College of the Ozarks haunting

[werdegast]

Hi

Does anyone know the name of the boy who is supposed to haunt the Jones Learning Center at College of the Ozarks south of Branson Missouri.

Below is a summary of the story as I was told in the early 1990s.

A man who was a custodian at CofO had a drinking problem and would beat his son when drunk. The boy would rock in a rocking chair that was in the old theater to console himself after a beating. Either the man killed the boy during a drunken rage or they were both killed in the fire that destroyed the building. All that was salvaged was the rocking chair and part of a Romeo and Juliet set. These items are in the new theater in Jones Learning Center. At various times the rocking chair rocks by itself and if you call the boys name while under the stage the ghost of the father comes to attack you.

I am sure I have forgotten several details. There is also something about a control booth under the stage and the fathers ghost banging on the frosted window of the control booth.

Thanks for any information.

[Scout]

Wtf? Why would you salvage part of a Romeo and Juliet set? They should've let it burn. Burn baby, burn...

Sounds like your typical school haunting story. Whoever thought up the part about Ghostdad coming out to do some more abusing gave it a nice twist though.

[cofoguy]

Herkimer. His name was (is) Herkimer, and he currently haunts the Jones Auditorium. Several sightings, including group sightings, occur every semester, and he's rumored to haunt one of the chairs, specifically located just in front of the edge of the theatre balcony, stage-right, about 8 rows back.

Well, not -rumored-. He does, akshully.

As far as the abusive father thing goes, it's BS. No such thing ever happened. All we have is a creepy little specter that haunts the audience seating area.

Edit: Also, there is no rocking chair. o.O

[BROUSER]

I like the first story better.

[mikesbetty]

I used to work there and we had all sorts of odd things going on like lights turning on and off bu themselves and radios turning on when they weren't plugged in. We also followed the sounds of a crying kid one night and never found the source. I don't know how much if any of the story is true but there are weird things that happen.

Oh and there is a rocking chair. But it is in the theatre annex where they keep all the set pieces and not in the theatre itself.

[ropingk]

I like the Ghost Dad thingeee