Irving House

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Situated in Victoria, the Pendray Inn, a regal Queen Anne home was built in 1897 by William Joseph Pendray, a prominent entrepreneur in the 1800's.  The Inn is very inviting and offers a glimpse into the elegant past enhanced by the unique artisanal craftsmanship throughout.  Back in its day the mansion once towered on the edge of the inner harbour while the grounds proudly displayed William Pendray's artistic topiaries which attracted admirers from all over.  William Pendray and two of his son's all died untimely deaths so it's not a wonder that apparitions make an appearance from time to time!  

There have been sightings of apparitions throughout the Inn and apparently visitors have reported seeing disembodied ghostly heads floating in Room #5, the family's master bedroom.  These heads are believed to be that of William Pendray and his son Ernest.  

The dam, the powerhouse and power grids are embedded amidst the jagged rock and trees.  Both elements co-exist in stark contrast to each other yet partner to tell the story of BC's steady progress from past to present.  Construction began on the powerhouse in 1909, and it was opened in 1912.  Visions for the powerhouse began around the 1890's and in 1895 Stave Lake Electric and Power Company was given permission to research the location and to study the falls.

The surrounding natural beauty wraps around the sprawl of an impressive modern-day structure which supplied BC with power for almost a century.  The powerhouse was once BC's largest hydroelectric power source, and it is currently designated as a National Historic Site.  Today it serves as a tourist attraction which holds demonstrations of equipment, features interactive exhibits, archival photos, and serves as a resource for information about BC's human heritage and the province's continued commitment to clean energy and conservation efforts.

Several noted mysterious occurrences have been a part of the powerhouse's history for quite some time.  There have been reports of phantoms or shadow figures seen by staff, disembodied voices heard echoing in various sections inside the building, and loud banging heard as well.  The sounds have also been heard by staff after hours.  One tour guide remembers taking a few steps backwards and accidentally bumping into someone only to look over her shoulder and discover that no one was there!  Another employee recalls being by herself, startled when catching a glimpse in a window of a dark-haired man behind her.  Who are these ghostly presences and why do they so often make themselves known here?

The century-old stories of fur traders, First Nations and gold prospectors was literally riveting, disturbing and spooky as we wandered down darkened streets to locations of mysterious deaths, madness and many stories of the struggles of the early settlers. It’s not a wonder why there is unrest and paranormal activity in many parts of town. The land was inhabited in the earliest years by the Katzie, Kwantlen and Matsqui First Nations. Fort Langley eventually became a major export port for lumber to the Hawaiian Islands. Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson Bay Company ordered the original construction of the Fort in 1827, and it was named after Thomas Langley, an HBC director. 

There have been reports of apparitions wandering eerily in the graveyard, a First Nations ghost has been described with striking similarity by various people and ghostly children have been seen in the nearby park. 

Trethewey House isn’t a particularly old house. It was built in 1919 for B.C. lumber baron Joseph Ogle “J.O.” Trethewey and for his third wife Reta. The Trethewey family moved to Abbotsford from the city of Haney in 1927 and were instrumental in developing the city of Abbotsford. The Abbotsford Lumber Mill employed many people in the area. The Tretheweys, who settled in Canada in the 1870’s from England, had success in mining ventures at home and continued to be very entrepreneurial in their new homeland. J.O. eventually took over running his father’s mill and business continued to boom throughout the 1920’s.  The house was built of materials directly from the Trethewey’s mill and everything was constructed to the finest specifications.

Upon entering the home, with its rich wood adornments and paneling it feels sophisticated and sturdy. It is built in an arts and crafts style and is constructed using primarily local materials. We learned that it was once offered as a kit house in the Sears Roebuck catalogue! Apparently, from 1908 to the 1940’s, Sears sold an estimated 70,000 kit homes in about 370 different styles, from Colonials to bungalows. In the 1920’s, prices ranged from about $600 to $6,000, which is roughly $8,400 to $84,000 in today's dollars.   

In chatting with our tour guide she did say that some of the stories may have originated from the family who lived in the house during the 1960’s. They had two boys who were quite mischievous and apparently loved to scare their babysitters. The boys would make sounds from the basement that would travel up through the heater vents in the floor. The ghostly noises would result in several babysitters spooked enough never to return. There is also a story of a woman who may have died in one of the rooms of the house but, this too, is not confirmed.