York Hospital, Western Australia

York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia.  It is situated on the Avon River about 97km east of the capital of Western Australia, Perth.  During the winter months of 1830, Ensign Robert Dale, Officer of the 63rd Regiment was asked to lead a small party over the Darling Ranges where he reported discovering “park like lands with scattered trees.  The name of the Region was suggested by JS Clark during the expedition because he believed the area resembled his own home in England, Yorkshire.   Following a second expedition Lieutenant-Governer Stirling explained that there appeared to be 1000 square miles of what he described as “the finest imaginable sheep land“.  By December 1830, 250000 acres had been allotted with a further 80000 acres in Jan 1831 and 6030 small lots at the end of 1831.  

September 1831 the first party of settlers, led by Ensign Robert  Dale reached what had become known as the Avon Valley.  Land cultivation, construction of huts and preparation for stock took place and in Spetember 1833 a garrison of 8 troops of the 21st North British Fusiliers were stationed in the town of York.  By July 1835 allotments in the town were gazetted  and advertised.  In 1840 the York Agriculture Society was established.  The York Agriculture Society became very powerful and in 1851, following a request from the society,  convicts were transported to the area to help with a labour shortage.  Many of the buildings in York were then constructed by the convicts.  

After the construction of a railway to York gold was discovered in Yilgarn in 1887 and York became the place for the miners to alight before the long walk to the  goldfields.  With the growing population of miners and the harsh conditions on the mine fields the town was inundated with ill and wounded men.  The  lack of fresh water and inadequate hygiene as well as the lack of vegetables and fruit led to diseases like dysentery, typhoid fever, scurvy and other diet deficiency diseases amongst the transient population as well as the townsfolk.  

By 1852 York had a small hospital in the York Convict Hiring Depot which only saw male patients.  With the growing need for a larger hospital that could treat men and women George Temple-Pool , Principal Architect for Western Australia designed what has become known as the Old York Hospital.  The structure was built by Christie and Company and opened in June 1896.  Giving the impression of a Victorian  gentleman’s mansion rather than a government institution Old York Hospital is a great example of Federation Arts and Crafts design.  This style of architecture originated in England and was created in response to the impersonal architecture that emerged during the Industrial Revolution.  The two storey building has high pitched gables with a steeply pitched roof and tall chimneys.  The bricks  were sourced locally and in a nod to the Australian climate the building features wide verandahs spanning across both storeys at the front and the back of the building.  Over the years other buildings were added including a nurses quarters in 1925, a maternity ward in 1941, a morgue and a laundry in 1942.  

The first matron of the hospital was Mary Ann Nichols, a former matron of the Perth Colonial Hospital.  She had a staff consisting of a nurse, cook, orderly and wardsmaid.  In the first year 65 patients were admitted and at times surgery was carried out on the kitchen table.  

Paranormal stories about the Old York Hospital go back to the 1920s and seemed to centre around the second floor of the building and a room called ‘The Dying Room“.  Eyewitnesses have seen a figure they describe as being dressed as an old fashioned matron.  

In 1963 The Old York Hospital closed and it was abandoned until 1976 and then was converted into a YHA hostel.  It was while it was a YHA hostel in 1980 that a well known haunting occurred that was witnessed by five adults and twenty eight children.  A Little Athletics Club  had visited York to stay in the YHA Hostel.  They however had to rush away from the building after hearing moaning, saw crockery floating and crashing in midair, watched blood trickle down the staircase and watched as an eight year old girl being pushed by unseen forces through a pane of glass resulting in her needing fifteen stitches in her arm.  

The continuing stories of a violent haunting resulted in the building being put up for sale and it became a private residence.  In 2022 a decision was made to create apartments in the building.  

