Contributor: Leah Lattanner
Informant: Ava
Title: “Ghost Legends”
Fall 2005
After the Brittany was finished telling the legend she had heard the first month of school, Ava stated that she had heard the same legend but with a different ending. Ava is from South Bend, Indiana. She comes from a strong Catholic family of seven. She was with the people in my room telling different legends. She heard this legend from her older sibling who attended Indiana University a few years ago. The legend was similar to the doctor giving girls abortions; however, the doctor committed suicide in the home so he would not get into trouble with the police.
LL: Have you heard any legends that have to do with the dormitories, surrounding haunted houses or anything on campus?
A: I was told by my older brother about the house that gave abortions to young college students. The doctor did not know what to do with aborted bodies so he would place them in the floors and walls of the house. After a few years, the police had been to his house a few times asking many questions. One day after giving an abortion, he took his own life in front of a young girl. Now supposedly, you can hear babies crying some nights but others you can here the doctor screaming and yelling.
LL: Do you believe this to be a true legend?
A: I am not too sure, it is a hard story to believe but people say they have heard babies crying and a man screaming.
Different variations of legends are very common even all the way across the world. A person comparing these two legends can see the similarities and differences between them; this is what makes legends exciting. Not one story is proven to be correct and the other not. Ava and Brittany have the same continuity with the two legends but have different parts that make the two variations interesting. Another appealing part of legends is fact people will swear by their version of the story but there is really no proof, only, “my friend told me this really happened to them.”