Springfield Haunts

It's really not all that surprising that a town that's been around since 1838 may have a few haunted spots. So, as promised, here is a quick rundown of some said-to-be-haunted Springfield, MO locales:

Landers Theater - Springfield Little Theater: Built in 1909 on Walnut Street, this historic theater is known as one of the most haunted spots in Springfield. Some say that there are over 100 spirits roaming about, including that of a janitor who died in an early twentieth-century fire. The janitor is often seen pacing on the balcony. Rumor has it that a baby was accidentally dropped from an upper balcony, and actors occasionally see the ghost of the baby.



Wilson's Creek National Battlefield: Some visitors say they've seen apparitions of Confederate soldiers while visiting the battlefield, which was the site of a bloody Civil War battle in 1861, Also, some claim to hear noises like cannons and guns, or what sounds like soldiers walking and talking in the woods.



University Plaza Hotel: The spot at 333 South John Q. Hammons Parkway where University Plaza now stands was once part of a large plantation owned by a decorated Civil War hero. University Plaza employees sometimes see an older man dressed in black roaming the hallways, and believe he may be the owner of the plantation. "The Colonel," as the man in black is called, is often seen roaming the ballroom and back hallways in the hours between midnight and 4 a.m.

Phelps Grove Park bridge: Just off of National on Bennett, at the third bridge in the park, the apparition of a woman in a white wedding dress is sometimes seen. Called "the bride under the bridge," she's thought to be the ghost of a woman who was killed on her wedding day.

Here are some links to the websites of a few of these locations. Happy ghost hunting!

landerstheatre.org
wilsonscreek.com
upspringfield.com

A Haunting: Drury Edition

Dorky as it may sound, when I was checking into colleges a few years ago, "haunted" surroundings ranked right up there with a great academic program and community atmosphere. Lucky for me, Drury's campus--and Springfield in general--is crawling with alleged hauntings. So, I'm going to give a brief rundown of spooky places: a Who's Who of Hauntings, if you will.

Today, I'll focus on campus hauntings because, let's face it, most of my time is spent on Drury's campus. After hearing the tales attached to certain buildings, and experiencing those places for myself, I've gotten a good feel for what's considered haunted around here.

First of all, there is Wallace Hall, one of three residence halls. It's also the oldest one, dating back to 1925. There are stories of the basement being haunted, possibly by a girl who committed suicide down there. The basement is, in fact, quite creepy. But haunted? Maybe, maybe not. Then again, I never lived in Wallace. My heart goes out to all those residents who have to pump quarters into the basement's washing machines, though.

Next, there is Smith Hall, another residence hall, and the one I lived in when I first came to DU. As the story goes, the hall sits where some Victorian homes used to stand. Years ago, one of the houses burned to the ground, and a small girl was killed in the fire. Legend has it that she might have lived if she hadn't remained in the home to try to find her beloved teddy bear. During my time in Smith, some girls who lived in the west wing of the second floor constantly had trouble with their teddy bears ending up in different places around the room, and their unplugged radios turning on by themselves. Maybe the little girl is still roaming around....

Sunderland field, now home to lacrosse games and frisbee tossing, is supposedly built upon a sacred Native American burial ground. Personally, the creepiest thing I've seen on the field is mid-winter sunbathers.

Clara Thompson Hall, home to campus and community musical performances, as well as Convocation series, is rumored to be inhabited by a ghost who likes to play the piano. No one seems to know who the ghost might be, but shadow-like apparitions are said to be seen, and doors seem to close on their own sometimes.

Wilhoit Theater, in the Breech building, is said to be home to a spirit named "Bob." Flickering lights are sometimes noticed. Strangely enough, the theater is named for Bob Wilhoit....

Hopefully, this gives you a little more information about another side of Drury's campus. If possible, I hope to add to this list.

Join me next week for the stories behind some off-campus haunts!

Hello

My name is Millie and I'm a Writing/English major at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. I've always been interested in anything paranormal: ghosts, hauntings, UFO stories....you name it. Some people find that kind of stuff creepy, but I love learning about it. My favorite TV shows are the ones on the History Channel or Sci-Fi that deal with unexplained things. I also love visiting places that are rumored to be haunted, and researching the stories behind them. Over the next several weeks, I'll be giving some info about local haunts and hopefully also doing some investigations.