In 1833, Otto Ives, a man of means, acquired the Hermitage farm in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, with the intention of providing for his family and servants. The farm, boasting 250 cultivated acres, became the backdrop for a poignant tale that would later be known as the “Legend of Lovers’ Lane.”
Ives, accompanied by his wife and niece, established themselves in the well-developed Hermitage. The niece, possessing great beauty, drew the attention of several eligible suitors, but she turned them all away. Her heart, however, found its match in William Black, a servant on the Ives farm. Their courtship unfolded in secrecy, hidden away in secluded corners of the expansive property, away from prying eyes and family oversight.
As their love deepened, the two lovers began to make plans for their future. Unfortunately, tradition and fate intervened. Feeling a deep respect for Ives as an employer, William Black, tormented by the deception, decided to reveal the truth to Ives one late winter evening. In a respectful plea for permission to marry his niece, Black faced an explosive rejection from Ives, who ordered him to leave.
The idea of a servant marrying into a higher station was considered ludicrous in the 1800s. Devastated by Ives’ response, William Black left the Ives estate that night a broken man. The following morning, when Ives discovered that Black was missing, he realized the gravity of his actions. He found the young man’s lifeless body hanging in the carriage house, a tragic consequence of unrequited love.
In disbelief, Ives cut Black’s body down and, with a heavy heart, transported it in a manure cart to what is now the corner of Sulphur Spring’s Road and Lover’s Lane—named in commemoration of this tragic legend. William Black was laid to rest along with the cart at this location.
Since that fateful day, reports have surfaced of a ghostly figure walking along Lover’s Lane, retracing the steps from the grave to the former carriage house. Witnesses also claim to see the apparition walking the winding roads of Sulphur Springs and the lands surrounding the Hermitage, which burned down in 1934. The lingering spirit of William Black is believed to be in eternal search of his lost love.
Presently owned by the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the Hermitage prohibits trespassing, but a night ghost tour is offered, providing an opportunity to delve into the eerie history and supernatural occurrences tied to the legend of Lovers’ Lane.
