January 23, 2022 • 29 mins
OSU’s main campus in Columbus is known for many things. It’s the home of world class sports teams. It’s the home of a public institution compared to ivy league universities for its excellence in higher education.
Few know that it’s also said to be home to a host of spirits who’ve lingered long after their earthly demise.
Come hear the tale of the most spotted ghost on campus, The Pink Lady of Mirror Lake. She’s been seen gliding over the landmark’s surface for many decades. She’s known to haunt nearby Pomerene Hall. Rumor has it, her husband, a professor, took his own life at this place, more than a century ago.
Historical records bear that out. But that ain’t even the half of it.
Come hear what this lore has to teach us about our own faulty assumptions.
If you enjoy this episode, please rate, review and subscribe to Ohio Folklore on your chosen podcast platform. You can also find Ohio Folklore at:
Ohiofolklore.com
Facebook.com/ohiofolklore
And as always, keep wondering…
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Unknown (00:03):
Hello and welcome to Ohio folklore. I'm your host
Melissa Davies. Today, we'reexploring a little known legend
from one of Ohio's most famedand storied institutions. It's
been home to the buckeyes since1870. And more than 150 years of
its existence, its studentenrollment has swelled to more
(00:24):
than 50,000. A virtual city untoitself, this campus is the third
largest in the US. This publicivy institution has produced
Nobel laureates, Rhodesscholars, and Olympic medalist
and yet, it has produced so muchmore.
(00:44):
The Ohio State University hasdrawn passion and devotion from
students and non students alike.
Its beloved marching band, knownfor its elegant script Ohio
performances is admired theworld over its celebrated
football team is the highestvalued of any collegiate
football team in the country,standing at 1.5 billion.
(01:11):
With all this renown, you mightthink that most of what there is
to be known about OSU is maincampus and Columbus is pretty
well known, or at least easilydiscovered. You'd be surprised.
I know I was when I beganresearching today's topic. I've
been eager to uncover a folktaleattached to this much loved
(01:33):
campus. With its prominent roleand growing our state's leaders.
I knew a compelling story had tobe lingering in the shadows
somewhere.
Luckily, I discovered just whatI'd been looking for.
I can't wait to share it.
I'm talking about the ghostlylegends of Mirror Lake and
(01:57):
Palmer marine Hall.
Mirror Lake began as a simplenatural spring, located on
farmland that once belonged to aMr. William Neal
the university's foundingtrustees in charge of purchasing
the land on which the campuswould eventually stand chose
(02:20):
this spot after drinking of itsclear pure waters, and by 1895.
This spring, which was oncesurrounded by grazing cattle and
rows of corn, would be enlargedto allow for a natural water
feature to form. Its waters wereoriginally derived from the
Olin, tangi River, and thus,university Lake, later dubbed
(02:44):
Mirror Lake was born.
Although well Now feeds the lakewith groundwater. It's been an
iconic landmark of the campusfrom the start. But don't let
its Placid, calming waters foolyou. This location for all its
natural beauty and charm hasbeen attached to controversy for
(03:05):
many years, for a myriad ofreasons.
The most recent tragedy occurredin 2015 when a 22 year old
student from Bellbrook diedafter participating in the
Mirror Lake jump. It had becomea yearly tradition for students
1000s of them to jump into thelake on a weeknight leading up
(03:27):
to the fabled Ohio StateMichigan game. Although
university officials discouragedstudents from participating in
the unruly Horde, many studentsindeed 1000s of them plunged
into the icy waters year afteryear. You can easily find videos
of mirror like jumps from thepast, showcasing raucous college
(03:49):
kids sea of shirtless young menand women clad in bikinis,
screaming epithets about thatteam from up north.
Although it was a fourth degreemisdemeanor to leap into the
lakes waters, university policehad largely focused their
efforts at keeping students safeduring the event, as huge
(04:11):
numbers of them kept coming yearafter year. In 2009, a study of
ammonia levels in the lake overthe course of the jump itself
revealed that concentrationskept rising rapidly to alarming
levels. Meaning basically, thatstudents were urinating after
jumping in bringing additionalconcerns as to sanitation and
(04:34):
issues related to diseaseinfection.
But it wasn't until the tragicdeath of Austin Singletary six
years later that the universitywould take decisive action to
end this persistent andultimately deadly tradition.
Students had suffered variousinjuries through the years,
including a woman who was leftparalyzed in 1985 After diving
(04:58):
into shallow waters had funFirst, then in 2013, a man who
was found unresponsive afterjumping in would die of his
injuries nearly a month later.
It wasn't until the 2015 death,also resulting from head and
neck trauma that the traditionended. A major renovation
(05:19):
project of the landmark began in2016, resulting in the addition
of a quick drain function. lawsaround recreating and the lake
are now strictly enforced undercriminal penalties.
It's important to note that theghostly legends attached to
(05:39):
Mirror Lake and the statelypomarine Hall which abuts it,
are not at all connected to thismost recent death. It's also
important to remember thatfamily members of this young
man, no doubt love and miss andstill, we must be careful not to
trivialize their loss as weexplore the lore which has been
attached to the spot for many,many decades.
