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Times -Advocate
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Stephen Central students visit Donnelly homestead
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
BIDDULPH — The Grade 8 students at
Stephen Central School participated in a
field trip Halloween Day, which was
quite the treat, but hoped for no tricks
as they toured the Donnelly Homestead.
The Donnelly Homestead, on the
Roman Line in Lucan Biddulph, has
become a huge tourist attraction, where
in the early hours of Feb. 4, 1880, five
members of the Donnelly family were
murdered by their neighbours.
Slain were James Donnelly and his
wife Johannah, their niece Bridget and a
son Tom, at the homestead. Also shot to
death was John Donnelly at Will
Donnelly's home in Whalen Corners.
The 30 vigilantes mistakenly took John
for William, shooting John instead.
Rob Salts and his wife Linda have
owned the property for 20 years, hosting
tours around the former Donnelly
Homestead, infamous in Canadian histo-
ry
"You are never alone," says Salts,
claiming his home and property are vis-
ited frequently by spirits, including those
of the Donnelly family.
"You don't have to believe me," says
Salts, who explains he fell out of a tree
in Brights Grove, cracking his head, at
the age of 10 and became sensitive to
spirits shortly after.
During the tour Salts felt the presence
of spirits, stopping to explain to the stu-
dents that, "there is a little boy and girl
right here."
Salts also says, "I have seen Johannah
two times." Johannah first settled on the
land with James Donnelly, and this is
where the tour begins
The Donnellys first arrived in Canada
in 1842, from Tipperary County in
Ireland.
The tour follows their lives until the
night of the massacre. The property was
sold from the Donnelly name in 1939.
Also featured during the tour are a
look at artifacts, featuring field stones
from the former Donnelly home, and
original photographs of family members.
Salts and his wife live in the re -mod-
elled version of the second Donnelly
home, built by Will Donnelly in 1881.
The home Salts and his wife reside is in
the original structure, nestled between
an addition on the front and the back of
the home, added in 1971.
The students also saw five horse chest-
nuts, with significance.
"The five trees were planted by Will
Donnelly," says Salts, adding, "Will was
a horse breeder."
The trees are by the field stones on the
right side of Salts' home.
Salts then took the students to the
barn, which he claims some people will
not even go in, since it too is allegedly
frequented by spirits.
The barn was rebuilt sometime after
1880, after it was burned in 1870. Salts
also repaired the barn in 2006.
Salts showed the students several pic-
tures, featuring apparitions seen in both
the barn and house. He then allowed the
students to take pictures, hopefully cap-
turing some spirits themselves.
Since the tragic deaths of the
Donnellys, the homestead has remained
an intriguing part of Canadian history,
told through stories, books, songs and
plays.
Salts has also written a book, "You Are
Never Alone: Our Life On The Donnelly
Homestead."
For more information on the tour or
book, contact Salts at 227-1244 or e-
mail at rsalts@quadro.net
Local Canadian history — A Halloween Day field trip to the Donnelly Homestead, was the perfect treat for the Grade
8 students at Stephen Central School.The Donnelly Homestead is on the Roman Line in Lucan Biddulph, where five mem-
bers of the Donnelly family were murdered.Above front from left are some of the students Heath Coulter and Adam Foran -
Costain; middle row are Hayden Tripp and Janna Henry; and back row are Morgan Pockett, Michael Albiston, Mario Torres,
Kayley Geberdt and Sarah Synder, standing in front of the house that is now on the Donnelly Homestead. Bottom left, some
of the students are standing in front of one of five horse chestnuts, planted by Will Donnelly. Front from left are Shannon
deLange and Paige Gadal; middle row are Avrey Jantzi and Erin Wells; and back row are Cole Vincent and Tyler Glenn. Below
right, Donnelly Homestead owner Rob Salts shows the students some pictures in the barn, featuring apparitions. Glenn
holds the light for Salts. Bottom right, Salts, Jackson Bieman, Leanne Ryan and chaperone Jenna Becker stand in front of the
Donnelly Homestead sign. (photos/Nina Van Lieshout)
1ONLL
HOMESTEAD
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227-1244