Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
As the Halloween season approaches, the Whitman County Gazette is kicking off its special feature, “The Haunting Hour”, a section dedicated to ghost stories, mysteries and chilling local tales throughout the month of October.
PULLMAN — With its rich history, Washington State University’s campus is home to several unsettling stories—none more haunting than the tragic explosion that shook Perham Hall in 1979.
A young man, heartbroken and consumed by despair, detonated a bomb that killed himself and injured five others, leaving an eerie mark on the university that lingers to this day.
On a cold Tuesday afternoon, The Daily Evergreen reported that on December 18, 1979, at 3:05 p.m., John Stickney, an 18-year-old from Mercer Island, walked into Perham Hall with a heavy backpack—inside rock quarry dynamite.
Stickney devastated over the end of his relationship with WSU student Lisa Clark, had already made several attempts to win her back. He had harassed Clark with incessant phone calls and had even tried to physically force her into his car on campus, only to be rejected each time.
The night before the explosion, Stickney drove to Pullman, arriving after hours at Perham Hall. Though the dorm was locked, he managed to sneak inside and began searching for Clark.
Her friends, aware of his unrelenting persistence, had moved her to another floor for safety. When Stickney could not find her, he desperately barged into the Residential Advisor’s room. Campus police were called, and Stickney was escorted off the premises.
Stickney returned to Perham Hall the following day with one final demand, see Clark or face devastating consequences.
In a supervised meeting, Clark ended the relationship for good, sending Stickney into an unthinkable spiral. Less than 15 minutes later, he returned to the dorm with the dynamite.
Campus police, Lt. Mike Kenny and Cpl. Dave Trimble was called to the scene in a last-ditch effort to defuse the situation—literally and emotionally.
They tried to reason with Stickney, but before anyone could react, the dynamite exploded. Stickney was killed instantly, windows shattered on the fifth floor, and the two officers were severely injured. The blast left a scar not only on the building but also in the collective memory of the campus.
In the years since the explosion, whispers of strange occurrences have persisted.
Some claim to have seen the ghost of a man wandering near Perham Hall, while others report unexplained sounds in the area.
Whether these are remnants of Stickney’s tormented spirit or mere figments of imagination, the event remains one of the most chilling moments in WSU.
For those with their own haunted stories to tell, Whitman County Gazette readers can share their stories by emailing editor@wcgazette.com and be part of the eerie season as these ghostly tales come to life once again.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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