This Building In Rhode Island Has A Dark And Evil History That Will Never Be Forgotten
In the heart of the College Hill area of Providence sits a Brown University building with a dark history. Though the campus is quite beautiful and makes for a wonderful place to visit on a nice day, reports of ghost sightings and an overall sense of dread continue to stem from the building known as University Hall. This is unsurprising when examining the early years of this haunting building in Rhode Island.
University Hall was built in 1770 and originally named the College Edifice. It sits immediately next to the main green and is found off of Prospect Street.
Meant to be one of the first academic buildings after Brown University's move from Warren to Providence, plans quickly changed when British Troops arrived in Newport in 1776. Due to its size and location, it was decided the building would be put to use in a way that was previously unexpected upon its design.
The edifice was transformed into barracks and a hospital for American soldiers at first, and would later also house wounded French soldiers.
Many soldiers succumbed to their injuries and perished inside the edifice.
Former president to the university, James Manning, wrote a letter recounting the damage that occurred to the building. He described an overall state of disarray to the building and a terrible odor from the parts of the building which formerly housed the severely injured and dying soldiers.
Though the building has had several renovations since this time period, reports of ghostly figures resembling soldiers are not uncommon sightings in the halls. The edifice is now home to the president's office and other administrative offices, but many students try to avoid entering the building all together.
If you’re in search of a Rhode Island adventure involving a little ghostly terror, you’ll want to read about the Ultimate Terrifying Rhode Island Road Trip.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