(06:02):
Remarkably, the riotous yearlyjumps into the lake weren't its
first source of controversy.
pomarine Hall whose facadereflects off the surface of
Mirror Lake is a stately andimposing structure, constructed
a brick and limestone in 1922.
It was the first location of thewomen's college on campus, it to
(06:26):
underwent major renovationsstarting in 2016. Now complete,
this building houses the arthistory department, and the
translational data analyticsInstitute. For a building known
for promoting advances intechnology, only a few students,
faculty and staff are aware oflegendary tales that took root
(06:48):
in the ground beneath itsfoundations.
The following descriptions oflocal legends attached to this
location are derived frommultiple articles of the
lantern, OSU student runnewspaper, the oral tails as
passed from person to personwhen something like this
(07:13):
a professor from the early 20thcentury had committed suicide at
the various site or PomeranianHall now stands. It was rumored
that he was despondent over afailed business venture, in
which he had convinced manycolleagues to invest. His wife
had persuaded him to seek helpfrom the University President
and Board of Trustees. surethey'd be willing to loan him
(07:35):
the funds he needed. Yet he wasturned away empty handed, and
then had supposedly takenhimself to what was then an
empty pasture next to the newlyformed mirror like and shot
himself in the head. hislifeless body would be found the
next morning, his grief strickenwife would vowed to never leave
(07:56):
the spot where her beloved hadfallen.
When plans were soon set tobuild Palmer in Hall to house
OSU a growing number of femalestudents, the professor's widow
became irate. She cursed theuniversity, pledging she'd never
allow her husband to beforgotten. Despite her
(08:17):
determined efforts, she'd soondie of natural causes.
The deceased couple is said tohave haunted the hall for
decades, disembodied footstepshave been heard by many
unsuspecting students andfaculty within DOORS once locked
open themselves. One policeofficer patrolling the building
(08:39):
late at night, reported beinggrabbed by an unseen force.
Well, that had still been underrenovation. The officer had
gotten too close to theprecarious edge of a hole in the
floor. That's when somethinggrabbed the officers ankle,
stopping him in his tracks. Whenhe turned his flashlight to the
floor, nothing was there, yetthe sensation of the grip
(09:03):
remained.
Sometimes the spirit of theprofessor's widow is seen on
Mirror Lake itself. As OSU ismost widely spotted ghost, she's
been given the moniker the ladyand pink. Students strolling by
the lakes still, waters on icywinter days are known to spot a
(09:25):
misty shape of a woman gliding,almost skating along the water
surface. Others have spotted hertransparent figure pairing from
an upper window of palm marineHall. She's always wearing the
same pink ball gown. Some havespotted her inside the building
as well. walking the hallwaysstanding in the grand lounge,
(09:48):
and specifically in room 213,where she pairs from the window
overlooking the likelegends like this, which sprout
from the telling and retellingof the story, from one person to
another, a bound in most anyplace with a deep abiding
history. And with each newiteration comes new details,
(10:12):
fresh motives, and a transformedperspective on just what these
unexplained experiences mean.
All of this evolution in thestory must mean that it's
basically fiction, right? Thecollective storytelling aspect
of folktales results in a talethat's simply a good story, and
(10:35):
nothing more. At least that'swhat many of us assume.
Part of what I love about makingthese episodes is the discovery
of the truth behind thefantastic claims. More often
than not, I find the historicalrecord offers insights as
compelling as the ghostlysightings themselves. So without
(10:57):
further ado, let me introduceyou to the actual Professor
fedrick Converse Clark and hiswife, Adelaide Knight Clark.
In the fall of 1903, ProfessorClark had been living in a home
on campus at 1634 Niall Avenuewith his wife, their seven year
(11:18):
old son, and four year olddaughter, a young and upcoming
star in the department's ofsociology and economics. This 38
year old graduate of theUniversity of Michigan, had
taken the job at OSU. In doingso, he left an assistant
professors position at Stanfordof all places. Even back then, I
(11:43):
was used reputation as a publicivy institution was well known,
returning to the Midwest inhopes of rising through the
ranks. This dapper andsophisticated former Wolverine
hoped not only to shape thecurriculum, but also to
establish himself as a leaderand Trailblazer among the
(12:03):
faculty at large. he pridedhimself on being abreast of the
latest in technology, and bothsocial and economic forces of
the day. He could demonstratehis knowledge, not only in the
classroom, but in the realworld.
His insider view of economicheadwinds provided him an
advantage when it came toinvestment decisions.
(12:29):
newspapers of the day were knownto promote many quick get rich
opportunities.
They're a bit like the Bitcoincraze of our day. It seemed the
world back then was a wash andundiscovered gold. Perhaps a
fever remained from the headydays of the California gold rush
of 1849. Tails of everydayAmericans striking it rich
(12:52):
loomed large in the imaginationsof so many. No doubt Professor
Clark knew well the advantagesof getting in on the ground
floor of such an investment. Helikely stumbled across an
article, such as the one that Ifound in the Atlanta
Constitution in August 1903. Ittold of a Georgian Prospector,
(13:13):
who founded a gold mine so rich,he would now retire a
millionaire. He had just comehome from his mind called the
haunted lady in the Blue RidgeMountains. He claimed the spirit
of a mysterious woman named Lucyhad led him to the exact spot
and told him he'd find goldthere.
