The Centre Alum that Just Can't Leave
Title
The Centre Alum that Just Can't Leave
Subject
Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918- )—Anecdotes
Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918- )—Buildings
Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918- )—History
Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918- )—Students
Ghosts—Kentucky—Danville
Haunted places—Kentucky—Danville
Haunted universities and colleges—Kentucky—Danville
Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918- )—Buildings
Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918- )—History
Centre College (Danville, Ky. : 1918- )—Students
Ghosts—Kentucky—Danville
Haunted places—Kentucky—Danville
Haunted universities and colleges—Kentucky—Danville
Description
This is an oral history account of Mackenzie Nichols' ghost story in the Chenault House at Centre College.
Creator
Nichols, Mackenzie
Date
2021_01_19
Contributor
Hardy, Mary Katherine
Rights
All rights reserved.
Format
mp4
Language
English
Type
Oral History Literary Work
Interviewer
Hardy, Mary Katherine
Interviewee
Nichols, Mackenzie
Location
CHENAULT HOUSE, Centre College, Danville, KY
Transcription
Transcript – January 19, 2021
Mackenzie Nichols
Wait, can you hear that?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah, we can here that.
Mackenzie Nichols
Let me see if I can silence that. Frankie you can come in but you have to be quiet. I think I got it.
Mary Katherine Hardy
All right, well, we know it's COVID so whatever works, works. Okay. My name is Mary Katherine Hardy. And today I'm interviewing Mackenzie Nichols, who attended Center and now lives and works in Danville. And today is January 19, 2021. We're recording this interview over zoom, and today we will be discussing Mackenzie's experiences during the last year or two of her work.
To begin, you could just tell us a little bit about where you work on Center's campus. Can you describe the location and space of that work?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, sure! So I work in the Chenault House or the Alumni Office on campus. And that is right next to the Horky House, which is currently where our financial operations are held. And it's also right in the middle of, I guess, on the other side is Toliver Elementary. So it's near the far end of campus - outskirts. And yeah, it's not in the heart of campus at all. So.
Mary Katherine Hardy
And then, so could you just talk a little bit about what your job is, what responsibilities you have, and then maybe just kind of like what your like day to day life looks like at work?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, sure! So I am the Assistant Director of annual giving at Centre. So I work in the development office. I started as the Alumni and Development Fellow when I graduated in 2017, and then I was promoted, I guess, a year and a half ago. So I've been here since graduation. Primarily, I focus on digital communications and digital media. So emails, maintaining our website, creating giving forms and digital campaigns. And I focus on engaging and rapport with our Young Alumni. I also supervise our Alumni and Development Fellow. So I oversee the senior gift campaign, and their philanthropic efforts and the phonathon efforts, which is our digital phone fundraising.
So day to day, it's really just maintaining our website, creating emails, sometimes coding, graphic design, things like that.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Cool, awesome.
Okay, so I know you kind of mentioned this to me before the interview, but could you explain if you've had any strange or unexplained experiences on Centre's campus, kind of like when did this experience happen? And what were you seeing smelling hearing that kind of thing?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, so this happened. I think it was two years ago. And to be honest, I can't remember if it was during fall or spring phonathon, you would think that would stick in my mind, but, but it was during phonathon. So, phonathon is held in the alumni office in the Chenault house, in our conference room, which is situated between our foyer and our kitchen. So, it's downstairs, it's right in the middle. And it's on weeknights, from five to nine, so that's when the students call. But when I was working as the fellow I would sometimes stay until 11:30. Or I mean Gosh, there were even a few nights that I stayed until midnight just you know putting in data and sending out thank you videos because we at the time sent out videos from our callers thanking the donors who had made gifts or pledges. In order to get those out, almost immediately, I decided that I was just going to stay at the office and do it there. And, you know, hopefully, a return in investment. But there was one night that I was there, and it was probably 11:30. And it's just me in the office. All of the doors are locked. I'm downstairs, and I just heard footsteps upstairs.
I heard it was like someone was running. It was not they were not heavy footsteps. But it was enough for me to you know, my heart started beating really fast, and started getting really sweaty. And I was just, I mean, I was I was scared because there was, you know, no way that anyone could have gotten in because, you know, Centre's our very old campus and our office is really old.
And the doors I mean, you hear them unlock, and you hear someone come in and being downstairs, I was right in the middle of the front door and the back door. Yeah. And so I you know, that's, that's, that's it. I just heard footsteps and, and nothing else. Really, I just, I immediately called my mom. And she was like, are you okay? It's really late in the office. Um, but I just I heard someone upstairs and no one's here. And I just need you to talk to me because I have to finish this work, you know? Yeah.
I don't know why I didn't leave. I guess I -
Mary Katherine Hardy
You stayed after that?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, I stayed. But I mean, I was scared, but I think I was more scared moving forward, you know, because I had to continue to work there at night.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Right.
