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When Indiana Fletcher Williams founded Sweet Briar College more than 100 years ago, she probably never thought she and her daughter, Daisy, would be making otherworldly appearances in 21st century dorm rooms.

"This is the first year that we're going to have recent ghost stories and recent sightings of ghosts on campus," Caroline Chappell, programs intern for the Sweet Briar Museum, said of the College's annual ghost tours.

Ghost tours will be offered at 4 and 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 through Tuesday, Oct. 31. Led by Sweet Briar students, the spooky strolls begin at the Sweet Briar Museum and end with hot cider and cookies in the Browsing Room at Cochran Library. Tours last about an hour.

The cost is $3 for the public, and free for SBC students, alumnae, faculty and staff. No reservations are needed.

Calling the mildly-spine-chilling saunters "eerie and creepy, more than scary," Chappell said the event is suitable for young children. Earlier this month, local Girl Scouts got a sneak peek at this year's tour, and had a great time.

"They were very into it and held each other's hands," Chappell said. "They were very, very scared, but at the same time very enthusiastic about the ghost tours. One girl didn't want to go into Sweet Briar House.

"She said, 'Mama, I don't want to be chopped stew! I want to go to college.' She was worried that if she went into Sweet Briar House that Indiana Fletcher Williams and Daisy Williams would get mad if she broke something."

Those who might say, "I think I'll just stay home, carve a pumpkin and eat some candy corn" will miss out on more than creepy tales, cookies and cider. "We'll [also] be talking about mourning rituals of the Victorian era, showing Indiana Fletcher Williams' mourning jacket, and showing mourning jewelry [and] mourning lace," Chappell said.

For more information, call the Sweet Briar Museum at (434) 381-6246.