Randolph-Macon Woman’s College was founded over 115 years ago in a world largely opposed to the “dangerous” idea of educating women.
William Waugh Smith, then president of the all-male Randolph-Macon College, had the courage to disagree, and set about making plans for a "college where our young women may obtain an education equal to that given in our best colleges for young men and under environments in harmony with the highest ideals of womanhood."
With no backing from his trustees, Smith took his cause to the road, eventually winning support of the Rivermont Land Company, which donated 20 acres of bucolic land in the quiet town of Lynchburg.
Thanks to the generosity of 150 local residents, Smith was able to raise the $100,000 necessary to officially found Randolph-Macon Woman’s College on March 10, 1891. The college welcomed its first class of 36 students and 12 professors in 1893.Today, Randolph College is a small liberal arts college that houses over 1000 students.
On to the ghosts. The ghosts of this college stem from on campus murders and deaths that surround the school. I'll let the Bedford Paranormal group take it from here.
The one that we heard most often was the purple clog story. The student in this story was known for wearing clogs that were a popular fashion at the time. This story concerned a student that had been murdered when she crossed a street next to the college on the way back to her dorm. Her body was hidden and then later found by security. Several students that lived in or visited other students that lived in her old dorm told us that they could hear her walking around at times through the halls and rooms. They told us that her foot steps were noticeably different due to the clogs.
Another story that we heard several times from different students was the sighting of an older woman in the West Dating Parlor. Students told us that at times when they entered the dating parlor they would see the woman seated near the door only to have her disappear as they approached or attempted to talk to her.Another story that isn't mentioned but is talked about in the News Advance link below, is the story behind the haunting in the the schools auditorium. In 1971, a Shakespeare play was set to be performed but the male lead was killed in a car wreck on the way to the play. According to student and faculty reports, the ghost of said student has shown up from time to time and normally sits in the back row of the theater.
School's Website: http://www.randolphcollege.edu/
Bedford Paranormal Investigation: http://www.bedfordparanormal.com/Randolph_College.html
Seven Hills Paranormal Investigation: http://www.sevenhillsparanormal.com/2009/09/randolph-college-lynchburg-va/
News Advance Article: http://www2.newsadvance.com/news/2008/jul/20/students_ghost_hunters_at_randolph_college_explore-ar-219834/
WSLS 10 Video on RC: http://www2.wsls.com/news/2008/jul/11/ghost-hunters-to-visit-randolph-college-94527-vi-16256/
Natural Plane Article: http://naturalplane.blogspot.com/2007/07/is-randolph-college-haunted.html
Strange USA Post: http://www.strangeusa.com/ViewLocation.aspx?locationid=10255
