Oxford has a long history of supernatural stories and far-from-normal happenings. As Halloween approaches, many of these tales resurface for new and longtime residents alike.
Jennifer Vesey moved to Oxford in 2024 and found no ghost tours in the area, so she started her own. She now owns Oxford Ghost Tours.
“I opened my bookings in May 2024, but I didn’t really get any until the fall 2024,” Vesey said. “When I started my tour, I only had a couple of ghost stories I found online, but as I’ve continued them, I’ve gotten more stories from guests that have come on tour. It’s always fun hearing about people’s own paranormal experiences in town.”
These ghost tours are more than just fun Halloween activities. For Vesey, they also allow people to explore the history behind the town and see how past events shape Oxford today.
“Oxford has been around for almost 200 years, and it happens to have a ton of rich history,” Vesey said. “I figured with the (University of Mississippi) being here, and the history of the Civil War, there had to have been some interesting stories of things that happened in town.”
Vesey began researching for her tour at the Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library and the J.D. Williams Library at the university, filtering through historical records and newspapers for events that took place in Oxford. Her research helped her find stories with historical roots, not just tales passed down over time. Comparing different accounts also helped her get a clearer picture of what happened.
“This is how I found most of my stories I tell on tour,” Vesey said. “I would often look at multiple articles about the same story to try and confirm the details, since there could be some discrepancies due to misunderstandings between cities.”
Some of the stories Vesey shares involve places that students and residents pass every day. Familiar campus buildings can feel different when they are quiet or empty, especially when approaches, many of these tales resurface for new and longtime residents alike.
Jennifer Vesey moved to Oxford in 2024 and found no ghost tours in the area, so she started her own. She now owns Oxford Ghost Tours.
people report hearing noises they cannot explain. For example, the Lyceum, one of the university’s most recognizable buildings, has its own reports of unexplained activity.
Photo Courtesy Jennifer Vesey
“As for the Lyceum, there have been multiple people who have reported voices or footsteps in the hall when no one is there,” Vesey said. “One person said she worked late nights and weekends on campus. She said she heard people walking around and talking upstairs so she just locked up and left. A male coworker went over there, but when he walked around, no one was there.”
The stories extend beyond campus and into downtown Oxford, where the Lafayette County Courthouse has also been the site of reported paranormal encounters. In this case, Vesey said one of the spirits has even appeared in a photograph, giving the story a name and description visitors can look for.
“For the courthouse, I have caught one particular spirit on camera who I call the ‘Mustache Man,’” Vesey said. “When I posted his photo on Facebook, I had someone reach out and tell me that spirit likes to hang out by the men’s restroom under the stairs if people are in the courtroom. They said he is always at the top or the bottom of the stairs and has a faint smell of cigarette smoke to him.”
The university, with its own complicated history, has other ghost stories associated with its buildings. Saint Anthony Hall, where the Delta Psi fraternity is now housed, is said to be haunted by a former fraternity member. The story combines the building’s history with reports of strange happenings that fraternity members have attributed to the spirit.
“Saint Anthony Hall, which is now home to Delta Psi fraternity, is said to be haunted by the ghost of a Delta Psi brother who died while returning from an LSU football game,” Vesey said. “The Sigma room is where Jim Bridges lived until he died in 1964. On occasion, he’s been seen standing in the fraternity’s doorway, but they have also heard the floors creak when no one is there, or the closet door will open on its own.”
Another lesser-known chapter in Oxford’s history is the case of Will Mathis and Orlando Lester, who were involved in the killings of two U.S. deputy marshals in 1902. The two men were executed next to one another on Sept. 24, 1902 on the Square, drawing a crowd of thousands to Oxford. The case remains a part of the town’s darker history, and Vesey uses it to show how strongly residents reacted to the crimes and how the events unfolded before the executions.
Vesey said the events surrounding the case reveal the anger and tension that gripped the town before the executions.
“I think this one in particular goes to show that the Oxford citizens didn’t care what you looked like, if they thought you did them wrong, you would be held accountable for your actions,” Vesey said.
Photo Courtesy Oxford Ghost Tours
Mathis was white, and Lester was a Black man.
“They wanted to kill Will (Mathis) once they found out he was involved in killing the (deputy marshals),” Vesey said. “They even started a bonfire on the courthouse lawn when they were told he was being brought in because they planned on killing him as soon as he got to town.”
For Vesey, stories like these reveal a side of Oxford that people may not expect when they think of the town today. They also show how stories change as people retell them, especially when historical events connect to local legends. Some tales may have grown out of the town’s past, while others come from people describing experiences they believe they have had.
“I think the ghost stories of Confederate soldiers may be influenced by the history of Oxford … but most of the ones I tell are just of people’s experiences they’ve had near the locations that I tell my stories at,” Vesey said.
Beyond the stories themselves, Vesey sees the tours as a way to bring people together and encourage them to learn more about the place they call home. Ghost stories can spark interest in local history, even among people who would not normally seek it out. By pairing paranormal accounts with historical events, she hopes visitors can leave with a better understanding of Oxford.
“I think it’s a way to bring people in and get their interest piqued while sharing the historical side of the story. Some people may not really be interested in history, but if you’re able to incorporate people’s paranormal experiences into the historical stories, it may help bring some interest to it,” Vesey said.
Vesey tries to make her tours accessible to people with different beliefs and comfort levels. Although the stories can be unsettling, she does not want the experience to be too frightening for children or visitors who are easily spooked. For her, the focus is on sharing the town’s history in a way that allows everyone to enjoy the Halloween season.
“I believe, even when people don’t believe in ghosts, a lot of the time, they still view them as friendly, so (the ghosts) aren’t too scary for kids or those who may be easily spooked,” Vesey said. “It’s a way to partake in the Halloween fun that isn’t harmful or hurtful. That’s partially why I wanted to base my tour in dark history with the ghosts stories sprinkled in, so anyone (believer or non-believer) can enjoy my tour and learn something new about the town.”
To make the tours enjoyable for different audiences, Vesey said she tries to be thoughtful when telling stories about real people and the tragedies they experienced. Some of the events involve serious loss, and she wants to share them without losing sight of the people behind the stories. She believes how a story is told matters as much as the details it includes.
“I try to keep all of my stories respectful to the people who experienced them,” Vesey said. “When we get into the more serious parts of the stories, I try to be mindful of the way I tell their stories and talk about their tragedies. I’ve been told I’m a good storyteller, so I think people like how I’ve structured the stories and the cadences in my voice as I tell them.”
At the end of her tours, Vesey returns to the burning of Oxford in 1864. After describing the devastation, she talks about the people who helped rebuild the town. Ending with the story brings the tour back to Oxford itself and focuses on how the community moved forward after a difficult chapter in its history.
Vesey said she closes the tour with the same message of recovery and hope.
“As a phoenix rises from the ashes, so did Oxford to become the beautiful and wonderful town we know today,” Vesey said.
