Friday, August 27, 2010

Philly U Phantoms

Photobucket
Ravenhill Mansion from Skyscrapers

Philadelphia University in East Falls was founded in 1884 as the Philadelphia Textile School, established to educate America’s textile workers and managers. The School continued to grow, and in 1961, changed its name to Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science, becoming Philadelphia University on July 13, 1999. And as anybody from Philly knows, you can't stay in one place that long without picking up a spook or two.

Fortress Hall: This was formerly a classroom for Ravenhill Academy (see below) and is now a woman's dorm. It hosts a variety of poltergeist-type activity: objects being moved, windows opening and shutting on their own, and touchings in the form of taps on the shoulder when no one else is nearby. There have also been many orb pictures taken inside the Fortress.

Ravenhill Mansion: Ravenhill Mansion was built in 1802, bequeathed to the Catholic Diocese in 1910, and opened as the Ravenhill Academy by the Religious of the Assumption, an order of nuns. It became Philly U. property in 1982 and the historic house is today used for offices. The tale goes that a nun was impregnated by a priest, and shamed by her act, hung herself in the attic. Natch, the attic has been closed off for years - the spooky sister's sightings date back to Ravenhill Academy days - but people have seen lights flitting about in it. More eerily, it's said you can sometimes catch sight of the sister, too, especially if you perch on the hill opposite Ravenhill at daybreak.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

My daughter can verify that Fortess Hall is haunted. She and her roommates had the door handle jiggled many nights, toilets flush for no reason, footsteps that do not sound like they are coming from the hallway, water dripped on them when sleeping, objects moved in their room. Each night there was something. She lived on the basement floor.

Ron Ieraci said...

Thanks for the verification; there is a lot of lore connected to Fortress Hall.

Anonymous said...

I am currently living in Fortess. My roommates and I are very interested in the possibility of paranormal activity in the building. If anymore information arises, please post it!

Anonymous said...

If you look to the left when standing outside Mott circle ram van stop you will see a priest seriously I've seen him I saw him 2 weeks before I knew about the story

Caroline said...

I lived in the basement of Fortess Hall in 2000. The basement floor itself was definitely creepy as it seemed kind of disconnected from the rest of the building. There were only about 7/8 dorm rooms and 1 shared bathroom but I never had any weird things happen nor heard any of the girls talk about anything. Alot of girls did move in and then move out within a short amount of time though throughout the span of one year!

Gina McAleese said...

very creepy feel in the mansion building. I lived in Ronson my freshman year (the newer building on Ravenhill Campus). I really hoped to live here to experience something spooky. Unfortunately I didn't, but Ravenhill Mansion still scares the crap out of me. I was in there alone with 2 friends 1 night during a 2am fire drill and ran there because it was t-storming and we had to wait for the firemen to come so we ran to the mansion. We almost made it to the 3rd floor when we got too afraid. 2am, middle of a huge storm, dark old fashioned mansion - It was like something out of a scary movie legitimately.

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Anonymous said...

I lived in Fortess in 2002 and experienced some paranormal activity. The tv would change channels on its own. A stack of paper plates flew across the room off the microwave (there was no wind). I saw a closet door open on its own.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it is haunted.