By Patrick Cross
Just in time for spooky season, Local-news.ca is pleased to bring to you a ghost story from Patrick Cross, director and host of Burlington Ghost Walks (burlingtonghostwalks.ca), with Halloween ghost tours meeting in downtown Burlington. Patrick will also be hosting Spirits with Spirits at Ireland House Museum on Fri., Oct. 28. Click here to purchase your tickets!
Of the ghost stories and folklore of Burlington, the most famous is the story of the haunted bronze statue of a World War I soldier at City Hall. As the founder and guide of Burlington Ghost Walks, established in 2001, this is a story that I am very familiar with, having investigated the statue’s ghost as well as told the ghost’s tale to walk participants over the last 21 years.
The statue’s history is a fascinating story in itself, and began on April 10, 1922, when it was unveiled by Lord Byng, Governor General of Canada at the time, in honour of the men of Burlington and Nelson townships who served in the Great War of 1914–1919. A choir of students from both townships sang “O Canada” to mark the occasion, and the Burlington Fireman’s Band performed, as did Comrade T. Waumsley, who played “The Last Post” in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives in battle.
The records were documented and donated to the city along with the memorial in 1947.
The city committee raised more than enough in donations to pay for the pedestal and sculpture, which altogether cost $6,150. A later restoration in the year 2000 was $30,000 paid for by City of Burlington and Ontario Millennium Fund.
On the side of the granite pedestal of the statue are inscribed the names of all the boys and men who were killed or died overseas from the Town of Burlington and the Township of Nelson (then known as Port Nelson). On the back are the names of the principal battles that they took part in.
The statue depicts a World War I infantry soldier made entirely of solid bronze, and fully equipped for the trenches; under his steel helmet he wears a wool balaclava, knitted by the women of Canada, and his face is stern, looking out onto the battlefield, showing the determination and strength to endure the oncoming war. It was originally erected in Spencer Smith Park and in 1986 was moved to City Hall, where it stands today.
The statue is so lifelike that people have actually said the eyes open and glow white on certain nights, and the hands on the rifle move down and shift positions on a full moon. Many visiting Burlington locals have heard voices, marching feet, gun shots, and a bugle horn playing “The Last Post” in the distance.
All spooky and ghostly things — but who is the ghost that haunts the statue?
As I am a ghost researcher and paranormal investigator, after I heard the stories surrounding the statue back in 2001, I began investigating. It was suggested that the ghost was that of Alfred Johnston, a corporal who went out to war from Burlington, joining the Hamilton Light Infantry with other Burlington recruits, and who died in the Battle of Dieppe, France, one of the bloodiest battles in history. He was killed in the line of duty and his body was never returned to Canada. His name is on the statue’s pedestal, listed as one of the men who died giving their lives to Canada. My research into the documents of the Canadian Legion found that Alfred, from Hamilton, did sign up and serve in the war.
So, was the statue really haunted by the ghost of Alfred Johnston?
I put together a tour around the statue, which has all been documented by photos, video, and sound/EVP recordings and by many witnesses who have seen the statue’s ghost. Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) records sound at a location on audio tape, and sometimes, upon playing the recording back, voices can be heard that were not actually heard by those standing there at the time: the voices of ghosts. Sounds and voices of ghosts are between 40 Hz to 140 Hz; the human voice is 100 Hz.
Using tape recordings to record the sounds and voices of ghost activity around the statue, I was able to get the ghost talking. And what did I hear?
He said, “I lived a hero, I died a hero!”
Also recorded on tape was the voice saying, “Please remember me.” Communication continued with the ghost. He said in a gruff voice, “I am here to protect the city!” I discovered that Alfred knew that he was dead. He continued inhabiting the statue to protect the city from attack and war. I went on to contact several known psychics to verify this, all giving the same results.
And what does this ghost protecting Burlington do in his downtime?
Apparently, he smokes cigarettes when given the chance.
Fellow paranormal investigator Jim Borg and I discovered this by accident while observing the statue after Jim dropped a lit cigarette by the base of the statue. Immediately, Jim went to pick it up — and it was completely smoked to the end of the butt.
Jim put another lit cigarette down on the bottom of the statue. Again, the cigarette was completely smoked, inhaled down to the butt, and as Jim and I looked up to the statue’s face, we saw smoke coming from the statue’s mouth and eyes! Incredible. So I then lit a cigarette, holding it up for Alfred the ghost to smoke — and he did it again, clearly puffing on it, drawing it in, you could see the red embers of the cigarette light up and be drawn in, as when a live human sucks the smoke in! Completely smoked.
Alfred the ghost smokes cigarettes.
Further observation of the statue led to further discovery: on the anniversary of Alfred’s death, August 19, the day of the battle, Alfred appears at 11 p.m. and shifts positions, moving his hands on the rifle. And remember, this is a solid bronze statue: nothing should be able to move on there! On Aug. 19, 2004, with media and Burlington Post reporters present, I photographed Alfred’s hands moving on the rifle. We saw Alfred’s ghost and ghostly fume, and in front of all these witnesses…the statue’s eyes opened up.
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News of Alfred the smoking ghost flew everywhere, and my tour highlighting his story became quite popular. Alfred and I were featured on many TV news and radio shows, including City TV, CTV, Global TV, the Toronto Star, the Burlington Post, CHCH TV Hamilton, News 4 Buffalo and many more.
I have investigated paranormal activity for over 30 years, my experiences beginning from growing up in a haunted house. As well as founding and hosting Burlington Ghost Walks, I have been featured on many newspaper articles, and TV and radio shows. These shows include Haunted Case Files, Paranormal Night Shift, Ghost Trackers YTV, Ghostly Encounters, and Creepy Canada TV. I also work as a paranormal consultant, have a new book out (True Encounters: Demons, Ghosts and the Paranormal), and continue to wow attendees of my ghost walks in Burlington.
