The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

by Abigail Cukier Ghost walks make for a spooky but safe night out ing father of Oakville. Their butler, Christopher Columbus Lee, a survivor of the Underground Railroad is also said to haunt the estate. The museum is just one stop on the Oakville Historical Society's annual ghost walk, which started last week and runs until Tuesday (Oct. 29). The one-hour tours take participants through the downtown heritage district, offering a view of life in the town in the 1800s and also includes local ghost stories. "It's a wonderful way to learn about Oakville history. Put aside the ghost stories and it's a really nice way to learn about the town," said Brown, who enjoyed a ghost walk last year. "The historical society does a fantastic job. You meet in their cottages and you go out holding a lantern. You never know about the weather. It might be cold or rainy, which might add to the mood. Then you finish in the cottages and there are cookies and coffee and more stories. It's a nice way to spend the evening," he said. And although Brown has never been visited by a ghost, he understands their appeal. "People like the idea," he said. "It seems spooky but safe, like Halloween itself. Old buildings do sometimes look spooky. They creak and shake and swoon. People like the thought that an old building has some character to it." The historical society's Wendy Belcher, who has been leading walks for more than a decade, 5 | Thursday, October 24, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Special to the Beaver Michael Brown says he has never encountered a ghost in his 10 years at the Oakville Museum -- but he's heard plenty of stories from people who have. "I've been pretty lucky so far. But you never know," said the educational interpreter. Erchless Estate, which houses Oakville Museum, is said to also be home to nine ghosts, including the former lady of the house, Rebecca Chisholm. She was married to William Chisholm, a businessman and shipbuilder who purchased land at the Sixteen Mile Creek and became the found- says hundreds turn out for the annual event each year, in every type of weather. "Sometimes I say, "Are you sure you want to go out?" And they always want to go. It has just become more popular every year," she said, adding the walks are suitable for children. The Oakville Historical Society's ghost walks run on various nights until Tuesday. Walks take place at 6, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m. Each tour is followed with refreshments. The cost is $12 per adult and $6 per child. Participants meet at the historical society's office at 110 King St. Call the society at 905-844-2695 for reservations. For more information, visit www.oakvillehistory.org. STOREWIDE SALE FREE INSTALLATION SAFETY COVER SALE!! 12'x24' RECT 60th Anniversary $599 *Installed SAFETY COVER SALE 14' x 28' RECT $799 16' x 32' RECT $899 18' x 36' RECT $1099 20' x 40' RECT $1199 *Installed Similar Savings On Shaped Pools INGROUND POOLS FACTORY DIRECT 12'x24' Inground Kidney Shaped Pool $24,995 INSTALLED* Vinyl & Fiberglass Available WINTER COVERS FACTORY DIRECT VINYL LINER SALE! Extra Special Savings Limited Time Only Custom Orders Included 12'x24' Rect 1/G $49 14'x28' Rect 1/G $59 16'X32' Rect 1/G $79 15' Round A/G $29 18' Round A/G $39 21' Round A/G $49 24' Round A/G $69 SAVE BIG! 12'X24' $999 14'X28' $1,099 16'X32' $1,299 18'X36' $1,499 20'X40' $1,799 REPLACE YOUR LINER THIS FALL AND 18'x36' Rect 1/G $99 + many more sizes ORY BUY FACTT! DIREC ...Because you only turn 60 once! Furniture & Home Decor 217 Lakeshore Rd. E. Downtown Oakville www.swissinteriors.com · 4 Person Spa · Plug n' play 110v · Just Plug It In! 905-844-3530 Proudly Supporting Canadian Manufacturers P 1953-2013 FACTORY DIRECT 60 years Free Installation $15,999 installed* 504 IROQUOIS SHORE ROAD, UNIT #1 OAKVILLE www.leisureindustries.ca Swim Spas $ 1,999 Pools, Spas, Billiards *Limited Time Offer, No Dealers Please, Quantities Limited. *Not applicable on prior sales orders. Restrictions apply. Check in store for details. FACTORY DIRECT 905.815.5252 You'll always want what is best for your child. When it comes to driver training, you cannot cut corners. Young Drivers of Canada teaches in-car life-saving emergency braking and swerving techniques. Knowing how to drive safely means having the skills to react to the unexpected. For info or to enroll visit www.yd.com or call 289.644.2374 Effective driver training is proven to save lives. NEW! Oakville North 180 Oakpark Blvd Suite 107 Nov 23, 24, 30, Dec 1 or Dec 20, 21, 22, 23 Oakville 345 Lakeshore Rd. E. Suite 312 Oct 26 - 2 wknds or Nov 5 - Tues/Thur MTO APPROVED BEGINNER DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE PROVIDER ISO 9001:2008 Registered