Haunted Colby-Sawyer

Every college has its ghost stories and Colby-Sawyer College is no exception.  As Halloween approaches and the day shortens, students can’t help but share the stories that they have heard about ghosts on campus. These stories have been passed down from generation to generation, the tale changing a little each time and, sometimes, these stories have been written down.  Read on to learn more and to decide for yourself what is fact and what is fiction.

Austin Hall

Background

Austin Hall was originally built in 1927 as a gymnasium.  It was reconstructed as a residence hall in 1965 and named after Colby Junior College President Eugene M. Austin. President Austin was responsible for the resurgence of construction that occurred on campus in the early 1960s.  He presented plans for a new science building (Reichhold), a new gymnasium (HESS, now Mercer), the remodeling of Colgate, and the building of a new residence hall on the site of the old gymnasium.  When Austin passed away suddenly in 1962, it seemed appropriate to name the new residence hall in his honor.

The Tales

Some who believe that Austin is haunted have heard the sound of dribbling basketballs and argue that  it is the ghost of President Austin, claiming that he was the basketball coach during his time at the college.  According to the yearbooks and student newspapers, there is no record of President Austin coaching the team.

Others claim that if everybody on the second floor goes into their rooms and shut the doors, they can hear the sound of someone dribbling a basketball up and down the hall.  The noise stops when someone opens a door and, when students look out, there is nobody there.

Best Hall

Background

Built in 1954, Best Hall was named for Dr. Samuel M. Best, football coach at Colby Academy, member of the Board of Trustees from 1933 until 1968, and chair from 1933 until 1968.

The Tales

Best is believed to have at least one ghost, but possibly has more.

The first is a young woman that is dressed in a gray, sheer gown.  Her dress seems to move slightly from a breeze even when all the doors and windows are closed.  She has been seen floating in the corridors and then fades quickly. Another ghost (or possibly the same one) creates a breeze when there is none.  Some say that the wind created seems to have a quiet hum.

The Cleveland Library

Background

The library was dedicated in 1985 and is named for Susan Colgate Cleveland, a longtime trustee and benefactor for the college and granddaughter of the college’s first teacher.   The building was constructed from three pre-Civil War barns that belonged to the Cleveland family.  In 1996, the Cleveland Archives opened in the wing that connects the Colby Homestead to the Cleveland Library.

The Tales

There are several ghosts that are supposed to haunt the Cleveland Library and, in the past, some members of Campus Safety and Housekeeping have refused to go into the library after dark.  One ghost is considered to be a history enthusiast that rearranges book titles and several times the town’s history has supposedly been discovered on the floor in the morning.

A woman in white has been seen and some claim that it is Susan C. Cleveland, the woman whom the building is named for.

In one of the lofts, the ghost of a young boy with a withered or amputated arm is sometimes seen or heard.  Legend says the boy worked on the original farm and was involved in an accident involving the ventilation shaft which resulted in his death.

Still others claim that when items were moved from the Old Academy building to the Cleveland Archives, a ghost came with them; it is unclear if this ghost is the boy who is heard in the loft area, the history enthusiast who rearranges books at night, the woman in white, or another apparition.

Colby Hall

Background

Colby Hall was built in 1931 and named in honor of the Colby family.  It has been used since its inception as a residence hall.

The Tales

Colby does not have many ghost stories associated with it, but one that is heard frequently is of a cat that is heard meowing or seen walking through walls.

Colgate Hall

Background

Colgate Hall was built in 1911 to house the entire teaching and living facilities of Colby Academy.  The building has been reconstructed, altered, and enlarged many times with the portico facing the quad being added in 1957.  The building name honors the Colgate family, dedicated supporters of the college.  Susan Colby, who later married James B. Colgate, was the first woman teacher and principal of Colby Academy. Her children, James C. Colgate and Mary Colgate, dedicated the building in 1912. The portico was the gift of Mrs. Susan Colgate Cleveland and her sister Mrs. John Sloan, daughters of James C. Colgate.

Today, Colgate houses the administrative offices, classrooms, college bookstore, and Campus Safety, but in the past it has also been used as a dormitory, a library, a chapel, and a dining hall.

The Tales

Colgate is one of the most haunted buildings on campus and it is believed to have several ghosts wandering its halls.  The most common ghost is the man in the hat.  Descriptions of this male apparition vary.  Sometimes he is sporting a large brim hat and stylish coat.  At other times he has been seen dressed in all black, wearing a suit, or carrying a cane.  This ghost has been seen since the 1960s and it is rumored that his visits are more frequent when a play is going on at Sawyer Center.

There have also been stories that the ghost of Governor Anthony Colby has been seen looking out onto the campus from the cupola.

