The Pioneer Frontier Magazine

As night falls over the town of Greeneville, Tennessee, a slow rain begins.  In the Tusculum College library the lights flicker then go out.   Myron Smith and Charles Tunstall come out of the shadows in the corner.  “I want to begin by saying I am telling these stories whether you consider them true or untrue. Many are simple stories and some may even be made up,’’ said Smith.  In celebrating the spirit of Halloween, the two library science professors decided to investigate hauntings around the areas of Greeneville, Tusculum and the Eastern Tennessee region. The original idea started when the two veterans of Tusculum began sharing their late night library stories with each other. From the stories around campus and a desire to promote alternative events in the Library, arose the Haints and Boogers presentation on Wednesday, October 27th.

Dave Selmeski, from Afton came out for the history and for his interest in spirits. “My wife works a tour in Jonesboro and hearing her tell stories about the mansions there got me interested.”

Decorations helped set the tone, but content ruled the night.

Here at Tusculum, students wonder whether halls have visitors, the presentation certainly made some them sit up in their seats. The first of many supposed haunted buildings on campus began with one building that seems infamous for stories, Treadway Hall.  The science building is a place of interest and many footsteps have been heard on the upper floors. When professors go to check for students no one is there.  There has also been a report of an old man in a suite walking down the staircase.  One professor working late has heard what sounded like a couple kissing and laughing but no one was there.  There was a very unlucky cleaning lady that witnessed the lockers in the basement opening and closing by them. She was so frightened she locked herself in a broom closet until morning then at day break resigned from Tusculum and has never returned.

One story that may have diminished over the years is the ghost of the wet dog.  In the early 1900’s there was faculty housing, one family in particular had a run with a dog and his master.  As the son of the professor went to take a bath he turned and saw a man and a dog in his bath tub.  His parents came to see what he was talking about. When they returned upstairs the dog was still in the tub but not his master. He allegedly stood in the tub then vanished in front of the family.  Both the dog and man were seen by the family later wondering into the house and walking up the stairs to give the dog his bath.

“Who knew that Tusculum had so much history and mystery?  I loved hearing the stories but the whole time I wondered if I would ever run up on anything,” said Jill Corum.

Students should also be wary when auditioning for a production in Annie Hogan Byrd.  The claim surrounds David Behan, who the Behan arena is named for and was the theatre teacher and director of many shows.  Professor Behan was known as a smoker and it has been said that when students go down to the arena they can smell cigarette smoke even though the building is non-smoking and no windows can be found open.  Some say the night before student productions you can smell smoke as well, a signal from Behan that he is still present in the theatre and watching over productions.

The event itself covered a plethora of stories not only from TC but also the surrounding community. The overall expanse of stories included was surprising and brought to light the prevalence of haunting stories in our area. Both from an educational and entertainment standpoint the evening was a frightful success. The evening ended with Halloween theme refreshments and a chance to discuss in further detail the  origin of stories presented. 

While there are other stories around Tusculum one can never know whether there is truth behind them.  The only advice given by Smith and Tunstall is if you are brave enough go out in the dark of night, and find out for yourself.

Jack Smith discuses the presentation during refreshments.