#17 - The Baldoon Mystery

Unsolved Canadian Mysteries

The Baldoon Mystery is one of Canada’s most famous and perplexing tales of paranormal activity. It began in 1829 in the small Scottish settlement of Baldoon, Ontario, when the McDonald family moved into their new home, expecting a peaceful life on the fertile farmland. Instead, they were met with a series of inexplicable and terrifying events that would haunt them for years.

Shortly after settling in, the McDonalds noticed strange occurrences: objects moving on their own, stones pelting the house from an unseen source, and furniture rearranging itself without explanation. The family reported hearing disembodied voices, unexplained knocking, and the sensation of an invisible force watching their every move. As the months passed, the phenomena escalated—windows shattered mysteriously, household items were flung across rooms, and livestock died without cause.

Desperate for answers, the McDonalds turned to the community for help. Local priests and ministers were called in to perform blessings and exorcisms, but the disturbances persisted. During one attempted exorcism, the house caught fire, forcing the family to flee as their home burned to the ground. Even after relocating to a nearby structure, the paranormal events followed them.

Hope arrived unexpectedly when a mysterious traveler visited the McDonald family. The stranger claimed to know the cause of their torment: a curse placed on the land by a woman who had been wronged. The traveler advised John McDonald to shoot a black goose that would be found near the property but warned him to aim for its wing.

Following the stranger's instructions, John spotted a black goose, took aim, and shot its wing. The bird fled, leaving behind a trail of blood. Later that day, news spread that an elderly woman in the village had been found with a mysterious gunshot wound to her arm. After this incident, the disturbances ceased completely.

To this day, the Baldoon Mystery remains unexplained. Was it a curse, a case of mass hysteria, or a clever hoax? The legend endures, drawing curiosity seekers and paranormal investigators alike.

Join us on Unsolved Canadian Mysteries as we investigate the eerie events of the Baldoon Mystery, uncover the history behind the McDonald family’s ordeal, and explore the possible explanations for this haunting. Tune in now on Spotify and YouTube.