have a right to be very angry. After all I’d be pretty angry if I was murdered, left to rot, and then to have my grave desecrated.

The reports of the holiday if state that a little girl haunts room 422, and has been seen in the ballroom and the pool area. This spirit is curious and playful.

The Whitehaven Cemetery has had reports of a Gulf War Soldier that wanders around looking for his pregnant wife. The ghost of a woman who is said to have died of aids wanders this area at night. On any given night pictures can be taken that will show strange lights, mist, and orbs. There are angry and very evil spirits that inhabit the woods and the creek. At night this cemetery gives off bad vibes, and you will feel that you are not wanted. You will be watched by unseen eyes, and you will be in total darkness.






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