SVC's Everett Mansion - 'The Orchards' - Bennington's Version of Hogwarts School

 

The Everett Mansion on a fall day, Bennington, VT.

We slept in stucco dorms meant for the tropics of Florida but attended class in a 27-room Beaux-Arts mansion that had a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Everett Mansion was an architectural masterpiece every SVC student was intensely proud of. Resembling a castle or monastery, the 'The Orchards' was easily the most prominent building on campus. 

Thankfully, SVC was a laid-back environment, and it wasn't uncommon for students to attend class in their pajamas. The Everett Mansion may have resembled Hogwarts School, but we were a much less formal bunch.

Midnight walks to the Mansion were frequent in the warmer weather. Students could usually count on experiencing some sort of paranormal activity. Doors slamming and flickering lights were common; an unsettling female shrieking noise was also frequently documented. 

On rare occasions, rock music blared from the Mansion into the wee hours of the morning. The students were perplexed. Did the ghosts of the Everett Mansion embrace current pop music trends? As it turns out, Security Officer Joe Thomas had a completely valid explanation: Dean of Institutional Advancement Alan Whitcomb enjoyed blasting music during all-night grant writing sessions in his Mansion office. 

Giving the ghosts a dose of entertainment was probably a smart move, whatever it takes to keep the spirits happy.