The ghost of Wilson Library PDF Print E-mail
by Moira Hurley   
Friday, April 27, 2007

The Wilson library can send chills down anyone's spine. Built in 1928, the library is rumored to have a ghost that haunts the six-story building located northwest of Red Square.

The microform room is the section of the library where some employees have felt something might be lurking.

"Once back in the microform room all the lights were off, I felt a breeze go past me or go through me." said, classified staff member, Amy Sedovic. "Definitely felt like there was someone there. It has happened two or three times total."

Sedovic works at the media desk in the library and has only had experiences like those in the microform room.

Barney Terrell used to work the circulation desk in Haggard Library as the night supervisor from October 2002 to December 2003.

Terrell said he has also had eerie experiences in the microform room.

"When you're the first to turn the lights on in the morning, it's creepy and there has been a couple stories of just random noises and cold spots in the microform area," Terrell said.

The microform room is not the only place that has weird occurrences Terrell said.

"The reading room has a sinister reputation," Terrell said. "The Wilson Library is creepy at night compared to the Haggard Library."

The elevator near the microform room and media desk has spooked a few people, Terrell said.

"The only thing that I have ever seen happen is the elevator near the media desk goes up to fifth floor," Terrell said. "Occasionally it will go to the third floor or fifth no matter what floor you push, the doors will open three or four times and then it will continue on. A janitor and a couple students have experienced that," Terrell said.

No one who had weird experiences can identify the ghost. Terrell said Mabel Zoe Wilson, a deceased librarian, was rumored to be the ghost. Wilson is also rumored to haunt the apartment building she lived in before she died, Terrell said.

According to school records, Wilson helped create the library and made the first card catalog for the Wilson Library. She worked as a librarian for 43 years and lived in an apartment on Garden Streer. The library was dedicated to her in 1964. That same year, she fell down a stairwell in her apartment building, broke her shoulder, and never recovered. She died two months later.

Ross Allison, president and founder of Advanced Ghost Hunters of Seattle-Tacoma, said someone does not have to die in the building to haunt it and a ghost can haunt more than one place.

"Some of these energy's can attach themselves to a place. It could be where a tragic event took place or where they were the happiest," Allison said.

Allison said the common characteristics of a ghost are the feeling of being watched, items being moved. Doors closing on their own, the sound of footsteps, electrical problems, breezes, cold spots, and strange smells, Allison said.

Tamara Belts, special collections manager, has worked in the library for 30 years.

"There is certainly not an evil spirit," Belts said. "But I don't have a problem if there is a good spirit of Mabel Zoe watching over the library."


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