The ghost stories, mascots, nicknames, and rituals that give each Smith house its personality — compiled from Smith's own pages, the student press, house Instagrams, and our research. Ghost stories and unverified tales are labeled as legend, and treasured as such. Know some lore we're missing? Email [email protected].
Ghosts & Legends
Sessions — the hidden staircase legend
The oldest house on campus (c. 1710) really does contain a concealed staircase — that part is fact. The legend layered on top tells of Lucy, granddaughter of builder Capt. Jonathan Hunt, meeting a captured British officer in secret on those stairs, and of their ghosts still wandering the house. Historians have found nothing to support it, which hasn't stopped a treasured tradition: each Halloween, new residents hunt for the passageway in the dark. (Smith College)
Comstock & Haynes — Gloria, the shared ghost legend
The architectural twins of the Quad share more than a bell tower and courtyard: house lore says a spirit named Gloria haunts the ground floor of what was then Wilder House, appearing in dress from an earlier era. Folklore, cheerfully retold to each new class.
Chapin — the Gone with the Wind staircase legend
Author Margaret Mitchell lived at Chapin by long tradition, and Smith's own house page suggests its staircase "may have" inspired Scarlett O'Hara's staircase at Tara. The residency is well-attested; the staircase connection is a legend the house wears proudly, alongside its motto: "Living on the Edge of Paradise."
Mascots & Nicknames
Jordan — the donkeys
Jordan's mascot is the donkey, and its Instagram styles it "the most kick-ass house" — a double meaning nobody there is sorry about.
Talbot — the moose and the Talboteers
A mounted moose head presides over the stairs, and "Talboteers" maintain a long (semi-documented) tradition of "borrowing" the mascots of fraternities at neighboring colleges.
Albright — the pink light district
A pink porch light, a "much-coveted disco ball" (confirmed verbatim on Smith's own page), weekly themed teas, and official mascots including "the platonic ideal of a peach." Friendly rivalry with Baldwin included.
The nickname is right there in the house's Instagram display name, and the reputation as one of the liveliest houses in the Quad follows it around.
"Emerson Forever" — the rallying cry of one of the largest houses on campus, baked into its Instagram handle.
Lamont — the Lamonsters
Residents call themselves the Lamonsters — self-declared on the house's own Instagram (with a "well-meaning" qualifier).
Cushing — the bunny ears legend
Cushing residents wear bunny ears, and house tradition ties it to Gloria Steinem '56 having lived there. The ears are real; the Steinem connection is folklore — the records place her in Scales.
Traditions & Rituals
Hubbard — Julia Child Day and sock wrestling
Julia Child '34 lived at Hubbard, and the house claims first dibs on Julia Child Day each year — some residents camp out for it. Before exams, there is sock wrestling. Really.
Lawrence — the 1912 experiment and Tippy's birthday
Lawrence pioneered cooperative living at Smith in 1912 — residents did chores for discounted tuition, a national press sensation at the time. Every November 11, the house celebrates the birthday of its namesake, Elizabeth Crocker "Tippy" Lawrence. Sylvia Plath '55 lived here too. (Smithipedia)
Smith's smallest scale of communal living: the Hopkins food co-op, where the self-styled "Hopkids" buy groceries and cook together. Tenney runs the campus's other co-op.
Morrow — the poetry room
Morrow has a dedicated poetry room, added at the suggestion of its namesake, Elizabeth Cutter Morrow 1896 — poet, and Smith's acting president in 1939.
Wilson — the Commencement terrace
Every May, Wilson's terrace becomes the Commencement platform — the entire graduating class crosses in front of the house.
Cutter & Ziskind — the chalking wars campus chatter
The adjoined neighbors keep a tame rivalry alive, reportedly including chalking wars on Convocation night. Filed under campus chatter — sourced from student posts, not the record books.