Said to be haunted by numerous ghosts, the Old City Hall in Toronto, Canada is now known as one of the scariest buildings in the city. Ghosts of the building are said to remain, from strange creatures attacking judges' robes on the steps to the country's last executed prisoners.
The eerie history of Toronto's Old City Hall has led many to believe it is the most haunted building in the city. This Romanesque justice building was built in the tardy 19th century and has served as a town hall, a courthouse, and even a movie set. It was originally the seat of Toronto's city council from 1899 to 1966, and in 1984 it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
Designed by distinguished architect E. J. Lennox, known as the builder of Toronto, the building was constructed between 1889 and 1899, replacing the original City Hall which stood on the same site at the corner of Queen and Bay Streets. The building has a clock tower over 90 meters high, which made it one of the tallest structures in Toronto at the time, and it remained so for the next 18 years.
Haunted prison basement
The Old Town Hall is known for its murky and eerie past, and many people believe the building is haunted. There are several ghost stories associated with the building, including reports of apparitions, strange sounds and unexplained occurrences. Some security guards are also said to not venture into certain areas or floors tardy at night.
The first place that is said to be haunted is the basement of a building. The basements were once used as prisoner detention centers and there are still vintage cells there today. It is therefore not surprising that people believe that this place was also a place of hauntings, although the prisoners staying here did not stay there for long.
But is it possible that some of their ghosts remain forever? According to legends about the Old Town Hall, prisoners' groans could also be heard.
The northwest attic, which was used to house the city's first records archive, is also a place where a presence is felt, but no one is quite sure what it is. People who have been in the attic claim that they are often suddenly overcome by a specific “feeling”, the mystery of which has never been solved by anyone. .
Haunted stairs and a screaming poltergeist
The back staircase is one of the haunted places in the building and hides a lot of documentation and anecdotes. According to both visitors and working judges, the staircase is haunted by a poltergeist-like spirit that apparently likes to tug on the judges' robes. In addition to being addressed specifically to judges, visitors were startled by the sound of footsteps going up and down the stairs in the murky of the night when no one was supposed to be there.
The haunting was first reported by Judge S. Tupper Bigelow (August 3, 1901–June 13, 1993), who said he heard footsteps behind him and felt something pulling him by the judge's robe. It is perhaps also worth noting that this judge was one of the world's leading authorities on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes crime novels, who enjoyed a good story and strange events.
However, the same tugging experience is said to have happened to Judge Pete Wilch as well.
Convicted prisoners in the courtroom 33
Although there are several rooms in the building that are considered haunted, this is just one of the vintage courtrooms where some prisoners learned their fate. Courtroom 33 is said to be haunted by the ghosts of the last men sentenced to be hanged in Canada in 1962.
Before 1961, murder in Canada was punishable by mandatory death. In July 1961, the Canadian government passed legislation establishing two degrees of murder: capital murder and non-capital murder. Capital murder was punishable by death, and non-capital murder was punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years.
Ronald Arthur Turpin was convicted of killing the officer and charged with capital murder because the victim was a police officer. The Toronto Star reports that Turpin, in the final hours of his life, said: “If our death means that the death penalty in this country will be abolished forever, we will not have died in vain.”
Arthur Lucas was the second prisoner executed alongside Turpin. He was convicted of killing undercover drug agent Therland Crater of Detroit in a Toronto hotel. He was also alleged to have killed 20-year-old Carolyn Ann Newman, Crater's common-law wife, but was never tried for her death. Lucas was charged with capital murder because the crime was intentional.
They were tried for separate crimes but had the same lawyer, Ross MacKay, who believed both men were innocent or acted in self-defense. Lucas maintained that he was framed for the Crater and Newman murders, but also that “he had done so many other terrible things in his so-called career that it was just catching up with him.”
Both were hanged in the Don prison. There are also rumors that the ghosts of Turpin and Lucas haunt the Old Don Prison, known for its inhumane living conditions and the place where they served their sentence before their execution.
Haunted nights in Toronto's vintage city halls
It has become a tradition for journalists to stay in Courtroom 33 on Halloween to see if they might experience any paranormal phenomena in the courtroom. John Robert Colombo's book Haunted Toronto tells the story of a pair of reporters who almost managed to stay the night but gave up at 4 a.m. But then reporters experienced what they described as a “cool fog” and strange noises that sometimes stuck them to the floor, so they decided to pack up and leave.
Old Town Hall is a fascinating and amazing landmark in Toronto's history. From its stunning architecture to its murky past and spooky tales, the building has captured the imagination of visitors and residents alike. In April 2025, the government moved out of the building and it will no longer serve as a courthouse.
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The eerie and haunting story of Toronto's vintage City Hall
Said to be haunted by numerous ghosts, the Old City Hall in Toronto, Canada is now known as one of the scariest buildings in the city. Ghosts of the building are said to remain, from strange creatures attacking judges' robes on the steps to the country's last executed prisoners.
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