Chatham’s Chilling Brushes with the Paranormal
The exterior of Woodland Hall on a chilling October day. (Lyn Bigley)
From Andrew Mellon himself to two separate women in blue dresses, Chatham University has come to know a plethora of paranormal figures unique to its community. Many of them carry rich and even scandalous backstories, from affairs to tragic falls.
This lore is engrained in student culture. The Blue Lady of Woodland Hall remains one of Chatham’s most infamous spirits, trailing through the dorm’s halls and hovering above students’ beds. It’s also become a well-known superstition for students walking through the Mellon House to greet Andrew Mellon as they pass his portrait—or else he’ll send you and your books flying.
Seemingly unexplainable paranormal stories are nothing new to Chatham. In a 1997 edition of the Communique, Woodland residents reported cold spots in the bathroom and a lurking presence, while a Fickes resident said their alarm clock continued to blare even after it was unplugged.
Fickes is said to house a myriad of spirits, from a young boy named Billy to Edwin Fickes himself. One interviewed student claims to have heard Billy rolling his toy balls down the long, narrow third-floor Fickes hallways. Nina Schroeder ‘25 encountered the unnamed Fickes lady who reportedly fell—or jumped—from the third-story window while carrying her baby, according to The Communique.
“My freshman year of college I was having a sleepover at Fickes, and while I was sleeping, I was rudely awoken by a ghastly looking lady petting my hair,” Schroeder said. “I didn’t get the best look at her when I snapped around to the feeling, but she looked very pale and old timey.”
When asked about how this experience made her feel, Schroeder didn’t seem too phased. “It honestly was pretty tranquil other than the fact that her hand made my head feel very cold.” Perhaps this speaks to the nature of Chatham’s spirits; like the greater Chatham community, she was simply looking to spread comradery and connection.
Students have a superstition of greeting Mellon as they pass his portrait—or else he’ll send you and your books flying. (Lyn Bigley)
While ghost stories seem to be a hot topic among Chatham’s student body, even some of Chatham’s professors have experiences with on-campus paranormal encounters. “My friend Katie, who is a Chatham alum, has some equipment,” Dr. Carrie Helms, associate professor and chair of the humanities department, said. “We came here on a full moon [along with Katie’s sister Ali]—motion detecting sensors, some other recording equipment. The one that was actually kind of spooky was a spirit box.”
So, the three set up their ghost-hunting operation in the darkness of Lindsay. “Essentially, Ali was wearing headphones and calling out what she was hearing.” Katie and Helms called out various questions, asking if any spirits were there and if they had been a student. The spirit box gave a few nonsensical responses, but when Dr. Helms asked when the spirit had class, Ali called out “afternoon.” The next answer? “4:00.”
A stairway in Lindsay House, where Chatham faculty said they encountered paranormal activity. (Lyn Bigley)
Dr. Helms shared some insider scoop about Lindsay House spirits, revealing a new entity—the Lady in Black—seen by Dr. Alexandra Reznik, assistant professor of humanities. “Dr. Reznik says when she was a TA as an undergrad here, she would come here at night, and she would see the Lady in Black at the back staircase,” Helms said.
“I don’t know if I believe in ghosts or not. I find spiritualists fascinating,” Helms said, reflecting on her experience. “So many people dead, so many people not here, and that drive to talk to people who aren’t here is beautiful and worth exploring.”
Even though Helms’ ghost hunt didn’t explicitly uncover a new identity to Chatham’s paranormal roster: “I often tell students that I’m going to die at my desk, and they’ll have to wheel me out of this office on a stretcher to get rid of me. So, I have every intention of haunting Lindsay House someday.”
Beyond the legends and lore, students still find comfort in Chatham’s quaint, verdant campus and historical architecture. Perhaps keeping this physical history intact has caused rich spirits to linger throughout Chatham’s campus. A feeling that can't be replicated draws students in—even if that means being tickled in your sleep by a paranormal lady.
Lyn Bigley ’26 is an undergraduate student at Chatham University with a double major in creative writing and psychology.