A little history: The original Fort Erie was actually built by the French in the 1600s. In 1763, after the Seven Years War, the British took control and built their own fort on the site. Winter storms off the lake posed a problem for the British so, in 1803, construction was begun on a new Fort Erie was built on the heights above.
The new fort was unfinished when the War of 1812 began. In 1813, the fort was temporarily occupied by the US. The British regained control later that year and construction began anew. In 1814, US forces captured the fort again. In December of that year, the Americans destroyed the fort and withdrew to Buffalo, leaving Fort Erie the bloodiest battlefield in the history of Canada.
The British continued to occupy the ruined fort until 1823. In 1866, a Brigade of Irish Republicans used the ruins of the fort as a base for their raid into Ontario.
In 1937 reconstruction of the fort began, with the park officially opening in July 1939.
But the best part is the supposed hauntings. The guides tell you about a headless soldier and a soldier with no hands. Apparently, during the final US occupation of the fort, American Sergeant Benjamin White was having his heavy beard shaved by a young Corporal when a British 24-pound canonball hit them and severed the Corporal's hands and the Sargent's head.
Other apparitions include that of a gentleman in a top-hat; a woman in the bunkhouse, a soldier in the mess hall, and an American soldier in the North corner of the fort. Sheets on an antique bed within the fort are often found in dissaray, with pillows found tossed on the floor.
Unfortunately, the ghosts were shy that night and we didn't see anything unusual. Our guide was kind of dull but as we passed another group, they were getting a gruesome description of torture by their guide.
