Freaky Friday: University of Tampa

September is National Piano Month, so it made sense for my weekly ghost hunt to result in the mysterious melodies of an unknown pianist. Students at the University of Tampa created this video to recount such a spooky tale from a local hotel.

I think they were inspired by elements of the movie ‘The Ring’ when making this film. Do you agree? Do you know of other campus ghosts at the University of Tampa? Share them with us in the comments below!

More Freaky Friday

Freaky Friday: Emporia State University
Freaky Friday: University of South Carolina
Freaky Friday: College of the Canyons
Freaky Friday: West Virginia University
Freaky Friday: Park University
Freaky Friday: Texas Tech

Freaky Friday: William & Mary
Freaky Friday: Columbia University
Freaky Friday: University of Rochester
Freaky Friday: East Tennessee State
Freaky Friday: Washington State University
Freaky Friday: USF Tampa
Freaky Friday: Pacific University
Freaky Friday: Franklin & Marshall
Freaky Friday: University of the South
Freaky Friday: Point Park

Full posts →

Freaky Friday: Park University

I often come across stories of dedicated people who choose to remain part of their campus community – even after their death.

This week’s tale from Park University is such a story and is told by KMBC reporter Larry Moore in this video.  

Check out the video and tell us: Have you had an experience with this seemingly harmless ghost? What other ghost stories are there at Park? Share your stories with us below!

More Freaky Friday

Freaky Friday: Texas Tech
Freaky Friday: William & Mary
Freaky Friday: Columbia University
Freaky Friday: University of Rochester
Freaky Friday: East Tennessee State
Freaky Friday: Washington State University
Freaky Friday: USF Tampa
Freaky Friday: Pacific University
Freaky Friday: Franklin & Marshall
Freaky Friday: University of the South
Freaky Friday: Point Park

Full posts →

Freaky Friday: Washington State University

While researching the ghost stories of various campuses around the country, I have found that many stories are a result of a mysterious death. And Washington State University is no exception.  Here are some spooky tales from WSU.

Stevens Hall

Residents of Stevens Hall are said to hear spooky sounds, including unidentified screams and doors opening on their own. Given the building’s history of disappearances and unexplained deaths, it should not come as a surprise that many believe the building to be haunted.

The Black Cat

Back in the early 1900s, students had a tradition of reading Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat” on Halloween. Rumors circulated around the tradition, saying that a black cat roamed the halls on the holiday, bringing misfortune with every step.

One year, the women of Stevens Hall found a black cat outside their house mother’s door. Thinking it was a prank being played by the men’s hall, they ignored the cat until later that night, when they went to find the house mother.  They found her dead.   Though doctors said natural causes were to blame, many still believe the the real cause of death was owed to the black cat.

WSU has many other ghostly tales, which can be found on their magazine’s website. Do you have a ghostly story from Washington State or another school? Share your story with us and yours could be featured here next week!

More Freaky Tales

Freaky Friday: USF Tampa
Freaky Friday: Pacific University
Freaky Friday: Franklin & Marshall
Freaky Friday: University of the South
Freaky Friday: Point Park

Full posts →

Freaky Friday: The University of the South

This week, we travel to Sewanee, Tennessee, home to The University of the South, also known as “Sewanee.” Ghost stories seem abundant in the state of Tennessee, and Sewanee is no exception– There are even Facebook groups dedicated to the hauntings.

One group, created by Annie Armour, shares many hauntings about the campus.  As an employee of the duPont Library, Annie began collecting stories from the group’s members on Facebook for a book about Sewanee ghosts. Here is one spooky tale 

“I was studying on the 3rd floor of Walsh-Ellet one night and heard footsteps in the stairwell, I thought it was a friend coming to visit. I waited as the steps got closer & then nothing appeared in the hallway…I heard the steps pass by and then go down the other stairwell. I flipped & grabbed my stuff and ran home…. Also, have one from when I lived in Courts my junior year.  My suitemate saw a man enter our adjoining suite (my room) in a big 1920s fur coat all dressed up and she went in to confront the guy & he vanished. Our suite was on the 2nd floor in Courts facing the lake. My roommate & I would have our stereos & alarm clock turned off too, when we KNEW they were set properly!” — Victoria L.

Freaky.

Still, the most popular story is that of the ghostly form of a former student that wanders through buildings on campus. Nicknamed “Phantom Gownsman”, for the dark robes he wears, it is widely believed that the ghost was once a member of the campus group the Order of the Gownsman. The spirit is also headless, which is thought to have been the result of a tragic car accident.

Do you have stories about the “Phantom Gownsman” or other ghostly friends of Sewanee? We’d love to hear them – share with us in the comments below!

Check out more ghostly stories:

Freaky Friday: Franklin & Marshall

Full posts →