The Haunted Library

This past week we had a group of paranormal researchers ask if they could investigate the Library. We do have a ghost here so we were curious as to what they would discover.

Elizabeth Anne Leach served as librarian at the Dover Public Library from 1945 to 1959. During a trustees meeting she complained of not feeling well but refused to desert her post. She lay down on the ancient leather "fainting couch" and never woke again.

There are often mysterious noises in the library, particularly at closing, when the rooms are dark and silent. When we hear the unexplained noises, the sound of leather shoes on wooden floors that are now covered by carpet, or the gentle creak of a door opening, we wish Miss Leach a good night and leave her to her library.

Since the Ghost Quest group visited, we librarians began sharing our stories. I have worked here 23 years and have only heard the ghost once. Around 8pm, my co-worker and I heard loud and distinct footsteps moving briskly in the Historical Room. Then we heard the glass cabinets begin to bang loudly. We both thought we had a misbehaving patron on our hands. My co-worker went upstairs to settle things down and reported that no one was upstairs. It was quiet for about five minutes when the racket began again. I went up and thoroughly explored the whole upper floor, including closets, bathrooms, any little nooks where someone could hide. There was absolutely no one there. Fortunately we closed for the evening shortly after.

One of the part time librarians said when her brother used to work here he heard running footsteps upstairs. He thought kids were fooling around so he went up to investigate. Again, there was no one there.

The last incident concerned a patron who needed to book a room for a tutoring session. When she was offered the Trustees room, she refused in a very matter of fact manner, stating that the room was haunted. I would love to talk to her. I wonder what she has experienced there to lead her to that conclusion.

If any of you Dear Readers have experienced ghostly manifestations here, I would love to hear about it.