Letter to the Editor :
The Halloween issue of the “Critic” contained an article about Emma Vail and the infamous wheelchair and I must add my two cents to the discussion of this beloved campus myth.
With deep respect for Alan Boye, I must make a correction to the information on the two Emma Vails. I refer to the book “In One Man’s Life” by Albert Bigelow Paine, a biography of Theodore N. Vail’s life, for the following. Theodore N. Vail did indeed have an older sister named Emma who was born in 1842. Vail married his cousin Emma Louise Righter on August 3rd, 1869.
In 1905 Mrs. Vail’s health was shaky but T.N. Vail was assured by her doctor that an upcoming trip to England could be taken without worry. The book continues, “Mrs. Vail, who at this time seemed better than usual, remained at Speedwell Farms, which she preferred to all other places….She died suddenly, February 3, 1905. Her husband, who had received no warning of the approaching change, arrived from England, a little more than a week later.” For those who don’t know, the current Vail building sits on the site of T.N. Vail’s mansion which was the centerpiece of Speedwell Farms.
The wheelchair was purchased in 1976 as a stage prop for the Twilight Players’ production “These Ruins are Inhabited” which was set in a nursing home. The revival of the show happened last year at Homecoming with the chair pressed back into service onstage. Dennis Koch, an alumnus and former employee of LSC, confirmed that he purchased the chair at a yard sale. The chair lived backstage in storage for many years. The stories that have been passed down of its adventures, along with the reported sightings of Emma’s ghost, were often centered in the theater. That must be where the supposition began that the chair was hers.
Pat Webster
LSC Library
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3 comments:
Yes, The wheel chair is what it is, but don't tell Gappy. Now what do you know about Miss Righter or her sudden death. I mean she is the woman that made Theodore give up AT&T. I bet it's interesting love story. Might take some digging ,Not like you can still visit the large library, walk the turrets or smell orchids in the upper parking lot from the old house, then again they tell me if the wind is right..Happy Halloween.
ps. stay away from ouiji boards
boo
It's a bit late for the Ouiji board warning but I believe you are most likely safe at this point. As silly freshman, 4 of us ventured onto the stage one night and partook in that exercise. No , lights did not flicker, ghosts where not summonedand the wheelchair did not roll out from the abyss, but we might have kicked off a chain of events we where not prepared for. Believe what you will, but the grandeur of the Vail manor and the history of Vails business dealing and adventures are but pale descriptions of what possibly occurred during those few years they lived in Lyndonville. Not to mention the fact that their neighbors ( I believe the Darlings?) had built a lovely estate ( The Lyn-Burke) Not far away. I hear they may be a rock between the two ( if it still exists) with some initials carved on it. I may have said to much. As I said I believe you are all safe at this point. Emma was waiting for "Teddy" to return from Brazil or some such thing. Which he was prone to do. I said good by to "Emma" about 1984-85. It seems fitting that it would happen in the turret of all places. When I occasionally return to Lyndonville I leave a penny on the wall in front of what used to be the student union, if you see it please leave it there. peace.
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