University of Toronto - The Ghost of Reznikoff (Part 1 of 2)

In this video, University College is investigated to verify reports of a haunting.

The following is a general telling of the legend compiled from various versions.

The Legend:

According to a local legend here in Toronto, the University College building -located at 15 Kings College Circle, at the St. George University of Toronto Campus- is haunted by a ghost. According to the legend, a Russian-Pole stonemason named Ivan Reznikoff and a Greek stonemason named Paul Diabolos fell in love with the same woman. Her name was Sue. Both Reznikoff and Diabolos worked alongside each other, carving many of the features to be seen on the University College building today.

Reznikoff made plans to be married to Sue as soon as the work on University College had been completed. Together they saved their money, but Sue held the money in her keeping.

Paul Diabolos who was the secret lover of Reznikoff's fiancé had other plans for both Sue and the money. Diabolos wanted to take Sue and Reznikoff's money, and go West to strike it rich as a gold miner.

When Reznikoff learned of the secret romance between Diabolos and Sue he grew into a fit of rage and confronted Diabolos with an axe at the arcaded porch by the roundhouse (otherwise known as Croft's House). There, in the corridor, the two of them fought. Reznikoff swung his axe at Diabolos but missed! The axe left its mark on the oak door, and still exists today. Diabolos took flight into the University College building and headed towards the Tower. Unsure of where to go, Diabolos fled up to the third floor of the Tower, with Reznikoff close behind. According to the legend, with the Devil's help Diabolos waited for Reznikoff who was exhausted giving chase with his axe. There in the Tower on the third floor, Diabolos lept onto Reznikoff with a knife and stabbed him several times until he lay dead.

To hide his crime, Diabolos placed Reznikoff's body in the well of the Tower, over which stairs were eventually constructed. Reports of a ghost began to occur shortly thereafter.

Unknown to anyone, Reznikoff's body lay rotting beneath the stair well until February 14 1890, when a great fire ravaged University College. During the reconstruction, workmen discovered the skeletal remains of a man while installing a ventilation shaft in the Tower.

According to Prof. J. Loudon, the bones -but not the skull- were buried beneath a Maple tree in the North-East corner of University College's quad.

Since that time, reports of a haunting at University College continue.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• University of Toronto
• Reznikoff Diabolos
• ghosts
• haunted
• University College

[skifiles]

I watched a short film in Rogers cable tv while I was living in UofT campus. That was 25 years ago.

[OCPRS]

Hi skifiles.

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[erickdircks]

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A New Friend

Erick

[OCPRS]

@erickdircks

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[judashellenthior]

. . . Wow. . .