by Jamily Castro-Reyes

The world is full of mysteries beyond our understanding that often invites intrigue and fear, especially when it comes to the paranormal. What exactly is the paranormal? Paranormal defines events that are denoted, or phenomena described in popular culture, folk and other non-scientific bodies of the unknown. Can we truly communicate with the dead? Are there benevolent spirits among our very own school grounds? Greensboro College, with its storied past, is a focal point of such mysteries, steeped in ghostly tales that intertwined history with the supernatural.

The haunting narratives of Greensboro College are rooted in the tragic history of its Main Building, which has witnessed multiple fires. The first incident occurred in 1863, when a blaze came out of the east wing, consuming the structure entirely. The second fire struck in 1904, coinciding with the witching hour, which is around three in the morning. This destruction foreshadowed a series of misfortunes, including the passing of Lucy Henderson Owen Robertson, the first female president of our school. After her retirement, she is believed to have died in the infirmary located in the Main Building in 1930. Despite the grim history, GC rebuilt, constructing a third Main Building that stood for decades. Unfortunately, again in 1941, it had fallen to another fire, although this time the cause of the fire was due to lightning. At the very top, there was a metal pole in which the lightning struck down. Before the building reached its demise, the building also served as an infirmary during the Spanish influenza outbreak, where many students lost their lives in a quarantine section of the third floor.

Over the years, numerous deaths have been recorded in and around the college. Among the most notable is William Barringer, a construction worker who tragically fell to his death while working on renovations in 1873. His spirit, along with others, is believed to linger in the shadows of the campus.

The Parlor Theater, a significant site on the lore of our college, is said to house the spirit of a former student, a mother, connected to the famous playwright O. Henry. Legend has it that if you call her son three times, her shadow may appear in the corner. Also, any negative comments about him could provoke her wrath may possibly even cause the lights to flicker. This haunting was investigated in 2007 by the show “Ghost Hunters.” There was a wardrobe of tea lights when the crew left the room and when they came back, they had seen one of the tea lights was lit, seemingly igniting the curiosity of both the living and the dead. The Parlor has been the site of eerie encounters, including a chilling experience reported by a student during the 700th anniversary of the college being open. As she prepared for a performance, she was approached by a woman who then vanished before her eyes. The identity of the mysterious woman is speculated to be the mother of O. Henry. One officer and a student heard a mysterious voice whispering “Rose” outside close to the Parlor, despite no one else being in the building; this adds to the tapestry of unexplained phenomena.

Janitors working late often report shadowy figures on the second floor, leading them to prefer working in pairs for safety. They have also witnessed rocking chairs moving on their own, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. One of the more playful spirits is that of Ethel, the daughter of the seventh president at our college, who died at a young age of six. The spirit of Ethel has been reported to be on the third floor, where she enjoys interacting with toys, even during a ghost tour, her voice was captured on an electromagnetic field device, playfully responding with a simple “go” when asked if she wanted to join the group when they were heading to a different location.

Few students are not aware that our main building has an attic, and for good reasons. The attic is a place shrouded in danger and folklore. For one, the floor is deemed too hazardous as anyone can fall through. An incident involving a group of seniors attempting spirit trapping resulted in one student reporting claw marks on their back, accompanied by a burning sensation- an unsettling reminder of the unseen forces that might inhabit the space. Even the old dorm rooms are not without their eerie tales. Lights have been known to turn on by themselves, leaving campus security on edge.

The most infamous location on campus is the Doll Room, housing the 1924 doll that is believed to be haunted. The story goes that the girls in the class of 1924 faced a series of tragic incidents while creating their dolls, culminating in a deadly accident that took their lives. Their families later gave the doll back to Greensboro College, where strange occurrences began. The name “Mabel” and the year “1924” were found etched backwards into a nearby window, linking it to possibly one of the three students named Mabel from that class.

The tales of Greensboro College are rich and rooted in history, tragedy and mystery with spirits that refuse to be forgotten. As the college continues to educate new generations, echoes of the past remind us that the line between living and the dead may be thinner than we imagined. Whether these spirits are benign or mischievous, they undoubtedly contribute to the unique character of this historic institution, ensuring that its haunted legacy endures.