The supernatural history of the power stations in Niagara Falls

In the shadow of Niagara Falls, where the thunderous roar of cascading water mingles with the whispers of bygone eras, lies the Toronto Power Generating Station – a silent witness to the passage of time and the mysteries that linger within its walls. 

The Toronto Power Generating Station, poised for a remarkable transformation into a luxurious hotel, has long been rumoured to be haunted by spectral visitors. Supernatural explorers have reported eerie encounters within its cavernous hall.

But it’s not alone in its haunting tales; nearby, the Niagara Parks Power Station also harbours chilling legends of its own, boasting a documented haunting history, with stories of a resident ghost that has intrigued employees for generations. 

Legend has it that this century-old landmark is inhabited by the spirit of Annette Kittridge Norton, the wife of William Rankine, founder of the Canadian Niagara Power Company.

This portrait of Mrs. Rankine ran in The New York Tribune alongside an article detailing the mystery of her disappearance in April, 1921.

The tragic tale dates back to 1905 when William Rankine married Annette in Niagara Falls, New York. Their happiness was short-lived, however, when William succumbed to congestive heart failure shortly after their wedding, leaving Annette grief-stricken and inconsolable. 

Desperate to contact her departed husband, Annette reportedly turned to mediums in a futile attempt to communicate with him. 

After she died in 1921 from what was suspected to be a suicide, staff members of the power station claimed to have encountered a ghostly apparition – a “well-to-do woman in a fur coat” wandering the halls of the thrust deck. 

This excerpt is from The New York Herald, July 6, 1922, p. 9.

Many believe this spectral figure to be none other than Mrs. Rankine herself, forever searching for her beloved husband in the afterlife.

As plans unfold to revitalize the Toronto Power Generating Station into a world-class hotel, these haunting tales remind us of the rich history and enduring mysteries that saturate the landscape of Niagara Falls. 

Whether you’re drawn to the allure of luxury accommodations or the thrill of ghostly encounters, these iconic landmarks will always offer a fascinating blend of past and present, inviting visitors to explore the depths of their haunted histories.