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The Prince George Hotel - Kingston Ont.
Take one beautiful old hotel on the shores of Lake Ontario, add a tragic love story and there you have the makings of a great, haunting story. The historic Prince George in Kingston provides just that.
The hotel located in the heart of old Kingston and when built in 1809 and had a view of the Kingston harbor and was witness to the comings and goings of ships from the port which is the centre of one of the stories of the hotel.
The story is told that Lily Herchmer, the daughter of the original builder and owner fell in love with a sailor. Her well to do family did not approve of her choice in men, so the lovers had a signal in place letting the sailor know when a visit was safe. The story goes on to say that one fateful night Lily lit her signal lamp and fell asleep waiting for her sailor, the high wind that night knocked the lantern over thus setting a fire killing our poor Lily.
The second version of the ill fated lovers says that Lily would watch for her lovers arrival from her bedroom window, poor Lily watched as her lovers ship sank there in the harbor.
Unfortunately there are no records to verify Lily Herchmer's existence, however there was a file to be found, or so I've been told, called "The Herchmers' Secret" which may or may not have led to some answers on the family issues and possibly to poor Lily even 'being'. This file has mysteriously disappeared.
The ghostly apparition of a young woman has been seen watching out the window towards the harbor, perhaps Lily is still watching and waiting for her sailor love. The pub located in the hotel, Tir Nan'Og, has boasted the appearance of a young woman and sailor. Many strange and unexplained things have happened over the years, perhaps love does indeed conquer all including death if this is indeed Lily and her sailor.
Update - January 2004: The following report was submitted by GHRS field researcher Brenda Ganske...
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After dinner during Christmas break, I went with a group of friends for a drink in the Tir na n'Og pub located in the historic Prince George Hotel (200 Ontario St) in Kingston. After being there for a few minutes, I excused myself from our table to take a look around.
Within the Prince George Hotel first floor, there are three distinct pub/lounges: the Tir na n'Og (authentic Irish Pub), The Speckled Hen (English Pub), and Monte's (an upscale Martini Lounge). After viewing the beautiful antique/vintage decorative items, I started speaking to one of the staff members who then introduced me to a long time staff member of the Tir na n'Og.
This delightful lady had many stories to tell about the Prince George, and all of the "entities" within. She told me of the ghost of Lily who haunts not only the third floor, but the entire building. But the biggest entities that affect the Tir na n'Og are apparently two men who are malevolent. Quite a few of the staff has had experiences with the two men spirits... but they seem to favour the door staff. According to the staff that I spoke to, these individuals have experienced the feeling of being watched, and hearing something growling at them.
The most interesting story that I was told that night had to do with recent events in the hotel. For about a week before New Years Eve of 2003, candles in the Prince George Hotel started lighting themselves according to staff. The staff members talked to each other about it, saying that Lily must be trying to tell them something. On New Years Eve at 12:04 AM, the Prince George started to burn. The fire started on the third floor, and is still under investigation (therefore the staff can not comment on the cause or where specifically it started). Luckily, there were no serious injuries. The hotel is now closed until approximately April, 2004 for repairs. Was Lily trying to warn the staff, and save her long time home? We will never know for sure... but maybe in 100 years from now - we may get a hint. According to Tir na n'Og staff, the hotel has been almost destroyed by fire every 100 years (this fire that almost destroyed the hotel was 40 years early). The future staff of the Prince George will have to keep their eyes and ears open for clues from Lily to prevent future disaster.
Brenda Ganske - Field Researcher, Ontario Ghosts and Hauntings Society
Do you have anything to add or tell us about the Prince George? Please, e-mail our representative for the Kingston and Eastern Ontario, jennifer@ontarioghosts.org
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