Julie V. Watson - 20 Oct

Copyright Julie V. Watson, 2018

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (except for brief passages for purpose of review) without the prior permission of Dundurn Press. Permission to photocopy should be requested from Access Copyright.

Cover image: John C. Watson
Printer: Webcom

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Watson, Julie V., 1943, author
Ghost stories and legends of Prince Edward Island / Julie V. Watson;
John C. Watson, photographer. -- Second edition.

Previously published: Willowdale, Ont.: Hounslow Press, 1988.
Includes bibliographical references.
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-1-4597-4246-8 (softcover).--ISBN 978-1-4597-4247-5 (PDF).-- ISBN 978-1-4597-4248-2 (EPUB)

1. Tales--Prince Edward Island. 2. Legends--Prince Edward Island.
3. Ghost stories, Canadian (English)--Prince Edward Island. I. Watson,
John C., photographer II. Title.

1 2 3 4 5 22 21 20 19 18

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country, and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Ontario, through the Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation, and the Government of Canada.

Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. Lan dernier, le Conseil a investi 153 millions de dollars pour mettre de lart dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays.

Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credits in subsequent editions.

J. Kirk Howard, President

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If you bring up the topic of ghosts, legendary people, or events, it often triggers unexpected tales from folks who you would never think of as having experienced the unexplained or being eager to tell their stories. This new edition of Ghosts and Legends of Prince Edward Island is proof of that; it contains first-person accounts from people with intriguing tales that are as relevant today as they were in days gone by.

Mysterious occurrences are unusual but not rare. Spooky things can send a shiver up ones spine and create a feeling of unease, awe, or even joy. Perhaps a spirit is stirring up a bit of mischief or forerunners are making themselves known. Whatever the story, its been a pleasure collecting and sharing them.

There are three things that I especially enjoyed about working on the second edition of this book:

• The reintroduction to the magic that is Prince Edward Island.
• The opportunity to work with my son, John, a photographer who shares my passion for collecting stories and images of magical moments.
• The rediscovery of the writer within. Thanks, Dundurn, for bringing me back after several years of being retirement-busy. I had forgotten how much I enjoy the research and creative process!

Author Julie V. Watson and photographer John C. Watson love to explore myths and legends, and capture them in words and pictures. Here they are exploring the ruins of Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur in Cornwall, England.

I cant say I have first-hand experience with ghosts, apparitions, or hauntings. Nor do I want to. No scary stuff for me. I have long felt a connection with fairies the good, magical, little beings. And Im sure mermaids and such do exist. I admit to having premonitions and sometimes feeling in touch with people who have passed away. The strongest link is with my grandmother, who I lived with when my parents moved out of my high school district. The oldest of many grandchildren and born likeminded, I bonded with Nanny, who was a strong individual heading a large matriarchal family. When we emigrated from England shortly after the end of the Second World War, my parents and I, closely followed by my grandparents, started the family migration. I feel Nanny with me sometimes, and I talk to her when I need to de-stress or work something out. Its a one-sided conversation, but her presence feels very real.

Believers in ghosts, spirits, angels, and even fairies take a measure of pleasure or satisfaction, or even a sense of adventure, from an encounter. They accept that what they experience is possible, even without a logical explanation, and they have an open mind.

I first heard of a ghost in Charlottetown from my son when he was in college. It is amazing to think that today John is an accomplished photographer, practising his trade in Vancouver, British Columbia, and, from time to time, working on projects like this one with me. John and I spent many hours exploring the Island; something we continue to do when he comes home for a holiday or when he is working a gig.

I have always believed that a persons environment, the reality that surrounds them, influences how they perceive life. My generation lived closer to nature, to the land, to roughing it, to making do, and to accepting things as they are. We did not have technology to explain things away or to entertain us. Our play and social time was directed by imagination and storytelling at a level close to our own reality.

When my husband, son, and I moved to Prince Edward Island and purchased a mini-farm in the country, we experienced life as folks did in days gone by, to a small degree. We heated with a wood stove. We had very little money, so we foraged to supplement our food budget. We battled the elements head on. Life was an adventure. One Im so glad we didnt miss. Driving home in a blizzard, when we had to walk the last mile following the fence, trudging through snow up to our waist, filled us with a sense of achievement when we finally got the woodstove fired up and we settled in to enjoy soup by lantern light. Being self-sufficient and comfortable during raging storms that took out power certainly built confidence in ones abilities.