Happy Halloween
The Bess
Hello there spooks.
Hope this haunted monthly letter finds you well. Launched a day early in honour of the big day.
As I plunk away on my keyboard, tis’ Hallow-eve, Samhain. Giving thanks for the bounty of our gardens and harvest, beginning of the dark and sleepy winter, and of course the thinning of the veil.
When barriers of the physical world and the spirit world break down. I believe if you have a close connection to spirit, or those that have passed, you do not need Halloween to help you along. However, on the collective consciousness front, I do believe where attention flows energy goes. So theres that.
The Bessborough Hotel Saskatoon
Originally owned and built by the Canadian National Railway. Opening for business in 1935. A large Chateau styled hotel containing 10 floors. Its one of Canadas most grand railway hotels, and has landed a spot as a cultural and historical landmark here in Saskatoon.
I worked there, in a little salon on the first floor for a couple of years. Windows facing the West, with an overview of downtown saskatoon from my aesthetics room, tucked in the end corner of the salon. I rented the space, and so I had made it my own with some paint and cozy decor touches. I was responsible for cleaning the space and turning off my lights at the end of my work day.
Sometimes I would open up the salon in the morning and the windows to the entire salon would be open, all times of the year. Makes for a chilly greeting when it’s -25. I would often up open my room and the lights would be on. Knowing I turned them off this was somewhat unnerving.
The cupboard doors where I kept my product and supplies would all be wide open, their contents thrown about the counter below, or onto the floor. The freshly changed sheets on the facial bed would be crumpled onto the floor. Quite annoying, when one has to arrive to work earlier than normal, just to clean up the mess before I could start prepping for the day.
The owner of the salon was becoming annoyed with my lack of disregard in her requests of shutting off the lights in my room at the end of the day. I would assure her that I had. But apparently something, or someone else, had decided to turn them back on. I’m not sure she was ever truly convinced.
Allegedly the 3rd floor has a lot of ghostly activity. Sounds of the ice machine being used when no one is around. Doors opening and closing. Sounds of someone running up and down the halls, when you look out the eye hole of your room door, there is no one to be seen. The ballroom floor has an apparition of a man in a grey suit and fedora that looks so real he can be mistaken for a real live guest. Upside is, I hear he’s friendly.
Some repeated stories of a bellman that keep coming up in past stories I’ve read, and chat room threads. There is talk of a cracked marble floor on one of the staircases where allegedly, this bellman either tripped and fell while carrying luggage, (doesn’t seem all that plausible to cause a cracked marble floor) or story #2, he went up to quiet some rowdy guests, was roughed up by the two drunk men, and thrown down the opening of the staircase, plummeting nine stories to his death, and cracking the marble floor as he landed. Yikes.
The ambiance and vibe in the Bess is at times a spooky one. But I’ve never experienced (felt) anything malevolent. If you appreciate the beauty, and character of historical buildings, you will not regret visiting this gorgeous castle perched on the banks of the South Saskatchewan river, that runs though our beautiful city .
I have decided that I’ll be booking a night on the 3rd floor of the Bess Hotel, just to see what I can find out. . I’ll be in touch on that little adventure I promise.
If you or anyone you know has experienced any ghostly happenings at the Bessborough here in Saskatoon please share, I’d love to hear it!
If you enjoyed this little read please share it with someone, because that would make my day and hopefully brighten theirs.
Hi there, I’m Tamara Dayle. Born and raised on the Canadian prairies. I am a wife and mom of two grown men, and 3 unruly fur turds that rule the roost.
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I recall that room Tam!