#grey lady

ITS OCTOBER! 

WILLARD LIBRARY

Willard Library is largely known for its wonderful collection of art books and research materials but it's also famous for its ghosts.

Located at 21 First Avenue in Evansville, Indiana, Willard Library is an impressive Victorian Gothic-style building dating back to 1885. The most-often reported apparition is known as The Grey Lady. A former janitor first reported seeing a grey lady' in the building's basement in a winter month sometime in the 1930s. The ghost was seen just after 3 am and was clothed in early 1800s-style attire.

The library's basement was almost destroyed by a storm in 1977. After undergoing extensive renovation in 1980, the room was dedicated to Margaret Maier because of her 40-year employment service to the library. Maier had seen the Grey Lady ghost many times herself and during the four-month renovation the Grey Lady allegedly moved into Margaret's home, which she shared with her sister, Ruth. Both sisters saw the ghost on a regular basis during its stay. She would materialize in full at times, at other times marking her presence by turning on the clothes dryer, and sometimes by the overpowering scent of her unmistakable perfume (strange aromas are commonly reported at haunted sites). The ghost returned to the library after the renovations were complete.

After Margaret Maler retired, the hauntings slowed but did not stop. To this day, the Children's Room remains a popular haunting spot for residing spirits and people continue to report sightings. It is thought by some that children have the ability to communicate with ghosts and maybe that can explain the popularity of this room for the spirits.

✨ Sapphic Sunday: Ghosts ✨

Happy Halloween! 👻

Spooky season is upon us and you know what that means. A ghost femslash reclist! In honor of Halloween, the HP SAFFICS (18+) discord server presents Sapphic Sunday: a reclist filled with lots of ghosts, hauntings, and spooks. See all previous rec lists in the WLW Library.

Currently: Ghost stories Previously: Weather (see list)

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LONG & LUXURIOUS (>10k)

👻 The Haunting of Pavenham Manor by @venom0usbarbie [Hermione/Pansy, E, 10.1k]

Her dead mother had asked her to return. To witness their past in Pavenham Manor with fresh eyes... Pansy dreaded the delusions, the mania that seemed to overcome her mother eighteen years ago—but the estate was within her reach, so close she could touch it, feel it. So she agreed.

MEDIUM & MESMERIZING (3k-10k)

👻 a little death and a little more by @swoontodeath [Bellatrix/Grey Lady, E, 9.3k]

“Foolish girl,” spat the Grey Lady. “I cannot put my hands on a mortal—” “Who said anything about putting your hands on me?” said Bellatrix easily, grinning. She took another step closer. “You’re going to watch me touch myself.”

👻 By the Book by @squidgilator [Marlene/Dorcas, G, 6.5k]

The library forces a book club, for reasons that are unclear. Marlene and Dorcas get to know each other along the way.

👻 where dust was once man by @slashmarks [Narcissa/Lily, T, 3.4k]

Terrified of losing her son to the Dark Lord's plotting, Narcissa is haunted by the memory of another woman who faced the same threat.

SHORT & SWEET (<3k)

👻 Sylph by FancifulRivers [Luna/Padma, M, 1.9k]

Luna's only friend is the Grey Lady until she meets Padma.

👻 For a Time, the Earth Is Still by @constitutionalweasleymonarchy [Minerva/Myrtle, G, 1.3k]

The haunting has just begun.

👻 This House, This Heart by @solar-settings [Cho/Luna, T, 1.1k]

Cho spends all day exiling ghosts and then comes home to the one sitting in her living room chair, and if that isn't the peak of hypocrisy, she doesn't know what is.

👻 life, distorted by @gracerene [Lavender/Parvati, T, 826]

Padma said Lavender would want her to move on. Parvati knows better.

👻 Narrow Escape by pauraque [Petunia/Grey Lady, T, 676]

Helena Ravenclaw has always been attracted to tragedy. Why she senses it clinging to the soul of Petunia Evans, a perfectly happy student in her own House, she isn't entirely certain.

👻 The Voice by @lumosatnight [Hermione/Lily, T, 200]

Lily Potter’s ghost haunts Hermione from the minute the Sorting Hat touches her bushy head.

👻 Hades by Ilthit [Grey Lady/Bellatrix, T, 100]

Helena longs for a violent embrace.

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🌙 Want more ghost stories? 🌙

@hp-creatures | AO3

@hp-fearfest | AO3

Ghosts: Tag on AO3