Haunted Snohomish

The History Press

Contents

THE OXFORD POOL ROOM AND SALOON

The Oxford Saloon, located at 913 First Street, is considered the most haunted public building in the town of Snohomish. It is located in the Downtown Historic District. This beautiful building was designed and built by J.S. White in 1900. It was formerly called Blackman's Dry Goods Store, and since then, although it has changed hands several times, "Oxford" has always been included in the name. Apparently it cost Blackman $5,000 to build it in 1889. The Oxford was not used as a saloon until World War II. Just two years before the Oxford Saloon was built, a Seattle banker named James Furth opened the first bank in town, located nearby in the Cathcart Building. In 1888, it became the First National Bank of Snohomish and moved to the first brick building in town (and the county).

J.S. White was a prominent businessman and very talented architect in early Snohomish, and many of his buildings still stand today for people to admire. His unique style can often be pointed out, and the town conducts occasional tours of its great collection of historical buildings. The Everett Public Library also has programs that offer interesting details about White and his role in the development of early Snohomish. One wonders if the spirit of the man who loved Snohomish so much still wanders the streets today, admiring his beautiful, well-maintained buildings.

The Oxford has three levels. It is said that the upstairs portion of the Oxford Saloon was once run as a fancy bordello by a businesswoman named Kathleen or Katherine. Other locals say that the upstairs at the Oxford was never really a "bordello" but simply a card room where gamblers and women could play a hand or two. Now, just what the men did with their winnings is another thing. Katherine did not frequent the saloon but instead kept her office at a nearby Eagles Lodge. For some reason, she eventually did move her office upstairs in the Oxford. Perhaps to keep a better eye on her working girls? The stories about the Oxford's history might just be rumors and speculation, but the fact that many feel it is haunted is very real.

Many paranormal groups have investigated the Oxford and have determined that there are three ghosts upstairs in the current offices. One is a gentleman often seen in a bowler hat, a hard felt hat with a rounded brim that was popular with the working class in those days. Maybe this is the spirit of the murdered policeman Henry in his evening garb, eager to be relieved from his uniform? Or perhaps it is one of the many other ghosts said to haunt the Oxford. Policemen in the late 1800s earned a mere twenty dollars per month, with an additional two dollars for each arrest.

Two female figures are detected frequently upstairs in the Oxford building. The first is possibly the famed madam, often seen sporting a purple dress with purple bows. Many people visiting the offices say that they can catch the faint scent of her lavender perfume as it wafts lightly through the air. A second female figure is suggested to be an unwilling prostitute named Amelia, who worked for Katherine. Amelia's life ended tragically upstairs — her cold, dead body was found in her tiny closet in room 6. The details of her horrible death and the unconvicted murderer are not known, and it is also not clear whether poor Amelia was killed or committed suicide. Modern-day renters of the office that had once been known as room 6 report furniture being moved occasionally by unseen pranksters from the past.

The main section and restaurant of the Oxford has not changed much since the early 1900s, with its incredible multicolored glass windows and its grand false front. Façades were commonly used in the old days on commercial buildings to extend the look of the property and create a more impressive appearance to passersby in the hopes of enticing them in to order a beverage or dinner. Today, the interior of the Oxford displays many historical Snohomish photographs, which line the old wallpapered walls, and a mannequin of a woman dressed in a period piece hangs delicately from the ceiling, her face masked from view. Is she dressed up like Madame Katherine?

A gigantic metal tin man, strung west to east, towers over customers as they eat their food and enjoy their drinks. A dusty moose head still hangs above the bar, a tribute to days gone by; the huge mount can also be seen in old photos of the saloon. Out of spirit, the moose sometimes hosts a big red nose during the Christmas and holiday season. The original bar-back came from Cape Horn and is just as glorious today as it was back then. Thankfully, the brass spittoons have long since disappeared. There was an antique doll on top of the bar-back that reportedly closes her eyes now and then or winks casually at customers — creeping out locals and tourists who are trying to enjoy their food and drinks.

Here's a story from "M.D.," a thirty-year resident of Snohomish:

I don't believe in ghosts or spirits or any of that hogwash, but I have to tell you there has been a few things that have happened at the Oxford that make me disturbed and uncomfortable. One time I was in the bathroom downstairs washing my hands because we had just came from the garden and I had some stubborn dirt on them. For a second, I saw something move, not sure what. I felt that strange, tingling feeling down my spine. I looked down at my hands again, and then I swear I saw a face behind me. Could've just been the lighting, but it was very alarming. I quickly finished scrubbing my hands and got out of there as soon as I could. My wife said to me, "You feeling all right?" when I came back to our table. I said, "Yeah." but I must not have been too convincing because she bugged me until I told her what I thought I saw. She actually seemed relieved! I said, "Why, what's up?" and she said, "Oh my God, that has happened to me several times when we are here and I didn't want to tell you because I thought you'd laugh or tell me I had too much to drink."

