Schenley Hotel 1900 |
Several ghosts haunt the
University of Pittsburgh located in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. One of these stories I find especially compelling, it is about a
Russian ballerina.
Today the student union,
William Pitt Union, is located in once was a former hotel called the Schenley. The
ghost that resides in this building is connected to the Tansky Family Lounge or
the Red Room, which is located on the first floor just to the left of the
entrance—at one time it was the hotel lobby.
The Red Room is still used
today as a lounge with comfortable couches and chairs. Legend states early in
the 20th century this space was connected to a tragedy.
Tansky Family Lounge once hotel lobby. |
The Schenley Hotel, being one
of Pittsburgh’s finest, hosted the Russian National Ballet when they kicked off
their American tour in this northeastern city.
The troops prima ballerina
exhausted from all the travel fell asleep in the lobby and missed the premiere
performance. The furious company director announced that for the rest of the
tour the young understudy whom had performed that night in her stead would have
the role for the rest of the tour.
The devastated prima ballerina
then took her own life in the area near the lounge. Even though this tale is
tragic the spirit of this ballerina, which still resides in the Red Room is
fondly known as a “helping ghost.”
If a student falls asleep in
the Red Room it is stated the prima ballerina wakes them up—it is as if she
knows they will be late for something important. Students state she prevented
them from being late for exams, classes, meetings, appointments etc.
Now that is my kind of ghost
. . .
Forbes Avenue side of William Pitt Union |
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