This Elon Student Television show entitled Haunted Oaks features “Mary” a ghost from the third floor of the West Dormitory. Haunted Oaks was an entertainment show produced by Elon Student Television (ESTV). Some notable ghostly stories include: the cast and crew researching the ghost of “Mary” from West Dormitory; Thomas (Tom) Mould connecting the discussion of the myth and the continued presence of “Mary;” student’s firsthand accounts of the ghost of “Mary” and the Winston-Salem Paranormal Society joining the students in the investigation and search for “Mary’s” spirit. Paranormal activities in West Dormitory include: computers turning off and on; computer mouse moving around; ghostly figures coming in or out of a doorway; people feeling strange sensations that someone is in an area; figures walking down hallways while holding candles; and strange noises coming from the basement. Anything that seems paranormal gets attributed to the ghost of “Mary.” Other students of West Dormitory stories include: Alex Trice, a third floor West Dormitory resident, coming in at 2 am during the early 2000’s and seeing the glass chandelier swinging; Brian Dudiak was sleeping in his girlfriend’s dorm and waking up to see a female ghost and his girlfriend talking; Jessica Simermeyer walking down the third floor hallway and feeling as though she was tripped by “Mary” because no one else was around. Tom Mould explains that super-natural things emerge when we cannot explain the stories and we look for rational or supernatural solutions. Mould continues to state that in the Belk Archives nobody talks about “Mary” before the 1980’s and so it is not clear where the story starts. The Winston-Salem Paranormal Society entered West Dormitory to investigate the paranormal activity and discuss their findings which include: their equipment turning off for unknown reasons; a spirit manipulating batteries or electronics; another felt “Mary’s” true name may begin with the letter “D” or “B;” and the presence of an unidentified spiritual force. Some notable names include: Thomas (Tom) Waterman, Thomas (Tom) Mould, Alex Trice, Brian Dudiak, Jessica Simermeyer, Sheila Roop, Tonya Denny, Joe Baretincic, Bonnie Jones, Sarah Sherman, Mitchelle Kindley, Jamie Hutchins, Kristin Sandler, Sarah Beese, Britney Caughell, Laurel Powers, Jennifer Roberts, Matthew D’Amico, Erik Kendall, Aaron Moger, Michael Pacicco, Brian Glover, Michael Moore, Kaitlin Buck, Lucas Lovett, Kaitlin Buck, Crystal Moyer, Gabriella Dean, Hannah Durant, Jamie Wagner, Candi Marshburn, Tavianna Williams, Max Negin, and Katie Nash.
*West Dormitory was not part of the 1923 fire, and there were no injuries or deaths related to the 1923 fire.