One of the most significant historical landmarks located close to the coast of Vancouver Island is the last location in our 2021 Haunted Places series. Located just across from another breathtaking (and eerie) castle, Hatley is encircled by lovely gardens that are lined with flowers that are in full bloom. On the other hand, the opportunity to take a picture of something that is not typical is what attracts a lot of tourists.
Hatley Park was the location where the building of the castle was ordered by Lieutenant-Governor James Dunsmuir, who was the son of coal tycoon Robert Dunsmuir.
In the beginning, James intended for the land to be used as a farm, replete with a dairy and hunting areas for James and his friends. In order to realize his idea of a magnificent and opulent residence, James sought the assistance of the Victorian architect Samuel Maclure. James was not going to let the cost be an issue, and this is evident in the final details.
All things considered, the huge estate would include forty rooms, a tower that was eighty-two feet tall, a stone wall that surrounded it, cow stables, a smoke house, and several workstations. Up until the latter part of the 1930s, the Dunsmuir family would continue to be the owners of both Hatley Park and the castle.
Immediately after the sale of the estate by the Dunsmuir family, the Dominion Government acquired the property and transformed it into a Naval Training Establishment. In addition, during the early years of World War II, the castle was regarded as a potential location for the English Royal Family to evacuate to in the event that Germany were to take control of Europe. At the Royal Canadian Naval College located at Royal Roads, cadets would reside and get their training.
Throughout World War II, Hatley Park would continue to serve as a setting for military training. After being designated the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force Joint Services College in 1947, the institution was renamed the Canadian Services College Royal Roads not long after that.
It was not until 1968 that it was officially renamed the Royal Roads Military College. The Royal Roads Military College's doors were finally shut down in 1994, but the institution would continue to exist in the academic world under the name Royal Roads University.
In his role as a public figure, James was often subjected to criticism, and once he resigned, he chose Hatley Park as a means of escape. In all, James and Laura, his wife, produced twelve children. When World War I broke out, their youngest son, Jim, was considered to be of combat age.
With a strong desire to serve, Jim embarked on a journey to Europe on the RMS Lusitania. Jim's corpse was never found when the Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat, which was a tragic event. The death of James's son left him in a state of profound grief. Due to the fact that he passed away soon after Jim, he spent the most of his days in grieving.
Both the Craigdarroch Castle and the Hatley Castle have the imprint of the Dunsmuir family's lengthy and turbulent history, which is reflected in both of these castles.
There have been reports of music playing in the study, and it has been said that James would play mournful dirges in order to pay tribute to his deceased son. There have also been reports of other weird sounds occurring inside the castle, such as footsteps and doors opening and shutting from time to time.
The ghost of Laura Dunsmuir would be seen by the cadets of the military academy that was located in the castle. She would search the faces of the students in the dormitories for her son. An individual who visited the castle claims that a ghost followed her home, imitating the sound of a wailing infant throughout the night, and harassing her while she was at work.
About the Creator
The Voice That Waited
Seen (1) At the edge of a quiet town stood an abandoned radio station, forgotten by time and avoided by locals. The building had been shut down for over twenty years, yet people claimed that at exactly 2:17 a.m., a faint broadcast could still be heard on an old frequency. No music. No news. Just a voice. Daniel was a small content creator who specialized in audio storytelling. He didn’t believe in rumors, but he believed in stories. When he heard about the mysterious broadcast, he decided to investigate—not for views, but for curiosity. One cold night, Daniel entered the radio station with his recorder and headphones. Dust covered the equipment, and spider webs hung from the ceiling. Everything looked dead. Silent. At exactly 2:17 a.m., the old transmitter crackled. A voice broke through the static. “Hello… is anyone listening?” Daniel froze. The voice was calm but tired, like someone who had been waiting for a long time. “My name is Arthur,” the voice continued. “I used to work here. If you can hear me, please don’t turn this off.” Daniel whispered into his microphone, “I’m listening.” The voice seemed relieved. “For years, I spoke into this microphone, hoping someone would hear me. When the station shut down, everyone left. Everyone except me.” Daniel’s heart raced. “Are you… alive?” There was a pause. Then a soft laugh. “That depends on what you mean by alive,” Arthur said. “I passed away in this building many years ago. But my voice stayed. This place remembers me.” Arthur explained that he had been a late-night radio host, speaking to lonely people, travelers, and insomniacs. The night the station closed, he stayed behind to record one final message—something meaningful. But no one ever aired it. He died alone, with his words unheard. “So I kept talking,” Arthur said. “Night after night. Waiting for someone to listen.” Daniel felt a heavy silence fill the room. “What do you want from me?” Daniel asked. Arthur answered gently, “I don’t need fear. I don’t need fame. I just want my message to reach someone. Anyone.” Daniel nodded, even though Arthur couldn’t see him. “I’ll share your story.” For the first time, the static disappeared. Arthur’s voice became clear. “Tell them this,” he said. “You are not invisible. Someone, somewhere, needs your voice—even if you don’t know it yet.” The broadcast ended. The room fell silent. Daniel left the station before sunrise and spent the next day editing the audio. He uploaded the recording as a simple podcast episode titled *The Voice That Waited*. He didn’t add music. He didn’t add effects. Just the truth. Within days, thousands of messages poured in. People said the voice helped them through loneliness, grief, and dark nights. Some cried. Some found comfort. Some found hope. Daniel returned to the radio station one last time. At 2:17 a.m., there was no broadcast. The transmitter stayed silent. But Daniel smiled. Because he understood something important: Some voices don’t fade because they are loud. They survive because someone finally listens.
By Do bol ho jaaye 3 days ago in Horror
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