Shepherd University plays host to a number of legends and possible ghost sightings. While few students may claim to witness any purported supernatural happenings, one never knows whose dorm may contain unexpected residents.
The University’s online tour site offers visitors the needed infrastructure to conduct their own tour of the campus or to view current and historic photos. Additionally, it offers a neatly organized listing of reported hauntings and supernatural phenomenon. While the site doesn’t offer a clear paper trail for researching the various hauntings, it does provide a seasonal distraction from papers, exams, et al.
According to the website, Gardiner Hall plays host to the ghost of a former homecoming queen, Patty. She took an unfortunate spill in the showers one evening, resulting in a head injury which resulted in death. Since then, reports have been heard of Patty wandering around the hallways. She is also said to cross the football field every homecoming night. Can anyone confirm if she was seen this year?
Kenamond Hall features an 8 year old prankster in Victorian clothing. The website says he often traverses the halls, switching electronics on and off. Apparently the young man used to stand by the construction site of a former bridge leading to Sharpsburg, so that he could wave to his father who traveled the river. One day he fell into the construction site, died, and took up residence once Kenamond was built. Residents of Kenamond, have you seen this 19th century boy playing with 21st century technology?
One of the most active locations on campus is Miller Hall. Legends suggest that at some point a nursing student committed suicide by hanging in the attic. At some point in the 1980s, a Catholic priest was taken to room 201 so that he could perform an exorcism. Other reports suggest the priest just performed a blessing, to ease the minds of students who felt uncomfortable in the room. Lastly, a young girl, who fell out of a barn near Miller, has been seen walking the halls, decked out in Victorian garb. Are there any Millerites who have braved their fears and gained entrance to the attic?
It seems Thatcher Hall sits adjacent to an old cemetery, whose tombstones were removed in order to build the “B” wing of the dorm. Legend suggests that the spirits whose tombstones were displaced have taken up residency in the dorm. Has anyone seen them?
Readers should note that all of these hauntings and legends are unable to be confirmed through the standard means of responsible journalism. Residents of several of the dorms were questioned and none reported any strange happenings. However, if you, dear reader, have seen or felt any supernatural occurrence on campus, you are encouraged to comment on the online version of this article!
Interested readers can find these legends and more on the Legends portion of the Scarborough Library’s website, http://www.shepherd.edu/libweb/shwebsite
/legends/index.html.
