Haunted Simcoe: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum

If you're visiting the Penetanguishene Centennial Museum to get up close and personal with history, you might get closer than you think.

The building itself has a long history, but so do the items that are now a part of the museum’s collection. This has led to a lot of paranormal activity in the space.

History Of Penetanguishene Centennial Museum

What is now a local museum was originally built in 1875 by Charles Beck as the town's lumber office and general store. It was later donated by his son, William Beck, in 1967. It became the town's museum in celebration of Penetanguishene's 100th birthday.

In 1991, the museum was condemned but an extensive fundraising campaign kept it open.

With rumours of the Beck house being haunted, it wasn't long until people began to wonder if the family's store was haunted too.

RELATED: Is the Beck House really haunted?

Ghost Sightings At The Penetanguishene Centennial Museum

Staff and volunteers at the museum have had countless supernatural encounters like hearing footsteps when they're the only one in the building, doors inexplicably opening and closing and the "ding" of an entrance bell that's no longer there. Some even share stories of seeing a man and a woman wandering the museum in clothing from the 1800s.

Because of all the supernatural activity, they have had many ghost hunters and mediums visit over the years. And each has been convinced that the living aren't the only patrons of the museum.

The Haunted Barrie Meetup has recordings of a voice saying "thank you" during one of their investigations.

The Rescue Mediums are a pair of psychics that visited the museum.

According to the museum's Program Coordinator Jan Gadson, “[The Rescue Mediums] said we were one of the most spiritually active and most challenging places they have ever done.”

What Happened During The Rescue Mediums Visit

While visiting the museum, the Rescue Mediums sensed many spirits including a man, woman, and a soldier. After further investigation, the psychics learned who the spirits were and why they were there.

They believed the man was Charles Beck himself. He had taken up the job of “gatekeeper” and was there to help the spirits move on through a portal in the Great Hall. Beck drowned at the age of 76 “when his buggy upset in Georgian Bay while his horse was drinking.” 

The soldier was Charles Thompson Darling. During the first World War, he died at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. The Darling family owned the land before Beck.

The troubled female was identified as a girl named Sarah D. Records show that Sarah assaulted her mother before being certified insane in 1885. She was incarcerated at the Penetanguishene Asylum for the Insane. The psychics believe she came in with something from the Asylum. 

While the soldier Charles Darling and Sarah have moved on, Charles Beck is still there along with other spirits.

The good news is, whether it's staff, mediums or visitors, everyone agrees that the spirits who may reside there are friendly.

RELATED: Does Fort Willow have ghostly inhabitants?

Featured image courtesy Penetanguishene via penetanguishene.ca