The lady vanishes

Former worker said to haunt Snohomish Library, at least in spirit

By LESLIE MORIARTY

Herald Writer

SNOHOMISH — She’s described as a loving woman who liked to dress in blue.

Nobody knows much about her, except that she was a dedicated librarian in Snohomish in the 1920s and ’30s. So dedicated that some think she’s still there.

As the story goes, it’s Miss Catharine McMurchy who haunts the 1910 Carnegie building.

The haunting came to light in 1991 when children’s service librarian Debbie Young was taking a break in the staff room.

"I was sitting in a little cove area, eating my lunch and reading a book, when I heard something come clumping down the stairs," Young said.

She was referring to stairs that led to a loft storage area above where she was.

"I put my book down and got up to look, and I saw an older woman walk to the door and exit the room.

"I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. It’s a library patron who doesn’t know that this area is off limits to everyone but employees.’ So I followed her."

But when Young got to the door and opened it, the woman was nowhere to be seen.

"I looked down the hall and walked over to the stairway to look down to the main floor, and I didn’t see anyone who looked like the woman I saw. I thought that was kind of funny because an elderly woman couldn’t have possibly moved that fast."

Young went to the main desk and asked co-workers if they’d seen the woman.

"They said, ‘I guess you’ve met the ghost of the library,’ " she said.

The staff informed her that several people believed that the spirit of the former librarian lives in the library.

Soon after, a maintenance man at the library told Young about his encounter with McMurchy.

"He was in the library before it opened one morning, working on something on a computer," Young said. "He heard a loud bang coming from the loft area. So he went to find out what it was."

He didn’t find any source of the noise, but he did find an old-fashioned heater that was "glowing red" and just about to catch the library loft on fire.

"There was never any reason for the loud, crashing bang," Young said. "But it couldn’t have happened at a better time."

Young and the maintenance man believe it was McMurchy warning them of the overheated heater.

Young is the first to admit that in order to experience anything like she did with McMurchy, a person has to have an open mind.

"I guess you would say that I am more aware and more alert to these kinds of things than most people," she said. "We had a spirit in our house when I was growing up in Montana."

Young, who left the Snohomish Library in January to work in her husband’s food service consulting business, said the spirit still haunts the library.

"All throughout the time I worked there, when I was in that loft area that became a workroom for us, I felt a sense of real peace.

"She’s happy to be there and likes people being in her library," Young said.

Assistant Library Manager Mike Bergeson also has had "experiences" with McMurchy.

"The very first day I came to work here, I was being shown around, and we were in the basement," he said. "As we walked down the hall, I felt the temperature drop about 30 degrees. It was like a cold spirit passed by.

"I blurted out, ‘Do you have a ghost?’ "

Bergeson has researched McMurchy and found that she moved with her family to Snohomish in 1909. She was one of three sisters who worked at the library. Catharine began June 15, 1923, the year after her father died. She was at the library for 16 years, leaving because of health and other commitments Feb. 9, 1939.

An article in the Snohomish Tribune at the time said, "During the 16 years she has served, she has won the friendship and respect of hundreds of patrons."

Bergeson said it appears that McMurchy spent retirement in Snohomish at the family home on Fourth Street, near Glen Avenue, with a sister, Anna. The two moved in 1950 to a Seattle nursing home.

"No one yet has figured out just when she died," he said. "But we found it ironic that the story in the Tribune when they moved to Seattle had this headline: ‘McMurchy Girls Say Farewell, But It’s Not Goodbye.’

"Apparently everyone knew she’d be back to visit the library, one way or another."

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

The JOANN Fabric and Crafts location at 7601 Evergreen Way in Everett is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide. (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood police: 1 suspect in custody, 1 at large after attempted carjacking

Beverly Elementary School went into a precautionary lockdown Thursday afternoon. Numerous officers continue to search for the second suspect.

Candidates announce campaigns for Everett city council seat

Ryan Crowther, founder of the Everett Music Initiative, will challenge incumbent Paula Rhyne for the District 2 seat.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Lynnwood City Council Vice President Julieta Crosby speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood picks top eight candidates to replace former council VP

The City Council will make its final decision Feb. 20 after interview process.

The peaks of Mount Pilchuck, left, and Liberty Mountain, right, are covered in snow on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Western Washington’s current winter drought may not last through the season

Even with last week’s snow flurries, there’s no denying this… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.