Mackenzie Nichols
But, you know, moving forward, I did change my schedule a little bit, or I would take my computer home, and I would send my emails from home. Or if I stayed at work, I had a little puppy at the time, and
*dogs barking*
but I had a little puppy at the time, and I would bring him to work with me. So anyways, um, yeah, I would take my dog with me to work. He's like 10 pounds, and I don't know why I thought that was gonna protect me. But, in my head I was like, okay, dogs - ya know - I've heard they have this sense for a paranormal activity. Like, he's gonna let me know if something is there, and if I need to leave.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah.
Mackenzie Nichols
That being said, he liked to wander when I was working. And so sometimes he would go upstairs, and I never went upstairs at night. Unless someone else was there. And so that was terrifying in and of itself, you know, going up there, the offices are dark, the doors are open, and I'm trying to find my dog who is obviously hiding from me, so yeah, brought a little bit of fear.
Mary Katherine Hardy
So people usually work upstairs. It was just that that night, like you were certain that nobody was up there?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, well, they don't normally work at night upstairs other offices upstairs. So there's the the main floor which had at that time, and it was a foyer which we used to host like senior events. Or, you know, we would open it up during homecoming. And so between like reunion parties or events on campus, alumni would come by for like snacks and coffee and you know, conversation.
But it's recently been renovated into an office, but upstairs is all offices. So upstairs. There's 1,2,3,4....8 offices and a work room. I mean, people split offices, but yeah, people work there during the day, and then we have an attic. So yeah, but it was I'm pretty sure it was right over me, which is it was an office, and it was my office at the time and the student work room. So yeah.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Well, it's pretty eerie. So yeah, I just have another follow up question is kind of how has that experience, you kind of already touched on this, but shaped how you think about your work? Or maybe how you think about, you know, Centre's campus in general. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Mackenzie Nichols
I mean, no, not really. I don't like to be anywhere by myself at night in the dark. But it hasn't really changed much. I mean, I did I worked and moving forward, if I was by myself, I, I brought my dog. Or I would just take my stuff home most of the time. And then once I realized that work-life balance was important, I would send the emails out in the morning. I learned that it didn't make that much of a difference.
Mary Katherine Hardy
You're up until midnight, anyway.
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, yeah. So that helped. A lot. But I don't I don't think it's really changed. much, but I also don't work at night anymore. So you know?
Yeah, yeah. So that helped. A lot. But I don't I don't think it's really changed. much, but I also don't work at night anymore. So you know?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah. Well, interesting. Um, and then lastly, could you just touch on a few places that are important to you, and why they're important to you?
Mackenzie Nichols
Oh wait, I will say that I'm really quick that our office prior to being the Alumni and Development Office was a fraternity house, it the phi delta theta fraternity house. And so, um, you know, I don't know if that has to do with anything ghosts wise. But, I mean, who knows what happened there?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah. You know, connections everywhere? Who knows?
Mackenzie Nichols
And then, what did you say?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah, just like a place or two that are really important to you, and why they're important to you.
Mackenzie Nichols
On campus?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah, can be on campus or just like your house, like, just kind of. I think like, one place, for example, for me is like my lake house just because of the memories I have there. I just associate my family and like, comfort with that place. So yeah, whatever works for you.
Mackenzie Nichols
So one place would be Seabrook Island in South Carolina. It's like a very private beach. It's not touristy. And we had many family vacations there that were just I mean, ideal to the point of, I don't know, it was like, some of the last times that our family that we were all together before college, and you know, we all lived in different states. And so that is, and probably will forever be a special place. And probably my house. My house now I just, I feel very safe in my house, and, you know, it's our first home. So that's a that's a really big deal.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Cool, and then one more question. What do you think of ghosts and ghost stories? And why? And do you think your experience influenced that kind of view on the paranormal?
Mackenzie Nichols
What was the last part of the question? My experience?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Do you think that your experience like influenced your view of ghosts and ghost stories? Um, no, I wouldn't. I don't I don't think so. Um, I definitely believe in ghosts.
Mackenzie Nichols
Sorry ... I had another experience with a ghost in downtown Lexington, probably when I was a freshman or sophomore in college, and it was I mean, very personal, very intimate. And so this didn't scare me. As much as that did because I felt its actual presence. And you know, the doors shut, I heard laughter and things like that. So this on a scale, kind of it didn't didn't hit the bar, but it was still really scary. I think there are good ghosts and bad ghosts. You know, it's hard to it's hard to know which which is which, especially in the beginning of the experience, but I do think they're real for sure.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Well, thank you so much for sharing your experience today and taking the time to share and I will certainly pass on the finished archive post to you. So you can, you know, read our transcript and read a little description about it. And the rest of my class is also doing an interview. So I think there'll be some pretty interesting stories that come out of it for sure.