The downstairs segment of the saloon is often chained off during the week and is typically only open on the weekends. This is where a local legend tells of the horrible, fateful last night of a Snohomish officer of the law. In the 1890s, a local policeman named Henry met his untimely demise at the Oxford. Henry was a regular at the Oxford and occasionally worked as a bouncer for the tavern if things got a little out of hand. One night, he stepped in to break up a heated argument that led to a fight, and Henry unfortunately became the victim of the bloody stabbing that claimed his life. Many say that they see his spirit on the stairs as they descend down to the basement. Others feel a cold chill on their neck as they pass by, as if someone is reaching out for them. On the Oxford's website, there is a ghostly photograph posted in which an eerie face can be seen on the stairs. Is Henry still watching over the place? A black-and-white photograph hangs quietly at the top of the stairs in honor of him. Women report that they feel a ghostly presence while in the ladies' room. Could this also be Henry? Or could this be Katherine?

Here is a local story from Ed, who lives in Cathcart:

I go to the Oxford because it's got good music and burgers and close to home. I typically just sit at the bar when I go there so I don't take up a table; it's just me. So I was sitting at the bar one night having a rum, and when I looked up, that ugly doll that sits up there on the bar moved. Maybe I was just seeing things or a car went by and the headlights hit it or something. So I ignored it and finished my drink. I kept looking up at the doll, though, waiting for it to move again. It didn't move, but it did close one of its eyes. That was enough for me. I still go there but keep my back to the bar. I don't like ghosts.

Here is a story about the Oxford basement:

I was downstairs at the Oxford playing pool and drinking with my friends. I always get a weird feeling down my back when I am there but ignore it. Last summer, I was shooting pool with my buddies and my phone rang. The reception isn't the best down there, so I said, "Hey, I'll be right back" to my pals and headed upstairs to go outside so I could hear better. As I was turning the corner at the base of the stairs to head up, I felt one of my buddies grab the back of my shirt. I turned to see what he wanted ... but my buddies were still over by the pool table, and the rest of the people were over by the darts. I don't really know what happened, but it surely felt like someone grabbed my shirt. As I headed on up the stairs, I felt it again. Dang! It took everything out of me not to run up those stairs and get outta there! I know my buddies would make fun of me if I told them this story. I am hoping it happens to them soon!

Who is grabbing people at the Oxford? Is it the ghost of the policeman Henry? Or maybe it is Madame Katherine making sure the ladies' skirts and blouses are presented just right for the paying customers? The Oxford has been investigated by many paranormal groups and psychics and also been featured in television programs. It is still considered one of the most haunted locations in Washington State. It is so notoriously haunted, in fact, that Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, Billy Tolley, Aaron Goodwin and Jay Wasley, the crew from The Ghost Adventures television program, came to Snohomish and investigated the Oxford Saloon in the summer of 2015.

THE CABBAGE PATCH RESTAURANT

The Cabbage Patch Restaurant on Avenue A is a local favorite and has experienced several tragedies, but it still thrives and is considered as haunted as the Oxford Saloon. The original house was built in 1905, and before becoming a restaurant in 1975, it was a private residence, a hair salon, a boardinghouse and even an antique store. Sondra McCutchan became the new owner in 1978, and the restaurant grew from just thirteen tables to a fabulous place that can hold a large number of patrons throughout its various themed rooms. On April 9, 2004, the Cabbage Patch caught fire around midnight, and it took forty firefighters and seven engine trucks to control the blaze. There are so many fires in Snohomish's history; it is possible that malevolent spirits might be at work causing havoc in town.

Here is a ghost story from "MS":

I was a breakfast cook at the Cabbage Patch, and like every morning, I came in and opened, getting everything prepped for breakfast, just like every other morning. I heard giggling and saw a young girl run over by our pie case, and I figured our baker at the time had brought her daughter to work, a rather normal occurrence. I decided to have some fun, so I snuck over to the case, jumped out and let out a loud "Rawwr ..." No one was there. Freaked out, I went back to work, only to jump out of my skin five minutes later when the baker showed and shut the pie case, making a loud noise.

Here's another story, as told by an employee of the Cabbage Patch:

Before the fire, the Cabbage Patch had a bar upstairs complete with an oldstyle jukebox. The staff had to unplug the box and drape the cord over the top every night before they left. That night, while our employee was sitting in the office, the jukebox started to play music. The employee ran out of the office to find the box off and the plug draped over the front. Needless to say, the book work was not finished that night, and the employee never came into the restaurant alone again.

Decorated with dressmakers' mannequins that display vintage hats and dresses, the Cabbage Patch is an adorable and comfortable spot to enjoy a nice glass of wine, the famed Millionaire Pie or dinner. The Garden Room, the Library Lounge, the beautiful bar with a breathtaking stained-glass window and the upstairs Fireside Lounge all invite guests to relax, unwind and stay for a spell. This place is so comfortable that even the dead don't want to leave it.

