Hauntings at The House on the Hill - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Hauntings at The House on the Hill

By: Christine Souders

csouders@cbs4qc.com

It's a Rock Island dorm with a reputation for paranormal activity, and some believe a couple former residents of Augustan's House on the Hill never really left.

There's been stories of strange activities going on inside The House on the Hill, located on the campus at Augustana College. Built in the 1800's, the old house combines history and mystery.

"Doors will of themselves be closed and locked tight, even some doors that require a key, and then they come back a few minutes later and the door is standing open," said Kai Swanson, Executive Assistant to the President at Augustana. 

Swanson says over the years, he's heard many unexplainable events from students who live at The House on the Hill, "They've reported on many occasions, water faucets turning on full blast in the middle of the night and then turning off."

He believes the culprit is the spirit of a woman named Betsey Brodahl, "Betsey lived here for 50 years and always had a soft spot for a little bit of shenanigans."

But Betsey isn't the only ghost said to haunt the Victorian estate, Swanson says another presence belongs to Apollonia Weyerhaeuser-Davis. Her family built the home more than 160 years ago, "She casts a protective spirit over this house a long time ago and probably continues to do so in one way or another today."

To this day, several Agustana students still live in The House on the Hill, but they may not be alone.

Betsey Brodahl actually moved out of the home in 2004, and passed away just a year ago. Some of her possessions along with Apollonia's are still displayed there.