Myth Meets Reality
Normal Notes, 1895, Normal Vidette, Rohrbach Library Archives. Kutztown, PA.
Too Much Study Killed Her, 1895, Allentown Democrat. Allentown, PA.
For decades, rumors have circulated concerning Mary Snyder's passing, but few truly know of what happened to her. According to reports in the Normal Vidette newspaper, Mary had succumbed to a case of "inflammatory rheumatism," a sort of swelling of the brain. which worsened following her final examinations. Yet many of the rumors endure. Here are some of the stories we've heard.
Mary was pregnant and mudered
The story goes that Mary had become pregnant. In the 19th century, it was frowned upon, if not strictly forbidden, to become pregnant out of wedlock. As the father was a professor, the circumstances were much worse than a typical unwed conception. The professor wanted to save his reputation. He wanted Mary to have an abortion. Mary refused. One day, the professor lured Mary into the clocktower and killed her. When Mary was found, she was hanging from the rafters from a rope. It was presumed that she had killed herself.
Mary died trying to give herself an abortion
In a time of piety and righteousness, one student of Kutztown University would conceive a child. Mary Snyder, top of her class, became pregnant just as she was finishing the final weeks of her schooling. Unable to face the shame of walking at her graduation ceremony with her pregnancy showing, Mary decided she would attempt to give herself an abortion before her pregnancy would show. Mary twisted a wire hanger round and tried aborting her baby. Unfortunately, Mary was unable to complete the procedure correctly, and she died from her injuries.
Faculty and students have long reported encounters with Mary. Dr. Robinson of the Psych department has had his fair share. Robinson reports using the bathroom in the psych wing and having the lights go out. "Oh come on, Mary," he said. "At least let me finish." Then, the lights turned back on. A late-night custodian was mopping the floor one night when she found bare footprints through the water. Mary seems to remain with us here at Kutztown University, never wanting to leave.
We're always interested in hearing about the stories you've heard about Mary, or maybe you've created some stories of your own. Send us an email and tell us about your story or encounter(s) with Mary, and maybe we can add it to the never-ending myth of Mary