It is no secret that Vermont and New England are home to many horrifying specters and legends. Legends ranging from hell hounds, haunted bridges, and headless brides. But what about our dearly beloved Bellows Free Academy? Our very own brick-and-mortar establishment is a paranormal hotspot for the peculiar and strange.
According to paranormal connoisseur and ghost-story skeptic MaryEllen Tourville, BFA has an exceedingly haunted past. From tales of ghostly shadow women to vengeful spirits, the dark halls of Bellows Free Academy are host to several peculiar tales and unexplained phenomena.
Our first ghastly tale surrounds the expert herself, BFA’s very own Mrs. Tourville. Mrs. Tourville’s chilling recollection of events sets the scene on a snowy Sunday afternoon in the heart of winter. According to Mrs. Tourville, the parking lots of BFA were completely derelict and empty as she entered the campus. Mrs. Tourville also noted that she had briefly searched the campus for any fellow students, teachers, or other staff, but to her knowledge, no one was present.
As she made progress on her schoolwork, she noticed the time was getting late, the sun was setting, and she was feeling increasingly uneasy. Suddenly, she heard the sound of wet boots squeaking their way down to her office, only for them to stop just before they got to her door. As she went to check outside her classroom, she came to a chilling realization. No one was there, not a single person.
This strange case of phantom foot steps was enough to send Mrs. Tourville home for the day, a little scared, but otherwise fine. The most chilling aspect of the story is that when Mrs. Tourville exited the campus, she searched the parking lots for any other vehicles. But all she found were empty spots and snow.
Another story and sighting comes from the BFA Lunch Staff and their encounters with a ghostly specter resembling a young boy in a red baseball cap. This particular ghost could be seen peeking around corners in the cafeteria and displayed characteristics commonly associated with poltergeists, such as moving silverware and knives, as well as slamming drawers and cupboards. In the hope of cleansing the cafeteria, the Lunch Staff brought in a group of dowsers to detect and remove the paranormal oddity. When the dowsers finished their work, the red-capped boy was never seen again, but it was revealed that the cafeteria was once an emergency room, and the boy was the tragic victim of a botched appendix surgery.
On the topic of BFA’s history, it should be noted that a large part of BFA was once a hospital. Hospitals and other places of tragedy often have the most severe and frequent of hauntings. For instance, there have been rumors that a child-sized silhouette with black pigtails can sometimes be seen staring out from the nurse’s office window, even though the door remains locked and the room unoccupied. Another long-standing legend claims that a human foot bone was discovered in the incinerator during the renovation of BFA’s North Building.
Another rumor surrounding BFA’s older South Building is the legend of the shadow lady. This mystical figure, often depicted as draped in shadow, can be seen looming in the shadows of BFA’s basement and English hallways. This shadowy figure typically waits for individuals to come closer, then promptly disappears into the darkness. BFA’s main office secretary reports hearing the South Building elevator moving floors and opening doors all on its own. Even on days when they’re the only ones in the building.
Other sightings and rumors come from our very own Performing Arts Center. It’s true, the PAC has its own share of ghostly rumors and supposed encounters. One such encounter involved a BFA maintenance worker who claimed to have grappled with a phantom. While fixing one of the PAC’s lights, they felt someone grab their leg on the ladder. Thinking it was a coworker’s prank, they looked down, only to find no one there. Other rumors surrounding the pack include flashing lights, cold spots, and a general eerie presence that looms over the corners of the center stage.
From tales of shadowy figures, little poltergeist children, and haunted elevators, BFA is certainly no stranger to many a tall tale or two. Perhaps now you, dear reader, might start to think, maybe just a bit definitely, as you walk to your next class, because you never know what could be following you there.
Until next time, this has been George Remillard on Terrifying Tales of the Unknown. If you have a mystifying, spooky, or funny story of your own, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Stay safe and have a wonderful day.
