 (A suburb of Hamilton)  This is the front of Hermitage Mansion as it stands today. A sad reminder of days gone by. There has been a lot of talk, and tales about the ruins known as the Hermitage in Ancaster. Colonel Otto Ives purchased the property for his wife, himself and their niece (in 1833). There are many legends surrounding the Hermitage. The favorite being this: The niece, it was said, was exceedingly beautiful. Her beauty caught the attention of a man named William Black, who was a local coachman. William's heart was captured, and asked for permission to marry her. When he was denied permission, in despair, he hung himself in the Gate House down near the main road. He was then buried at the closest crossroads which is now known as "Lover's Lane". Unfortunately there is not much truth to this old legend. The niece of Mrs Ives was of Greek descent, and came to live with her aunt and uncle here in Canada. Her lover was not the coachman, but her English language tutor. After their indiscretion had been discovered, in despair, he hung himself from the rafters of the stables. His body was later found and buried at the crossroads of Lovers' Lane and Sulphur Springs Road. It has been rumored that on moonlit nights you can hear him mourning his losses. This fascinating and historical building was actually built back in 1855 by George Gordon Browne Leith who was the second son of a wealthy Scotsman, Major-General Browne Leith.  Many thanks to the Hamilton Public Library, Special Collections Dept. for this picture The Hermitage Historic Centre is located on Mineral Springs Rd. near Sulfur Springs Rd. and is comprised of the gatehouse museum and the ruins of the stone house. People have told tales of hearing the ghost of a man grieving over the loss of his lover (and his life,) and of seeing a ghostly man and (on occasion) a ghostly woman, walking the grounds. The woods that surround the Hermitage ruins add to the mystery and intrigue of the once opulent mansion. Though it has fallen into a sad state of disrepair, it is sure to capture the imagination of many visitors for years to come. 
Hermitage History April/2002 August/2003 (1) August/2003 (2) Oct 7/2003 October 18/2003 (1) October 18/2003 (2) November 21/2003 (1) November 21/2003 (2) November 21/2003 (3) November 21/2003 (4) November 22/2003 November 23/2003 (1) November 23/2003 (2) January 1/2004 (1) January 1/2004 (2) September 30/2005    |