'We’re pretty sure the monkey is the culprit': Calgary’s most haunted houses and spooky stories
Calgary has its fair share of haunted houses and spooky stories that range from fun to frightening:
THE HOSE & HOUND
The Hose & Hound
Inglewood, Calgary’s oldest neighbourhood, is home to many of them.
Those working at the Hose & Hound say patrons aren’t the only ones playing around.
“We hear all kinds of different sounds. There’s pool cues that move at night, pool balls that move by themselves at night and there’s pictures downstairs and the eyes will follow you around,” said TJ Kastner, a bartender.
The pub was Calgary’s Fire Station No. 3 from 1906 to 1952.
As the city’s first fire chief, James “Cappy” Smart worked in the fire hall part-time.
He loved exotic pets, one of which was a monkey that had to be put down after it attacked and bit a child.
Many believe the ghost of the monkey is still hanging around.
“We’re pretty sure the monkey is the culprit responsible for all the kitchen activity,” Kastner said.
“He turns on the dishwasher back there pretty often and kind of shakes the pots and pans around when people are cooking back there.”
Kastner said his most memorable experience was when he got a helping hand while cleaning.
“I was sweeping up a little mess and every time I’d go back to get the broom, it would be in a new spot. So, I didn’t really know what was going on. I just assumed it was the monkey because we all always kind of do.”
People also claim to hear horse hooves outside and inside the station, along with neighing.
One of them is believed to be Cappy’s horse, Lightning, who died in a fire.
DEANE HOUSE
Deane House
One of the city’s most well-known haunted spots is the Deane House.
It was built in 1906 and is closely associated with Richard Burton Deane, superintendent of Fort Calgary from 1906 to 1914.
In 1971, a man murdered his wife at the house then took his own life.
Ever since, the ghost of a man with a tobacco pipe has been seen wandering.
“Also reports of phones ringing that are disconnected, fire alarms going off when there’s no fire or anyone in that space,” said Josh Traptow, CEO of Heritage Calgary.
The Deane House is now a restaurant.
SUITOR HOUSE
Suitor House
Built in 1908 in the Queen Anne Revival style, the Suitor House was once a boarding house.
During that time, a young couple lived there. The husband, a railroad worker, would jump onto moving train cars nearby, until one day he slipped off and died.
His distraught wife died shortly after of a broken heart.
“The rumour is that it’s his widow that now haunts the Suitor House. People have seen shadows, you know, just ghostly things happening here,” Traptow said.
The Suitor House has since been turned into medical offices.
ALEXANDRA SCHOOL
Alexandra School
Alexandra Centre, which operated as a school from 1902 to 1963, is reportedly haunted by a former caretaker named Joe who died in the building’s stairwell.
“People have reported hearing footsteps, basically this former caretaker doing his rounds when he worked at the school,” Traptow said.
“So, shadows, noises, things being moved around, maybe some jingling of keys.”
AIRDRIE HOUSE
Airdrie House
Heritage Park also boasts paranormal activity.
Behind its old-fashioned charm lie stories of otherworldly encounters and spine-tingling history.
The Airdrie House, built in 1906, is one place no ghost guide dares go in.
“It’s that gut feeling that you get that you’re not supposed to be in here. Hands are really common in this house like feeling as if someone’s trying to push you out of the house, push you down the stairs and out,” said Natalie Heaton, ghost guide at Heritage Park.
“This house in particular does not like women and does not like ghost guides, thus why I don’t go in.”
Heaton said many believe the house itself isn’t haunted, but the artifacts inside, taken from ghost towns in B.C., are.
“The temperature, regardless of if it’s 30 C or -30 C outside, it’s always 10 C in the home. It never changes,” she said.
PRINCE HOUSE
Prince House
The Prince House is also said to have a lot of ghost activity.
Peter Prince built the house in 1894, but his wife Margaret died in the house shortly after. He went on to have three other wives who also died. It’s said he, too, died in the house.
Technology often fails or dies in the house, especially on the second floor, and people report hearing footsteps as well as doors opening and closing.
Heaton used to be an interpreter at the house and has enough stories to fill a book.
During one of her first years working there, she was locking up after a tough day and got an unexpected message.
“I had to go upstairs and just wipe down the windows that look into each of the rooms. As I was kneeling in front of the master bedroom, I sprayed the Windex, looked down, ripped the paper towel and when I looked back up, drawn in the freshly sprayed Windex was a little smiley face,” she said.
Heaton said most of her interactions at the Prince House have been positive — something she’s always been mindful of by saying “hello and good morning” each time she enters the house and “thank you and goodnight” when she leaves.
GLEDHILL’S DRUG STORE
Gledhill’s Drug Store
There’s a long dead cat that still walks around meowing inside Gledhill’s Drug Store in Heritage Park.
“Apparently it loves its owner so much that it still walks around in the pharmacy to this day, looking for its owner,” Heaton said.
It goes to show not all cats only have nine lives.
“I always invite people to keep their eye open because you never know when it’ll appear.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau government proclaims annual day against gun violence
The federal government is proclaiming a National Day Against Gun Violence, to be held annually on the first Friday of June. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and representatives of the Toronto Raptors basketball team are set to discuss the plans today at an event in Toronto.

Air quality statements in place for Nova Scotia as wildfires burn
Air quality statements have been issued by Environment Canada for Nova Scotia as wildfires continue burning in the province.
Special rapporteur Johnston rejects call to 'step aside' after majority of MPs vote for him to resign
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to assure Canadians that his government is adequately addressing the threat of foreign interference took a hit on Wednesday, when the majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside,' a call Johnston quickly rejected.
'I heard a cracking noise': 16 children, 1 adult injured in platform collapse at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
Latest Russian missile bombardment of Kyiv kills at least 3, including a child
The latest pre-dawn Russian missile attack on Kyiv killed at least three people Thursday, including a 9-year-old child and her mother, Ukrainian officials said.
After sailing though House on bipartisan vote, Biden-McCarthy debt ceiling deal now goes to Senate
Veering away from a default crisis, the House overwhelmingly approved a debt ceiling and budget cuts package, sending the deal that U.S. President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy negotiated to the Senate for swift passage in a matter of days, before a fast-approaching deadline.
Jordan's royal wedding day gets underway with surprise arrival of Prince William and Kate
Jordan's highly anticipated royal wedding day got underway on Thursday with the surprise announcement that Prince William and his wife Kate had arrived to witness the nuptials of Crown Prince Hussein and his Saudi Arabian bride.
Danny Masterson convicted of 2 counts of rape, 'That '70s Show' actor faces 30 years to life
'That '70s Show' star Danny Masterson was led out in handcuffs from a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday and could get 30 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty on two of three counts of rape at his second trial, in which the Church of Scientology played a central role.
United States blanks Canada 3-0 in world para hockey championship
The United States shut out Canada 3-0 in the world para hockey championship Wednesday to hand the host country its first loss of the tournament.