Spooky season is upon us, and with that comes increased interest in the paranormal. This year, the state of Connecticut was deemed the “most haunted state.” I decided to take a look into just how haunted our little state truly is. A piece in the CT Post titled “Haunted Connecticut” led down a fascinating rabbit hole of research into the spooky spirits lurking throughout our area. Nora Swenson’s 2009 article for The College Voice, titled “Campus Safety Officers Reveal the Most Haunted Spaces on Campus”offered some insight into the ghosts that may be calling our campus home.
First of all, avid student ghost hunters need look no further than our very own Connecticut College campus. There are several buildings and spaces that are reportedly haunted. The general consensus among students and staff members is that the most haunted building is Knowlton. There are many stories as to why this is, with the most popular being about a student who hung herself after being rejected by a Coast Guard cadet. Perhaps the most well-known college ghost is the spirit of an old woman that lingers in Palmer Auditorium. She is referred to as Claire or Ruth, and has been seen occupying a seat in the upper balcony. The recent renovation and re-opening of Palmer leaves students wondering what our friend Claire thinks of the new space. In addition to Knowlton and Palmer, there have been reports of spooky encounters in Harkness, Freeman, and Windham. Living in Windham this year, this makes me a bit uneasy. At one point while I was writing this article, my LED strip lights turned on and then off by themselves. I looked over and the remote was in
its usual spot across the room. Perhaps it was simply an electronics malfunction, or perhaps it was a ghostly friend making me aware of their presence.
However, Conn is definitely not the only haunted place in our area. Just to the south of us sits the Seaside Sanitorium in Waterford. The sanatorium was built to house tuberculosis patients, specifically children. Designed in the 1930s, the now abandoned and decaying building sits upon the shores of the Long Island Sound. Ghost hunting sessions conducted inside the building have discovered evidence of the paranormal, including orbs and disembodied voices said to belong to former patients of the sanatorium. Due to the building’s stellar location, plans have been made to transform the property into a lodge. The architecture itself is quite beautiful, and with a bit of refurbishment it could be inhabitable again. However, will the spirits that remain appreciate being disturbed yet again?
One may choose to dine at the Captain Daniel Packer Inn in Mystic in the hopes of spotting the ghost of an old sea captain who is known to linger around the premises. This restaurant is said to be near the site of the “Mystic Massacre”, where Connecticut colonial forces set fire to the Pequot village, blocked the only exits, and killed anyone who tried to escape. Hundreds of men, women, and children were killed in the massacre. With a history like this, it’s no wonder the site might hold lingering paranormal activity. Perhaps the spirits of those killed were drawn to the lively atmosphere of the inn, where they still reside today.
Outdoorsy folks may want to take a stroll through Devil’s Hopyard State Park in East Haddam, about 30 minutes from campus. The name gives its lore away; the Puritans believed that Satan hid among the trees in the park. This legend came from the appearance of potholes near the park’s waterfall. Though we can explain this phenomenon now using science, early settlers were baffled by it. Their story was that the devil himself walked by the falls and burned the holes in the stones as he walked away. Still, those that have visited the park have reported hearing demonic voices in the forest. Demonic lair or not, Devil’s Hopyard State Park also makes for a lovely autumn stroll through nature.
A very well-known haunted site not far from Conn is the Norwich State Hospital. Fans of the show Ghost Hunters might remember this site, as it was featured in a 2010 episode. In fact, the hospital is regarded as one of the most haunted places in the nation. The hospital treated many different types of patients throughout its 92 years in operation and the property contained over 40 different buildings at one time. Some of the evidence captured here includes orbs, voices, and electromagnetic pulses. Visitors also recall experiencing chills throughout the buildings.
There are dozens of reportedly haunted sites in the state of Connecticut, and on our very own campus. If you wish to hunt for ghosts, there is no shortage of places to do so. However, always remember to be safe when seeking out the paranormal. Do your research, don’t enter abandoned or condemned buildings without permission, and take precautions to protect yourself. Happy ghost hunting, camels! •
