Famous story was not as horrifying as legends tell

Allison Cayse
For the Post

The Ridges, once an institution for the mentally ill, overshadows Ohio University with more than its intimidating brick buildings. Countless horror stories of people chained in the basement and tortured by electroshock therapy surround the institution as well.

One famous resident, popularly known as 'Margaret,' left a different mark on the institution, said Ray Abraham, a long-time resident of Athens and expert on haunting folklore.

The legend has been told hundreds of times to incoming freshmen and out-of-town visitors — the story of the woman who got locked inside the Ridges when the hospital closed. Local folklore stories tell of a woman, who was mentally insane, removing each article of clothing and folding them neatly on the windowsill before folding her arms over her chest and dying on the ground. Weeks later, when her body was finally removed from the room, all that remained was a shadow of her body on the floor.

While parts of this story are true, much of it is a ghost story to scare uneducated thrill-seekers.

Abraham said Margaret was a patient at the institution during the 1970s. At that time, patients not suffering serious illnesses were allowed to go freely through the facilities. Margaret, a chain-smoker, suffered from an anti-social disorder and often took long walks alone.

One winter day she went to the top floor of Lin Hall and got locked in a room in the left wing. Staff members looked around the buildings and land, but could not find her.

Trapped, Margaret called out the window, but her voice was so soft that no one heard. In a desperate attempt to catch someone's attention she stripped off her clothes and piece-by-piece, threw them out the window.

She died before anyone found her, and her body began to decompose. Weeks later, when she was discovered and workers removed her body, her outline still remained on the floor.

Margaret died with her hands folded across her chest and as a result, the outline on the floor is the hourglass-shaped figure of a woman.

The story of Margaret has become a legend. Many twisted tales have distorted the truth surrounding her tragic death.

Abraham said Margaret's granddaughter is still alive. He said these horror stories have been a source of agony for her.

"It is important to dispel the myths surrounding these stories and tell people the truth," he said.