This story has always been of interest to me as I knew some of the people that were there at the Little Athletics stay.  It terrified the people involved and despite the many doubters they have always stuck to their story of what occurred in the Old York Hospital to them. As an avid reader of Meridian you will know I travel and photograph and explore supposedly haunted places all over the world but this building was one of the most challenging.  From the minute I drove into the street where the building stands I felt uncomfortable.  It was a 40C+ degree day and the building just gave off a feeling of being malicious.  Despite the bright sunshine and heat I felt cold walking towards the building and it’s one of the only times I felt something was really wrong with the building.  The windows had curtains but several of them seemed to twitch while I was watching the building and photographing it despite the building being empty that day.    I always have “feelings“ about places but this building felt “wrong“. 

Chillon Castle (Chateau de Chillon)

Located on Lake Geneva, in the Canton of Vaud, Chillon Castle is an island castle built on the island of Chillon.  The island is an oval limestone rock on a narrow shore between Montreux and Villeneuve.  The name of the castle, according to Swiss ethnologist Albert Samuel Gatschet means "flat stone". In 1195 the name Castrum Quilonis literally meant "castle built on a rock platform."  The castle was built on the island for strategic reasons with one side of the island having a steep side while the other side juts into Lake Geneva.  The position of the castle meant it was able to guard the passage between the Vaud Riviera that gave access to the north towards Germany and France.  The castle was also positioned to to oversea a quick route to Italy and had an excellent view of the Savoyard Coast on the opposite side of the lake. The strategic position of the castle meant a garrison operating from Castle Chillon could control the road to Italy both commercially and for military reasons while collecting a toll for use of the passage.  

Chillon Castle in its current form took over seven centuries to construct.  The  build of Chillon Castle spanned over various, very distinct historical periods.  It was believed to initially be a military site during the Roman Period. Originally serving as a Roman outpost, Chillon Castle was a place from which the  roads that led through the Alpine passes could be guarded. In the nineteenth century Roman artifacts and bronze age artifacts were discovered at the castle. The site at first housed a double wooden palisade, a defensive stakewall and in the tenth century a square dungeon was added to the structure. It was then believed that the site fell into the possession of the Bishop of Scion.  A Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in the canton of Vaud, Scion was the oldest bishopric in the country.  

Not yet completely dated the oldest part of the castle as it is now was first mentioned in records in 1005.  Primarily built to control the road that led from Burgundy to the Great Saint Bernard Pass a charter dated 1150 mentions Count Hubert III, the Count of Savoy from 1148-1188, allowing the Cistercians of Hautcrêt free passage to Chillon.  The charter cited the owners of Chillon Castle as the Counts of Savoy who shared the rights to the castle with the sires of Blonay.  In 1214 Thomas I of Savoy founded the town of Villeneuve.  The family used their control of the route that passed in front of the castle leading to the new town of Villeneuve to collect tolls and cover maintenance of the roads.  The route was very popular with travellers, pilgrims and merchants who were heading towards Rome via the Great Saint Bernard Alpine Pass.  Construction and enlargement of the castle was carried out during the Savoy period of occupancy.  These were initiated by Count Thomas I of Savoy and carried on by his sons.  Pierre II, the master of the castle from 1255-1268 entrusted the work on the castle to Pierre Mainier, a cleric from Chambery.  Pierre II’ brother Philippe of Savoy succeeded his brother and employed Jacques de Saint-Georges, a specialist in military installation and a master mason and engineer, to work on Chillon Castle.

Chillon Castle was used as a temporary residence to the Savoy family who were required to travel around their extensive territories regularly.  As the castle required a full time keeper the Counts of Savoy nominated a castellan, usually chosen from Savoy aristocracy, to guard the castle. The castellan was in charge of not only guarding the castle but also levying the custom duties and the seigneurys income as well as dispensing justice.  During the second part of the thirteenth century the Duchy of Savoy was divided into several bailliages and the castellan of Chillon took on the duties of Bailiff of Chablais.  The castle became a centre for finance and administration for the northern Savoyard lands.  In the latter half of the Savoy Period a prison was built around the stone pillars and rocks beneath the castle.  The prison was said to have housed François de Bonivard, Prior of Saint-Victor in Geneva who was held for his opposition to the Savoys in 1530.  During his imprisonment de Bonivard was said to have paced as far as his chain would allow him to and the rut his pacing created still remains on the floor of the castle  His life and imprisonment became an inspiration for the poet Lord Byron when he visited Chillon Castle and heard of de Bonivard.  Byron subsequently was inspired to write his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon” 

 By  the end of the fourteenth century the administrative works had been centralised in Chambery.  In 1436, before becoming Pope Felix V, the Duke Amédée VIII sent a master builder, Aymonet Corniaux, to carry out important works to the castle, including modifying the defences on the walls and towers. This work did not continue and Chillon Castle was neglected and fell into disrepair.   

