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Spooky haunted Halloween ghost story at NC State in Raleigh
Raleigh News & Observer • • health
Key Points:
- In the fall of 1918, Raleigh was devastated by the flu pandemic, which killed 288 people in a single month and led to desperate, ineffective attempts at protection from the virus.
- Eliza Riddick, a young nurse on the State College campus, tirelessly cared for flu-stricken soldiers training for World War I, ultimately succumbing to the illness herself at age 24.
- Riddick's spirit is said to haunt Winslow Hall, now part of NC State University, where she continues to tend to the sick and deceased, symbolizing the tragic loss of young lives during the pandemic.
- Remembered as a devoted and graceful Southern woman, Riddick was honored with a memorial and widespread tributes, reflecting her sacrifice during one of Raleigh’s darkest periods.
- Her story is featured on the Red Terror Tour at NC State, highlighting the pandemic’s brutal impact and the enduring legacy of those who suffered and died.
