Archive #139 Belhurst Castle

Intro: Tonight, we journey to the quiet town of Geneva, New York, nestled beside the still waters of Seneca Lake. What awaits isn’t just a beautiful castle, but a story layered in history, trauma, and mystery. 🏰 The Land Before the Castle Long before Belhurst Castle stood, this land was sacred to the Seneca Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Known as Kanadesaga, it was a place of peace, unity, and later, devastating loss. We explore the region’s deep Indigenous history and the brutal impact of the Revolutionary War, including Sullivan’s March and the destruction of entire villages. 🪶 The Village of Kanadesaga Once home to the Council of the Six Nations, Kanadesaga was fortified in 1756 and later caught in the crossfire of colonial betrayal and frontier warfare. Learn how this once-thriving village became a ghost of its former self and why some believe the spirits still linger. ⚔️ The Coming Storm The infamous Wyoming Massacre, fueled by misinformation and fear, led to a scorched-earth retaliation by General Sullivan. This section covers the horror that followed: the burning of orchards, sacred land, and communities, and the spiritual echo that remains in the region. 🔥 Sullivan’s March Washington’s orders weren’t just tactical; they were cultural erasure. Over 40 villages burned. Graves desecrated. Elders and children were forced into the wilderness. In oral tradition, such pain leaves a residue. Could this land still carry the memory of that suffering? 📜 From Sacred Soil to Sale Despite pleas for peace, the land was sold and divided, eventually ending up in the hands of businessmen and speculators. The Ontario Glass Company set the stage for what would come next,  and the most prized portion of land fell to one man. 🏚️ The Hermitage and the Fugitive Learn the shocking tale of William Henry Bucke, the London treasurer turned American fugitive, who hid in solitude under the alias “Henry Hall.” The secrets he buried beneath his home, including a rumored escape tunnel, would give rise to one of Belhurst’s most infamous ghost stories. 🌲 Belhurst is Born After decades of rumors and transitions, Carrie Harron arrived, and everything changed. From the ashes of Otis Grove rose a grand mansion built with European stone and lavish taste. But her castle would inherit more than luxury; it inherited the land’s lingering spirits. 🏗️ The Building of Belhurst Castle Carrie Collins spared no expense building her dream home. Imported stone, fifty men, four years of labor, and a few ominous incidents set the tone for the castle's darker legend. Some say the very act of construction invited something... unwelcome. 👻 The Hauntings Begin Strange activity started soon after the castle was built, stories of tunnels, tragedies, and whispers in the night. And one name echoes louder than the rest. 🧳 The Tale of Isabella She’s called the Lady in White. But who was Isabella? A runaway lover? A mistress on the run? Or two women whose tragedies became one legend? We trace the tangled threads of her story across time and folklore. 🚪 Two Endings, One Ghost Whether drowned in the lake or crushed beneath the castle, Isabella’s end was tragic and incomplete. Her spirit is said to remain, lingering in the halls, on the lawn, and sometimes… at your window. 🌫️ The Lady in White She’s seen gliding across the lawn, heard in ghostly arias, and smelled in the scent of roses that appear out of nowhere. Paranormal investigators and guests alike have felt her presence, and a few even claim to have seen her. 🪦 The Grieving Spirit