Haunted Keg Mansion Toronto

Ghosts of the Massey Family Household

Dec 2, 2007

Paranormal activity is found in the former home of the prominent Massey family who founded the Massey Ferguson empire in Canada.

Located at 515 Jarvis street, Lord William McMaster, who founded McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario, built this mansion in the mid 1800s. Approximately 10 years later, he sold the property to Hart Massey who was the founder of Massey Ferguson and Massey Hall. Two famous grandsons were Raymond Massey, the actor, and Vincent Massey who was the Governor General of Canada. This was a grand mansion where dignitaries and royal family members such King George IV and Queen Mary were entertained.

The building was bequeathed to the University of Toronto in the early 1900s and served as a radio station, then an art gallery until the 1960s. It was turned into a privately owned restaurant and then taken over by the Keg restaurants in the mid 1970s.

Washrooms in the Keg Mansion

Hart Massey’s daughter Lillian Massey passed away on the second floor. Her ghost is seen wandering around that area. Her presence is felt in the second floor washroom. People have felt like they are being watched. There have been occasions when patrons have locked the bathroom door when using the facilities, only to hear the door being unlocked and sometimes open slightly. Upon investigation, nobody was in the vicinity of the bathroom. Another patron reported that a bag she hung on a hook in the bathroom stall was lifted and set gently set down on the floor at her feet. Visitors have reported toilets that spontaneously flushed when nobody else was in the bathroom. In addition, toilet paper dispensers sometimes rattle in empty stalls.

Upper Floors of the Keg Mansion

Sounds of laughter have been heard from the upper floors when they are unoccupied. In addition, many people have heard the sounds of children playing. The ghost of a little boy has been seen running up and down the staircase. He sometimes stops on the stairs and looks out over the crowd of diners. Patrons and staff have seen spirits of domestic employees roaming around the mansion.

Main Foyer of the Keg Mansion

The most famous ghost is that of a maid of the Massey family who hung herself from the second floor oval opening in the main foyer. She can be seen with a noose hanging around her neck. It is believed she was an employee of Lillian Massey and committed suicide when she heard the news of her employer’s death. It is rumoured that she had an affair with one of the Massey men and she was forced to hang herself in order to keep her pregnancy a secret.

Dining Area of the Keg Mansion

Patrons have reported the feeling of being watched, especially in the Parlour room. Some diners have seen the spirit of a man milling around and then he disappears without exiting through a door. There are intermitted cold drafts felt and lights flicker off and on for no apparent reason.

Even though the Massey family no longer owns the mansion, their spiritual presence and those of their household staff is felt. Customers may end up getting more than just a meal!

The copyright of the article Haunted Keg Mansion Toronto in Ghosts & Hauntings is owned by Maureen K. Fleury. Permission to republish Haunted Keg Mansion Toronto must be granted by the author in writing.

Keg Mansion Toronto

Comments

Jun 4, 2008 12:30 PM

Guest :

i was in the keg mansion 2005.i was on staying at the days inn not too far away.we were recomended the keg mansion but knew nothing of its history.
there was me my mum,dad ,brother ,sister and her two children and my wife to be and her father.
when we arrived we were told they wee full up some how i talked them around and they told us to go up stairs and wait and have a drink probably knowing we were irish and wouldnt refuse an offer like that. up we went happily knowing we were going to get fed.
we sat at the bar which was great and not long after that we were told we could eat up stairs if we didnt mind.
so we took the seats at the back of the room.there we sat in three alcoves my dad,mummy bro and his wife to be now.me my bride to be and her father then my sis and here two weans my best man and his now wife.
we all got starters massive prawns which were lovely.my sister kept coming round to taste what we were eating.shirley was in the corner of the room with here back to the wall and kept saying she was getting a chill and was cold, we were thinking what you on about.
then one of the waitress came up to us and told us we would have to go down stairs as it was past nine oclock and we wernt aloud to have the children in the bar vicinity.
it wasnt a problem so we all set about moving down stairs.me my dad and my brides father walked down the stairs together but before we went down the stairs we stoped for 3 or 4 minutes looking over the balcony.talking bout how its strange feel.taking no notice of it we walked down the stairs.i remember looking at all the old photos and really having an interest in them.the massey family thinking of the tractors on my grannys farm in donegal.i can still picture them on the wall yet.
so we all sat down in the bottom room.this girl welcomed us which we never had before and thought it was great.most of us ordered the surf and turf which was beautiful and plentyful.
then as one of the girls was serving food she accidently knocked over a glass of red wine on my mothers dress.
the girl couldnt be sorry enough and couldnt believe it and helped in drying it off.
so after the meal my mum went outside for a cigeratte .
it was only when we came outside that we found out what had happened in the keg.one of the staff had been out for a smoke and to my ma the craic.i took photos outside.my mum got up in the morning and there was no trace of wine and when we got home the camera i had used had gone. russellallen62@hotmail.com

Jun 4, 2008 12:38 PM

Maureen Fleury :

Awesome story about your experiences at the Keg Mansion! Thank you for taking the time to share with us. :-)

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