As the last gasps of daylight filtered through the fabric of the window curtains, paranormal investigator Rachel Cross of the Paranormal Seekers called across the children’s room to whatever might be there, asking it to touch the REM pod.
“Can you make that device go off for us again, please?” she asked during an investigation of Lynde House in Whitby, Ontario.
When the REM pod chirruped in response, the team offered thanks and excitedly discussed the interaction. Moments later, the spirit box chimed in with an eerie declaration: “The lady attacks people.”
That triggered more questions from fellow team member Kaz: “Which lady?” and “Is the lady upstairs?”
Despite the charged wording, Lynde House isn’t known for violent hauntings. Instead, it’s seen as a community landmark that sheds light on southern Ontario’s Loyalist past, one that has drawn the attention of Cross and her team.
“The house has a lot of history,” Cross said during a Zoom call in early June. “It has War of 1812 history.”
The oldest home in Durham Region
Lynde House holds the distinction of being the oldest homestead in Durham Region. It was originally established on 200 acres near Dundas Street West (Highway 2) and McQuay Boulevard in Whitby, along the banks of Lynde Creek. The homestead was built by Jabez Lynde, a Loyalist who immigrated from Massachusetts in 1799 with his father-in-law Hawkins Woodruff.
In 1803, Jabez brought his wife, Clarissa Woodruff Lynde, to Upper Canada. The Lyndes were among the first colonial families to settle in the area. They would go on to raise eight children in the home — Sylvester, Hawkins, Clarissa, Louisa, Carlton, Araminta, Warner and Elmina — all of whom lived into adulthood. A first son, born in Massachusetts, died before the family made the move north.
When war broke out between the United States and Britain in 1812, Jabez enlisted in the local militia. At the time, Lynde House served as an inn, tavern and supply depot, hosting gatherings of British officers, including Sir Isaac Brock.
The youngest child, Elmina, lived in the home until she died in 1893. She left the property to All Saints Anglican Church. From there, it passed through several owners. In 1939, it was purchased by Pickering Farms, a holding company owned by Loblaws, which converted it into three apartment units for workers. A fire broke out at the back of the house in 1968.
In 1967, the Whitby Historical Society was formed and took an interest in preserving the home. Loblaws donated the house in 1972 with the condition that it be moved within a year. The Town of Whitby stepped in and arranged for it to be relocated to Cullen Gardens.
The house was first moved from Lynde Creek to 300 Taunton Road West on Aug. 22, 1986, after a fire had gutted the second floor and roof. It was restored to its 1856 aesthetic and remained at Cullen Gardens until the site closed in 2005. It was then sold back to the town and later moved again to its current location at 900 Brock Street South, across from Rotary Centennial Park.
The Paranormal Seekers are the third investigative group to explore the property. One visited before the pandemic and two since, according to museum manager Lisa Johnson, who spoke by phone in June.
“Our most famous sighting is a couple that has been seen standing at the top of the staircase,” she said. “They’re friendly. They’re smiling. They’re happy with what’s happening down below.”
The staircase is a hotspot for fleeting, corner-of-the-eye glimpses of hoop skirts gliding upward.
There’s also a ghost cat, according to visitors. While its breed remains a mystery — tabby, tuxedo or otherwise — Johnson said people often report seeing it dart across rooms.
“I’ve had numerous people say to me, ‘Oh, you have a cat in the house,’” Johnson said. “And I’m like, ‘No,’ and they’re like, ‘I thought I saw a cat run across the room.’”
The Lyndes likely had pets. While it’s not confirmed whether they had cats, dogs were common at the time.
“They had dogs at least,” Johnson added. “They probably would’ve had cats. It was pretty normal.”
As for the activity in the children’s room, Johnson admitted it’s unclear why it’s a paranormal focal point. All eight Lynde children survived to adulthood without any known childhood illnesses or accidents.
During its years as an apartment complex, the house had many residents, but the Whitby Historical Society has no records detailing who lived there.
Those who seek out history’s ghosts
The Paranormal Seekers have been active since 2004. Cross, an Oshawa resident, founded the team that year. Their investigations have included Parkwood Estate (the former home of GM Canada magnate Samuel McLaughlin), the Whitby Centennial Building, the Hermitage in Ancaster and Fort Henry in Kingston.
The team will host a second public investigation at the Kawartha Settlers’ Village in Bobcaygeon on July 18 and 19.
When researching a location, Cross looks for places with both historical significance and unexplained activity. If it fits the bill, she sends cold emails to request access.
“I’ve always been interested in the Lynde House,” she said. “I remember visiting it when I was little — the animatronics from the rooms and all that kind of stuff.”
The team initially hoped to investigate before the COVID-19 pandemic, but schedules didn’t align. When they finally arrived at the Brock Street location, they asked where most of the reported activity occurred.
“They said it was the room at the top of the stairs on the left, which is set up as a child’s room,” Cross said. “(The museum) believes it belonged to the youngest, maybe the three youngest. That’s where they have a lot of activity.”
According to Cross, “a lot” might be an understatement.
The team reported interactions with REM pods and spirit boxes, and even captured a figure using their SLS (structured light sensor) camera.
“It was the upstairs that had the most,” Cross said. “The family is still there … energy imprints. So there’s a lot — some sadness, a lot of happiness, nothing negative.”
Cross and her team continue to explore the history behind alleged haunts, helping museums attract crowds hungry for dark tourism. And across Canada, more institutions are beginning to embrace that growing subculture.