This year, Lancer Productions carried on with their tradition of the history and stories of Longwood University as presented by Dr. Jim Jordan. Halloween is a time when spirits take to the air and those from the past come to visit, a theme that was very much a part of Jordan's presentation of spooky deaths, the interesting combination of history and tradition and the things that remain at the university that very few are aware of.
The Ghost Stories were moved to Jarman Auditorium, allowing for a spooky atmosphere with dark lighting and Jordan's face cast half in shadow as he told the stories of Longwood's past. The night began with a detailed history of the bell that now sits in the library, along with the past of the other artifacts that brought the bell to Longwood. Next was the life of Joan of Arc and how – while the current lives of coming graduates looks daunting – Joan's life was something else entirely.
Next was a popular story revolving around the Revolutionary War's history in regards to Longwood. Jordan told the story of how the Confederate soldier statue came to be and how he stands on the roof of Ruffner, keeping watch over the students in the night. As proof of this story, he showed a clear picture of the soldier the night Ruffner went up in flames.
The stories continued, moving a little bit away from the basic history to the frightening parts of it like the dell on the eighth hole of the golf course that was once a cemetery and now only holds one remaining headstone — the body of Eliza Scott, who died of consumption. Jordan also talked about the thousands of unmarked bodies that probably surround us, using statistics to ensure the audience that they, at some point, tread upon the ground of unmarked graves, as well as proof that North Cunningham Residence Hall is built atop a family plot of graves.
From there, the stories got darker, and Jordan scared the auditorium many times, once with simply the startling infliction of his voice, sending everyone into nervous giggles. He grossed them out at other various intervals with stories like the Rat Court and Aunt Lou with the cadavers hands under a pillow.
Overall, the night was a creepy success, causing much laughter along with expressions of surprise and discomfort. It was a perfect piece of the Halloween Weekend, and not only scary, but very informative and interesting as well. Jordan ended the night on a scary note, saying as he backed away into dark shadows and the lights of the auditorium completely went off, "When you leave here tonight, and you feel a warm trace on your neck, it might be someone who came hundreds of years to be your friend at the place we all call home. You must share this place with them — it was theirs first."
Afterwards, Lancer Productions held a bonfire out on Iler Field, complete with warm apple cider, hot chocolate, brownies, and cookies. It was the perfect touch to an already haunting evening, complete with a crescent moon on a chilling night. If you missed it this year, be sure to look out for it next, else you may never know exactly what or who you might be walking over.