(13:34):
On a riding home to Atlanta, hecarried a heavy sack of nuggets
slung over his shoulder. Oncloser inspection, the specimens
turned out to be pure gold. Thegoing rate was a whopping $22
per ounce flush with cash, he'dhad the luxury of choosing which
eager bankers would fund theproject. Workmen flocked to him
(13:58):
lining up for a job in a mindthat was sure to pay dividends.
This was just one of manystories of gold mines popping up
all over the country.
The oral tale of this legendusually claims that the
professor's failed venture wasan investment in a gold mine and
(14:19):
Alaska.
The industry is right goldmining. The location however, is
off by about 4000 miles.
Many articles detail ProfessorClark's lost savings in a gold
mining operation in Georgia ofall places. That that isn't the
(14:40):
most interesting detail of thewhole saga, not even by a
longshot.
Professor Clark's photograph andthen it no one edition of OSU
yearbook shows a prim andmeticulously groomed young man
wearing a hint of a smileYou can see the picture for
yourself in Ohio folklore.com.
(15:03):
The glint in his eye stands outamong the other photos of very
staid and stoic lookingcolleagues.
Instead of looking away,emotionless at some distant
point, as the rest of thefaculty do, Professor Clark
looks to the camera, but thekind of eager expression
(15:25):
this photo was taken two yearsbefore his death by his own
hands. And they're just abovehis image is that a professor
Frank re associate professor ofmine engineering.
Had he been the one to tellProfessor Clark of a speculating
opportunity and the newexploratory minds being dug in
(15:49):
the northern Georgia mountains.
It seems plausible, given thecircumstances.
Most articles covering hissuicide make certain to mention
that Professor Clark had notonly sunk most of his own
savings into the venture, thatthat he convinced a number of
his colleagues to do the same.
(16:12):
Just imagine how the dreadfulnews would have sank deep and
heavy for him. The realizationthat he was now penniless must
have been a humiliation to awfulto bear. Professor Clark, an
esteemed member of OSU faculty,and self claimed expert in
economics of all things, hadfallen prey to the promise of a
(16:34):
quick fortune. Even worse, hepersuaded his friends to do the
same. Just how could he show hisface again on campus? How could
his students put faith in hisown wisdom and judgment without
his credibility, and without anyway of even paying his monthly
expenses, Professor Clark grewmore and more despondent.
(17:00):
Through desperate tears, heconfessed to his wife Adelaide
of the awful reality.
With great effort anddetermination, she gotten him to
take ownership of his decision,embrace humility, and ask for
help.
Although it took muchconvincing, he agreed to seek
(17:20):
out President William OxleyThompson and ask the
university's help in securing alow interest loan for himself
and the many colleagues who'dlost their fortunes alongside
him. While no records exist asto the actual conversation, the
assumption is that no such loanwas secured.
(17:41):
On the next morning of September19 1903, Professor Clark was
spotted walking in a field westof the North dormitory. this
very spot would later become thefoundation of palm marine Hall.
his lifeless body found by afarmhand was laying facedown at
the foot of the tree. His facewas covered and gunpowder and
(18:04):
bruises from the fall forward.
A 32 caliber revolver rested inhis class right hand.
Blood had drained from a gapingwound in his head. further
inspection by a medical examinerwould indeed conclude that two
bullets had been fired into hisright temple. Remarkably, the
(18:26):
incident was ruled a suicidedespite this fact. news of his
death spread quickly innewspapers across the country.
Yet no articles questioned howProfessor Clark after shooting
himself once in the head, couldhave possibly managed to fire a
second shot. It's a scenariothat's hard to imagine.
(18:52):
Good Professor Clark had takenhis own life.
Or is it possible that one ofthe faculty members he convinced
to join and get rich quickscheme had murdered him in a
rage? Whatever the case, noinvestigation ensued. And
remarkably, the press didn'teven entertain the question
either. Back then sensationalstories of drama and intrigue
(19:16):
littered newspapers across thecountry. What might account for
this glaring omission, who amongOSU is prominent leaders of that
time, might have carried swaywith the editors of major
newspapers will never know.
Although Professor Clark hasbeen dead almost 120 years, his
(19:37):
story remains very much alive.
It's been told and retold. Oftenwith a few change details, yet
the primary plotline remainsintact.
Unlike some tall tales, this oneis actually rooted in historical
truth. It's not difficult tofind many articles that detailed
the professor's unfortunatedemise and
(20:00):
Some editorial boards weren'tabove poking fun at the tragic
situation.
For example, the Union CountyJournal of Marysville quipped
that the university professor ofeconomics should have been more
economical.
No newspaper match this mug shotin Freud of the Chronicle
(20:21):
telegram of Illyria. Itsheadline proclaimed Professor FC
Clark of OSU suicides because agold mine did not pan out.
