The Ghosts of Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University was founded in 1901, as an associate or charter school for Lincoln College in Illinois. Both schools were connected to the Presbyterian religion, but in 1953 Millikin went it's own way. By that time, stories and legends of the haunted school were already in effect.

The history of Millikin University is not in question. President Theodore Roosevelt spoke at the dedication of the new school in 1903. Estimates claim that nearly ever person in Decatur turned out for the event and people came from all across the country for a fireworks display later that night.

While the school itself was formed in the early 20^th century, the ghost stories date back even further than that. Early settlers in the area told stories of Native American ghosts that roamed the area. The Native Americans told stories as well, of ancestors not yet ready to move on. Once the school appeared, more stories followed.

The ghost of the Albert Taylor Theater is one of the most famous stories. Some call this female spirit the rail girl because she's often spotted near the railing on the top floor. This little girl ghosts sometimes moves things around or cries out, hoping to get some attention. There are also stories of phantom footsteps heard late at night. Actors and students working on plays at the theater leave the girl three pieces of candy. Tradition says that unless you do this, your play will have bad luck.

Also rumored to be haunted is the gymnasium at Millikin University. This small building was once the only place for students to engage in play, but today it's barely used. The school built a nicer and larger phys ed building across campus. There's only a dance studio and weight room inside, but people still hear and see some strange things.

People who have been inside the building claim to hear people laughing and talking. There are also sounds of a ghostly basketball game, complete with the crowd cheering and applauding. Often when this happens the people are upstairs and come downstairs to find no one there. Some guests have also heard the sounds of a female crying in the dark. Usually the strange noises and sounds disappear when anyone tries to investigate.

Then there's Aston Hall, a female dormitory dating back to 1907. According to legend a student living here was distraught after she received word that her fiancée had been killed in battle. The girl committed suicide either in her room or in another location inside the building and now haunts it today. Of course legends are sometimes based in fact as is this one.

In 1927 a female student did kill herself in Aston Hall. The girl was failing classes and unhappy about not getting into a sorority on campus. One night she drank carbolic acid and died in her bed. Not long after students began seeing the girl's spirit roaming through the third floor. At one point officials at Millikin University even sealed off that area to prevent the complaints they were hearing. Other students have heard people knocking on the walls and walking through the halls. There are also stories of things disappearing and flickering lights.

The Alumni House on the Millikin University campus is haunted by the ghost of a female spirit known as Louise. The building was once a private home and Louise was a maid who worked there. Supposedly the woman lived on one of the upper floors and never left the house, even staying on after it was donated to the school.

There are stories of people hearing someone opening the front door and walking through the house, only to find no one there. Others have felt the woman walking by as she heads back to her room. These stories have been around for years now, since back when the building was used as a fraternity house.

The building now used as the Kappa Sigma house was once a boarding house. Prior to being used by the university it saw a number of different residents come and go. One of those residents supposedly killed himself and now haunts the building. Residents call him Nathan.

The Delta Delta Delta house is also rumored to be haunted. The upstairs is plagued by stories of cold spots and strange sounds like someone whispering. Sometimes the ghost is actually seen by people in the building. She usually has pale skin and old fashioned looking clothing. Others have seen the ghost of the woman in the middle of their room and sometimes staring at them when they wake in the middle of the night.

Everyone seems to think their school is the most haunted in the world, but maybe those students at Millikin University are right.

Sources:

http://www.hauntspot.com/haunt/usa/illinois/millikin-university---aston-hall.shtml

http://www.millikin.edu/decaturian/archives/2004-2005/2004-10-26/features/102604_halloween.html

http://www.haunteddecatur.com/millikin.html