It is said that Mr. Christie makes good cookies but did he in real life make a live-in lover absolutely miserable?
Not to cast dispersions on the company that bears his name today, but perhaps the son of William Christie -- Robert -- had done some things that were not very good. Although he was reported to have been devoted to his wife, Robert carried on an affair with another woman and kept her in a secret room in his mansion. This miniature apartment had two entrances that were concealed behind wood paneling. The mistress had everything she needed (including a seperate bathroom) except for food which was brought to her by a bribed servant. Years went by and Robert came to her less and less often. After a time, she went mad and hanged herself in one of the hidden rooms that she had resided in. Her body was secreted away and buried by Robert and a servant. He never recovered from his feeling of overwhelming guilt and soon his wealth, the family business and his own family were in tatters. The business was sold to Nabisco and the mansion became part of St. Joseph's College.
Although this story may be total myth, there is in fact a secret room known as room 29, and there are reports of doors opening and closing without human assistance as well as locking themselves (and usually hapless students) in and out of this odd room. Is this poltergeist the spirit of a foresaken lover or something else?
Again, I must thank John Robert Colombo's book Haunted Toronto,as I had never heard of this story before. Since reading it, I have asked some friends that have attended this institution and they report that there is an odd presencein room 29.