“The Eco-Corridor, with its beautiful array of colorful fall leaves, presents a natural backdrop for getting into the Halloween spirit,” said Haley Herrmann, sustainability communications & engagement specialist. “Naturally spun spider webs, the bright moon in the dark sky, the rustling of leaves — Mother Nature has provided us with everything we need.”

The decorations will remain up from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2. Herrmann said the event’s focus is on promoting green choices and fostering community connections.

“We see the Eco-Corridor as an incredible community space where University of Richmond students, faculty, and staff, as well as our neighbors who walk or bike the space regularly, can interact and spend time away from the busyness of life,” Herrmann said.

Spiders, Goblins, and Witches…Oh my!  

Head of Book Arts, Archives, & Rare Books Lynda Kachurek is teaching a sold-out Osher Learning Institute class, A Spirited Discussion: Spiders, Goblins, and Witches in the Collection, on Oct. 30, from 3:30-5:30 p.m, (a waitlist is available). The class focuses on eerie selections from the Boatwright Memorial Library’s Galvin Rare Book Room.

One of the main treatise on witchcraft, Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witches), is available in the library as a 1928 English translation of the original Latin tome, which influenced the European and Salem witch trials.

“It was the instruction manual to Catholic priests on how to identify and locate witches, then run to court to convict them,” said Kachurek.

In this class, Kachurek will share a first-edition copy of Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1918 book, The New Revelation, which details his personal journey in the metaphysical movement. “Doyle, known for his Sherlock Holmes books, became an important figure in spiritualism following the death of his son in World War I,” Kachurek said.

Historical children’s books in the collection include Lafcadio Hearn’s 1818 The Goblin Spider, a translation of a Japanese fairy tale. In one illustration, four men battle a gigantic arachnid. “I purchased this because we had to have a spider, right?” she said.

The library also has a large collection of historic Mother Goose books. They make up about half of the historic children’s literature volumes in the Galvin Rare Book Room. Some scholars point to witch inferences in the stories. “Mother Goose scholars will talk about the collection of children, and the good witch-bad witch, good person-bad person theme,” Kachurek said.

“The perennial theme of witches and their existence can be traced back many centuries, whether you’re looking at historical documents, literature, or children's books,” she said.

Welcome to the Hotel of Horrors

Students have been busy building sets and getting their costumes ready for the UR Players annual haunted house. The event will take place on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, from 6–9 p.m. in Cousins Studio at the Modlin Center for the Arts.

“Each year we choose a new theme, and this year’s is Hotel of Horrors, which is loosely inspired by Stephen King,” said Grace Allen, a UR Players member. The student-theatre organization has been creating the haunted house for more than a decade.

Hanging curtains form a maze-like pathway and theatrical lighting adds to the drama. There’s a concierge to lead groups through the hotel.

“Visitors encounter various actors along the way. This year, the characters include a scary clown and twins, whose goal is to give everyone a good scare,” Allen said.

Allen described the haunted house as a well-loved tradition that offers a low-commitment way for students to get involved in theatre. There are no auditions. Instead, students choose what role they’d like to play on a sign-up sheet and indicate how many days they want to participate.

“If all roles are filled, we try to create additional ones or offer backstage opportunities. All elements from directing, script writing, lighting and sound design, costumes, scenic design, and acting are managed by students,” Allen said.