The ashes of Alan Mercer, husband of storyteller Joan Bodger, are said to have been stealthily placed under the foundations of the Lillian H. Smith branch of the public library on College near Spadina. Joan Bodger had one of her young protégés do the deed at night, climbing over the construction fence and down into the pit.
Friend and prolific author John Robert Colombo has published many, many tales of haunted Canadian buildings. I wonder if he knows about the Mercer ashes. The source of my tale was a kind passerby. I thought to ask his name but then decided it was better left a mystery.
Handsome bronzes of a winged lion and a griffin flank the arched entry way. Such figures were used historically to guard tombs and sacred spaces. How appropriate. I include the shot of yours truly because Colombo says I include too few… usually because I’m the one behind the camera. In this case, Bill Byres was the photographer.