Is Bloomfield College's Westminster Arts Center Haunted?

With Halloween looming, Bloomfield College is turning its attention to an otherworldly presence that may be lurking among its student body.

Some at the school say the Westminster Arts Center is home to the ghost of Julia Comstock Stout, the daughter of Gideon Lee Stout, founder of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Born in 1871, Julia Comstock Stout is rumored to have died of complications from Scarlet Fever in 1888 at 17. But urban legends popular enough to garner the attention of famed ghost hunters say the teenager still make the Westminster Arts Center her home.

Bloomfield College bought the building in 1966 and subsequently converted the church into the Westminster Arts Center. Besides its centerpiece the Van Fossan Theatre, the building also the houses the College’s Creative Arts and Technology Program, and houses computer labs, classrooms and art studios. 

But as students and instructors began to use the storied local staple, tales of strange occurrences, dubbed “Blue Lucy” for its colorful appearance, began to circulate around the 11-acre campus. The rise of rumored spiritual activity even drew the interest of nationally prominent paranormal investigators Edward and Lorraine Warren (of “Amityville Horror” and "The Conjuring" fame), prompting a visit from the famous duo. The pair deemed the building haunted in their 1970s investigation, citing the spirit of Julia as the guest.

“When I first started here, I heard countless stories of how Julia had passed away, typical urban legends,” Arts Center Managing Director Gregory Allen said in an email. “Everything from her passing away in the church, to her taking her own life in the building’s bell tower because she was pregnant out of wedlock. While how she died hasn’t been confirmed, I can tell you that, whether it’s her or not, someone is definitely residing in our building.”

Through the years, stories of Julia’s passing have subsided, though current staff and students maintain Julia’s stay in the storied structure hasn’t.

“It appeared as though Julia didn’t like when I started working at the Arts Center, as we would have issues with our equipment failing early on as more and more people began to enter the building,” Allen said.

“There are still times where I am watching a rehearsal, and I can feel a presence behind me. We have people who have seen our piano move across the floor, or have heard things in the building when nobody else is there. I do think, though, that Julia has come to welcome the activity and the 6,000 patrons that enter the building each year. We enjoy having our very own urban legend right here at the Westminster Arts Center.”