DENTON, Texas — As October comes to a close, a longtime tradition at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) is bringing the school’s oldest mysteries back into the light. From unexplainable footsteps in the library to ghostly sightings near the campus chapel, TWU’s deep-seated history is full of paranormal tales that have passed down through generations of students and alumni.
Storytime in the Archives
Kimberly Johnson, the University Archivist at TWU, this week discussed the campus’s spooky lore and how these stories have evolved from the university's earliest days as the Girls’ Industrial College. Traditionally, Johnson hosted these campus mysteries as a popular walking tour. However, given unseasonably warm weather, the university shifted the event to a cozy, indoor "storytime" held right in the university library. According to Johnson, reports of paranormal occurrences have spanned decades. Students and faculty have documented everything from phantom lights and mysterious voices to doors opening and closing on their own across campus."Many of us who work here on campus all may have a story," Johnson said, noting that being alone in a large campus building late at night can be unsettling. "You might hear a sound that you don't normally hear in the daytime.
"The "Purple Building" and the Opera House Actor
The spooky encounters that aren't just limited to the campus grounds; they spill right into the historic Denton Square. One of the most famous local tales involves Denton's iconic "Purple Building," which currently houses Recycled Books and Records but originally served as the old Opera House. According to local lore, the Opera House was partially constructed using salvaged bricks from Denton’s original courthouse, which had burned down. Theater legend says that an actor once passed away inside the Opera House, and visitors have since reported seeing shadowy, misty figures wandering through the lower hallways.
Debunking the Gory Myths
Some campus stories have naturally turned into exaggerated urban legends. Johnson took the opportunity to debunk one of the most dramatic tales frequently brought up by curious students. "We have often heard from students who will come in and say, 'Tell me about the bride on campus who was wounded by her fiancé and decided to massacre the entire wedding,'" Johnson shared. "That did not happen. There is no truth to that.
The Boundless Energy of the Little Ghost Dog
The Little Ghost Dog , is among all the tales in the TWU X-Files—the archive's official collection of campus mysteries—Johnson's favorite stories center around the Little Chapel in the Woods. Dating back to the 1930s and 1940s when the chapel was under construction, students and groundkeepers reported seeing a small dog running around the gardens with boundless energy. Whenever students attempted to approach, catch, or pet the small dog, it would suddenly vanish into thin air.
A similar historical account from the early days of the college details a small, mysterious doe that would frequently appear to agriculture students and livestock handlers before disappearing as they drew close.
A Campus Tradition of Exploring the Unknown
While Johnson remains a friendly skeptic who has never personally seen a ghost during her time at TWU, she notes that interest in the paranormal always peaks during the month of October. "I think there's a natural curiosity with that phenomenon and the paranormal," Johnson said. "Our ghost tours and campus mystery talks are a great time for students to share some of the things they've heard. They experience campus in a very different way... it's a great discussion of exploring the unknown."
Haunted stories extend into the Denton community & the purple building ghost
Haunted stories extend into the Denton community & the purple building ghost
