Imagine St. John Fisher without residence halls and academic buildings, leaving only Kearney Hall. For the first graduating class, campus was just that. The ground breaking was held June 19, 1949 and completed by the College’s second year in 1952.

During Kearney’s early years, the structure was equipped with a lounge, bookstore, lunchroom and staff dining room. The fourth floor held photographic dark rooms, research facilities and a physics laboratory. It wasn’t until 1959 that the administration building was dedicated to Bishop Kearney. 

“The building is the oldest on campus, since the White House had been demolished for Keough Hall construction. The fourth floor of Kearney Hall now has offices, where once it was used for other purposes,” said C-shift security supervisor Bruce Jesse.

The campus-wide myth is that Kearney is haunted.  “The place holds feelings and unexplainable sensations for some people more attuned to these things,” said Jesse. Courageous students have asked to stake out the area through the night, but for safety reasons requests cannot be accommodated.

Security Officer Mike McCarthy is a skeptic to the Kearney legend. “I do not believe that supernatural beings are displaying or giving messages to mortal beings. It is no more haunted than any other purported haunted building or room,” said McCarthy.

The Security Department cannot confirm the existence of any paranormal activity since abductions and violent activity have never been reported or observed. “There has never been a death, murder or suicide connected to Kearney Hall. Just many, many, many years of normal people carrying out their pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence,” said Jesse.

Creaky pipes, heating systems and unleveled floors justify most unexplained noises. “There are many noises from the boiler system that can cause banging in the first floor stairwell from the radiator grate that carries up the entire staircase. It can be unnerving when the building is empty,” said Jesse.

Despite others’ beliefs, A-shift security supervisor Christina Ortiz feels that Kearney is haunted. “The other security guards laugh, but we all get creepy vibes at night,” said Ortiz.

When students were home for Christmas vacation, Ortiz and former security officer John Dellagloria were asked to do a routine check of Kearney. The president’s door was unlocked, and they were assigned to investigate the situation.

Campus security parked near the dock area of Kearney and made sure that no one was on the premise. Just as Ortiz and Dellagloria were about to leave, they heard two girls’ giggling. “At first I thought maybe it was just me hearing the noise, but the look on John’s face said otherwise.”

 Ortiz checked the women’s restroom and the 24 hour computer lab, but both were vacant. “The staircases in Kearney are only a few steps so no one could have left without us noticing,” said Ortiz. After doing a once over, Ortiz and Dellagloria left the area spooked and mystified.

Ortiz mentioned that one of the officers once saw a green light shining from the bell tower. Haunted or not, “the myth does invoke entertaining conversation and lightheartedness,” said McCarthy.

STAFF WRITER
NICOLE REITZ
Email address:
nmr06212@sjfc.edu