Professors Professor Clark'sdramatic death on campus after
his plea to the administrationfor help, was a story that
(20:43):
permeated social circles oncampus for many years. Some
newspapers later reported on theepidemic of suicides among OSU
faculty of that era. In fact,Professor Clark was one of three
faculty to have committedsuicide in less than a year. The
other two a professor EA Eggers,and CW Maslow, were both of the
(21:07):
German department. The first hadshot himself in the head when
pain from his rheumatism becametoo much to bear.
The other had made previousattempts at overdosing in the
past. His latest attemptsucceeded shortly after he
learned that he'd been passedover for promotion.
(21:28):
In reading these stories today,there's an insanely pleasure
taken in the way in which theyare written,
I guess exploiting thevulnerability of those elite
academics made for good copy inthose days.
In any case, these stories justdidn't make a splash when they
happened, but they had stayingpower among the public for years
(21:51):
to come. And our story that aprofessor Frederick Clark,
doesn't end here. For the legendtells of an embittered and
forever grieving wife, whosupposedly cursed RSUs heartless
response to relate husbandsplease. Just what does the
historical record say about her?
(22:14):
Adelaide Knight Clark, also anative of Ann Arbor, Michigan,
married Professor Clark in 1891,at the age of 27. She followed
him to California when he takena job at Stanford, and then
again to Columbus when heaccepted a faculty position at
OSU. It was there well into her30s that she would bear him two
(22:38):
children, a son and daughter.
When he died in 1903, thisdutiful wife and mother would
return to Ann Arbor to raise heryoung children. As a single
mother. She would never remarry.
US census records from 1910 showthat by that time, she owned her
own home, a single motherraising teenagers by all
(23:02):
appearances, she'd taken thereins, perhaps because it was
what life demanded of her10 years later, and 1920. She
and her children now in their20s, yet lived in the house she
owned on Lincoln Avenue.
Her ghostly reputation in thislegend is that of an embittered
(23:25):
spirit, haunting the groundswhere her despondent husband
took his own life. Yet thatcouldn't be further from the
truth as evidenced by herpassport stamped in 1922.
At the age of 59, she'd set sailaboard a civilian passenger
ship, called the Old NorthState, bound for Europe. With
(23:48):
stops in Great Britain, theNetherlands, France, Belgium and
more. She and her son Chesterwouldn't only travel as tourist,
but they would study abroad.
They'd only secure passage onthe ship after making a return
visit to OSU. The esteemedguests of faculty who yet remain
(24:09):
there on campus.
Professor Clark's old colleagueswere happy to see Adelaide and
Chester moving forward,embracing what the world had to
offer.
It seems when her husband died,her life story did not have to
die with him. Despite what thelegend had to say, of the
tragedy.
(24:32):
The European endeavor would lastfor another two years before
they return in late 1923. Thiswidowed mother raised two
children on her own. She wouldlater relish her son's
acceptance of a position atHarvard.
She would spend her remainingyears living with her daughter
and son in law and Kentucky. Adeath certificate bearing her
(24:56):
name indicates quote, probablemalignancy of the lungs.
As her cause of death inJefferson County, Kentucky in
1935 at the age of 71. Her bodywas transported for burial back
to Ann Arbor, where she was laidto rest next to her husband in
Forest Hill Cemetery. All theseyears had passed, and she wanted
(25:20):
her final resting place next tohim.
Sometimes folklore has a way ofrevealing our biases and basest
assumptions. I believe this taleis a case in point sinsational
deaths, especially those whichexpose the vulnerabilities of
(25:40):
those perceived as imperviouscapture imaginations for
generations. Yet although akernel of truth lies at the root
of this tale, the epilogue isall too telling of our own
faulty assumptions,while a Professor Clark did once
exist, and while his very publicand gruesome death occurred at
the location of a now hauntedUniversity Hall, the second part
(26:02):
of the story couldn't be furtherfrom the truth.
Adalet Clark did not define herwhole existence as a wife to her
husband. At a time when womenstill had no right to vote. She
rose to the occasion. Despitewhispered stories about her deep
seated resentments toward theuniversity, she did what any
(26:26):
good parent must, she gave herchildren what they needed, she
provided a platform from whichthey could grow and flourish.
I find it quite fitting that OSUfirst built pomarine Hall to
house the women's college.
Now that I've gotten to knowAdalet Clark as best I can, I'd
(26:49):
like to think that she wouldhave been quite pleased to see
it constructed for this purpose,to help a vulnerable group of
students more fully reach theirpotential.
At a time when losing a malehead of the household, meant a
future of poverty and decline.
She found a way forward for herfamily and made it happen in the
face of destitution. She didwhat needed to be done, and
(27:13):
found a path forward.
And perhaps those frequentspottings of a woman in pink
gliding across the Mirror Lakeis not a representation of this
ghost angry and embitteredspirit.
Perhaps she means to express thekind of approval of what OSU has
(27:36):
done with the place because oneway to respond to death,
especially of the most tragickind, is to accept its weight,
and move forward.
While we all know we'll face ourown demise someday, the real
gift is a knowing we ain't deadyet.
What we do with our currentcircumstances, is what matters
(27:59):
at the end of the day.
