Terrifying tales of ghosts at OWU

Photo from Lincoln Construction, Edited by Elizabeth Hille

Happy Halloween, Bishops! Did you know that Ohio Wesleyan is rumored to be “one of the most haunted universities in America”? Today is a perfect day to learn more about the haunted happenings here on campus!

Perhaps the person with the most claims of paranormal activity at Ohio Wesleyan is former Public Safety Officer John Ciochetty, who even went so far as to write a book about his experiences and the paranormal stories of others. Ciochetty claims that, “90% of the university is reported to be haunted.” He decided to write The Ghosts of Stuyvestant Hall and Beyond, which details ghost stories on campus. This book features eerie stories from Stuyvestant Hall, as well as Hayes Hall, Welch Hall, Perkins Observatory, Phi Delt Fraternity, Chi Phi Fraternity, and Sanborn Music Hall. Other sources claim that Elliot Hall, Gray’s Chapel, and Sturges Hall are also haunted.  

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The most famous and notable story comes from the ground floor of Stuyvesant Hall, which, back in the day, had dormitories. In the 1950s, students and officials rushed to a dormitory next to the laundry room after they heard blood-curdling screams. When they entered the room, a student was found rocking back and forth on the ground while mumbling incoherently. Personal items were flung about the room, and a fabric noose was found under the bed. After getting up, the student started screaming that “they were out to get her.” She told everyone that she was struggling to sleep at night due to spirits appearing and inviting her to the other side. She eventually withdrew from the university, leaving the room open for other potential victims. 

Ever since the strange encounter, any student who moved into that room promptly requested a new one after unexplained happenings occurred while they occupied it. Rumors and ghost stories flooded the campus, and one brave administrator volunteered to put these rumors to rest once and for all. The administrator was locked in the room for one night in an attempt to disprove the ghost stories; however, when he came out, he promptly filed a work order for the room to be sealed immediately. Since that day, this sealed room has been unoccupied, and students have not been able to find it. Alarmingly, multiple students have reported seeing shadows along the walls in that area or feeling spiritual presences. 

The Ghosts of Stuyvestant Hall and Beyond is riddled with other similar stories. A few of them detail mysterious deaths and murders, telling about how the spirits of the deceased are still on Earth. For anyone interested in these spooky stories, this book can be found on Amazon or at the Delaware County Library. John Ciochetty also wrote Ghosts of Historic Delaware, Ohio, which is part of the “Haunted America” series and goes in depth about other paranormal activity in Delaware. 

Happy Halloween, OWU! Have a fun night and don’t let the campus spirits bite!