One of the most notorious spirits haunting the Cabbage Patch is an eleven-year-old, dark-haired girl named Sybil Sibley, who met her tragic death when she unfortunately tripped and fell down a staircase and broke her neck. Employees, customers and visitors have all reported seeing a young girl pacing the upstairs area, looking longingly out the window or floating on the stairwell dressed in white. Research discloses that Sybil actually died sometime in 1930, but apparently she missed her family so much that she followed them to their Snohomish home in 1954. Patrons today often trip on the last few stairs down the staircase and feel a cold chill as they carefully descend the stairs. Could Sybil's spirit be angry, confused or both? Is the touch of her hand a kindly offer of assistance so no one else endures such a tragic demise, or is it a slight push out of frustration? No one will ever know.

Here is another story from a Cabbage Patch employee:

The story of Sybil goes back to before the house became a restaurant. Staff and guests would report seeing apparitions of a young girl in a blue dress or hear the sounds of a child. The legend of Sybil varies but goes something like this. In the mid- to early 1900s, a family with a young girl lived in the house along with the girl's uncle, who lived upstairs. The uncle was known locally as a very angry man with a drinking problem. One day, the uncle got very angry with Sybil and pushed her down the stairs, breaking her neck. We have had several customers trip over the second to last step, the step she tripped down. A notable story with Sybil takes place in one of the houses up the street from the restaurant. A young boy used to play with Sybil in their backyard. The boy's mother questioned her son on his new playmate, and he had told her that Sybil hurt her neck falling down the stairs and lived in the Cabbage Patch. The mother couldn't see anyone, but her son could.

It is said that Sybil's not-so-nice uncle also haunts the Cabbage Patch Restaurant. Psychics have reported the presence of a sandy-haired male wearing a dark jacket that frightens poor Sybil. They thought that perhaps she was afraid of this man and did not fall down the stairs by accident at all. No wonder she is angry!

Here's another story from an employee:

Until a couple of years ago, a common sight in our downstairs bathroom was a face print that would form on the mirror. It became maddening to our staff, as they would clean the mirror and leave the restroom, only to come back to see the face staring at them. The face was noted by staff for over twenty years, until five years ago, when the face simply vanished. In the bathroom upstairs, we have an antique machine that was used to give women permanents. The "curlers" device will sometimes be moving as someone enters the bathroom (the door is kept closed, and no window is open), the old-fashioned curlers dangling, slowly moving back and forth as if they had just been taken out of someone's hair.

The scary-looking machine that is in the upstairs restroom at the Cabbage Patch was invented in 1905 by German hairdresser Karl Nessler. It became popular in the 1940s. The heated curlers would be applied to the person's head, and disgustingly, a mixture of cow urine and water was used as a curling solution. These curlers are often found swaying back and forth inside the bathroom. Could a female sprit eager to get her hair groomed for an upcoming party be playing with the old machine?

The owner and employees sometimes encounter another type of spirit, one of a furry companion. A phantom collie hangs around the kitchen, and people feel his side brushing up against their legs as they work. Rumor says that it is Sybil's dog refusing to leave her side to this day. Or does he hang around the kitchen hoping for a few wonderful scraps?

Here is a story about a little old lady and her dog, told by "KK," employee at the Cabbage Patch:

The old back porch that was converted into our back room is home to two ghosts, an older lady and her terrier dog. Sometimes guests hear a dog bark, or more commonly, they feel paws on their legs. It is very common for employees in the kitchen to think they see an animal scurrying about the kitchen. When I started baking, it was in the summer and the kitchen was really hot. I propped the back door open to try and cool the room off and didn't think much of it until about an hour before I was done. I saw something small run right by me. My first thought was, "Oh no, I let in a raccoon or something since the door is open." I looked everywhere for the "animal" I saw and never found it. Finally, at 3:00 a.m., I was exhausted and decided to go home. I left a note for the cook and locked up. No animal was ever found. I later found out that it was common for employees in the kitchen to see this, and it was the "ghost dog."

Sybil's rude uncle has some competition when it comes to male ghosts loitering around near the Cabbage Patch Restaurant. Nearby, a red-haired man with a long moustache bustles here and there, making his rounds and stopping in at the building next door, which was once used as a retail shop and then a restaurant and bar that played live music and had comedy shows. Perhaps the night life is more exciting to the ghost, which they call "Chester Billington." Psychic investigators Russ and Sandy Wells from the Paranormal Research and Investigations team experienced many strange phenomena at the Cabbage Patch while staying there. Sandy felt a sharp pain in her head and concluded that Chester "possibly died from a blow or gunshot wound to the head." Russ felt that Chester had been stationed in "the Pacific Theater during World War II on an island held by the Japanese." Both investigators felt that Chester's ghostly spirit had returned to Snohomish to be close to his family. He continues to stroll up and down Avenue A to this day, popping in and out of the buildings there, happy to be back in Snohomish.