Spooky+Stories

Spooky Stories The Supernatural Stories of Great Falls High School

Ida, the Ghost of the Auditorium

The most popular and widespread ghost story in Great Falls High School is that of the ghost of the auditorium. Commonly known as Ida, this spirit is quite famous among the students and staff of Great Falls High. Many people have claimed to have seen Ida on the stage and the rooms just off the auditorium, including the prop room and the piano room. Most stories involve unexplained noises, objects moving, and props or costumes being disturbed. The story of “Ida” has been told many ways, but the most common story is that the spirit once belonged to a teacher at Great Falls High School. The tale tells of a music/drama teacher who fell in love with one of the custodians of the school, but he was a married man, who could not return her affections. Suffering through the pains of unrequited love and unable to stand it any longer, she hung herself in the school’s auditorium. Many people claim to have seen a spirit in the auditorium or neighboring rooms. Most describe the spirit as being a woman clad in a white dress, but some claim to have seen a male presence. It is unclear which description would be that of the spirit causing the disruption in the auditorium. The most common thread of the auditorium ghost story is that the being does not seem to be threatening. Teachers and students alike describe the spirit of the auditorium as protective, friendly and watchful. Still, you would be well advised not to taunt the ghost while in her presence. The Man in Gray Sweatpants

This story is not nearly as well known as “Ida”, and in fact, was only brought to our attention briefly while we were researching the auditorium. One custodian told us the story. He said that as he was in the school late one night, he heard the sound of a basketball bouncing in the Old Gym. Knowing that no one was supposed to be there at that time of night, he went to investigate. Upon peeking into the Old Gym, he saw an older man, wearing gray sweatpants, bouncing a basketball. He worked up the courage to turn on the lights in the gym and ask the man why he was there, but just as he did, the man disappeared.

The custodian believes that the ghost was that of Bill Swarthout, a former principal and basketball coach of Great Falls High. Like “Ida”, the man in gray sweatpants is believed to be docile and watchful, and does not seem to pose a threat. Ghost of the Bell Tower
 * [[image:gfhsbison/Bell_tower.jpg width="360" height="298"]] || This is certainly one of the more murky stories of Great Falls High. Many believe the bell tower of the school to be haunted, but it is proving impossible to find a consistent story of whom or what haunts it. The tale we’ve heard a few times is that a young couple went up to the bell tower together, where the man had planned to propose. When he got down on one knee, his lover refused him. Embarrassed and angry, the man pushed her over the side of the bell tower. Some claim to have seen a figure falling from the roof of the building, but nothing more substantial than that. ||

Track Ghost
 * This is another elusive story. Some describe a tale of an athlete sneaking on to the track at night to run laps. It is believed that some other boys followed him on to the track to taunt him and they started fighting. An undetermined number of boys is said to have died in the fight, but we have found no evidence to support that. It is still unclear to us whether anything we’ve heard about this is true. || [[image:gfhsbison/track.jpg width="480" height="286"]] ||

Tunnel Ghost This is possibly the most confused and unclear story of the school. Many people think there is something in the tunnels under the school, but we have been unable to find any consistent descriptions or specific encounters. One custodian told us that the tales of a ghost in the tunnels were completely false, and we have found no reason to disbelieve him.