The Tale of Emily Draughn

Appalachia is known for its wide variety of stories. Whether they're meant to scare the younger generations or to keep those who hear them safe, story telling is one of the oldest mountain traditions. Lees-McRae itself is familiar with its share of ghost stories, taking into consideration that the school itself is well over 100 years old. 

The most well known story and campus legend is that of Emily Draughn. In the early 1920's what was formally known as the Grace Memorial Hospital housed about 1,300 patients in just one year alone. Years after the hospital had shut down and become what is now known today as Tate Hall, students living in the building had reported seeing an paranormal entity roaming the halls late at night. 

Patient Emily Draughn had lived at Grace Memorial Hospital in the early 1930's fighting her battle with tuberculosis. She sadly lost that battle in 1935 and is said to haunt certain places on campus today. Some reported places that she's been seen are Tennessee and Virginia Halls, Tate Hall, and even the cafeteria. 

She has different ways of showing herself to those who encounter her. She may appear as an orb of light, a woman dressed in outdated clothing, or a young girl wearing a long white dress. However you may see her, let it not be confused that she is a malevolent spirit. Those who have had run ins with Emily have described her as a playful spirit that likes to play light hearted jokes, such as making the lights flicker on and off, draining the battery of electrical devices, or even making loud and unexplainable noises. 

Just outside of the Banner Elk United Methodist Church cemetery is a grave maker that reads, she is "not dead but sleeping." Some skeptical students might here of her story and think nothing of it. But those believers who have had first hand experiences with Emily remember her for years to come. 

The Paranormal Club of Lees-Mcrae

Standing right in front of the Historic Commons rooms of Lees-McRae is the World War I and World War II memorial. The memorial stands to celebrate the lives of students, teachers, and faculty who had served in the wars and honors their lives. The three stone cottages, better known as the Historic Commons area, are places where students and clubs can go to study, host club meetings, and put together events. Lees-McRae values their student body, as well as the many different interests that their diverse group of people have. From fly fishing to Nerd Club, Lees-McRae has it all. One club in particular seems to stand out in terms of Appalachian folklore, and that is the Paranormal Club. 

The Paranormal Club at Lees-McRae dives into the realm of everything folklore, ghost stories, and creatures that go bump in the night. While there are almost too many stories to count, there are a couple that stay true and relevant to the area that surrounds them. 

The Phantom Hiker of Grandfather Mountain 

Not too far from the Lees-McRae campus, is the beautiful mountain range and scenic hike of Grandfather Mountain for anyone feeling adventurous enough to take it on. While being a popular tourist attraction, the mountain itself is almost 300 million years old with rock formations that date back to being almost 1.2 billion years old. This old age comes with a lot of history that only trees may remember. Tourists or local hikers may see the Phantom of Grandfather Mountain. He shows himself as a scruffy old man with clothes looking to be something from another century. While the sight of him may be one that spooks the unsuspecting travler, he does not speak or even aknowledge the exsistence of other people. He just simply keeps on walking before vanishing in the blink of an eye. 

The Sop Doll

The Sop Doll is an old Appalachian retelling of the story "Jack and the Beanstalk." This story gained its popularity from renowned story teller, Orville Hicks, who grew up on Beech Mountain. The story goes that Jack has become low on luck and is looking for a job and a place to stay. As he's travelling he comes across an old corn mill and strikes a deal with the owner to become his new corn grinder. The owner warns Jack that not many of those he hires stays alive past their first night. 

Jack being as poor as he was and as hungry as he was, couldn't pass up on this offer. As Jack starts to settle down in the old corn mill he notices a cat living in their with him. As time goes on throughout the night the cats begins to grow restless, and out of nowhere, attacks Jack. The battle is vicious and long but Jack ends up cutting off the paw of the mysterious cat he is forced to battle. The cat screams and cries referring to the paw as "Sop Doll." Once the fight is over and Jack proves himself triumphant, he leaves the battle with the sop doll, and the knowledge that the cat was the mill owners wife who was a witch the whole time. 

The Demon Dog of Valle Crusis

In the small town of Valle Crucis not far away from Lees-McRae, lies the cemetery of St. John's Church. The bridge just outside of the church rests over three rivers that converge in the form of the Holy Cross. The surrounding area seems as if it is everything good and holy, but little do many people know that this cemetery habors a dark secret. 

Multiple accounts that come from folks passing through this part of town late at night speak of a Demon Dog that gaurds the cemetery. The dog has a supernatural build. With a body nearly the size of a human and eyes that glow bright red, the Demon Dog is a creature that came straight from the depths of Hell

 The dog can gain speed that only cars may be able to reach, to chase out any unwanted visitors that may be curious of the cemetery at night. Anyone who has been unlucky enough to encounter the Demon Dog and still speak of it today, can count themselves lucky they made it out of the ordeal with their lives. 

Skinwalkers of the High Country

One of the more famous creature tales of the Appalachias are the skinwalkers that reside deep in the vast wilderness. Made popular by media and pop culture, the Skinwalker is an entity powerful enough that escaping from their clutches is a miracle in and of itself. 

The stories of Skinwalkers in the Appalachian Mountains come from the Cherokee tribe, although the stories of them are more popular out West and are affiliated with the Navajo nation. Skinwalkers are malevolent spirits that can take the form of any animal they please. The most common forms of Skinwalkers tend to be bears, coyotes, deer, and even cats. Skinwalkers commonly derive from medicine men or sorcerers who have performed an act that is considered unforgivable or taboo. In return they are forced to remain on Earth as a  tortured soul that has the power of shape shifting. 

Their killing tactic is that of mimicking human voices, mimicking hurt animals, or calling out the name of their victim to lure them into the woods. The goal for skinwalkers is to confuse their prey, fill them with fear, and to make sure they don't get away so they might feed their insatiable hunger. 

Tufts Tower

Tufts Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks of the Lees-McRae campus and one of the older historic buildings. Named after founder, Edgar Tufts, the tower was built in 1924 as a water tower to match the other various stone buildings scattered across campus. The tower was also used around the same time as a lookout in WWII and even a radio station. Most of the usage of this building might seem rather serious, but at one point in time, the tower even served as a candy shop. 

Right now the Tufts tower is being used as a home to the Order of the Tower Honor Society on campus. The slow evolution of the tower is a good example of how over the course of time, Lees-McRae has changed drastically but still has rich history that is honored and discussed today. A gentle reminder of this to the students, facutly, and teachers who reside on campus are the calm wind chimes that hum a campus tune for all to hear.