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah I'm super excited, Centre's definitely haunted.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Oh, trust me after all this, there's just far too many accounts for me to be like, Oh, that's a coincidence or that somebody made that up.
Mackenzie Nichols
yeah, for sure.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Alrighty. Well, thank you so much and have a good week.
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, you too. Good luck with transcribing. I hope I wasn't too loud!
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Mackenzie Nichols
Wait, can you hear that?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah, we can here that.
Mackenzie Nichols
Let me see if I can silence that. Frankie you can come in but you have to be quiet. I think I got it.
Mary Katherine Hardy
All right, well, we know it's COVID so whatever works, works. Okay. My name is Mary Katherine Hardy. And today I'm interviewing Mackenzie Nichols, who attended Center and now lives and works in Danville. And today is January 19, 2021. We're recording this interview over zoom, and today we will be discussing Mackenzie's experiences during the last year or two of her work.
To begin, you could just tell us a little bit about where you work on Center's campus. Can you describe the location and space of that work?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, sure! So I work in the Chenault House or the Alumni Office on campus. And that is right next to the Horky House, which is currently where our financial operations are held. And it's also right in the middle of, I guess, on the other side is Toliver Elementary. So it's near the far end of campus - outskirts. And yeah, it's not in the heart of campus at all. So.
Mary Katherine Hardy
And then, so could you just talk a little bit about what your job is, what responsibilities you have, and then maybe just kind of like what your like day to day life looks like at work?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, sure! So I am the Assistant Director of annual giving at Centre. So I work in the development office. I started as the Alumni and Development Fellow when I graduated in 2017, and then I was promoted, I guess, a year and a half ago. So I've been here since graduation. Primarily, I focus on digital communications and digital media. So emails, maintaining our website, creating giving forms and digital campaigns. And I focus on engaging and rapport with our Young Alumni. I also supervise our Alumni and Development Fellow. So I oversee the senior gift campaign, and their philanthropic efforts and the phonathon efforts, which is our digital phone fundraising.
So day to day, it's really just maintaining our website, creating emails, sometimes coding, graphic design, things like that.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Cool, awesome.
Okay, so I know you kind of mentioned this to me before the interview, but could you explain if you've had any strange or unexplained experiences on Centre's campus, kind of like when did this experience happen? And what were you seeing smelling hearing that kind of thing?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, so this happened. I think it was two years ago. And to be honest, I can't remember if it was during fall or spring phonathon, you would think that would stick in my mind, but, but it was during phonathon. So, phonathon is held in the alumni office in the Chenault house, in our conference room, which is situated between our foyer and our kitchen. So, it's downstairs, it's right in the middle. And it's on weeknights, from five to nine, so that's when the students call. But when I was working as the fellow I would sometimes stay until 11:30. Or I mean Gosh, there were even a few nights that I stayed until midnight just you know putting in data and sending out thank you videos because we at the time sent out videos from our callers thanking the donors who had made gifts or pledges. In order to get those out, almost immediately, I decided that I was just going to stay at the office and do it there. And, you know, hopefully, a return in investment. But there was one night that I was there, and it was probably 11:30. And it's just me in the office. All of the doors are locked. I'm downstairs, and I just heard footsteps upstairs.
I heard it was like someone was running. It was not they were not heavy footsteps. But it was enough for me to you know, my heart started beating really fast, and started getting really sweaty. And I was just, I mean, I was I was scared because there was, you know, no way that anyone could have gotten in because, you know, Centre's our very old campus and our office is really old.
And the doors I mean, you hear them unlock, and you hear someone come in and being downstairs, I was right in the middle of the front door and the back door. Yeah. And so I you know, that's, that's, that's it. I just heard footsteps and, and nothing else. Really, I just, I immediately called my mom. And she was like, are you okay? It's really late in the office. Um, but I just I heard someone upstairs and no one's here. And I just need you to talk to me because I have to finish this work, you know? Yeah.
I don't know why I didn't leave. I guess I -
Mary Katherine Hardy
You stayed after that?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, I stayed. But I mean, I was scared, but I think I was more scared moving forward, you know, because I had to continue to work there at night.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Right.
Mackenzie Nichols
But, you know, moving forward, I did change my schedule a little bit, or I would take my computer home, and I would send my emails from home. Or if I stayed at work, I had a little puppy at the time, and
*dogs barking*
but I had a little puppy at the time, and I would bring him to work with me. So anyways, um, yeah, I would take my dog with me to work. He's like 10 pounds, and I don't know why I thought that was gonna protect me. But, in my head I was like, okay, dogs - ya know - I've heard they have this sense for a paranormal activity. Like, he's gonna let me know if something is there, and if I need to leave.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah.
