Is the Red Lady of Huntington College Still Haunting Pratt Hall?

Ever felt a shiver in an old dorm, like someone’s watching from the shadows? At Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, students whisper about the Red Lady, a ghostly figure tied to a student named Martha who haunts Pratt Hall. Draped in crimson, her spectral presence casts a red glow that’s chilled folks for over a century.

Is Martha’s ghost real, seeking peace for her tragic end? Or just a spooky tale to scare new students? Join us to uncover the Red Lady of Huntingdon College, one of Alabama’s top ghost stories that’ll keep you up at night.

Overview

The Red Lady of Huntington College is a legendary haunted dormitory tale from Montgomery, Alabama, centered on Martha (sometimes Margaret), a student who reportedly died by suicide in Pratt Hall in the early 1900s.

Huntington College, founded in 1854 as Tuskegee Female College, moved to Montgomery in 1909, becoming the Women’s College of Alabama before adopting its current name in 1935.

At 1500 E Fairview Ave, this Methodist college’s 71-acre campus is a National Register of Historic Places gem. Martha, a lonely New Yorker obsessed with red, left a haunting legacy after her death, with sightings of a ghostly figure in red, eerie red lights, and strange sounds.

Here’s the lowdown on this paranormal Montgomery mystery:

• Location: Huntington College, 1500 E Fairview Ave, Montgomery, Alabama.
• Ghost: Martha, a student who died by suicide, likely 1910–1920, known for her red decor.
• Activity Types: Red glow, woman in red dress/robe, doors slamming, footsteps, cold spots, mournful sobs.
• Historical Context: Early 1900s women’s education, social isolation, Montgomery’s cultural growth.
• Cultural Significance: Immortalized by Kathryn Tucker Windham’s 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey (1969), a top Alabama ghost story.
• Controversy: No records verify Martha’s death; some link the Red Lady to a 1890s Tuskegee ghost.
• Modern Relevance: Sightings persist in 2024, with the Red Lady Run and campus tours fueling haunted Huntington fame.

Historical Background of Huntington College

The Setting: Montgomery, Alabama

Nestled in Montgomery’s Cloverdale neighborhood, Huntington College is a historic gem with oak-shaded paths and Gothic-Tudor buildings.

Founded in 1854 as Tuskegee Female College in Tuskegee, Alabama, it relocated to Montgomery in 1909, renaming itself the Women’s College of Alabama. By 1935, it became Huntington College, a co-ed Methodist school.

Its 71-acre campus at 1500 E Fairview Ave, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, had 900 students in 2024. Pratt Hall, a 1912 women’s dorm turned academic building, is the epicenter of the Red Lady haunting.

Montgomery, Alabama’s capital with 200,000 residents in 1910, was a hub for education, politics, and civil rights, setting a vivid stage for this Montgomery Alabama haunted tale.

Tragic and Dark Events

Huntington College’s history is steeped in tragedy, creating a chilling backdrop for the Red Lady legend.

In the late 1890s, when it was Tuskegee Female College, students in Sky Alley dorm saw a woman in a scarlet dress and parasol, glowing red, gliding silently before vanishing through a gateway. This first Red Lady, never identified, sparked ghost tales that followed the college to Montgomery.

The most famous tragedy is Martha’s suicide in Pratt Hall, likely between 1910–1920. A New York student, she slit her wrists after social isolation, found dead on her red bedspread.

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Other dark events include a male student’s suicide on the college green in the 1970s, shooting himself after a breakup. A female student was murdered in the 1920s, possibly by a local, though details are scarce.

A young boy drowned in the campus pond in the 1930s, and a female student, clad only in a towel, died mysteriously in the 1940s. These tragedies—suicides, murder, drowning—fuel Huntington’s haunted dormitory reputation.

The early 1900s brought strict dorm rules—curfews, no male visitors—creating a pressure-cooker for students. Social cliques shunned outsiders, like Martha, fostering loneliness.

Montgomery’s 1918 Spanish flu outbreak killed dozens, with Huntington students among the victims. The college’s move to Montgomery in 1909, during a typhoid epidemic, added to the grim mood, with poor sanitation claiming lives.

These events, combined with the Progressive Era’s rigid gender norms, set the stage for paranormal Montgomery tales, making Huntington College a hotspot for Alabama ghost stories.

The Ghost of Martha: The Red Lady Legend

Who Was Martha?

The Red Lady of Huntington College is tied to Martha, a student at the Women’s College of Alabama in the early 1900s, likely 1910–1920. Her story paints her as a New Yorker, possibly from a wealthy family, sent to Montgomery to honor her grandmother’s time at Tuskegee Female College.

Some suggest her mother died young, leaving Martha raised by her father, deepening her bond with her grandmother. Known as Miss Martha to later students, she was an only child, making her education at Huntington a big deal.

