History / Story of Deane House
Are you ready to explore the spooky history of Calgary’s most infamous haunted mansion? The Deane House, a beautiful Foursquare architectural-style home, has been a hub of ghostly activity for over a century, earning its reputation as one of the city’s most haunted places.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of the Deane House, its tragic past, and the eerie experiences reported by visitors and staff.
Story of Deane House: The Tragic Past of the Deane House
Established in 1875 at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, Fort Calgary served as the region’s command post of the North-West Mounted Police. The area was populated with whiskey traders, outlaws, and other colorful characters, making it a tough prospect to keep order. As the city of Calgary grew around the fort, the fort’s superintendent, Captain Richard Deane, had a home built for his wife, Martha, on the fort’s grounds.
However, tragedy struck when Martha died of an undisclosed illness shortly before the house’s construction was completed.
After Fort Calgary closed in 1914, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway purchased the land and demolished every building, except the Deane House. The house was transformed into the station agent’s living quarters and was moved to the property’s southeast corner, where it remained for the next 15 years. In 1929, entrepreneur C.L. Jacques purchased the house and moved it across the Elbow River to the opposite shore to use it as a boarding house. The Deane House was later sold to Alex Brotherton, who continued to run it as a boarding house called the Gaspé Lodge.
During the Deane House’s time as a boarding house, many tragic events occurred. In 1933, a 14-year-old boy committed suicide in the attic after being bullied at school for his epilepsy. In 1952, tenant Roderick Umperville stabbed and strangled his wife, Irma, while their children looked on, then killed himself in one of the home’s apartments.
Story of Deane House: The Eerie Experiences of Visitors and Staff
After Alex Brotherton died in the house in 1968, the Deane House’s violent and tragic past cemented its reputation as one of Calgary’s most haunted houses. Visitors have reported eerie experiences, including an old telephone that occasionally rings despite not being connected and hearing voices, footsteps, and antique piano playing by itself. Staff members have reported dark apparitions missing legs below the knees floating down the stairs and disappearing. In the attic, storage bins appear to have bloodstains on them that can’t be scrubbed away.
Witnesses have also seen the ghost of a native man with a single braid in his hair, wearing a long-sleeved shirt and vest. One witness claimed that the man warned her that she shouldn’t be in the house because it is a sacred place.
Story of Deane House: The Deane House Today
Despite its dark past, the Deane House operates today as a fine dining restaurant and wedding event space. If you’re brave enough to visit, be on the lookout for any unexplainable phenomenon and let us know what you find!
Is the Deane House Really Haunted?
The Deane House remains one of Calgary’s most intriguing and haunted places. Its tragic history and eerie occurrences have captured the imagination of many visitors and continue to attract those interested in the paranormal.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, a visit to the Deane House is sure to leave you with a lasting impression.
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Hotels nearby Deane House
Here are the top 5 hotels near Deane House in Calgary, Canada, along with their official website, address, phone number, and approximate distance:
Address: 1126 Memorial Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 3E3, Canada
Phone number: +1 403-228-4442
Approximate distance: 2.2 km
Address: 1126 Memorial Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 3E3, Canada
Phone number: +1 403-228-4442
Approximate distance: 2.2 km
Official website: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yyccw-the-westin-calgary/
Address: 320 4th Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 2S6, Canada
Phone number: +1 403-266-1611
Approximate distance: 4.4 km
Address: 700 Centre St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada
Phone number: +1 403-717-1234
Approximate distance: 3.6 km
Address: 899 Centre St SW, Calgary, AB T2G 1B8, Canada
Phone number: +1 403-264-8990
Approximate distance: 4.1 km
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