Vermont’s rich history and picturesque landscapes have given rise to numerous tales of the supernatural, with ghost stories capturing the imaginations of both residents and visitors alike. One such story revolves around a young woman named Emily, who is said to have died at what is now known as Mather House at Marlboro College. In this article, we’ll delve into the eerie legend of Emily’s ghost and the chilling events that continue to haunt the campus to this day.
The Tragic Tale of Emily
A century and a half ago, long before Marlboro College existed, Emily and her secret love came to an end not unlike the story of Romeo and Juliet. Sometime in the late nineteenth century — back when the campus was still the Mather family’s working farm — Emily fell in love with a traveling salesman who called upon families in the nearby Vermont villages. Her parents were very strict and forbade the relationship, ordering the young man away from their daughter. Devastated, the despondent salesman threw himself into a stream and drowned. Upon hearing the news, Emily climbed to the attic of her family’s home and hanged herself.
The home where Emily is said to have died is now known as Mather House. The stream where her heartbroken lover drowned still flows through the college campus. Suicide at the time was considered shameful and embarrassing for a family to endure, so Emily was buried in an unmarked grave below her parents’ barn — a building later remodeled into Dalrymple Hall, now used for classrooms. Her body rested undisturbed until the 1950s, when excavation to build Howland House unearthed her anonymous burial site.
The Haunting of Mather House and Howland House
Since Emily’s death, numerous accounts of paranormal activity have been reported on campus. Students and faculty have described mysterious footsteps, inexplicable knocking sounds, and eerie whispers echoing through the halls of Mather House. It’s in Howland House, though — built directly over Emily’s disturbed grave — where the strangest occurrences are said to concentrate, with some believing the disturbance of her resting place is what set her spirit walking.
Emily’s Ghostly Presence
Over the years, sightings of a female figure have become a recurring story at Marlboro. Described as a young woman in period dress, her apparition has reportedly been seen wandering the hallways of Mather House and around the grounds at night, sometimes weeping, sometimes simply glimpsed through a window before vanishing. Others report sudden cold spots or an unshakable sense of being watched, particularly when alone in Howland or Dalrymple after dark.
Mather House’s Enduring Mystery
Despite numerous attempts to uncover the truth behind the haunting, Emily’s story remains shrouded in mystery — passed down among students much the way it’s said to have been since the college’s earliest years. Whether fact or fiction, the legend of Emily and her lost love continues to endure, offering a haunting glimpse into the campus’s past as a nineteenth-century farm, long before it became the small, close-knit college it is today.