I'd like to think that the mistyfeminine shape often spotted at
the storied OSU location standsnot as an image of bitterness,
but is a reminder of what we cando when the fates demand
we must all work to grow wherewe're planted.
(28:23):
It's a lesson for the ages to besure.
For any of you listeners, whomay be struggling with thoughts
of suicide of your own, orperhaps have loved ones who
suffer the same know there'shope. reaching out for help is
the first step.
(28:44):
You could connect with theNational Suicide Hotline at
1-800-273-8255.
This concludes today's episodeon the ghostly legends of Mirror
Lake and Palmer marine Hall onOSU campus. I hope you've liked
it. If so, please rate reviewand subscribe to Ohio folklore
(29:07):
on your chosen podcast platform.
You can find Ohio folklore atOhio folklore.com And on
Facebook.
And as always, keep wondering
Hello and welcome to Ohio folklore. I'm your host
Melissa Davies. Today, we'reexploring a little known legend
from one of Ohio's most famedand storied institutions. It's
been home to the buckeyes since1870. And more than 150 years of
its existence, its studentenrollment has swelled to more
(00:24):
than 50,000. A virtual city untoitself, this campus is the third
largest in the US. This publicivy institution has produced
Nobel laureates, Rhodesscholars, and Olympic medalist
and yet, it has produced so muchmore.
(00:44):
The Ohio State University hasdrawn passion and devotion from
students and non students alike.
Its beloved marching band, knownfor its elegant script Ohio
performances is admired theworld over its celebrated
football team is the highestvalued of any collegiate
football team in the country,standing at 1.5 billion.
(01:11):
With all this renown, you mightthink that most of what there is
to be known about OSU is maincampus and Columbus is pretty
well known, or at least easilydiscovered. You'd be surprised.
I know I was when I beganresearching today's topic. I've
been eager to uncover a folktaleattached to this much loved
(01:33):
campus. With its prominent roleand growing our state's leaders.
I knew a compelling story had tobe lingering in the shadows
somewhere.
Luckily, I discovered just whatI'd been looking for.
I can't wait to share it.
I'm talking about the ghostlylegends of Mirror Lake and
(01:57):
Palmer marine Hall.
Mirror Lake began as a simplenatural spring, located on
farmland that once belonged to aMr. William Neal
the university's foundingtrustees in charge of purchasing
the land on which the campuswould eventually stand chose
(02:20):
this spot after drinking of itsclear pure waters, and by 1895.
This spring, which was oncesurrounded by grazing cattle and
rows of corn, would be enlargedto allow for a natural water
feature to form. Its waters wereoriginally derived from the
Olin, tangi River, and thus,university Lake, later dubbed
(02:44):
Mirror Lake was born.
Although well Now feeds the lakewith groundwater. It's been an
iconic landmark of the campusfrom the start. But don't let
its Placid, calming waters foolyou. This location for all its
natural beauty and charm hasbeen attached to controversy for
(03:05):
many years, for a myriad ofreasons.
The most recent tragedy occurredin 2015 when a 22 year old
student from Bellbrook diedafter participating in the
Mirror Lake jump. It had becomea yearly tradition for students
1000s of them to jump into thelake on a weeknight leading up
(03:27):
to the fabled Ohio StateMichigan game. Although
university officials discouragedstudents from participating in
the unruly Horde, many studentsindeed 1000s of them plunged
into the icy waters year afteryear. You can easily find videos
of mirror like jumps from thepast, showcasing raucous college
(03:49):
kids sea of shirtless young menand women clad in bikinis,
screaming epithets about thatteam from up north.
Although it was a fourth degreemisdemeanor to leap into the
lakes waters, university policehad largely focused their
efforts at keeping students safeduring the event, as huge
(04:11):
numbers of them kept coming yearafter year. In 2009, a study of
ammonia levels in the lake overthe course of the jump itself
revealed that concentrationskept rising rapidly to alarming
levels. Meaning basically, thatstudents were urinating after
jumping in bringing additionalconcerns as to sanitation and
(04:34):
issues related to diseaseinfection.
But it wasn't until the tragicdeath of Austin Singletary six
years later that the universitywould take decisive action to
end this persistent andultimately deadly tradition.
Students had suffered variousinjuries through the years,
including a woman who was leftparalyzed in 1985 After diving
(04:58):
into shallow waters had funFirst, then in 2013, a man who
was found unresponsive afterjumping in would die of his
injuries nearly a month later.
It wasn't until the 2015 death,also resulting from head and
neck trauma that the traditionended. A major renovation
(05:19):
project of the landmark began in2016, resulting in the addition
of a quick drain function. lawsaround recreating and the lake
are now strictly enforced undercriminal penalties.
It's important to note that theghostly legends attached to
(05:39):
Mirror Lake and the statelypomarine Hall which abuts it,
are not at all connected to thismost recent death. It's also
important to remember thatfamily members of this young
man, no doubt love and miss andstill, we must be careful not to
trivialize their loss as weexplore the lore which has been
attached to the spot for many,many decades.
(06:02):
Remarkably, the riotous yearlyjumps into the lake weren't its
first source of controversy.
pomarine Hall whose facadereflects off the surface of
Mirror Lake is a stately andimposing structure, constructed
a brick and limestone in 1922.
