MSU’s Haunted Hall: Does a Spirit Roam This Michigan Dorm?
Ghost enthusiasts, grab your proton packs and PKE meters because it's time to unveil what is reportedly the most haunted location in Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State University's West Circle is not only the home to the institution's oldest residence hall, but it is also reportedly home to the ghost of its namesake, Mary Mayo.
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While I've seen some truly frightening things in an MSU dorm room (my Wonders Hall room was scary dirty), a ghost isn't one of them.
Who Was Mary Mayo
Born in Calhoun County in 1845, Mary Mayo became an incredibly influential and fierce advocate for women's education at what was then Michigan Agricultural College (MAC). Wanting more academic opportunities beyond farm labor, Mayo pushed for the creation of MAC's Home Economics Program. Her efforts paid off in 1896 when 42 women enrolled in the new program. These efforts led to MSU naming a dormitory after her in 1931.
The Ghostly Rumors Swirling Around Mary Mayo Hall
Mary Mayo Hall, located at 361 Delta Court on MSU's campus, has been the source of several ghost sightings. For decades, reports of a woman drifting through the halls, lights flickering mysteriously, or turning on by themselves have surrounded MSU's oldest resident hall.
Many reported paranormal experiences at Mary Mayo Hall happened in the piano room, where her portrait hangs. Flashing shadows, icy chills, and a piano that plays notes without a player in sight are just a few of the tales those who've lived and worked there have shared.
Is That REALLY Mary Mayo, or is Something Else Haunting the MSU Dormitory?
Despite what you may think, these sightings aren't all from students. Faculty and maintenance staff have had several run-ins with the figure they refer to as Mary Mayo. While I'm not disputing they may have seen the paranormal, I do wonder whether or not the ghost in question is that of Mary Mayo.
Related: The Ghost That Haunted Lansing's School for the Blind
Mayo passed away in 1903, long before the hall bearing her name was built and opened in 1931. She's buried in Calhoun County's Austin Cemetary. What would compel her spirit to haunt a dormitory 45 miles southwest of her resting place? OR, is there a mischievous poltergeist parading around the halls of Mary Mayo Hall, masquerading as the dorm's namesake?