From the outside, Elliott Hall resembles a castle with its Tudor Gothic style and big, old wooden doors. Shiny wooden floors, medieval chandeliers, huge elegant rugs and a beautiful fireplace serve as the lobby.
Built in 1937, Elliott Hall is the oldest residence hall on campus, and over the years has developed a haunted reputation. Frank Elliott Ball, son of Frank C. Ball, one of the five Ball brothers, died in a plane crash while he was a student at Princeton University. The hall was built after he died and modeled after his Princeton dormitory by architect George F. Schreiber, who also designed the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis.
The fourth floor, with its tucked away rooms, narrow corridor and slightly eerie feel, also has history behind it.
William Schaumburg was a Ball State University student before World War I. He was injured during the war, leaving his face disfigured. He came back and his fiancee broke off their engagement because of his disfigured face. Supposedly, he was reading a book in the library and then hung himself from a rafter, Elliott Hall resident Leah Wood said.
Wood has had her own spooky encounter on the fourth floor.
"I was watching a movie on the fourth floor and the door swung in and there was a light on in the hallway. It opened partway then shut and there was no shadow [of a person]," she said. "Someone else opened the door and they had a shadow."
Leaning forward with a sense of excitement and a baffled demeanor, Wood continued with another story of oddity on the fourth floor.
"A friend of mine fell asleep on the fourth floor. She was cold that night because the window was open. She woke up and the blanket was pulled up and tucked around her and the window was shut. She asked the RA if she had come up there, and [the RA] said no. Actually, no one had been up there."
The four-story dormitory that houses 120 students will soon hold its 34th annual haunted ball. The fourth story will be the location for this year's Halloween festivities from 9 p.m. Friday until 1 a.m. Saturday.
Meredith Platt is helping with the ball and said last year the ball brought in approximately $1,000 and more than 300 people. Proceeds from the event will go to the Boys and Girls Club of Muncie.
Many Elliott Hall residents have been transforming the fourth floor for the event since Oct. 20, Wood, chairwoman for the event, said.
For both Platt and Wood, seeing the finished product is the best part of planning the haunted ball, Wood said.
Black lights and a disc jockey will set the mood for the dance party, along with drinks, candy and scary movies. Red lights will cast an eerie shadow on the face of the tarot card reader and blue lights will set the tone for a Ouija game in another room.
Participants in a Halloween costume contest will be judged in different categories, such as scariest costume. The winner gets an edible two-headed snake. The top winners in other categories will receive a test tube with liquid candy, Wood said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