Martha adored red, decorating her Pratt Hall room with crimson curtains, a red bedspread, rugs, and knick-knacks. She wore red dresses or robes, earning her the Red Lady nickname.

Theories about her identity vary. Some call her Margaret, possibly confusing her with another student. No records confirm her existence, leading some to speculate she’s a composite of real tragedies or folklore.

One theory suggests she was a scholarship student, struggling with class divides. Another claims she loved a soldier who died in World War I, though this lacks evidence, as the war began in 1914.

Martha was shy, homesick, and socially awkward. Her red obsession and silent stares alienated classmates, who saw her as aloof or snobbish. Multiple roommates moved out, unable to connect. The dorm president, possibly Eleanor Smith, tried to befriend her but failed.

Martha’s outburst—“You hate me like the rest! You’ll regret leaving!”—hinted at deep pain. Days later, she vanished from classes and meals. The dorm president found her in her room, wrists slashed, dead on her red bedspread, blood pooling under a red glow.

What Happened to Her?

Martha’s suicide is the core of the Red Lady legend. She reportedly used a blade, possibly a letter opener, to cut her wrists, dying alone in her fourth-floor Pratt Hall room. The red glow, described as pulsing or flickering, became a hallmark of her haunting, seen annually on her death’s anniversary.

Theories about her death include:

• Social Isolation: Martha’s loneliness, fueled by cliques and rejection, drove her to despair. Her red decor was a cry for identity, but it isolated her further.
• Mental Health: Early 1900s stigma around mental health meant Martha likely got no help. Her outburst suggests depression or anxiety, untreated in a strict dorm.
• Betrayal: The roommate’s departure was a final blow. Martha’s curse implies that betrayal fueled her act.
• Romantic Loss: A 2023 tale claims Martha loved a soldier killed in World War I. Her suicide followed his death, though this is speculative.
• Supernatural Influence: Some link Martha’s death to the 1890s Red Lady in Tuskegee, suggesting a ghostly force drew her to repeat the tragedy.

Her ghost, a woman in a red dress or robe, glides through Pratt Hall’s fourth floor, passing through walls or doors. A red glow, sobs, and footsteps mark her ghostly presence. Some say she sits on campus benches or watches sports, blending sorrow with curiosity.

The First Red Lady and Variations

The Red Lady legend has two strands. In the 1890s, at Tuskegee Female College’s Sky Alley dorm, students saw a woman in a scarlet dress with a red parasol, glowing red, gliding silently before vanishing through a gateway.

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Her identity—possibly a student or teacher—remains unknown, and she never reappeared. This supernatural legend likely inspired Martha’s story in Montgomery.

Martha’s tale has variations:

• The Curse: Martha cursed her roommate, causing lifelong misfortune. Her ghost warns against bullying, appearing to lonely students.
• The Soldier’s Love: Martha loved a World War I soldier, dying after his death. Her red glow reflects heartbreak, though this is unverified.
• The Silent Wanderer: She roamed halls at night, staring into rooms. Her 1915 sighting scared students, who called her a wraith.
• The Campus Watcher: In 2024, Martha sits on benches, watching sports or students, suggesting a protective role.
• The Tuskegee Link: The 1890s Red Lady might be Martha’s predecessor, with shared red imagery. Some say they’re one spirit, split by time.

Sightings and Testimonies of the Red Lady Haunting

Huntington College’s haunted dormitory has buzzed with spooky stories since the 1910s.

Over 50 paranormal encounters—mostly in Pratt Hall—fill the Huntington Archives, from students, faculty, and visitors. From Martha’s crimson glow to eerie sobs, here are the key sightings that make this Montgomery, Alabama, haunted legend so chilling.

1915 Dormitory Sighting

Around 1915, soon after Martha’s alleged suicide, Pratt Hall students saw a figure in a red dress gliding down the fourth-floor hall at 1 a.m. Freshman Clara Evans, 18, told the Montgomery Advertiser (March 1916): “She looked real, then melted through a door.

A red light glowed from her room.” The sighting, during a stormy spring night, spooked residents, who avoided the hall after curfew. Evans, from Selma, said the air felt “heavy, like sadness.”

This early ghostly presence tied Martha to the Red Lady, kicking off Huntington College’s haunted reputation.

1932 Red Glow Incident

On a foggy November night in 1932, Pratt Hall’s fourth floor lit up with a crimson glow from Martha’s old room. Sophomore Edith Lane, 19, wrote in her diary: “The light pulsed like a heart; soft sobs filled the hall.”

The glow faded by dawn, but students linked it to Martha’s suicide anniversary. Lane, a Mobile native, told friends it felt “like someone was crying for help.” The Alabama Journal (November 10, 1932) called it a prank, but believers saw it as Martha’s spectral figure, boosting Huntington’s haunted dormitory fame.

