It may have been a week before Halloween, but Longwood University’s own Dr. James Jordan was ready to treat Longwood students to some spooky tales.
Dr. Jordan told his famous ghost stories this past Friday in Jarman Auditorium. The event was hosted by Lancer Production’s Director of Traditions, Brandon Bassham. Arriving on stage wearing a solid black cloak that covered his face with only a skeleton arm protruding, Dr. Jordan started the ghost stories by revealing his face from his cloak, saying, “It’s me” making the audience laugh and applaud for the much-respected professor.
His first story was about the college bell that rang at various times throughout the day including times for chapel, lunch and bedtime. Dr. Jordan went on to show the audience a picture of him ringing the bell while looking at a piece of paper on the ground signifying the amount of times the bell needed to be rung for each occasion. He followed with some humorous pranks that students would play regarding the bell. One time, a group of students climbed to the top of East Ruffner Hall, tied a rope to the clapper that would reach to their dorm room and rang the bell from their rooms in the middle of the night. However, when the bell was rung in the middle of the night, that signified fire and students were unnecessarily woken up.
Dr. Jordan proceeded with a story about the Great Fire of Longwood in 2001. Being an interesting story in itself, he showed a picture of the Confederate soldier statue that looked over where the fire happened. The soldier held his musket with his finger hovering over the trigger as if he was ready to fire. Similarly, in the picture of the fire, there was an illusion of that solider in the flames and it looked as if he was shooting his musket.
There are many stories of Longwood and Farmville’s history that gives them much character. From seeing pictures showing ripples in the ground indicating a burial ground, to learning about how first semester freshmen were required to wear a “Rat Cap,” Dr. Jordan, as always, stunned the audience.
The next Lancer Productions event will be the Campus Recreation Haunted House, which will be taking place on Thursday, October 29th from 8pm to 11pm.
