By Vicki Ungvarsky
Do you believe in ghosts? Are you interested in gaining more knowledge about World War II? Do you want to hear some interesting facts about the history of medicine? The Western Campus Crile Archive and Veteran Center collaborated with the Office of Student Engagement to hold the Haunted Tri-C Tours Special Event. It covered all these topics and how they intertwine with the campus’ history. This year, the event was held at Tri-C Western Campus from 2 – 4 p.m. on Halloween, which many believe is the spookiest day of the year. I had the honor and pleasure of attending it. Before the event, I also had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Matthew Miller, the Manager of Veteran and Military Connected Services. Miller also manages the Archives.
Miller was a member of the United States Army and Ohio National Guard and had an interest in working at the Western Campus stemming from its history. Prior to becoming the college campus, we all know and love, it was Crile General Hospital, which served wounded military members during World War II and was also a Nazi Prisoner of War camp.
When asked if there were any violent deaths on the grounds, Miller’s response was, “You mean nefarious?” When I affirmed the question, it was stated that there had to be thousands of deaths due to wounded soldiers having been patients at the hospital. Most other manners of death are unknown. I do suggest students inquire about any attempted POW escape situations.
Upon entering the North Galleria, participants in the event were seen seated in chairs or lined up at the refreshment table. Some were dressed in Halloween costumes, including Chucky (the doll in the movies) and a devil. Three televisions displayed historical images. Soon, Miller passionately gave a presentation that not only disclosed information about the VA hospital and POW camp but also about the Crile complex’s namesake, Dr. George Washington Crile. Dr. Crile served in the Spanish-American War and World War I and is noted for having succeeded in providing the first direct blood transfusion, creating the concept of balance anesthesia, and researching and treating shock, amongst other medical accomplishments. While these were important contributions to medicine, they were not so pleasant for the patients with whom the research had been performed. Dr. Crile is also famous for being a co-founder of the Cleveland Clinic.
Did you know there are tunnels beneath the Western Campus’s buildings? We were split up into two groups. My group was led by Student Life Advisor Jennifer Kubala. Only some of the participants were given Electromagnetic Field Detectors. This allowed students to interact together. From a paranormal perspective, it is said that they detect ghosts or spirits’ presence and activity. We were led through the stuffy but well-lit underground tunnels. Kubala enthusiastically gave details and hints about ghostly encounters that have taken place within them.
Some may ask, “Did the EMF detectors ever show any signs of ghostly activity?” They went off to a few places for my group. One of the most notable is in front of a locked entrance door to the tunnels. Once we accessed the tunnels via a different route and walked their entire length, we went back upstairs to view the Crile Archives. Outside its doors, the EMF detectors went off and showed the highest amount of activity that could be recorded. Could this be because the Archives hold many historical items, including photographs, various pieces of news, and artifacts from the POW camp, hospital, and the people within those facilities? There are also photographs of Tri-C’s faculty members, student veterans, and other items of historical value.
All are encouraged to visit the Archives, especially with the Veterans Day holiday quickly approaching. They are in room G111 of the Western Campus. Immerse yourself in the history of Tri-C, medical advancements, wars of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the military members who fought in them. As mentioned, there are also photographs and valuable items from past and current faculty members and students from their time in the service. There are historical takeaways for all who visit the Archives. Who knows? You may even have experience with the paranormal when visiting, and you can always participate in the Haunted Tri-C Tours Special Event next year if and when it takes place.
