The private affiliate of the Presbyterian Church was built in 1784 as Martin’s Academy, and later became known as Tusculum College in 1844. In 1887, the widow, Nettie Fowler McCormick donated funds to build McCormick Hall, and in 1901, Virginia Hall was built complete with indoor restrooms and furnace heat, named after the McCormick’s daughter, Mary Virginia.
In the late 1970s, students staying in Virginia Hall began hearing one of the old trees off to the side entrance of the door scream in the night. Neighbors often called the college and the police to complain about the residents of Virginia Hall for making these noises, even though a tale had been circulating for years that a girl once hung herself from the tree and she can still be heard screaming some late nights.
