PALMERSTON – For nearly a decade now, one of the scariest places to be in the weeks leading up to Halloween is the Palmerston Legion. The Legion’s 10th annual Nightmare on Daly Street haunted house event runs from Oct. 19 to 27.
Nightmare on Daly Street is a 2,728 square foot walk-through through the dark filled with scary live actors, special effects monsters and a 3D “Carnevil” section.
Legion officials have even invented a frightening tale to provide a fitting background story for the haunted house. It is based on Gertie Whitlock, the Duchess of Palmerston, Ontario, who in 1894 was madly in love with Henry Ballantyne.
Gertie’s family did not approve of her plan to wed Henry, so the couple planned to elope on Oct. 31, Gertie’s 19th birthday. But Henry never showed up at their meeting place – the Beaumont Hotel at 260 Daly Street – and he was never heard from again.
Gertie was devastated and couldn’t bring herself to leave the hotel, always hoping Henry would someday return. She moved into the hotel and died of a broken heart on her 20th birthday.
The hotel burned down in 1951, the story goes, and the Royal Canadian Legion branch was built on the property. There are rumours of ghostly sightings and crying sounds in the hall of the Legion to this day.
There are two versions of the haunting experience offered: lights on and tamer. This tamer version of the haunt will be dark with spooky background music, but most of the props are not active, and there are no scare actors.
The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children between 5 and 12 years old, and group rates are also available.
Dates for the 2012 event are: October 19 from 7 to 9:30pm (scary);?October 20 from 2 to 4pm (tamer) and 7 to 9:30pm (scary);?October 25 from 7-9pm (scary);?October 26 from 7-9:30pm (scary)?October 27 from 2 to 4pm (tamer) and 7-9:30pm (scary).
During the 2011 event, over 1,400 “victims” took in the attraction. According to the Frank Lambier Legion Branch website, only 17 “chickened out.”
For more information go to www.palmerstonlegion.ca
