Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family
history through old photographs.
This week’s Sepia Saturday photo prompted my recollection
of the myths surrounding the mysterious tunnels crisscrossing beneath the Quad
at James Madison University (Go Dukes!). Surely every freshman who has proudly donned
the purple and gold can recite in detail those stories of murder and suicide.
MURDER
Supposedly a student in the 1920s had been receiving
little gifts from a secret admirer. One day she received a note asking her to
meet this mystery man in the tunnel going to Harrison Hall. Her friends tried
to dissuade her because there had been reports of a Peeping Tom on campus.
Naturally she ignored her friends, dressed up, and
spritzed on her favorite perfume. When she arrived at their secret rendezvous
in the tunnel, the “boyfriend” turned out to be a crazed killer. He attacked
her, raped her, and eventually killed her. Her friends found her body in the
tunnel the next day.
Listen carefully – you might hear her footsteps. You
might even smell her perfume.
SUICIDE
A young student suffered a broken heart when her best
beau announced he was no longer in love with her. When classes ended for the
Thanksgiving break, she went into the tunnel between Harrison and Ashby Hall and
hanged herself.
THE ABANDONED BABY
A young girl gave birth in secret in one of the tunnels
and abandoned her baby there. If you’re close to where the baby was left, you
can hear his cries echoing through the tunnel.
* * *
Yes, I heard these stories when I arrived on the campus
of Madison College in 1969. I’m sure I
listened wide-eyed. I even peered around, searching for an entrance to the tunnel from the laundry room in Spotswood Hall's basement. Yes, I listened, but I never heard a baby crying or any footsteps, nor did I
smell perfume in Harrison Hall.
While these stories are part of the character of JMU, a shared legacy that binds alumni, it is doubtful that they were told when my grandaunt Violetta Davis was a student at the Normal School in 1922, or when my grandaunt Velma Davis was at Harrisonburg Teachers College in 1925, or even in 1950 when my mother was a student at Madison College.
While these stories are part of the character of JMU, a shared legacy that binds alumni, it is doubtful that they were told when my grandaunt Violetta Davis was a student at the Normal School in 1922, or when my grandaunt Velma Davis was at Harrisonburg Teachers College in 1925, or even in 1950 when my mother was a student at Madison College.
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| Harrisonburg Teachers College 1923, Harrisonburg, Virginia |
Why not? Probably because these urban legends did not take off until the tunnels were closed to students around 1960. Before then students could actually use the tunnels to get from one building to another – handy especially in rain or snow. However, not all the tunnels could handle pedestrian traffic. Some have only crawl space.
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| One of the tunnels - note graffiti on left wall Delta Sigma Pi fraternity |
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| Science Hall - Maury Hall 1922-23 |
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| Dormitory 1 - Jackson Hall 1924-25 |
The first tunnel was 20 feet wide with 15-foot ceilings. It connected the first two buildings that formed The Normal School, then known as Science Hall and Dormitory #1 (today Maury and Jackson). The tunnel served to distribute heat to the buildings from the steam plant located behind Harrison Hall.
Once Harrison was built, it became the campus hub,
housing the post office and dining hall. Even in inclement weather, checking mail
and enjoying a hot meal were important, so the tunnel was often the students’ route
of choice, despite the dim lighting.
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| Violetta's dorm - Spotswood 1922-23 |
Eventually the tunnel was extended to Dormitory #2
(Ashby) and its mirror across the Quad, Spotswood, and to other buildings as the
college expanded.
Fifty-five years ago, student access to the tunnels was prohibited.
Now only JMU service employees are allowed in. But who listens to “No”? Breaking
into the tunnels has been one of the top activities among dare-devil students
ever since. It is also at the top of many students' pre-graduation bucket list.
I’m an obedient child, so I never ventured beyond the
locked door in Harrison, but thanks to YouTube and the Quad Squad of JMU, we
can take a virtual walk through those mysterious tunnels and listen for the footsteps
of that murdered girl.
Follow this tunnel to Sepia Saturday. Watch your step.
© 2015, Wendy Mathias.
All rights reserved.
