Dead men tell tales: Geneseo’s creepiest local legends

Photo Courtesy of Editor B- Wikimedia Commons

A sudden drop of air, like a cold draft, sends shivers down your spine. Faint whispers and distant tapping leave you frozen with fear. Before you can turn around to make out the face, you screech in terror. It’s a g-g-GHOST!

Ghost stories are nothing new; they have been passed down for thousands of years, originating in ancient civilizations long before the horror genre we know and love existed. Whether whispered between friends, read aloud at the campfire, or read for the sake of fun, these tales reflect humanity’s obsession with the unexplained. Over time, these stories become associated with specific places, giving familiar buildings and surroundings an air of mystery. 

Throughout this article, I will be exploring three excitingly eerie excerpts that hopefully leave you chilled by every word. So, grab your popcorn—or in this case, candy corn—and get strapped into the ghastly world of ghost stories! 

The year was 1961 and Monroe Hall had recently been completed. Students were ecstatic to make memories in their new residence hall. But the excitement surrounding the building would give way to something stranger; reports of disembodied calls began to bounce off the walls, with students claiming to hear names as if someone was calling for help. 

Legends trace these interpretations back to a spirit named Eric, who supposedly died at the construction site before Monroe Hall was completed. Yet, his whereabouts during that time remain unknown. Some versions recall a child, while others suggest a college student. According to the legend, his soul is still bound to the construction site, and sometimes you can still hear the distinct sounds of terror as he calls out for help, just as the machine crushes him underneath.

Similarly, at the Big Tree Inn, the company of ghosts may be closer than you think. After all, you are never truly alone. Long before the Big Tree Inn became a familiar landmark in Geneseo, the area was associated with Chief Big Tree, also known as Goondahwah. According to local accounts, a log cabin associated with the chief burned down in 1794. The property’s later history became intertwined with the Ayrault family, whose home would eventually become the Big Tree Inn. Over time, stories of paranormal activity became part of the folklore surrounding the historic building.

After Allen Ayrault died in 1861, his wife, Berthia, reportedly continued living in the house for another 25 years. The property was later converted to an inn in 1886. In the decades since, stories have circulated about unexplained occurrences inside the building, including visitors experiencing drops in temperature and the sound of distinct footsteps.

The ghosts of Geneseo may not always haunt the land: sometimes they drift beyond the walls and lurk beneath the water’s surface of Conesus Lake. There, a mysterious silhouette of an Indigenous man is said to appear in a canoe emerging from the darkness before disappearing into the night. From the distant shoreline, the figure appeared almost otherworldly, vanishing into the darkness as quickly as it had appeared.
But the phantom’s origins were less supernatural than they seemed. According to accounts of the local legend and business owner, Colonel S. Tooey, the story was a way he could attract tourists to the lake and promote his boating business. A person dressed in Indigenous clothing would reportedly paddle a brightly painted canoe at night, creating the illusion of a mysterious figure appearing on the water. What seemed like a haunting was actually a carefully staged spectacle.

Over time, the story became part of the folklore surrounding Conesus Lake. Its legacy raises an interesting question: how many ghost stories begin with something unexplained, and how many begin with someone hoping to convince others that something supernatural is happening?

So, what is there to gain from ghost stories? A little fear factor, entertainment, or the thrill of believing something beyond our understanding? We may never know what sick pleasure we get from whispering, exchanging exaggerated gasps, and daring each other to venture into the great unknown. Perhaps it’s in our nature to be deeply feeling human beings, drawn to the mysteries we cannot explain. And whether the ghosts of Geneseo are real or simply products of our imagination, their stories will continue to haunt the campus for years to come.