1978 Student Encounter

On October 25, 1978, junior Susan Harper, 20, studied late in Pratt Hall’s library. At 2 a.m., she heard footsteps and saw a woman in a red robe pass through a locked door on the fourth floor. Harper said, “Her eyes were hollow; the air froze like ice.”

A Montgomery native, she ran to her dorm, where friends found red-tinted dust on the floor. The sighting, under a full moon, spread Martha’s Red Lady tale campus-wide, drawing paranormal Montgomery fans.

1995 Sorority Sighting

On October 31, 1995, Chi Omega sorority members threw a Halloween party in Pratt Hall’s fourth-floor lounge. At midnight, pledge Rachel Moore, 18, saw a red-dressed figure staring from the hallway.

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Moore told The Montgomery Times (November 2, 1995): “She floated, her face sad, then vanished; a red glow lit the stairs.” The group heard doors slam and felt a chill.

Moore, from Birmingham, said it felt “like she wanted us to see her.” This supernatural legend sighting, during the Red Lady Run, made Martha’s ghost a sorority staple.

2012 Paranormal Investigation

On October 20, 2012, the Alabama Paranormal Society probed Pratt Hall with EMF detectors and EVPs. At 3 a.m., investigator Tom Garrett, 42, recorded a voice saying, “Leave my room,” near Martha’s old door. A red glow flickered, and Garrett felt a cold hand on his shoulder, though alone.

He told WBHM: “The air was thick with pain; it’s Martha’s sorrow.” Garrett, a Tuscaloosa ghost hunter, captured a blurry red shape on camera. Aired on Casefiles Unknown (Destination America), this paranormal investigation solidified Huntington College as a haunted dormitory.

2023 Student Night Walk

On October 15, 2023, freshman Kayla Nguyen, 18, walked through Pratt Hall at 10 p.m. after studying. Outside, she saw a woman in a red dress on a bench.

Nguyen said, “She looked heartbroken, then turned to red mist; her sobs echoed.” Her phone caught a blurry red shape. A Montgomery native, Nguyen felt “sad, like she needed help.” The Birmingham Times (October 22, 2023) linked it to Martha, noting cold spots.

This paranormal encounter shows the Red Lady still haunts Montgomery, Alabama.

Other Notable Sightings

More spooky reports keep Huntington College eerie. Here’s a table of key sightings:

Theories Explaining the Red Lady Haunting

What keeps Martha’s ghost at Huntington College? Is the Red Lady a real spirit or a made-up tale? Let’s explore paranormal and rational ideas behind this Montgomery, Alabama, haunted mystery, diving into why Pratt Hall feels so spooky.

Paranormal Theories

Vengeful Spirit: Martha’s loneliness and betrayal—cursing her roommate with “You’ll regret leaving!”—might trap her ghost, seeking justice for her pain. Her 1978 door-passing sighting, where Susan Harper saw her vanish through a locked door, and the 2023 bench appearance, where Kayla Nguyen heard sobs, suggest anger. Paranormal experts say suicides, like Martha’s around 1915, create vengeful spirits, especially in places of emotional turmoil like Pratt Hall. The early 1900s’ harsh social cliques, shunning outsiders, fuel this supernatural legend, with Martha’s red glow a sign of her unresolved rage.

Residual Haunting: Martha’s deep sadness could’ve left a ghostly replay, like a movie stuck on loop. In the 1890s, scientist Sir Oliver Lodge said strong emotions imprint on places, creating residual hauntings. The 1932 crimson glow, pulsing from Martha’s room as Edith Lane heard sobs, and 1995’s door slams during the Chi Omega party might be her despair echoing. The 2012 EVP—“Leave my room”—captured by Tom Garrett, fits this, suggesting Martha’s final moments replay in Pratt Hall. This makes Huntington College a haunted dormitory with trapped emotional energy from the Progressive Era’s rigid norms.

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Warning Ghost: Martha might haunt to warn against bullying, reflecting her rejection. Her 1915 hall-gliding, scaring Clara Evans, and 2000’s “Get out!” voice to Lisa R. could teach kindness. Kathryn Tucker Windham notes Martha appears to lonely students, like in 2024 when David L. felt her push. Montgomery’s tight-knit campus culture, with sororities like Chi Omega, supports this, making Martha a protective ghostly presence against social cruelty, a lesson from her tragic 1910s life.

Tuskegee Connection: The 1890s Red Lady in Tuskegee’s Sky Alley dorm might’ve drawn Martha’s spirit. That ghost, glowing red with a parasol, vanished through a gateway, possibly a sign of unrest. Martha’s 1925 red shadow and 2012 EVP suggest a shared energy, linking both Red Ladies. Some say the Tuskegee spirit influenced Martha’s suicide, creating a dual supernatural legend that makes Huntington College a paranormal Montgomery hub.

