"This thing, whatever it is, has more power than you think."
- Alfred Dobson, Toronto Evening Telegram, 1930
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IN THE UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 20
In the aftermath of the Great War and a global pandemic — with economic uncertainty rising — the Dobson family retreats to a quiet farm in Mulmur Township, Ontario, seeking peace from urban life. Their tranquility is shattered when terrifying horse mutilations signal the presence of an Unseen Thing. In time, the sinister force grows stronger, turning their farmhouse into a battleground of inexplicable phenomena: shaking floors, phantom knocks, and objects that defy gravity. When the activity escalates into physical danger — particularly for the youngest child — the family’s resolve breaks, the Dobsons flee, but their ordeal captivates newspapers, drawing journalists and thrill-seekers to their now-famous “Spook Farm.” As rumours swirl about family intrigue, buried secrets, and occult influences, Ivan Hutchins, a Toronto-based Spiritualist and investigator, joins the Dobsons to unravel the mystery through seances and investigations. The story unfolds against a wider tapestry of rural Canadian poltergeist cases, comparing the Dobsons’ ordeal with other forgotten hauntings and the folkloric patterns they share.
More than a retelling, the book pulls the reader inside the investigation — examining folklore, psychology, and scientific context alongside paranormal theories from the 1930s and those that have emerged since, in a sustained attempt to get as close as possible to what really happened.
This true story reclaims a forgotten chapter of Canadian paranormal history while exploring why such events refuse to fade—lingering in our folklore, our fears, and our enduring fascination with the unexplained.
On my Facebook Author Page and Instagram, I share archival finds, research discoveries, and historical fragments connected to my upcoming book — small clues, buried details, and glimpses into mysteries that the book will explore more fully. Follow along for updates, discoveries, and pieces of the story that live beyond the page.
A brief, atmospheric glimpse into the fear and folklore surrounding one of Dufferin County’s strangest — and nearly forgotten — ghost stories, and the book that explores what really happened.
"Some stories persist not because they are unresolved, but because they were never fully acknowledged. This book grew from scattered newspaper fragments — partial accounts marked by gaps, contradictions, and unanswered questions — leaving behind an incomplete story that settled into local legend. What drew me to it was not the promise of explanation, but the weight of the mystery itself, and its place within Canada’s broader landscape of haunted places. Approaching the phenomenon through historical, cultural, and psychological perspectives, the book builds upon the surviving record to examine what may have occurred, and why some events continue to exert a presence long after they should have faded." — Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd is a writer, educator, filmmaker, and traveller whose work explores the intersection of history, folklore, and the unexplained. His debut nonfiction book, Unseen Thing: The Mulmur Hills Poltergeist, will be published by Dundurn Press in the fall of 2026.
He is also a motion picture screenwriter, with credits including Wrecked (2011), starring Academy Award–winner Adrien Brody, and Kill for Me (2013), starring Katie Cassidy and Donal Logue.
His nonfiction writing has appeared in The Creemore Echo newspaper, where he has documented unusual and often overlooked stories from local history.
He lives in Ontario with his wife, Carolyn, and their cat, Sophia, dividing his time between Richmond Hill and Mulmur.
His connection to Mulmur runs deep: he is descended from Irish pioneers who settled in the area around the time the township was officially organized and incorporated. His great-great-great-grandparents are buried in Whitfield Cemetery, their presence anchoring his work in the same landscape where many of these stories first took root.
His interests include backyard astronomy and playing the guitar.
This form is intended for interviews and media inquiries, though I do welcome notes from readers and the curious. If my reply is delayed, it’s likely because I’m temporarily out of reach. I’ll respond as soon as I’m able.