Williams Hall

          Last year I walked into Williams Hall for the first time and immediately upon entering I got the strangest feeling. It was a feeling that I still can’t explain to this day. The grand marble staircase and old architecture of the building looked so familiar to me.  It felt like I had been there before, but it was the first time I had seen it. I immediately found my classroom, put my books on my desk, and set out to find a bathroom.
            The building was like a maze, and after following many arrows I was led to sign: up or down. So I could either walk down the dark flight of stairs to the depths of the unknown basement, where no one could hear my screams; or I could go up.  I chose the latter.
            Walking up the flight of stairs I felt uneasy. Once I reached the third floor, my echoing footsteps reminded me that I was completely alone, only, I didn’t feel alone. I kept looking out of the corner of my eye, thinking I saw someone’s shadow, but when I turned my head there was nothing. Maybe it’s because the third floor was dark and empty, the hallways narrow, the air deafening silent, but something about that floor freaked me out.  Needless to say, I got out of there pretty quickly.
            When I got back to my apartment I told my roommate about my experience. She asked, “You weren’t in Williams, were you?” I think my heart literally stopped. “You know that building is haunted.”  She then proceeded to tell me the story of Angeline Milner and the legend of Williams Hall.
            Angeline Milner was ISU’s first librarian, back when the library was located in the Old Main building. Milner was devoted to her job, and spent 37 years of her life as a librarian, cataloging over 40,000 books in her career. She died in 1928 and 48 years later Milner Library was built in memory of her.
            Now, Williams Hall wasn’t built until 1940, 12 years after Milner’s. It was filled with endless stacks of forgotten books that no one wanted-- the same books that Milner once cared for and held in her own hands. These were the books she spent her entire career cataloging, now placed in storage waiting for a chance to be needed again. These books that Milner dedicated her life to, are said to still carry a piece of her with them. It is believed by many that Milner haunts the books themselves.
            While Milner’s books were held at Williams, strange things were reported. Books would appear re-stacked in strange ways that shelvers had not put them in. Books would randomly fall on the floor. People reported feeling a presence in that building, as if they were not alone. Many people have also reported seeing a white blur out of the corner of their eye.
            Many believe this presence to be the ghost of Angeline Milner. Wherever the books go, strange things are said to follow. The books have since been moved from Williams Hall into storage. So one question remains: did Milner follow her books into storage, or has she made a permanent home in Williams Hall? I guess only time will tell. --Jessie McGinn

Read "The Milner Letters"