TALES FROM THE QUAD: Has the Hulen Hall ghost returned?
Photo by Rebecca Burks
Hannah Diggs|Online Editor “As a seasoned expert in supernatural identification at Hendrix College, I can confirm that the Creative Quad is, in fact, haunted,” said Former Senate Vice President and Galloway Ghost Buster Bailey Lindsey. Before there was the Miller Creative Quad, there was Hulen Hall which functioned much like the current Student Life and Technology Center, housing the cafeteria and a myriad of other school offices. Upon the building of the SLTC, Hulen Hall was used almost exclusively for storage. Later, it was torn down to begin the years-long path until the doors of the Creative Quad finally first opened to students last year. As Hulen Hall sat unoccupied, students would often see moving shadows in the attic windows, and there was a ghastly statue that sat in storage that many witnesses said moved on its own. When the first batch of students moved into Quad last year, it became apparent that these suggestions of supernatural activity from Hulen have definitely transferred over to the Creative Quad. Within the first semester, fire extinguishers disappeared, phallic images appeared in the freshly hung-up cork boards on dormitory doors, and occasionally residents would come to their dorms to find unsettling plastic babies staring back at them on their doors. While the origin story of who this ghost might be is unclear, there are rumors that it might be the ghost of Captain Martin, Martin Hall’s namesake. His incentive to cause college students to wreak havoc on campus property being that, according to a Haunted historian, Martin was a ‘teetotaler,’ and up until recent years, Martin Men would gather at his grave and “imbibe spirits.” This would make any good Methodist Confederate soldier frustrated with his legacy.
“I really think this haunting is impacting the actions of our residents—messing with their brains,” said Sophomore Quad Resident Assistant Grace Holmquest. “I think that the energy was especially present on a Wellness Day a few weeks ago. Some of our residents just decided to steal a table from the common room and take it outside.” Other residents have reported that the hallways are often obnoxiously loud, but they are never able to identify the source of the noise. They attribute it all to the croptop wearing would-be Martin Men and their fourth pandemic party of the week. Either way, do not think that this group would be so tone deaf as to have maskless parties unprovoked by some kind of paranormal activity. However, this paranormal presence does not only sway the actions of students, but it has also challenged the stability of the building itself. “I live in a multimillion dollar building that finished construction less than two years ago and my ceiling leaks,” said Sophomore and newly elected Senate Secretary Ty Forrest. “There is no other explanation as to why this would be the case unless there was a ghost interfering with the building’s infrastructure.” While it is unfortunate that such a high-quality building has fallen victim to paranormal activity, the good news is that the ghost does seem to have a special awareness. During his time in Hulen Hall, he stayed in the upper parts of the attic, and now that he is in the Quad, he has ensured that the downstairs rooms dedicated to the arts remain untouched. Therefore, feel free to visit the new Windgate Museum or play the piano in one of the music practice rooms. For the Quad residents, you’re on your own.
APRIL 2021
15
