Spectral Keepers of the Lights

An Unsolved Murder at an Historic Beacon

The Toronto Star has a nice story about one of Canada’s haunted lighthouses, Gibraltar Point in Toronto, Ontario. Gibraltar Point is arguably the first lighthouse built in Canada, in 1808, and the tale is of the murder of the first lighthouse keeper, John Paul Rademuller, who was allegedly murdered, although no body was ever found. Maybe.

According to the story, both there and at the Lighthouse Digest, John, who was alleged to be running a sideline of smuggling liquor, was killed by two soldiers he’d refused to serve. The body was never found, but a quote from the paper at the time, the York Gazette, states:

“Died on the evening of the 2nd of January, J.P. Rademuller, keeper of the lighthouse on Gibraltar Point. From circumstances there is moral proof of his having been murdered. If the horrid crime admits of aggravation when the inoffensive and benevolent character of the unfortunate sufferer are considered, his murder will be pronounced most barbarous and inhuman.”

In 1893, the fourth keeper of the light, a George Durnan, claimed he’d dug up a coffin and some bones from a jaw near the keeper’s house. The rest of the skull or any other bones were never found, so to this day it remains a mystery. The site was known to have been a burial ground for aborigines, although the presence of a coffin would preclude them.

Does Rademuller still haunt the lighthouse where he was murdered? Keepers have reported seeing a ghostly figure on the stairs, especially on stormy nights. Later keepers and visitors have reported an “eerie mist” of swirling light and orbs around the tower. Photographs have been taken of them, also. The sounds of footsteps climbing the stairs, or of someone draggin something up to the lantern room have also been reported, along with strange thumps and groans when no one is inside the light.

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1956, and replaced by an automated light signal east of the Toronto Islands. Due to the silting and shifting of sands, the lighthouse stands 300 feet inland from its original site. It was transferred to the Toronto Parks Department in 1958.

There is an excellent archived video clip at the Canadian Broadcasting Company’s web site. It’s old, and the host of the show speaks to both Durnan, and the last keeper, DeeDee Dodds. Be sure to check it out, and tell me what you think. Orbs, or the full moon?

If you enjoyed this post, please help spread the word. Click the banner to vote for this site. Thanks!