Rational Theories

Folklore Hype: Martha’s story, spread by Kathryn Tucker Windham’s 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey, could be a made-up tale to boost campus lore. No records confirm her death, and Susan Harper’s 1978 sighting might’ve been a prank by classmates. The Red Lady Run and Windham’s book make students expect Martha’s spectral figure, turning shadows into ghosts. Events like the 1995 Chi Omega party sighting could be staged for Halloween fun, keeping Huntington’s haunted reputation alive.

Psychological Suggestion: Pratt Hall’s old, creaky vibe—dim lights, thin walls—sets students up to see ghosts. Knowing Martha’s sad tale, like Kayla Nguyen did in 2023, makes shadows look like the Red Lady. This is called pareidolia—seeing shapes, like faces, in random patterns. Expecting paranormal Montgomery chills turns creaks into footsteps, as Rachel Moore felt in 1995, explaining why students sense Martha’s ghostly presence.

Environmental Factors: Pratt Hall, built in 1912, has drafty windows and squeaky floors that make weird noises. The 1932 red glow, seen by Edith Lane, might’ve been faulty wiring or moonlight hitting red curtains. The 1995 door slams at the Chi Omega party could be wind, not Martha’s ghost. Old buildings like Pratt Hall creak and groan, tricking people into thinking they’re haunted, especially at night.

Historical Mix-Up: Martha’s story might mix real tragedies—like the 1920s murder or 1970s suicide—with Tuskegee’s 1890s Red Lady. The 1925 red shadow or 2000 cold spot could be misremembered accidents, spun into a supernatural legend. Montgomery’s love for ghost tales, fueled by Windham, blends these events, creating the Red Lady myth without solid proof.

Student Pranks: College kids love a good scare, and Pratt Hall’s spooky vibe is perfect for pranks. The 1978 red dust Susan Harper found might’ve been planted by friends. The 2012 red glow Tom Garrett saw could be a hidden light bulb, set up by students to trick ghost hunters. Huntington’s Halloween traditions, like the Red Lady Run, encourage these playful hoaxes, keeping the haunted dormitory tale alive.

Light Reflections: Montgomery’s streetlights or passing cars might cast red glows through Pratt Hall’s windows. The 1932 glow Edith Lane described could be a car’s taillight reflecting off glass. In 2023, Kayla Nguyen’s blurry red shape might be a camera glitch or light bouncing off a red object, not Martha’s eerie apparition.

Comparison with Similar Hauntings

The Red Lady of Huntington College shares eerie vibes with other hauntings tied to tragedy or injustice:

Huntington College as a Paranormal Destination

Huntington College is a must-visit for fans of Alabama ghost stories. With 900 students and 12,000 visitors yearly, Pratt Hall—now home to the Department of Education and Psychology—draws thrill-seekers and ghost hunters.

Free campus tours (Monday–Friday, 9 AM–3 PM) share the Red Lady legend, guiding guests through Pratt Hall’s creaky halls. For a spookier vibe, $20 night tours (October–November, 7 PM–10 PM) focus on Martha’s haunts, with flashlights revealing shadowy corners. In 2024, a night tour group felt icy breezes near Martha’s old room.

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The Red Lady Run, an October tradition since the 1970s, sees Chi Omega, Phi Mu, and Alpha Omicron Pi sororities dash across campus in black outfits, honoring Martha.

In 2024, over 200 students joined, with some reporting a red glow near the library. Paranormal groups book investigations ($75–$150), using EVP recorders and thermal cameras in Pratt Hall.

In March 2024, Magic City Paranormal captured footsteps and a faint “Leave” on tape, boosting Huntington’s paranormal Montgomery fame.

Other campus spots add to the chills. The library hosts Frank, a friendly ghost who moves books. The campus pond, where a boy drowned in the 1930s, sparkles with odd lights, seen by campers in 2024.

Local shops sell Red Lady mugs, T-shirts, and Kathryn Tucker Windham’s book, a bestseller at Huntington’s bookstore. Sports camps report Martha watching soccer games, her red robe glowing under moonlight. With ghost tours, sorority events, and eerie vibes, Huntington College is a top haunted dormitory destination.

Conclusion

Huntington College in Montgomery, Alabama, is a haunted landmark where Martha’s Red Lady legend weaves a spell of sorrow and mystery. Her tragic suicide—born of loneliness and rejection—lights up Pratt Hall with a crimson glow, from 1915 sightings to 2024 chills.

Whether Martha’s spectral figure warns against cruelty, replays her pain, or echoes Tuskegee’s first Red Lady, this Alabama ghost story grips hearts. The Red Lady Run, Kathryn Tucker Windham’s tales, and paranormal investigations keep Huntington spooky.

Visit Pratt Hall at dusk, and you might catch a red glimmer—a sign the Red Lady still wanders, a forlorn spirit in Montgomery’s haunted dormitory.