Some creepy stuff went down on St. Joe (20 photos)

"Without the people from the past, there would be no ghost walk today," said Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site cultural interpreter, Fran Robb. "The story begins with them."

An estimated 17 actors relived life on the hinterland of Fort St. Joseph, a self-sustaining community between the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Residents envisioned a better life for themselves but there were many challenges from struggling with their own demons, the weather to a pending attack by the United States military.

An estimated 55 volunteers helped assemble the evening's three performances, not knowing until the very last minute whether the first walk was going to be held indoors or outdoors due to heavy rain that stopped just in time.

Preparations were made in the event the rain did not hold off by moving the show to the indoor theatre.

Throughout the 20 years the fort has hosted the ghost walk, Robb said they never had to resort to using the theatre.

"We couldn't have pulled it (ghost walk) off without the many volunteers including staff from Fort St. Joseph and the Sault Canal, to the 49th Field Regiment and cadets, Jocelyn Township Fire Department and the Healing Lodge Singers," Robb said following the walk.

Robb said she walks out on the hill and envisions the past and based on the letters and journals from 200 years of history, develops the storyline for the event in a chronological order.

Many descendants of the fort's original inhabitants were among an estimated 150 people that attended the three walks.

Lightning could be seen over DeTour adding to the atmosphere as a lone piper, the spirit of the 49th Regiment, led visitors from the interpretation centre to the fort hill and where the story begins.

Many of the same characters are portrayed each year, but Robb said the script changes.

"There are many characters out there yet to be introduced," she said.

Among the main characters include Dr. Brown, Robert Dickson, Mrs. Crawford and her grandchildren, Acting Superintendent of the British Indian Department John Askin Jr. and his wife, Madeline Askin, Alexander McIntosh, Johnny Askin the spy with the British Indian Department. Among the characters introduced this year were Isabelle Gun, a female voyageur, Mjr. John Richardson and Capt. Jean Marie.

Numerous area residents step forward year after year, some dating back to the inception of the ghost walk, such as Archie Laidlaw, Mike Seymour, Doug Hook and 90-year-old Ches Wallace.

"There are a lot more stories out there for years to come," Robb said. "I can write stories for another 20 years."

Robb is credited with the introduction of the ghost walk. It began with an idea to host an event in 1988 but not implemented until 1995.

There were a couple of rough years in early 200's including the blackout of 2003 that resulted in a six-year gap. The walk returned after a strong demand from the public in 2009.

This year saw the ghost walk drop to one evening with three performances, down from two evenings in 2015.