It was the first location of thewomen's college on campus, it to
(06:26):
underwent major renovationsstarting in 2016. Now complete,
this building houses the arthistory department, and the
translational data analyticsInstitute. For a building known
for promoting advances intechnology, only a few students,
faculty and staff are aware oflegendary tales that took root
(06:48):
in the ground beneath itsfoundations.
The following descriptions oflocal legends attached to this
location are derived frommultiple articles of the
lantern, OSU student runnewspaper, the oral tails as
passed from person to personwhen something like this
(07:13):
a professor from the early 20thcentury had committed suicide at
the various site or PomeranianHall now stands. It was rumored
that he was despondent over afailed business venture, in
which he had convinced manycolleagues to invest. His wife
had persuaded him to seek helpfrom the University President
and Board of Trustees. surethey'd be willing to loan him
(07:35):
the funds he needed. Yet he wasturned away empty handed, and
then had supposedly takenhimself to what was then an
empty pasture next to the newlyformed mirror like and shot
himself in the head. hislifeless body would be found the
next morning, his grief strickenwife would vowed to never leave
(07:56):
the spot where her beloved hadfallen.
When plans were soon set tobuild Palmer in Hall to house
OSU a growing number of femalestudents, the professor's widow
became irate. She cursed theuniversity, pledging she'd never
allow her husband to beforgotten. Despite her
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determined efforts, she'd soondie of natural causes.
The deceased couple is said tohave haunted the hall for
decades, disembodied footstepshave been heard by many
unsuspecting students andfaculty within DOORS once locked
open themselves. One policeofficer patrolling the building
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late at night, reported beinggrabbed by an unseen force.
Well, that had still been underrenovation. The officer had
gotten too close to theprecarious edge of a hole in the
floor. That's when somethinggrabbed the officers ankle,
stopping him in his tracks. Whenhe turned his flashlight to the
floor, nothing was there, yetthe sensation of the grip
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remained.
Sometimes the spirit of theprofessor's widow is seen on
Mirror Lake itself. As OSU ismost widely spotted ghost, she's
been given the moniker the ladyand pink. Students strolling by
the lakes still, waters on icywinter days are known to spot a
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misty shape of a woman gliding,almost skating along the water
surface. Others have spotted hertransparent figure pairing from
an upper window of palm marineHall. She's always wearing the
same pink ball gown. Some havespotted her inside the building
as well. walking the hallwaysstanding in the grand lounge,
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and specifically in room 213,where she pairs from the window
overlooking the likelegends like this, which sprout
from the telling and retellingof the story, from one person to
another, a bound in most anyplace with a deep abiding
history. And with each newiteration comes new details,
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fresh motives, and a transformedperspective on just what these
unexplained experiences mean.
All of this evolution in thestory must mean that it's
basically fiction, right? Thecollective storytelling aspect
of folktales results in a talethat's simply a good story, and
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nothing more. At least that'swhat many of us assume.
Part of what I love about makingthese episodes is the discovery
of the truth behind thefantastic claims. More often
than not, I find the historicalrecord offers insights as
compelling as the ghostlysightings themselves. So without
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further ado, let me introduceyou to the actual Professor
fedrick Converse Clark and hiswife, Adelaide Knight Clark.
In the fall of 1903, ProfessorClark had been living in a home
on campus at 1634 Niall Avenuewith his wife, their seven year
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old son, and four year olddaughter, a young and upcoming
star in the department's ofsociology and economics. This 38
year old graduate of theUniversity of Michigan, had
taken the job at OSU. In doingso, he left an assistant
professors position at Stanfordof all places. Even back then, I
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was used reputation as a publicivy institution was well known,
returning to the Midwest inhopes of rising through the
ranks. This dapper andsophisticated former Wolverine
hoped not only to shape thecurriculum, but also to
establish himself as a leaderand Trailblazer among the
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faculty at large. he pridedhimself on being abreast of the
latest in technology, and bothsocial and economic forces of
the day. He could demonstratehis knowledge, not only in the
classroom, but in the realworld.
His insider view of economicheadwinds provided him an
advantage when it came toinvestment decisions.
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newspapers of the day were knownto promote many quick get rich
opportunities.
They're a bit like the Bitcoincraze of our day. It seemed the
world back then was a wash andundiscovered gold. Perhaps a
fever remained from the headydays of the California gold rush
of 1849. Tails of everydayAmericans striking it rich
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loomed large in the imaginationsof so many. No doubt Professor
Clark knew well the advantagesof getting in on the ground
floor of such an investment. Helikely stumbled across an
article, such as the one that Ifound in the Atlanta
Constitution in August 1903. Ittold of a Georgian Prospector,
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who founded a gold mine so rich,he would now retire a
millionaire. He had just comehome from his mind called the
haunted lady in the Blue RidgeMountains. He claimed the spirit
of a mysterious woman named Lucyhad led him to the exact spot
and told him he'd find goldthere.
