My grandfather, Nels Petersen, was the owner of the Oxford Tavern from sometime in 1923/24 or so, until perhaps 1938. Some records show him as Nels Peterson. He is shown in the picture that I believe is still on the wall behind the bar. A fairly tall – erect – balding man. Grampa always smoked cigars.

It was during the time that grampa Nels owned the Oxford, that Henry was stabbed. And by our family stories, grampa clearly remembered Henry being “kilt” there in the downstairs bar. Grampa sold the Oxford sometime around 1938-39…. and bought another tavern in Riverside, WA. Supposedly this was in part to escape the history of the stabbing and the finding of Amelia’s body.

Nearly 40 years ago, a small group of our family — my mother, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, 2 cousins, and one of my daughters and her baby girl — all met in the Oxford for a GREAT lunch. Several of us smelled cigar smoke while we were eating lunch. We all did visit the downstairs bar, as well as the rooms upstairs; where you could still rent a room for the night.

While we were there we decided to have a family picture taken at the end of the bar. The picture was taken with a 35mm camera. When the picture was developed, you could easily see the outline of a ghost (we think it was grampa, who nearly always wore a hat) standing behind us. The picture was also blurred on one edge with what we thought might be some other spirits or shadow figures. I will try to find that picture and send it to you.

— Gary