The Hauntings of Dalton Hall - UPEI

The University of Prince Edward Island has always been a place of learning and community, but for decades, whispers of the supernatural have clung to Dalton Hall like a lingering shadow. It is more than just an old building—it is a place of tragedy. A place where spirits seem to remain, unseen yet ever-present.

A History of Death and Mystery

In February1931, Ivan Molloy, a student at St. Dunstan’s University (UPEI’s predecessor), froze to death on the steps of Dalton Hall. Some say he had been drinking and became disoriented in the bitter cold. Others insist it was a cruel prank—that someone locked the doors, leaving him to die just inches from safety.

To this day, students report hearing phantom knocking at the entrance on freezing winter nights, followed by an eerie silence. Security guards have checked the doors only to find nothing but faint frost-covered handprints on the glass.

But Ivan is not the only lingering presence.

Emily Dawson, a student in the early 1900s, struggled under the immense academic pressure of university life. After failing a crucial exam, she vanished—only to be found lifeless in one of Dalton Hall’s old classrooms. Since then, strange occurrences have been attributed to her restless spirit.

Some students claim to have seen a woman in a white dress, standing at the far end of darkened hallways before vanishing into thin air. Others have heard soft weeping late at night, the source impossible to find.

Clara’s Encounter – 2014

Perhaps the most terrifying first-hand account comes from Clara, a third-year psychology student who, in October 2014, found herself trapped in Dalton Hall after hours.

She had stayed late to work on a research paper, the only sound in the building the rhythmic clicking of her keyboard. As she stretched and prepared to leave, the fluorescent lights flickered violently. Then, a sharp coldness swept through the room.

From the hallway came the distinct sound of footsteps—heavy, deliberate. She turned toward the entrance, expecting to see a janitor or another student. But the hall was empty.

Then came the knocking. Three slow, deliberate raps on the main door.

Clara hesitated, her heart pounding. Security cameras outside should have detected someone. But when she checked the screen, the steps were empty.

She grabbed her things, heading for the exit. But as she passed one of the dimly lit hallways, she saw her.

A young woman in a white dress stood at the far end, her head tilted, her expression unreadable. The air grew impossibly cold. Then, the figure mouthed her name.

Clara turned to run—only to hear a whisper right behind her ear.

“Let me in.”

The main doors suddenly unlocked with a loud click. Clara bolted outside, her breath visible in the night air.

Later, when she researched Dalton Hall, she found the tragic stories—Ivan Molloy, frozen on the steps, knocking for help that never came. Emily Dawson, forever wandering the halls where she took her life.

Clara never stepped foot in Dalton Hall after that night.

Other Student Encounters

Clara’s story is just one of many. Over the years, students have come forward with terrifying encounters inside Dalton Hall.

The Flickering Lights and the Locked Door

Jenna, a first-year English major, stayed late one evening to finish an assignment. She was the only person in the building—or so she thought.

As she packed up her things, the fluorescent lights flickered violently, casting strange shadows against the walls. Shrugging it off as faulty wiring, she made her way toward the exit. But when she reached the main doors, they wouldn’t open.

Then, from behind her—a whisper.

She turned, heart pounding, but the hallway was empty. The lights went out completely, leaving her in darkness. Panicking, she yanked at the door again, and suddenly—it unlocked by itself. She fled into the night and never stayed in Dalton Hall past sunset again.

The Cold Spot in Room 217

Michael, a history student, had heard the rumors about Room 217. It was said to be the coldest spot in Dalton Hall, no matter the season.

One afternoon, out of curiosity, he decided to check it out. The moment he stepped inside, a deep chill washed over him, far colder than the rest of the building.

Then, the air grew heavy, as if someone unseen was standing right beside him.

Before he could turn around, a sharp knock sounded from inside the closet. He bolted out of the room, but when security checked later, the door was locked from the inside—despite no one being in there.

Footsteps in the Empty Hallway

Amy, a former psychology student, had a night class on the second floor of Dalton Hall. One evening, as she waited outside the lecture hall, she heard footsteps echoing down the hallway.

She turned, expecting to see another student approaching—but the hallway was completely empty.

The footsteps continued, growing louder, as if someone was running toward her. Then—they stopped abruptly, just a few feet away.

She refused to take another night class in Dalton Hall after that.

A Place That Remembers

Dalton Hall has changed over the years, but its past lingers. Whether it’s the ghostly knocks on cold winter nights, the phantom footsteps, or the vanishing woman in white, one thing is certain—something is still there.

And if you ever find yourself alone in Dalton Hall after dark… you may not be as alone as you think.