By: Maeve McCann | Staff Writer
Do you believe in the paranormal?
Spirits may be able to connect with humans in ways beyond our understanding. Here at Salve, the paranormal seemed to have made themselves known. Some of these buildings have resided here for centuries, but to this day students continue to experience paranormal things within them.
Let’s start with Wakehurst mansion, known by Salve students as Gerety Hall. Many years ago, there were reports of hearing “dinner party sounds” and talking very late at night, even though there was nobody else in the building. In addition, there is a man in equestrian gear that may be seen on the very top floor of the building. This is especially odd because there are only storage rooms up there and there would be no need for anyone to be up there. Not only are there reports of hearing odd sounds, but there are fully developed myths about the spirits that haunt this building.
One suggests that, on the first snowfall of the year, a woman can be seen pushing a baby carriage around the building. Some believe this is Emily Astor Van Alen, a woman who died in childbirth. She was married to James Van Alen, the man who built and previously lived in the home. The building is now home to classrooms, late-night dining, and game rooms. As one of the oldest buildings on campus, it’s no surprise that Wakehurst mansion has some paranormal activity.
The next building is the Watts-Sherman house. The home was built in 1876 by William Watts- Sherman and his wife Annie Derby Rodgers Wetmore. William had four children, two with Annie and two after her passing. All his children were girls. The Watts-Sherman bloodline owned and lived in the home until 1947. After the home was given up, it was turned into a nursing home. Years later, the property was bought by Salve Regina University to house their students. To this day, students report hearing a little boy and a bouncing ball in the annex. He is believed to have died of falling down the stairs chasing the bouncy ball.
Now here’s where it gets weird: there was never a little boy who lived in the home. The house became a nursing home in 1949, so if anyone did pass away from an accident, there would have been some record of it. Room 308 had been rid of evil spirits in the past. Students living in the room used to wake up every night at a specific time.
“My roommate Megan is convinced that she has woken up with bruises that she did not go to sleep with,” said Darci Coleman, a sophomore who currently lives in Watts 308. She added that she and her roommates have not heard nor seen a boy or his bouncy ball yet, but still believe that he is real.
Lastly, Carey House is a French Renaissance style mansion that was built in 1925. It is the fifth largest of the Newport mansions and has been leased to Salve Regina to house their students. The mansion has been featured on TV shows such as “Dark Shadows” and “Ghost Hunters.” Many secret passageways and rooms are embedded within the home.
One particularly scary story is that of Nina and William. In the 1940s, there was a man named William who was having an affair with Nina. His wife at the time, Amber, caught them and set the house on fire. The fire killed both William and Nina. Later, Amber hung herself in that very same room. Students who lived in that room would experience weird sounds and their electronics would act up. Now, the home is a private residence and students no longer inhabit the Carey house.
Salve Regina University houses many spooky myths and rumors in its various buildings in and around campus. These stories help us dig deeper into the varied and fascinating history of our university. So, the next time you’re in one of these buildings on campus, look out and listen for our ghostly friends.
Cover Image: “Seaview Terrace Newport RI. Formerly Carey Mansion.” by Paulhaberstroh on Wikimedia is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International. This image has not been modified for Mosaic.
