The seminary at which I teach is located within a fairly old building. It’s the kind of place that generates ghost stories. So, on the last day of class, it did not surprise me when students responded vigorously when I asked them if there were any ghosts at Seabury. Apparently, there are quite a few stories and encounters.
I can’t say that I have had such an experience, but I must admit that the building can get pretty creepy at night. Maybe this can be a new development opportunity for the seminary. We can have paid guided tours through the haunted halls and into the deep passageways underneath the school. Maybe we can even get one of those Discovery Channel shows to do a piece on us. At the very least, it can’t be a worse revenue generating effort than letting filmmakers do a horror movie on the school grounds.
Even if Seabury has ghosts, how scary could they really be? I just don’t find the prospect of a bunch of dead, Episcopal, white guys to be all that frightening.
Posted by Frank Yamada at June 11, 2006 11:26 PMI wandered around that place for 2-1/2 years at various times and for various reasons (being the Keeper of the Keys, the Security Dude, or the Booted One, it was necessary), but I never, ever, ever heard or saw anything that could be considered even somewhat ghostly.
Maybe the noise of all those keys scared them off.
Posted by: Reverend Ref at June 12, 2006 04:39 AMI don't want to minimize people's experiences about this kind of stuff. I actually find if fascinating.
Personally, I believe that there is much that happens in this world that can't be explained by our rational, scientific minds; and I have experienced things firsthand that have left me wondering: "What the heck was that?" Some have even left me frightened in the "hair standing on the back of your neck" kind of way. I have yet, however, to have such an experience at Seabury.
Posted by: Frank at June 12, 2006 05:26 PMI don't know, Ref. It must have been the keys. Twice I have been in the building late at night and heard a "ghost" playing the piano in the chapel. I always imagined it was the ghost of Mrs. Whatshername playing it. But as you say, Frank, the shade of a wealthy society matron playing the piano is not quite as creepy as a hockey-mask wearing maniac. Of course, maybe we could charge people NOT to show "Soul Survivor"?
Posted by: Micah at June 13, 2006 01:30 PMMicah, I have actually heard stories about a ghost playing the piano, but not in the chapel. The stories I heard were about piano playing in the refectory. I also know, however, that there is a college student from NU who likes to play the Seabury pianos. I found him in the halls late one night and asked him to leave. Did you verify that no one else was playing the piano?
Apparently there was actually a death at Seabury, a faculty member I believe, who died in the carillon practice room. He was found by a student. A connection? Maybe the ghost has decided he likes the piano better than the bells.
Posted by: Frank at June 13, 2006 03:42 PM