Ghost—Huge Dog That Guards the Hill

A barghest (very large dog with huge claws and teeth) is said to guard the Hill, producing a low, mournful howl on moonlit nights and resulting in calls to UT Police. The dog’s eyes are said to glow ruby red and its long fangs to drip saliva. Some say that this is the ghost of “Bonita,” the beloved Portuguese water dog pet of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Tyson, which is buried on the lawn of Tyson House, prowling the campus searching for her master and mistress, and waiting on the Hill for the “sham battles” that General Tyson carried out while he was in charge of military instruction.

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  • Title Ghost—Huge Dog That Guards the Hill
  • Author
  • Keywords Ghost—Huge Dog That Guards the Hill
  • Website Name Volopedia
  • Publisher University of Tennessee Libraries
  • URL
  • Access Date December 19, 2025
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 8, 2018