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On a riding home to Atlanta, hecarried a heavy sack of nuggets
slung over his shoulder. Oncloser inspection, the specimens
turned out to be pure gold. Thegoing rate was a whopping $22
per ounce flush with cash, he'dhad the luxury of choosing which
eager bankers would fund theproject. Workmen flocked to him
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lining up for a job in a mindthat was sure to pay dividends.
This was just one of manystories of gold mines popping up
all over the country.
The oral tale of this legendusually claims that the
professor's failed venture wasan investment in a gold mine and
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Alaska.
The industry is right goldmining. The location however, is
off by about 4000 miles.
Many articles detail ProfessorClark's lost savings in a gold
mining operation in Georgia ofall places. That that isn't the
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most interesting detail of thewhole saga, not even by a
longshot.
Professor Clark's photograph andthen it no one edition of OSU
yearbook shows a prim andmeticulously groomed young man
wearing a hint of a smileYou can see the picture for
yourself in Ohio folklore.com.
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The glint in his eye stands outamong the other photos of very
staid and stoic lookingcolleagues.
Instead of looking away,emotionless at some distant
point, as the rest of thefaculty do, Professor Clark
looks to the camera, but thekind of eager expression
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this photo was taken two yearsbefore his death by his own
hands. And they're just abovehis image is that a professor
Frank re associate professor ofmine engineering.
Had he been the one to tellProfessor Clark of a speculating
opportunity and the newexploratory minds being dug in
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the northern Georgia mountains.
It seems plausible, given thecircumstances.
Most articles covering hissuicide make certain to mention
that Professor Clark had notonly sunk most of his own
savings into the venture, thatthat he convinced a number of
his colleagues to do the same.
(16:12):
Just imagine how the dreadfulnews would have sank deep and
heavy for him. The realizationthat he was now penniless must
have been a humiliation to awfulto bear. Professor Clark, an
esteemed member of OSU faculty,and self claimed expert in
economics of all things, hadfallen prey to the promise of a
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quick fortune. Even worse, hepersuaded his friends to do the
same. Just how could he show hisface again on campus? How could
his students put faith in hisown wisdom and judgment without
his credibility, and without anyway of even paying his monthly
expenses, Professor Clark grewmore and more despondent.
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Through desperate tears, heconfessed to his wife Adelaide
of the awful reality.
With great effort anddetermination, she gotten him to
take ownership of his decision,embrace humility, and ask for
help.
Although it took muchconvincing, he agreed to seek
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out President William OxleyThompson and ask the
university's help in securing alow interest loan for himself
and the many colleagues who'dlost their fortunes alongside
him. While no records exist asto the actual conversation, the
assumption is that no such loanwas secured.
(17:41):
On the next morning of September19 1903, Professor Clark was
spotted walking in a field westof the North dormitory. this
very spot would later become thefoundation of palm marine Hall.
his lifeless body found by afarmhand was laying facedown at
the foot of the tree. His facewas covered and gunpowder and
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bruises from the fall forward.
A 32 caliber revolver rested inhis class right hand.
Blood had drained from a gapingwound in his head. further
inspection by a medical examinerwould indeed conclude that two
bullets had been fired into hisright temple. Remarkably, the
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incident was ruled a suicidedespite this fact. news of his
death spread quickly innewspapers across the country.
Yet no articles questioned howProfessor Clark after shooting
himself once in the head, couldhave possibly managed to fire a
second shot. It's a scenariothat's hard to imagine.
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Good Professor Clark had takenhis own life.
Or is it possible that one ofthe faculty members he convinced
to join and get rich quickscheme had murdered him in a
rage? Whatever the case, noinvestigation ensued. And
remarkably, the press didn'teven entertain the question
either. Back then sensationalstories of drama and intrigue
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littered newspapers across thecountry. What might account for
this glaring omission, who amongOSU is prominent leaders of that
time, might have carried swaywith the editors of major
newspapers will never know.
Although Professor Clark hasbeen dead almost 120 years, his
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story remains very much alive.
It's been told and retold. Oftenwith a few change details, yet
the primary plotline remainsintact.
Unlike some tall tales, this oneis actually rooted in historical
truth. It's not difficult tofind many articles that detailed
the professor's unfortunatedemise and
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Some editorial boards weren'tabove poking fun at the tragic
situation.
For example, the Union CountyJournal of Marysville quipped
that the university professor ofeconomics should have been more
economical.
No newspaper match this mug shotin Freud of the Chronicle
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telegram of Illyria. Itsheadline proclaimed Professor FC
Clark of OSU suicides because agold mine did not pan out.
Professors Professor Clark'sdramatic death on campus after
his plea to the administrationfor help, was a story that
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permeated social circles oncampus for many years. Some
newspapers later reported on theepidemic of suicides among OSU
faculty of that era. In fact,Professor Clark was one of three
faculty to have committedsuicide in less than a year. The
other two a professor EA Eggers,and CW Maslow, were both of the
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German department. The first hadshot himself in the head when
pain from his rheumatism becametoo much to bear.
The other had made previousattempts at overdosing in the
past. His latest attemptsucceeded shortly after he
learned that he'd been passedover for promotion.
