Finley Hall

What if these walls could talk? Here at Finley Hall, they whisper stories of scalpels and spirits. Finley Hall stands as a silent testament to Fordham University’s medical past. It began its life in 1913, not as a dormitory, but as a cutting-edge medical school building. It was strategically positioned near the Bathgate Avenue entrance. This allowed for discreet deliveries of cadavers, a necessary but macabre aspect of medical training. The building housed two large lecture halls, each with a 200-student capacity. A clinic occupied the first and second floors. Finley Hall witnessed the rise and fall of Fordham’s medical program. The program launched in 1905, fueled by the university’s ambition. Yet, despite initial success, the medical school struggled to secure a sufficient endowment. It closed its doors in 1921, leaving Finley Hall to find a new purpose. After the medical school closed, Finlay Hall transitioned into a chemistry building. It even earned the nickname “Old Chem.” For a while, it was simply known as “New Hall.” Finally, in 1990, it was christened Finley Hall. Today, Finley Hall houses 293 upperclassmen. It offers single, double, and triple rooms, each with a private bath. The triple rooms even have lofts, a unique feature that adds to Finley Hall’s mystique. But whispers of its past linger. Stories circulate of ghostly students peering down from the lofts, their gazes cold and unsettling. Some residents claim to have felt chilling touches, cold hands grasping at their throats in the dead of night. These tales intertwine with the building’s history, blurring the lines between reality and the spectral. One of the most enduring legends involves the basement. It’s said that cadavers were stored there, awaiting dissection in the rooms above. While the current layout of the building doesn’t match these descriptions perfectly, the rumors persist. They add a layer of intrigue to this historic hall. Finley Hall stands here at Fordham, a blend of history, mystery, and student life. Its walls hold secrets, echoes of a medical past that refuse to be completely forgotten.