On March 29th 1536 rundown Chillon Castle fell into the hands of the Bernese.  The Savoy prisoners, including François de Bonivard were released.  The castle became the residence of the Bernese Bailiff.  Serving as the administrative bailliage of Vevey the Bailiff, who represented the monarch was obliged to carry out several duties during his residency in Chillon Castle.  In 1733 the Bernese bailiff left the castle and it was primarily used for storage.  In January 1798 the castle was occupied by patriots from Montreux and Vevey.  The castle became national property during the Vaud Revolution and was transferred to the canton of Vaud in 1803. Chillon Castle was taken care of by a caretaker and police guards.  Between 1836-38 the castle was altered and  primarily became a munitions store and prison.  Despite Chillon Castles utilitarian use, Lord Byrons poem  “The Prisoner of Chillon”and the romantic writings and artwork depicting the castle by other authors and artists,  resulted in it becoming a popular tourist destination.  

During the second half of the nineteenth century the restorations of monuments became a priority.  A systematic restoration of Chillon Castle using the application of archaeology and history was planned.  Pioneering specialist in restoration, Johann Rudolf Rhann, a founder of the Swiss Society of Historical Monuments and Henri de Geymüller, architectural historian were part of the team who drew up restoration plans for Chillon Castle.  The commission assigned with the task of restoring Chillon Castle first met on 27th October 1890 and by 1896 a framework for the Milestones for the Restoration Programme were printed in Lausanne.  The Chillon model of restoration was so exemplary that German Emporer William II inquired about it when planning restoration of the Fortress Haut-Koenigsbourg.  Chillon Castle has become a popular tourist destination and by 1939 was already attracting over 100000 visitors, a number that has subsequently increased over the years. 

With such a long and at times violent history it is not surprising that Chillon Castle is said to be haunted.  The most well known ghost is that of Agnès de Faucigny, a duchess and member of the house of Savoy through her marriage to Pierre II, Count of Savoy.   Footsteps, a drop in temperature and music have all been attributed to Agnès.  

I loved visiting Castle Chillon.  It is a beautiful castle and a wonder to explore.  I also enjoyed that Lord Byron was so inspired by the castle. The cafe at the castle is named after him and he has carved his name into the walls of the dungeon that inspired him to write “The Prisoner of Chillon”.  The castle is filled with actual furniture from its various inhabitants.  It is a place you must visit if you are ever in Switzerland.

Pea Soup Andersen’s

Pea Soup Andersen's is a restaurant chain in California.  It was founded in 1924 by Anton Andersen and his wife Juliette.  Born in Denmark, Anton Andersen had trained as a chef in Europe and New York, also helping with the opening of the Biltmore Hotel.  He and his wife purchased a property in the small town of Buellton, California in Santa Barbara County, neighbouring Solvang, a Danish community of recent immigrants.  

The land in Buellton had previously been part of a Mexican Land Grant owned by Jose Maria Corarrubias and Joaquin Carillo of Santa Barbara.  The land was purchased by the Buell Brothers in 1865.  R.T Buell turned the land into a prosperous horse and cattle ranch and a dairy farm called Ranch San Carlos de Jonata.  Buell married Miss Emily Budd in 1892 and they had five children.  When Buell died in 1905 he was buried in the family plot which would later become the car park for Pea Soup Andersen's.  His body was later moved to Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard.

The area of Buellton, located in the Santa Ynez Valley, changed rapidly and by 1911 Danish immigrants, attracted to the area, were settling there opening businesses and farms.  When the highway was diverted through Buellton and electricity was bought to the valley the Andersen's saw an opportunity.  They opened a small restaurant called Andersen's Electrical Cafe.  The name was in honour of their prized new electric stove.   

