The Spirits of Chatham University

Posted: 10.16.2025 | Updated: 10.15.2025

Chatham University, located in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood, is as beautiful as it is mysterious. 

With ivy-covered halls, century-old architecture, and a history that stretches back to 1869, the campus holds more than just academic prestige—it also holds ghost stories that have unsettled students and faculty for decades.

Whispers of glowing apparitions, ghostly footsteps, and disembodied voices have made Chatham one of Pittsburgh’s most haunted universities. And while these tales remain unproven, their persistence suggests something lingers within the campus walls.

If Pittsburgh’s haunted history fascinates you, Pittsburgh Ghosts offers an unforgettable way to uncover the city’s darker side.

Is Chatham University Haunted?

Numerous people say that Chatham University is haunted, with stories of female ghosts in resident buildings, shadowy figures in academic structures, and talking in hallways where no one is present. 

Although the skeptics blame imagination for these stories, students have told their stories year after year, keeping the legends alive.

Whether these encounters are the result of restless spirits or lingering memories from the university’s past, Chatham’s haunted reputation remains one of Pittsburgh’s most intriguing mysteries.

History of Chatham University

Chatham University began in 1869 as the Pennsylvania Female College, one of the first higher education institutions in the region dedicated to women. It was later renamed Chatham College before eventually becoming Chatham University.

Its mission was groundbreaking for the time, offering women the opportunity to pursue degrees when most universities excluded them. The historic campus grew across wooded land in Shadyside, its stately halls built in the Gothic Revival style that still gives the grounds a striking, timeless appearance.

But behind the institution’s progressive ideals lies a past touched by hardship. For over a century, generations of young women lived, studied, and sometimes struggled on this campus. 

Old dormitories carry memories of homesickness, illness, and tragedy, while sprawling buildings have witnessed countless untold stories. Over time, some say these memories imprinted themselves into the very foundation of the university, fueling the supernatural encounters reported today.

Hauntings at Chatham University

Chatham University has long been the subject of supernatural rumors. Students have described strange sights and sounds across campus—figures glowing in blue light, footsteps in deserted hallways, voices whispering in the dark. 

Unlike passing legends, these stories endure because they are told firsthand, shared from one generation of students to the next. While each account differs in detail, together they paint a portrait of a campus where the past seems reluctant to rest. 

Below are some of the most frequently reported ghost stories tied to Chatham University.

The Blue Lady of Woodland Hall

The Blue Lady is perhaps the most enduring ghost story tied to Chatham University. Witnesses often describe a female figure wrapped in an ethereal blue glow, appearing suddenly in doorways or corridors before vanishing. 

She has been spotted by students in the dead of night, sometimes gliding silently past their rooms or lingering at the ends of hallways. Some students have reported waking to see the Blue Lady at the foot of their beds, staring with a quiet intensity before dissolving into the air. 

Others describe a sudden drop in temperature or a feeling of sadness just moments before she appears, as if her presence is tied to unresolved grief. Legends about her origin vary. Some believe she was once a young student who died tragically in Woodland Hall—perhaps from illness or an accident. 

Others insist her spirit predates the dorm itself, tied instead to the land long before the university existed. Whatever her true identity is, she is a luminous figure who has taken up residence in the imagination of those who have helped to give Chatham its haunted reputation. 

Woodland Hall is now one of the creepiest buildings on campus.

The Ghosts of Fickes and Rea Hall

Fickes Hall, built in 1927 and once the residence of aluminum magnate Edwin Stanton Fickes, is one of Chatham University’s most storied haunted locations. Over the years, students and visitors have reported a variety of ghostly experiences in its long, narrow hallways. 

Among the most commonly sighted is “Billy,” a spectral child often seen bouncing a ball, whose playful yet eerie presence has startled many residents. Another frequently reported spirit is a woman believed to have tragically fallen—or possibly jumped—from the third-floor window while carrying her baby over at House Rea. 

Students have described cold sensations and even the feeling of being gently touched by her presence during late-night encounters. Some also claim to have sensed Edwin Stanton Fickes himself, the building’s original owner, wandering the halls as if revisiting his old home. 

These accounts, blending mischievous activity with more somber apparitions, contribute to Fickes Hall’s reputation as a central point in Chatham University’s rich collection of ghost stories. 

Mellon Hall’s Shadowy Figures

Mellon Hall at Chatham University is reportedly haunted by the ghost of Andrew Mellon, its former resident. Students and staff have reported a variety of ghostly experiences linked specifically to Mellon Hall. 

These include sightings of a figure resembling Mellon walking through the building, hearing music and laughter, and detecting the distinct smell of cigar smoke, which is said to originate from the area where a pool once stood.

Other subtle phenomena have also been noted, such as unexplained noises and a general sense of being watched while inside the building. These experiences appear unique to Mellon Hall and are tied directly to the legacy of Andrew Mellon, whose presence seems to linger throughout the historic structure.

Laughlin Hall’s Ghosts

Laughlin Hall, constructed in 1912 and later donated to Chatham University in 1967, is among the campus’s most storied and reportedly haunted buildings. Over the years, students and staff have reported a variety of ghostly experiences, making it a central part of Chatham’s ghostly lore. 

One of the most frequently mentioned spirits is a malevolent female apparition on the third floor, often accompanied by sudden drops in temperature, an oppressive feeling, and the sensation of being watched. 

Some students have even claimed to be physically touched or startled by this presence while attempting to sleep. In addition to apparitions, residents have reported unexplained noises—doors opening and closing on their own, phantom phone calls, and electrical disturbances. 

Ghost investigators have noted these strange occurrences, and they contribute to Laughlin Hall’s eerie reputation. While the exact origins of these hauntings remain unclear, some speculate that tragic events associated with the building’s long history may be responsible for the restless spirits said to inhabit its halls.

Haunted Pittsburgh

From glowing apparitions to whispered voices, Chatham University has earned its place among Pittsburgh’s most haunted landmarks. While skeptics brush aside the tales, students and alumni continue to pass them down, weaving them into the university’s identity.

The stories may never be proven, but they ensure that Chatham’s past—both proud and tragic—will never be forgotten. If you want to uncover even more chilling tales from the Steel City, step into the shadows with Pittsburgh Ghosts and explore the haunted side of Pittsburgh for yourself.

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Sources:

1. https://www.swpenna.com/blue-lady-woodland-hall-chatham/
2. https://www.pulse.chatham.edu/blog-stories/2021/10/22/spooky-spots-on-chathams-campus
3. https://triblive.com/local/regional/higher-education-haunts-ghostly-tales-abound-at-local-colleges-and-universities/?utm_
4. https://www.wtae.com/article/chatham-haunted-houses-1999/45590126?utm_
5. https://lebomag.com/chilling-chatham/?utm_
6. https://medium.com/@chathamunews/chatham-universitys-history-with-ghosts-and-how-they-came-to-be-a-halloween-special-ce049cada622