The Ghost of Stone Center Theatre

Jamie M. Eubanks
JSU News Bureau

Why has a lady dressed in a flowing white nightgown been frequenting the costume shop and theatre at Jacksonville State University? And why has no one ever seen her face?

She slips in the door of the costume shop and may walk into one of the back rooms. Her ghostly figure may be spotted sitting in the audience of the theatre.

Whatever the case, Costume Designer and Professor of Drama Freddie Clements believes the ghost of someone he knew haunts the Earnest Stone Performing Arts Center.

The chilling story began when both Larry Miles' wife, Beatrice, and Freddie's grandmother died. Miles' was the founder of Mask and Wig, which promotes theatre in the community and the university. His wife would accompany him to performances at JSU and loved the theatre.

"Larry would often bring her to the shows and seat her in the back of the auditorium so she could talk to those around her," commented Freddie.

Freddie's grandmother taught him everything he knows about tailoring costumes and fine point sewing. She was also his biggest critic. "After shows she would come up to me and critique the costumes," says Freddie.

Their relationship was very close and she would travel great distances from her home in Petersburg, Virginia, to witness her grandson's performances. When her health began failing and her husband's fear of flying disallowed them to travel the long distances, they were unable to make it to their beloved grandson's shows. So she was never able to see one of his shows here at Jacksonville State University.

These deaths occurred around the 1992 opening of JSU's production of Brigadoon. Brigadoon happened to be his grandmother's favorite play of all time.

While in the costume shop preparing for the show, Freddie saw a lady in a flowing white nightgown walk into the shop.

"I see her out of the corner of my eye sometimes," Freddie said. "She comes in the door and just walks to the back. The thing about it is, no one's ever seen her face."

Freddie attributes this to the way his grandmother passed from life.

"She was very ill before she died and the tubes the doctors used distorted her face very badly," he continued. "She was a very proud woman. Before she died she insisted on a closed casket service."

This is one of the many reasons why Freddie thinks the woman is his grandmother. He believes she has come to make up for the shows at JSU she was never able to attend.

And see them, she does. Students have seen a ghostly figure sitting in the audience during rehearsals.

"Theatres are usually haunted places because of what we do," commented Dr. Wayne Claeren, professor of drama at Jacksonville State University.

"Every now and then when I'm locking up, it seems as if there's someone here. Both ladies had reason to frequent the Stone Center."

Whether it was the wife of one of the most prominent men in the theatre's history or the grandmother of the costume designer, no one really knows.

Until the ghostly face is revealed, no one will.