As the cold chill and roaring wind set the mood, stories of dolls coming to life, mother vampires, sorrowful spirits and petrifying witches terrified ETSU on Halloween.

On Oct. 31, from 5-7 p.m., ETSU Storytelling and the Sherrod Library hosted “Spooky Tales Under the Moonlight” a night of ghost stories and other scary tales. This was part of Sherrod Library’s 25th Anniversary series.  It was set at Borchuck Plaza. Even though the crowd could come and go as it pleased, the chairs were full most of the night.

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There was free hot chocolate, popcorn, apple cider and candy provided by the library.

The microphone was open to the audience to tell their stories. However, the storytelling department had a few storytellers prepare stories.  Many stories included themes of ghosts, grims, demons, monsters and spirits. Stories of fiction and real life were told.

Zach Smith told a story of his childhood and his irrational fear of childhood dolls. He talked about the one fateful night a doll haunted his sleep.

“I could feel her gaze, watching me and waiting for me,” said Smith.

Renu Swamy talked both about her childhood and adulthood. In her childhood, she talked about seeing the spirit of a woman who was murdered by her husband in a murder-suicide case. The spirit was longing for her child, and Swamy told about how the adults in her life did not believe her. In her adulthood, she talked about how her grandmother passed. She could feel her spirit hug her right when she died, even though they were miles apart.

“The separation between me and her,” said Swamy. “That is the best ghost memory of my life.”

Schuyler Geller told an old Appalachian tale from “Demon of the Woods” by Charles Edward Price. He told the story of the Nolichucky Witch; a witch who could turn men “stark, raving mad.”

Nancy Ann Donoval, storytelling program head and assistant professor head of ETSU’s storytelling department,  ended the night with “Mama Gone” by Jane Yolen, a story told by a young girl hunting her newly turned vampire mother, who is hunting the village.

“When a vampire walks these hollers, there is no farm or house that is safe,” said Donoval. “The dead not know anything.”

This was one of three nights of scary stories with the ETSU Storytelling Department. On Oct. 30, they hosted “Sunset Scares” a planned ghostly walking tour of ETSU, though rain moved the event to the Culp Ballroom at 5:30 p.m. On Nov 3., at the Tri-Hall gazebo, they hosted “Ghost Stories and Treats” in collaboration with ETSU Housing and Residence Life.

 

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