With a menu of simple foods including hotcakes, ice-creams, sodas and coffee, the café was created cater to the people that travelled the highway.  Initially the customers were mostly people that were travelling between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  The café also happened to be on the road to Hearst Castle at San Simeon. This was the heyday of the Hearst Media empire and writers and journalists such as Arthur Brisbane, one of the best known newspaper editors of the 20th Century and O.O McIntyre, a newspaper columnist of the 20s and 30s, stopped to eat at Andersen's. In this way praise for the establishment and the food it served was sent all across the country.

What would become the famous pea soup, a family recipe belonging to Juliette, Anton Andersen's French wife, was first added to the restaurant's menu three months after it was opened. Juliette was a fabulous cook and was responsible for preparing many of the popular recipes on the menu. As the establishment became more popular in 1928 the Andersen's built a hotel and dining room as well as sinking a well.  the Andersen's called the new establishment The Bueltmore, a play on the name of the Biltmore Hotel.  As Anton had worked in many well known restaurants, many famous chefs stopped by the Bueltmore.

In the 1930s Robert, Anton and Juliette's son, returned from Stanford University.  Robert became instrumental in the marketing aspect of the restaurant.   He discovered a cartoonist called Forbell who created a cartoon entitled "Little Known Occupations" for a magazine called Judge.  The illustration depicted two chefs creating split pea soup using a chisel to split the peas.  Andersen obtained the rights to the image.  Robert famously used billboards as part of his marketing strategy.

Robert Andersen married Rosemary Mohan who opened a gift shop attached to the restaurant.  the couple had a son called Robert in 1942.

During WWII the restaurant was closed to the public and  instead served as a place that military personnel and their family were served meals.  When the war was over Pea Soup Andersen's reopened.  Robert commissioned a Disney trained artist to draw the two mascots for the restaurant Hap-Pea and Pea-Wee, whose names were chosen through a competition.

In 1947 the new coast road was rerouted through the centre of Buellton.  That year the name of the restaurant became Pea Soup Andersen's. In 1965 Vince Evans, a successful business man and leader in the Santa Ynez Valley, purchased the restaurant.  He was said to have bought Pea Soup Andersen's on a whim because he enjoyed the soup. He promoted the restaurant like it was a Hollywood film putting huge billboards up and hiring new chefs.   Thriving under Evans management, the restaurant was said to be producing three quarters of a million bowls of soup a year.  Evans added a small wild animal park and aviary filled with parrots as well as a miniature train to further attract customers.  By the 1970s this was all demolished to make way for a Danish themed hotel.  In 1967 a second location was established in Santa Nella, California in Merced County.  The property had a restaurant, hotel, gas station and a gift shop as well as a working windmill.

Two short-lived restaurants were opened in Carlsbad and Mammoth Lakes.  Following the death of the Evans family in 1980 the restaurants passed through several owners.  Buellton and Santa Nella are now owned by Milt Guggia, a central coast restauranteur.

The Buellton Pea Soup Andersen's is said to be haunted by former owner Juliette Andersen.  Strange sounds, unexplained music and doors opening and closing have all been reported.  Furniture is also said to move on its own accord.

I have been to Pea Soup Andersen's several times on various trips to California and I always find it charming.  The soup is very delicious and the gift shop always has unique and interesting wares. 

Fort George

Fort George is an historic military structure at Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario in Canada.  The fort was built by the British Army between 1796 and 1799 following the Jay Treaty.  Designed by Alexander Hamilton and supported by President George Washington the Jay Treaty was negotiated by American statesman and Diplomat, John Jay.  Brokered between the United States and Great Britain, the Jay Treaty was created to avoid war and resolve issues that remained following the Treaty of Paris in 1783 which ended the American Revolutionary War.  As part of the Jay Treaty the British Troops withdrew from Fort Niagara which stands opposite in New York and is visible from the Fort George ramparts.  The newly constructed Fort George became the western most of British fortified posts and served as the regional headquarters for both the British Army and the Canadian Militia.  

