The year was 1755. The Keyes family had just moved to Princeton, Massachusetts, settling at the base of Wachusett Mountain. On April 14th, four-year-old Lucy Keyes followed her older sisters toward nearby Wachusett Lake, where they had been sent to collect sand for household cleaning. But Lucy never made it to the lake or returned home.
Panic swept through the small community. Townspeople scoured the woods for days. Wachusett Lake was even drained in hopes of finding a clue. But no tangible evidence emerged, no clothes, no footprints, no body; Lucy Keyes had vanished.
Over the centuries, many theories sparked:
- Lost in the woods: Some people believe Lucy wandered too far and succumbed to the elements. But if so, why didn’t the search party find any sign of her?
- Kidnapped: Others whisper that Lucy was taken, raised by another family, unaware of who she truly was.
- Murdered: The darkest theory claims a man named Tilly Littlejohn confessed on his deathbed to killing Lucy in an act of revenge against her father. The motive? Unknown.
Those who knew Martha Keyes say she was never the same after Lucy vanished. She spent the rest of her life searching the mountain, calling her daughter’s name into the woods. Some say she still is.
Hikers and locals alike have claimed to hear a woman’s voice echoing through the trees. Others speak of small footprints appearing in freshly fallen snow, or spotting brief glimpses of a child darting through the forest, though one has gotten close enough to tell.
Mount Wachusett is known today as a scenic destination known for hiking, skiing, and nature. But for those who’ve heard the stories, the mountain holds a chilling legacy.
To find out if the legend still lingers in the minds of those who work here, I spoke to a few Wachusett employees:
“(My) Fellow staff often recall sort of creepy encounters, one of my old coworkers reported that piece of trash he was chasing after disappeared into thin air…it wasn’t windy outside,”stated Rebecca “Becky” Anderson.
Another Wachusett employee, Andy Lapierre, believes these allegations are simply a trick of the mind. “There’s no historical evidence to prove that ghosts have ever existed. I believe that everyone who reports these ‘creepy’ encounters is simply experiencing a placebo effect.”
Several Oakmont student’s added their perspectives:
“I’ve never really believed in ghosts – it seems bogus to me. The lack of evidence really shows that it’s fake,” stated Oakmont sophomore Peyton Salem.
“I don’t think Lucy was ever real. I think the story was just created to make us feel something. Her mom allegedly searching for her for years isn’t just scary – it’s sad,” stated freshman Katie Quinn
Not all students were convinced, however. “I think it’s a good legend,” said Oakmont sophomore Abby Short. “Wachusett is so cold and quiet, it’s easy for us to create stories to explain things.”
Nearly three centuries later, Lucy’s disappearance is still a mystery, whether she was a victim of violence, a lost child, or simply a story molded through time. Today, Wachusett attracts visitors to recreation, but the story of Lucy Keyes persists through local folklore and personal interpretation. Whether viewed as history, legend, or coincidence, Lucy remains one of Massachusetts oldest mysteries.
