Books We Love Insider Blog: Lots of Ghosts on Prince Edward Island by Eden Monroe

https://www.bookswelove.com/search?q=Eden%20Monroe

Ahh, Prince Edward Island, Canada’s Garden of the Gulf. It’s also called the Cradle of Confederation because the Confederation Conference of 1864 that laid the groundwork for the creation of Canada, was held in Charlottetown, PEI. Known for its red sand beaches, 63 lighthouses and range lights, fertile farmland, delicious seafood — and of course Anne of Green Gables, PEI is truly a storybook province.

There are also ghosts who call Prince Edward Island home. When I first set out to write the novel Playtime, representing the Island as part of The Paranormal Canadiana Collection, I had several options to choose from. They included, among others, Goblin Hollow, Kings Playhouse, West Point Lighthouse and not surprisingly, the Scotchfort Cemetery where I guess spooky things are expected to take place.

And since PEI sits like an emerald jewel in the sparkling ocean that surrounds it, there are also plenty of ghostly stories involving the sea. That’s where Playtime comes in — in a roundabout way. I’m talking about Yeo House, a must see on the Island’s list of historically and commercially recognized haunted places.

And the connection to the sea? Well, Yeo House was constructed in 1865 by shipbuilding magnate James Yeo, Jr., and one aspect of that mansion in particular caught my attention in terms of creepiness. That was the tiny toy dog on wheels carpenters found hidden in the walls (along with other artifacts of that era) while carrying out renovations. The appearance of the toy itself is bad enough with its missing nose and mouth, pull cord and one wheel, but there’s more. Once the property had been fully restored and open to the public, staff found that Wheelie, as he came to be known, was given to nocturnal wanderings. Where they’d placed Wheelie following lockup at the end of the day and set the alarm, wasn’t where they found him the next morning. Hence his necessary confinement within a plexiglass box, under which he now glares at the world.

None of the other toys in the room, and there are several, seem to have a penchant for short-distance travel - such as the large wooden rocking horse standing behind Wheelie in the photo below.

I have visited Yeo House and discovered for myself there is indeed a weird vibe there. Could it be the vengeful revisiting of overworked servants? Could it be the owners themselves, James and his wife Sarah? I was told that James Yeo, Jr. made good use of the cupola that sits at the very top of the mansion. Before we go any further, let me explain for those who might not know what a cupola is (as I didn’t initially):

Says thisoldhouse.com: “Cupolas are small dome-like structures that sit atop roofs, adding visual interest and character to homes, barns, and other structures. Originally designed to provide natural light and ventilation, cupolas have evolved as iconic elements in various architectural styles.”

The Yeo House is of Gothic Revival design, and while the original master of the house may have welcomed both the natural light and ventilation provided by this architectural feature, it seems James Yeo, Jr. was more interested in another of its benefits. That was to take advantage of an unobstructed view of his shipyard just beyond. From this lofty vantage point he was able to spy on his workers to make sure they weren’t shirking their duties. He could also witness the loading and offloading of his ships, possibly (likely) to make sure there was no pilfering of the cargo, especially since alcohol was often part of that valuable freight. And perhaps this subterfuge was necessary, who’s to say?

I was also told that Sarah (Mrs. Yeo), to make sure she could monitor the comings and goings of the household staff on the floor below, moved her spinning wheel to the head of the staircase and watched while she worked. It seems the couple were diligent overseers, and despite the fact that their wealth at the time is well documented as being substantial, they were determined to make sure they weren’t shortchanged in any way.

Those surveillance duties were obviously tiring, and James Yeo, Jr. had his own special place to relax in this well-cushioned rocking chair.

James Yeo, Jr.

Playtime was a fun project. Fictional family, Brody and Jill Sayer and their little girl Della, meet a real-life haunted mansion. I’ve included the back cover blurb in this blog as well:

“Darkness is often the playground of the supernatural … the eerily unexplained.

Yeo House is a haunted country home in Eastern Canada’s beautiful province of Prince Edward Island. The stately seaside mansion of a shipbuilding magnate and his family in the 1800’s, it was given new life in the twenty-first century. During renovations something unusual was found hidden in the walls — a small toy dog on wheels. Now freed from his wall prison, it seems he’s still being played with by the ghost of the child who once owned him.

When four year-old Della Sayer and her parents visit the historic Yeo mansion to see the famous Wheelie, the little girl makes a strange and powerful connection with the antique toy. It is an unsettling paranormal knowing, a kindred ethereal awareness….

Life for the Sayers will never be the same again.”

Thank you for continuing to share this journey with me. Now, shall we sit down for afternoon tea in the drawing room? Everything has been made ready, and the parlour maid will be along momentarily with our refreshments…