budge. Then, a woman’s invisible hands started to
stroke his hair. That did it. Alarmed, he gave the door
an extra jerk and was able to escape.
“All of these things were pretty strange and
unexplainable,” Smith says, who doesn’t know what
to think about ghosts. She has since moved on
from restaurant ownership. But if you’ve eaten in
Princeton, there’s a chance you’ve dined in Smith’s
haunted house.
The dark shadow— Princeton
As director of the Princeton Railroad Museum, Pat
Smith also oversees multiple exhibits, artwork and
artifacts. It’s also possible she manages a ghost.
Not too long ago, a paranormal investigative group
got permission to explore the building. Skeptical but
willing to keep an open mind, Smith accompanied
them to the attic. They simultaneously glimpsed a
shadow creeping away from them. Nothing seemed
to create it. Intrigued, everybody followed the shape.
Smith then had an intense feeling of evil. “I’ve
never experienced anything like it before or since,”
she emphasizes. “I felt the hair rise on my neck and
arms.”
Overriding all protests, the director insisted
that everybody leave the attic. She then called her
daughter despite the late hour.
“I was that scared,” Smith stresses.
Fortunately, the places where guests can visit are
bright and cheerful. The Princeton Railroad Museum
is known for its cute caboose, which you can explore.
There’s also a fun gift shop. If a ghost really haunts
the place, don’t worry— it’s stuck in the attic.
Concord University— Athens
West Virginia boasts lots of colleges— more than
40, in fact. Of these, Concord University ranks
towards the top. Its long history and modern
programs are distinct advantages. In fact, Athens’
star institution dates to 1872. After a fire ravaged
the school in 1910, though, the campus moved to its
current location in 1912. The original building still
exists today. Its prize feature is the 20-ton carillon, a
musical instrument with tuned bells.
Today, the 123-acre campus has a strong reputation
for its undergraduate programs. But that’s not the
only thing Concord is known for – it’s also rumored
to be haunted.
Most experiences seem to happen at the Laura A.
Sarvay residence hall. It’s one of the older buildings
on campus, which could explain some of the odd
encounters. Many students (in online comments)
have heard doors opening and shutting. Others have
seen toilets flushing by themselves.
In terms of apparitions, it seems that a female ghost
rules Sarvay. Various residents have seen her in their
rooms. She often appears at night, wearing an oldfashioned
dress. At other times, items inexplicably
move. Who can say for sure what’s really happening?
Whether or not you believe in ghosts, mysteries
like these definitely make life interesting! Have you
ever encountered a ghost in Princeton or Athens?
Share your story! The Princeton Railroad Museum is
currently closed due to the pandemic.
10 Prerogative Magazine