She was full of elegance and well taught. She kept her faith by going to church on Sundays like any good woman in the 1800s. She dreamed of being a teacher like Anne Shirley she was the top of her class and a friend to all. At least, that’s what papers all said after that fateful night. That fateful night took her life, and left her name and story behind. After her final exam, she never knew she would have to say good-bye.

 

   Her name was Mary Snyder. She was born on December 21, 1873. Her parents were William H. and Susan Snyder. She had five siblings and six half-siblings. According to Find a Grave website, by the year of 1878, four of her siblings had passed away.

 

   Kutztown University was called the Keystone Normal School when Mary attended classes to be a teacher. After years of studying, she had one more exam, and she was set to walk across that stage to receive her diploma while shaking the principal’s hand. But instead of feeling relieved like a boulder was finally off her chest, she was extremely tired with a pounding headache.

 

   She went to her room on the fifth floor of her beloved school. Her roommate let her sleep, while the excitement for the next day was still growing as loved ones started getting rooms at nearby inns. Yet, Mary’s condition only worsened.

 

   Around 2 a.m. Mary’s roommate rushed out of their room to find a doctor.

 

   An hour later, Mary was gone.

 

   The night before graduation, she passed away of inflammatory rheumatism or swelling in the brain. Some say it could have been meningitis. Nevertheless, on commencement day, her classmates mourned her death wearing black and white ribbons for her.

 

   Mary was 21 when she died on June 26, 1895. Her loved ones buried her in Schwarzwald Cemetery in Jacksonwald, PA.

 

   She was ready for life after graduation. Ready to walk that stage. Instead, time had a different plan. Today, students and faculty know her as the ghost of Old Main. But like all ghosts, she was once living. Her name and story were left behind for the present to hear. So, Mary Snyder, rest in peace.