There are also several female ghosts wandering the halls of Colgate.  There is supposedly a woman named either Sarah or Susan (see Susan’s Swamp below) who haunts her former third floor room on Colgate.  Some claim that the room was bricked up to keep her in and everyone else out.  The tale is that Sarah was a student at the college in the 1900s and she went out one night with some students from Dartmouth College and never returned.  Her body was later found floating in Page Pond (now Susan’s Swamp).  Evidence showed that she had been brutally raped and murdered.  Sarah’s ghost has been seen wandering between the pond and Colgate, particularly on the third floor.  It is also rumored that her best friend and roommate began to go crazy after seeing the ghost of Sarah around campus and committed suicide by throwing herself out of the third floor window.  One student claims that when she attended Colby-Sawyer in the 1990s, access to the third floor was still forbidden.

Another story tells of a young woman dressed in all black who haunts the cupola and is usually seen in the late afternoon when the sun is setting.  The stories claim that the ghost is supposed to be named Beth or Elizabeth and she was sent to Colby-Sawyer by her parents to meet a wealthy Dartmouth man.  It is claimed that her father was going to force her into marriage and to avoid this, she jumped from the cupola to her death.

The fourth floor of Colgate has a strange vibe and is a frequent “hot spot” for ghost hunters.

McKean Hall

Background

McKean was built in 1930 and was named for Dr. Horace G. McKean, principal and headmaster of the academy from 1899 to 1905.  It has been used as a residence hall since its construction.

The Tales

The claim is that, in 1745, a man named Gilbert Ross was burned at the stake on the site of the dorm.  There is no evidence to indicate that such an event took place.  Occupants claim that they have seen objects move, that electronics spontaneously turn on and off, and that mirrors have shattered suddenly.  Also, despite only being used by the cleaning staff in the morning, the pull system elevators are said to run all night long, dinging and stopping repeatedly.

Old Academy Building

Background

Now the home of the New London Town offices, the Old Academy Building was built in 1838.  The building had many uses throughout the years, including being used as a gymnasium complete with bowling lanes during the 1870s.  It was restored in 1960 and was given to the Town of New London in 1999.  Before being given to the town, the College used the building in much the same way as they use Colby Farm today–to house guests, performers, and prospective faculty and staff.

The Tales

Strange noises including doors opening and shutting, water running and splashing as though someone was taking a bath, parties and dancing, and footsteps.  Lights were said to be turned on and off and small objects such as books and glasses were moved around the room.  Even furniture was said to have been moved.

There seemed to be particular issues with the Burpee Room, which housed a large canopy bed.  This room’s door, seemingly locked, would open itself up and lights would be found on or off in this room.  Humanities Chair and professor, Pat Anderson told the Boston Globe of his experiences with the Burpee room, which was directly across from the room he was staying in.  He left for the evening, forcefully closing the door to the Burpee room and turned on the light to his room, the hall, and the outside lights.  When he returned later that night, the building was pitch black.  Anderson states, “I didn’t want to look to my right, but when I did, the door was open again.  I slammed the door, went into my room, locked the door and put a dresser up against it…I’m convinced there was a presence in that building that I can’t explain.”

When the building was transferred to the town, at least one towns person called with concerns about the ghosts.  The town administrator assured the citizen that they were friendly.  Another administrator claimed that the ghosts may have moved elsewhere and suggested the Cleveland Library as their new home.

Page Hall & Shepard Hall

Background

Page Hall, built in 1938, was named for the Reverend Charles L. Page, class of 1880.  Shepard Hall was built in 1932 and is named for the Shepards who were one of the original families to settle in New London.

The Tales

Both of these residence halls are rumored to have some sort of uncomfortable “presence” in the basement.

Susan’s Swamp

Background

In the early 1900s, Susan’s Swamp was actually a shallow pasture pond that was part of the Colby Homestead.  It was used to fence out the cows and, as a result, the open water was replaced by a swampy hollow.  In 1964, the Cleveland family donated the land to the College and, an earth damn was constructed to restore the original pond.  The area is named for Susan Colgate Cleveland because it was a favorite spot of hers when she used to visit the Homestead as a young girl.  It was her husband, Dr. Mather Cleveland, who first called the area Susan’s Swamp.

The Tales

The legend is that the swamp is named for a young woman named Susan (sometimes Susan Colby) who was murdered at Colby-Sawyer College.  The story goes that Susan met a young man at a mixer.  The last time that she was seen alive was walking with him towards the swamp.  Many claim that this Susan is the same young woman who haunts the third floor of Colgate Hall.  Others claim that a body was dumped in the swamp.

Do you have more ghost stories related to Colby-Sawyer College that you don’t see here?  Please leave a comment below and share your own version of Haunted Colby-Sawyer.