Picton Gazette Express Vol. 1 No. 30

Happy Halloween from the Hallowell Howler

October 31, 2024

Local artist Teresa Westervelt’s Fun at Ferguson Street took second place at the 2024 Picton Fair Art Competition. The spooky Picton scene is special to Ms. Westervelt, who dedicated it to beloved PECI art teacher Gerry Putnam. She says the late Mr. Putnam still inspires her daily.

Home of Mrs. James Ackerman, Queens Street, Picton, scene of the ghostly knockings.

Halloween falls on a Thursday this year. That was the moon-faced Ghost of Queen Street’s favourite night to come out and knock about.

The Ghost of Queen Street first appeared at midnight, Thursday 10 August 1939. On 16 August, the Picton Gazette headline reads, “Knockings On Attic Door Still Unexplained, Give Town Real Ghost Story.” 

News of Picton’s ghost attracted reporters from far and wide. As the writer of the piece we reproduce here notes, “Though temporarily retired from public life, the ‘ghost’ becomes more famous as the story is told and retold by persons and the press.” In fact, the writer speculates, “Its fame may have caused it to seek refuge from the horde of reporters and photographers who descended upon the scene and sent the incident blazing its way over the whole continent.”

The same issue records the hearty laughter of the Chief of Police, Bert Biddle, “now to become an inspector of spectres after more than twenty years on the force. ‘I’ve been through lots of graveyards and never saw a ghost yet,’ he grinned. ‘Unless,’ as an afterthought, ‘I happened to be drinkin’ corn whiskey.’”

Cold Creek’s development lands are in behind the No Frills and Canadian Tire, and bounded by the Millennium Trail and the headwaters of Warings Creek.

Cold Creek by Port Picton Homes is the first development in Prince Edward County with no plans for gas. Future-forward design features include geothermal heating and cooling, heat pumps, underground parking, higher densities, and careful integration of the Millennium Trail as an active transportation corridor.

Council voted twice last night against Port Picton Homes’ Cold Creek neighbourhood proposal.

The decision leaves David Cleave no option but to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal — an appeal he is almost certain to win. The zoning of the property allows for town residential development, and County planners were in favour.

Robert Swayze

Council votes unanimously to end the eight-year term of London-based lawyer Robert Swayze

Dracula welcomes you to this week’s issue.

The Weekend Ticket

Shatterbox Theatre puts on Cabaret at the Cape. Starts tonight through November 8.

In a time where the world is changing forever, there is one place where everyone can be free...Welcome to the Kit Kat Club. Daring, provocative and exuberantly entertaining, CABARET explores the dark and heady life of Bohemian Berlin as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich.

County Creative is hosting a retro tree-painting party November 2.

Remember Grandma’s ceramic Christmas tree? Now, you can make your own!
Come paint your own classic 8inch light-up Christmas Tree, featuring the plastic lights everyone loves to rearrange. $80 Per Person.

Tom Wilson (two roads) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, famed storyteller and visual artist.

Finally, the 32nd Annual “Handmade” Christmas Craft Show is in Wellington on Saturday 2 November at Highline Hall 9am - 5pm. Juried show with over fifty vendors, handmade only. Admission $5. Lunch counter available.