Reviews of The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend, by Canadian author and researcher John Savoie
"When
one reads any book, they have a hope that part of that book will
resonate within their very being... that a small portion will literally
become a part of their essence. In this case, one hopes the reader of
this brief tome will not find that part being a soiled mattress in a
drainage tunnel that was said to be, potentially, where a ghostly
prostitute plies her trade. Welcome to the lore of the Blue Ghost
Tunnel and the book, The Blue Ghost Tunnel Making of a Legend.
Author
John Savoie delves into what has been an interesting and often
frightening (for all the wrong reasons,) journey through the stories,
myths, and legends of the now infamous tunnel and it's environs. He
digs through documents and quite literally knocks on doors finding out
the sources of the history (that exists and is glancingly relevant,) as
well as the ghostly myths that sprung up around this Ontario haunt...
from its many claims of origins to where things stand at the time of his
writing.
The tunnel, in the Niagara region of Ontario, first
came to popular light online in the late 1990's and through the early
2000's gaining a strong reputation for everything from screams being
heard from nowhere to the apparitions of women and dogs... and even
sexual encounters of a very spiritual kind!
Everything from a
flooded cemetery, various drownings, to a century old train wreck was
blamed for all the events... and Savoie examines them all and the mythos
from not only the tunnel itself, but it's surrounding areas.
From
vandals to teenagers, questionable ghost hunters to potential movie
deals, from skewed and misleading television programs to dead hookers,
Savoie leaves few stones unturned.
This is a very lively book
that at some points, both Sue and myself found ourselves in tears of
laughter reading... and finding out even our "facts" about the tunnel
needed work! Without question, it is a "must read" for anyone
interested in folklore, ghosts, urban legends, or all points in
between... especially in Southern Ontario.
Is the tunnel
bunk? Is it caused by psi? Is it the DPH (dead person hypothesis) at
work? Savoie excellently goes about making cases for almost all the
notions for what's said to be experienced at the tunnel, save for why so
many female ghosts end up being named after the months of the year, but
overall still leaves the judgment to the reader after all is said and
done, The Blue Ghost Tunnel Making of a Legend is a worthy book for
anyone to have a "boo" at."
~ Matthew James Didier
"This
is a book that had to be written, and I can think of no one better to
sort through so much chaff to get to the wheat or heart of the BGT (Blue
Ghost Tunnel) legend than author/researcher John Savoie. Mr Savoie has
spent extensive time visiting, and researching the Blue Ghost Tunnel
location, and its history. He has exhausted many different sources from
long-time residents of the area, to local historians, and archives,
canal officials, ghost hunters, demon worshippers, bored teenagers, tour
operators, and even found the originator of the term "Blue Ghost
Tunnel."
The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making Of A
Legend, includes numerous photos, and maps of the area both historical
and current. It explores much of the mythos surrounding the tunnel, and
sorts the facts from the fiction with numerous examples and sources that
demonstrate the true history and origin of the legend. Both Matthew and
I were happy to learn many new things about the BGT.
Savoie
also covers different ideas on what may or may not be occurring at the
BGT and allows for the reader to make up their own minds on what is
presented as clearly speculation, while at the same time giving good
food for thought in regards to the potential of actual anomalies.
This
book is extremely entertaining, and a worthwhile read for anyone
interested in ghosts, ghost hunting, history, urban legends, folklore,
and the internet's role in creating, and spreading mythos with break
neck speed. While the Blue Ghost Tunnel became an internet phenomenon
it is an excellent example of how urban legends begin, evolve, and how
they can endure as folklore that will be passed through generations.
Long
after the original BGTers have moved on to other things, younger
generations will find this tunnel via Creepy Canada reruns or old
internet forums, and long abandoned ghost hunting group's websites. Out
of all the thrill seekers, ghost tourists, and people with nothing
better to do on a Saturday night who will flock there, there will be one
or two with a keen, and sincere interest in paranormal stories and
research and Mr Savoie has now provided them with an excellent resource
for this location.
Thank you John for setting
the record straight on this Southern Ontario haunt. While it will
surely be despised by some, it will equally and more importantly so, be
appreciated by the many"
~ Sue Demeter-St. Clair
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