This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Maine chapter.
As Halloween approaches, students at UMaine reflect on the haunted stories of campus and Orono. There are several dorms and buildings on campus and around town that are supposedly haunted.
1. Estabrooke Hall
The first two floors of Estabrooke are not dorms, but hold a variety of other functions. The ballroom is said to be haunted, and was part of the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining. The third and fourth floors have been renovated into dorms, and students have reported strange feelings, shadows, and hearing noises at night.
2. Balentine Hall
Men used to be forbidden from this strictly female dormitory. Ma Balentine, a dorm mother that lived there, routinely checked for male visitors. It is said that Ma Balentine vowed that if the dorm ever became coed she would haunt it. Students have reported seeing apparitions of what they believe is Ma Balentine, as well as hearing creaking floors and footsteps. The fourth and top floor of Balentine is closed off, but students on the third floors sometimes report hearing footsteps above them.
3. Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
Beta has been in the news in past years for the supposed hauntings that they experience. A ghost named Evelyn, who was once a housemother and died in the house of natural causes, is said to haunt the house. She now watches over the brothers and is said to be a benevolent ghost… unless she doesn’t approve of a brother’s girlfriend.
4. Coburn Hall
While there have not been recent reports of hauntings, many people believe that Coburn Hall is haunted because it is one of the oldest buildings on campus. It is now closed off for use and sits abandoned. One can only wonder what lurks inside.
5. Gannett Hall
Gannett is another dorm building, where students have reported seeing their locked doors opening and hearing strange noises.
6. Somerset Hall
Many students have also reported that they believe Somerset Hall, especially the basement, is haunted. There is not much evidence of this besides strange feelings.
7. Ayers Island, Orono
This island located on the Penobscot River in Orono was once home to a thriving mill. In the 20th century there was a serious of gruesome accidents at the mill. Several local legends claim that the ghost of a former mill worker haunts the island after being killed in strange accident, as well as the ghost of a young girl who was allegedly accidentally killed by her father. Trespassers that have gone into the now privately owned mill have heard noises, and have had sense of fear. In 2006, two episodes of the Celebrity Paranormal Project were filmed here.