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The Ghost of Ambrose Hall

Enjoy below a legendary Ambrose ghost story in celebration of Halloween. Originally published in the October 20th, 1994 issue of The Buzz, co-news editor James Murphy put his twist on the infamous Ghost of Ambrose Hall. Special thanks go to Lindsey Row for submitting this idea and the accompanying photos to The Buzz.

“The Ghost of Ambrose Hall: Part 1,” by James Murphy transcribed below:

“In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I’d remind and inform the students of new and old, about the tale of the ‘Ghost of Ambrose Hall.’ Many have sought to unravel the mystery surrounding this ghost, but no one has succeeded. Let me recount what I dug up from hours of research. 

The first reported journal I could find was in the Oct. 31, 1974 issue of the ambrosian news, titled “The Witch of Ambrose Towers Castle.” The article consisted of flying darts in an art classroom on third floor, strange noises from fourth, and a chalk board message that read, “I have told you the rule and reason for using only two strokes for this letter. What is the answer, Shelly?” After guarding all the doors, students proved the witch to be their art teacher playing a practical joke. 

Rev. George McFaniel who was present during this article says that the story of the Ghost of Ambrose Hall was created by male students to scare the female students, who dormed in Ambrose Hall.

“I have lived here for twenty years as faculty and staff and three years as a student, and I must say, I have never seen the ghost,” said McDaniel, “but i also have entered the building at midnight, and it was a dark and creepy building that creaks and moans when the wind is blowing, which I attribute of course to an old building.”

“That’s not a pumpkin,” by Walter Ecklund, appeared in the November 3, 1988 issue of the Ambrose Magazine. Ecklund was the first to photograph the Ghost of Ambrose Hall (only the picture was a hoax as well). He did provide (in print) the most favorable fable to the Ghost of Ambrose Hall.

“Legend has it that decades ago, a depressed reverend took his own life in his Ambrose Hall apartment. What is not commonly known, however, is that right before he died, he performed his own last rites and buried himself in consecrated ground after a long, rambling eulogy many witnesses later recounted as ‘overly-sentimental bilge.’” 

I will now add to Ecklund’s story from various sources who agree to these facts. He was not a reverend, but a seminarian. No one knows why he took his life. No one was present when he hung himself, so no one knows if he performed last rites and heard his “overly-sentimental bilge.” There used to be a closed off room on the fourth floor, which some believed to be where the hanging took place, but is now renovated to a priest living quarters. There are unexplained lights, late at night, in the conference room, but many agree that they were just forgotten and left on.

This legend has been passed down to each generation of ghost seekers. Information that pertains to the ghost was hard to get because few offer to speak of it (mainly oriets who have previously lived in the building). In addition, those who have seen the ghost have disappeared. As a reverend, who shall remain anonymous said, “All those students who have reported seeing the ghost are no longer here.”

There have been other attempts to reveal the Ghost of Ambrose hall, but to no avail. The REv. James P. Kelleher tried in the November 2, 1989 issue of the Ambrose Magazine and a group of brave journalists tried Oct. 24, 1990, but both never made it to the next issue to report. 

Well, it is my turn to make that promise. I hope to unravel the mystery of the Ghost of Ambrose hall by the next issue or die trying. GULP…

P.S. – If anyone has any information on the Ghost of Ambrose Hall (or any good ghost stories), please write to The Buzz in care of Jim Murphy.”

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