Fort George was built using earthworks and palisades or stakewalls, a wall made of wooden or iron stakes.  The fort internal structures including an Officer’s quarters and a stone powder magazine where ammunition and other explosives could be stored.  Also within the fort a blockhouse was constructed to house the ranks and also accomodate their families.  

During the War of 1812 to 1815, a conflict between the United States and the British Army plus their respective allies, several battles were fought in the area of Fort George.  In 1813, just after dawn on May 27th clearing fog revealed an American vessel off the shore.  Military Commander, Scott Winfield was tasked with leading the first landing party for the American assault.  Starting west of the mouth of the Niagara River Scott landed on the British territory while American Naval Commander Oliver Hazard Perry and his men directed a schooner to silence nearby squadrons that were supporting Fort George.  The American landing parties were charged by bayonet wielding men from the Glengarry Light Infantry as they waded ashore.  The Glengarry men were outnumbered and after loosing half their men retreated.  The schooners in Lake Niagara, using grapeshot, a non-solid projectile made up of an arrangement of round shot  packed into a canvas bag, attacked a company of The Royal Newfoundland resulting in them sustaining heavy casualties.  

After landing, Military Commander Scott advanced up the beach only to meet with British Troops.  Between Scott’s landing party and further fire from Commander Perry’s schooner the British Army sustained heavy losses.  The commanding officer of the Niagara Peninsula in Upper Canada, General John Vincent, realised that his troops were out-numbered and ordered an immediate retreat to Queenston.  Before their retreat General Vincent ordered the Fort guns of Fort George to be spiked and the magazines blown up.  Despite this Commander Scott was able to secure Fort George with little damage.  After inflicting heavy casualties on the British Army the Americans were able to secure several heavily fortified positions, including Fort George.  

The Americans remained in a small military enclave around and within Fort George.  In June 1813 an American column marched from Fort George to attempt to surprise a British outpost at Beaver Dams.  The American troops stopped in the town of Queenston overnight.  A resident of Queenston, Laura Secord walked 32kms (20 miles) through American occupied territory to warn the British Troops that the Americans were coming.  When the Americans resumed their march they were ambushed by Native warriors and surrendered.  About 500 Americans including their commander were taken prisoner.  The Americans abandoned Fort George following this defeat as it was on the British side of the river.  Fort George was then left to fall into ruin.  In the 1930s the site was reconstructed.  

During the First and Second World War Fort George was used as a military training base under the name of Camp Niagara.  In 1966 the military left the fort.   Fort George was then staffed by costumed characters and maintained by Parks Canada as a living museum with re-enactments.  It has hosted such events as the 1955 World Scout Jamboree.  

Fort George is considered one of the most haunted places in Niagara.  One commonly sighted apparition is refered to as the “Woman in the Mirror”.  She is a young curly haired woman that haunts the officer’s quarters and is dressed in a white dress.  Two men dressed in red uniforms are also seen in the officers quarters.  On occasion soldiers dressed in white are seen laying in the bunks in the officers quarters.  Staff have also reported an apparition in an area of the fort closed to the public.  The ghost is fondly referred to as Irving and he haunts the upper level of the barracks.  

One area of the fort that is considered extremely haunted was only actually built in the 1960s.  A tunnel built of stone and wood stretches seventy feet from inside the walls of the fort to the blockhouse.  Despite it being built well after the battles Fort George endured, both during the day and night, the tunnel been the scene of paranormal phenomena both visual and auditory.  

One of the most well known ghosts in Fort George is a seven year old girl known as Sarah Ann. She is believed to have been the daughter of one of the soldiers and to have died of a disease. The apparition has been seen and heard by staff and visitors to the fort.  The apparition of Sarah Ann has been known to tap people on the shoulder.  

Like all haunting there is much controversy about the phenomena at Fort George.  While staying in Niagara-On-The-Lake I would often walk to the fort. Fort George has a somber feel especially in the snow.