Site statistics

34531 facts from 176 countries related to 1179 phenomena have been registered in Archive. 2800 of them were solved, another 10681 are under verification for compliance with one of the 319 versions.

4 facts have been added for last 24 hours.

Share your story

You are in "Archive" section

This section contains descriptions of unexplained facts provided by eyewitnesses or published in the media, as well as the results of their analysis by the group.

Fire Poltergeist. Canada

ID #1686591294
Added Mon, 12/06/2023
Author July N.
Sources
Phenomena
Status
Hypothesis

Initial data

Initial information from sources or from an eyewitness
Incident date: 
1899
Location: 
Каледония Миллс
NS
Canada

Caledonia Mills is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Antigonish County.

It is well known as the community of Mary Ellen's Ghost Farm, also known as Fire Ghost. It was claimed that between 1899 and 1922, the community experienced mysterious fires and poltergeist effects.

The case attracted attention Arthur Conan Doyle. Mary-Ellen's biological parents were John and Annie (Duggan) The McDonalds, she was later adopted by Alexander and Janet McDonald of Caledonia Mills.

Walter Franklin Prince, a researcher at the American Society for Psychical Research, in 1922 investigated and came to the conclusion that mysterious fires and alleged poltergeist phenomena were caused by Mary Ellen in a dissociated state. 

The prince found a flammable liquid and noted that "the fires were undoubtedly set by human hands, judging by the unmistakable traces left in the house. Burns are never found on wallpaper higher than the reach of a person five feet tall,"which is the height of [a girl] in the family." 

Original news

Caledonia Mills (Scottish Gaelic: An Daigear) is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Antigonish County.

Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. 13 March 1922

It is well known as the community of the Mary-Ellen spook farm, also known as the fire spook. It was alleged that the community experienced mysterious fires and poltergeist effects between 1899 and 1922. The case drew the attention of Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes. Mary-Ellen's biological parents were John and Annie (Duggan) MacDonald and she was later adopted by Alexander and Janet MacDonald of Caledonia Mills.

Walter Franklin Prince, research officer for the American Society for Psychical Research in 1922 investigated and concluded that the mysterious fires and alleged poltergeist phenomena were caused by Mary-Ellen in a dissociated state. Prince had discovered inflammable liquid and noted that "the fires were undoubtedly set by human hands, judging by the unmistakable signs left in the house. The burns are never found on the wall paper higher than the reach of a person five feet tall, which is the height of [the] girl in the family."

Hypotheses

List of versions containing features matching the eyewitness descriptions or material evidence

Deliberate falsification

This version includes any falsifications that imitate unexplained phenomena both from the outside: practical jokes, flash mobs, fake news, witness fraud, staging, etc.

There are many ways to make something similar to a ghost or a flying saucer from improvised materials, without using video and photomontage.

Many homemade things made for the sake of a joke, a practical joke or a direct imitation of a mystical being or event can be taken as unexplained not only in photos and videos, but also in reality.

Investigation

Versions testing, their confirmation or refutation. Additional information, notes during the study of materials
Not enough information

Resume

The most likely explanation. The version, confirmed by the investigation
Not enough information

Similar facts


Log in or register to post comments

Site friends

  • Мир тайн — сайт о таинственном
  • Activite-Paranormale
  • UFOlats
  • Новый Бестиарий
  • The Field Reports
  • UFO Meldpunt Nederland
  • GRUPO DE ESTUDOS DE UFOLOGIA CIENTÍFICA
  • Паранормальная наука, наука об аномалиях
  • Новости уфологии
  • UFO Insights
  • Mundo Ovnis

Attention!

18+

Site contains materials that are not recommended for impressionable people.

You are reporting a typo in the following text:
Simply click the "Send typo report" button to complete the report. You can also include a comment.