Mackenzie Nichols
That being said, he liked to wander when I was working. And so sometimes he would go upstairs, and I never went upstairs at night. Unless someone else was there. And so that was terrifying in and of itself, you know, going up there, the offices are dark, the doors are open, and I'm trying to find my dog who is obviously hiding from me, so yeah, brought a little bit of fear.
Mary Katherine Hardy
So people usually work upstairs. It was just that that night, like you were certain that nobody was up there?
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, well, they don't normally work at night upstairs other offices upstairs. So there's the the main floor which had at that time, and it was a foyer which we used to host like senior events. Or, you know, we would open it up during homecoming. And so between like reunion parties or events on campus, alumni would come by for like snacks and coffee and you know, conversation.
But it's recently been renovated into an office, but upstairs is all offices. So upstairs. There's 1,2,3,4....8 offices and a work room. I mean, people split offices, but yeah, people work there during the day, and then we have an attic. So yeah, but it was I'm pretty sure it was right over me, which is it was an office, and it was my office at the time and the student work room. So yeah.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Well, it's pretty eerie. So yeah, I just have another follow up question is kind of how has that experience, you kind of already touched on this, but shaped how you think about your work? Or maybe how you think about, you know, Centre's campus in general. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Mackenzie Nichols
I mean, no, not really. I don't like to be anywhere by myself at night in the dark. But it hasn't really changed much. I mean, I did I worked and moving forward, if I was by myself, I, I brought my dog. Or I would just take my stuff home most of the time. And then once I realized that work-life balance was important, I would send the emails out in the morning. I learned that it didn't make that much of a difference.
Mary Katherine Hardy
You're up until midnight, anyway.
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, yeah. So that helped. A lot. But I don't I don't think it's really changed. much, but I also don't work at night anymore. So you know?
Yeah, yeah. So that helped. A lot. But I don't I don't think it's really changed. much, but I also don't work at night anymore. So you know?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah. Well, interesting. Um, and then lastly, could you just touch on a few places that are important to you, and why they're important to you?
Mackenzie Nichols
Oh wait, I will say that I'm really quick that our office prior to being the Alumni and Development Office was a fraternity house, it the phi delta theta fraternity house. And so, um, you know, I don't know if that has to do with anything ghosts wise. But, I mean, who knows what happened there?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah. You know, connections everywhere? Who knows?
Mackenzie Nichols
And then, what did you say?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah, just like a place or two that are really important to you, and why they're important to you.
Mackenzie Nichols
On campus?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Yeah, can be on campus or just like your house, like, just kind of. I think like, one place, for example, for me is like my lake house just because of the memories I have there. I just associate my family and like, comfort with that place. So yeah, whatever works for you.
Mackenzie Nichols
So one place would be Seabrook Island in South Carolina. It's like a very private beach. It's not touristy. And we had many family vacations there that were just I mean, ideal to the point of, I don't know, it was like, some of the last times that our family that we were all together before college, and you know, we all lived in different states. And so that is, and probably will forever be a special place. And probably my house. My house now I just, I feel very safe in my house, and, you know, it's our first home. So that's a that's a really big deal.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Cool, and then one more question. What do you think of ghosts and ghost stories? And why? And do you think your experience influenced that kind of view on the paranormal?
Mackenzie Nichols
What was the last part of the question? My experience?
Mary Katherine Hardy
Do you think that your experience like influenced your view of ghosts and ghost stories? Um, no, I wouldn't. I don't I don't think so. Um, I definitely believe in ghosts.
Mackenzie Nichols
Sorry ... I had another experience with a ghost in downtown Lexington, probably when I was a freshman or sophomore in college, and it was I mean, very personal, very intimate. And so this didn't scare me. As much as that did because I felt its actual presence. And you know, the doors shut, I heard laughter and things like that. So this on a scale, kind of it didn't didn't hit the bar, but it was still really scary. I think there are good ghosts and bad ghosts. You know, it's hard to it's hard to know which which is which, especially in the beginning of the experience, but I do think they're real for sure.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Well, thank you so much for sharing your experience today and taking the time to share and I will certainly pass on the finished archive post to you. So you can, you know, read our transcript and read a little description about it. And the rest of my class is also doing an interview. So I think there'll be some pretty interesting stories that come out of it for sure.
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah I'm super excited, Centre's definitely haunted.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Oh, trust me after all this, there's just far too many accounts for me to be like, Oh, that's a coincidence or that somebody made that up.
Mackenzie Nichols
yeah, for sure.
Mary Katherine Hardy
Alrighty. Well, thank you so much and have a good week.
Mackenzie Nichols
Yeah, you too. Good luck with transcribing. I hope I wasn't too loud!
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Original Format
MP4
Duration
15:18
Citation
Nichols, Mackenzie, “The Centre Alum that Just Can't Leave,” Ghosts at Centre College, accessed May 16, 2024, https://centreghosts.omeka.net/items/show/29.