Jennings Hall, the gray-stoned music building on the Bennington College campus, is widely rumored to be haunted and is believed by some to have inspired author Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House. While Jackson's biographer disputes the direct connection, the building's imposing and secluded nature, coupled with its campus legends, have fueled its eerie reputation. Students and faculty have reported hearing creaking floors, loud banging, unexplained murmurs, and footsteps in empty hallways. Instruments in the building, which houses the music department, are said to sometimes play by themselves. Doors are reported to close on their own, while windows—even when locked—have been seen to mysteriously fling open. Lights have been known to go out for no apparent reason, without a power outage occurring. Individuals have reported sudden, random cold patches in various areas of the building. The overall secluded and ivy-covered stone mansion is described as unsettling and creepy by many on campus.