Twisted tales are emerging from all across Sinclair Community College, especially from Building 13.
Tim Ryan professor of design has worked in Building 13 since the building was reconstructed in 1992. Ryan is convinced that Building 13 has experienced occurrences of paranormal activity, although not recently.
“If you’re referring to the story of Joshua, then yes,” Ryan said.
Ryan explained that before Building 13 was apart of Sinclair Community College, it was the United Color Press building.
“When Sinclair reconstructed Building 13, they gutted the inside and kept the basement and main pillars,” Ryan said.
In that very basement, United Color Press used mules to lift heavy printing equipment and materials. During the great flood of 1913, several mules drowned, according to Ryan. Among those mules was the lead mule — Joshua.
“I’ve heard from other faculty members, that are no longer here at Sinclair, that they have heard Joshua’s name being called out,” Ryan said. “But that goes on to if you believe in animals’ souls becoming ghosts.”
The story of Joshua the mule has slowly died off, according to Ryan, but some faculty members let his tale live on by playing jokes on each other.
“Some of the faculty will put Joshua’s name on other faculty’s computers and joke around with it, but the tale is kind of dying off,” Ryan said.
However, Lieutenant Scott Fowler believes the story of the ghost in Building 13 came about a different way.
“I always heard that someone fell into one of the boiler room’s coal burning furnaces,” Fowler said.
Although both may have opposing stories, both men agree that Building 13 may have a ghastly guest.
Pat McClelland, galley coordinator for the Burnell R. Roberts Triangle Gallery, has never witnessed any paranormal activity during his tenure at Sinclair.
“Although I’ve heard stories, I’ve never seen anything,” McClelland said. “But it is interesting to talk about.