(21:28):
In reading these stories today,there's an insanely pleasure
taken in the way in which theyare written,
I guess exploiting thevulnerability of those elite
academics made for good copy inthose days.
In any case, these stories justdidn't make a splash when they
happened, but they had stayingpower among the public for years
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to come. And our story that aprofessor Frederick Clark,
doesn't end here. For the legendtells of an embittered and
forever grieving wife, whosupposedly cursed RSUs heartless
response to relate husbandsplease. Just what does the
historical record say about her?
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Adelaide Knight Clark, also anative of Ann Arbor, Michigan,
married Professor Clark in 1891,at the age of 27. She followed
him to California when he takena job at Stanford, and then
again to Columbus when heaccepted a faculty position at
OSU. It was there well into her30s that she would bear him two
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children, a son and daughter.
When he died in 1903, thisdutiful wife and mother would
return to Ann Arbor to raise heryoung children. As a single
mother. She would never remarry.
US census records from 1910 showthat by that time, she owned her
own home, a single motherraising teenagers by all
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appearances, she'd taken thereins, perhaps because it was
what life demanded of her10 years later, and 1920. She
and her children now in their20s, yet lived in the house she
owned on Lincoln Avenue.
Her ghostly reputation in thislegend is that of an embittered
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spirit, haunting the groundswhere her despondent husband
took his own life. Yet thatcouldn't be further from the
truth as evidenced by herpassport stamped in 1922.
At the age of 59, she'd set sailaboard a civilian passenger
ship, called the Old NorthState, bound for Europe. With
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stops in Great Britain, theNetherlands, France, Belgium and
more. She and her son Chesterwouldn't only travel as tourist,
but they would study abroad.
They'd only secure passage onthe ship after making a return
visit to OSU. The esteemedguests of faculty who yet remain
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there on campus.
Professor Clark's old colleagueswere happy to see Adelaide and
Chester moving forward,embracing what the world had to
offer.
It seems when her husband died,her life story did not have to
die with him. Despite what thelegend had to say, of the
tragedy.
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The European endeavor would lastfor another two years before
they return in late 1923. Thiswidowed mother raised two
children on her own. She wouldlater relish her son's
acceptance of a position atHarvard.
She would spend her remainingyears living with her daughter
and son in law and Kentucky. Adeath certificate bearing her
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name indicates quote, probablemalignancy of the lungs.
As her cause of death inJefferson County, Kentucky in
1935 at the age of 71. Her bodywas transported for burial back
to Ann Arbor, where she was laidto rest next to her husband in
Forest Hill Cemetery. All theseyears had passed, and she wanted
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her final resting place next tohim.
Sometimes folklore has a way ofrevealing our biases and basest
assumptions. I believe this taleis a case in point sinsational
deaths, especially those whichexpose the vulnerabilities of
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those perceived as imperviouscapture imaginations for
generations. Yet although akernel of truth lies at the root
of this tale, the epilogue isall too telling of our own
faulty assumptions,while a Professor Clark did once
exist, and while his very publicand gruesome death occurred at
the location of a now hauntedUniversity Hall, the second part
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of the story couldn't be furtherfrom the truth.
Adalet Clark did not define herwhole existence as a wife to her
husband. At a time when womenstill had no right to vote. She
rose to the occasion. Despitewhispered stories about her deep
seated resentments toward theuniversity, she did what any
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good parent must, she gave herchildren what they needed, she
provided a platform from whichthey could grow and flourish.
I find it quite fitting that OSUfirst built pomarine Hall to
house the women's college.
Now that I've gotten to knowAdalet Clark as best I can, I'd
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like to think that she wouldhave been quite pleased to see
it constructed for this purpose,to help a vulnerable group of
students more fully reach theirpotential.
At a time when losing a malehead of the household, meant a
future of poverty and decline.
She found a way forward for herfamily and made it happen in the
face of destitution. She didwhat needed to be done, and
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found a path forward.
And perhaps those frequentspottings of a woman in pink
gliding across the Mirror Lakeis not a representation of this
ghost angry and embitteredspirit.
Perhaps she means to express thekind of approval of what OSU has
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done with the place because oneway to respond to death,
especially of the most tragickind, is to accept its weight,
and move forward.
While we all know we'll face ourown demise someday, the real
gift is a knowing we ain't deadyet.
What we do with our currentcircumstances, is what matters
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at the end of the day.
I'd like to think that the mistyfeminine shape often spotted at
the storied OSU location standsnot as an image of bitterness,
but is a reminder of what we cando when the fates demand
we must all work to grow wherewe're planted.
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It's a lesson for the ages to besure.
For any of you listeners, whomay be struggling with thoughts
of suicide of your own, orperhaps have loved ones who
suffer the same know there'shope. reaching out for help is
the first step.
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You could connect with theNational Suicide Hotline at
1-800-273-8255.
This concludes today's episodeon the ghostly legends of Mirror
Lake and Palmer marine Hall onOSU campus. I hope you've liked
it. If so, please rate reviewand subscribe to Ohio folklore
(29:07):
on your chosen podcast platform.
You can find Ohio folklore atOhio folklore.com And on
Facebook.
And as always, keep wondering
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