At 1916 Post Alley in Seattle, Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub occupies the basement of a building with a long and unusual history. The Butterworth Building was constructed as the home of Butterworth & Sons mortuary, which opened there in 1903 and operated until moving to larger premises in 1923.
The building was Seattle’s first purpose-built mortuary and reportedly featured the West Coast’s first elevator, designed to transport bodies between floors. Because it sits on a steep hill, the building has three stories facing First Avenue and five facing Post Alley. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and forms part of the Pike Place Market historic district. Its history also earned it a spot on the television series Ghost Adventures in 2010.
That history has made the Seattle building a popular subject of local ghost stories. Kells employees and visitors alike have reported unexplained activity, including sudden temperature drops, strange sounds, unexplained movements, and shadowy figures.
Among the most frequently mentioned apparitions is the “Lady in Waiting,” reportedly the spirit of a woman whose body was prepared at the mortuary during the 1918 influenza pandemic. She is said to appear in period clothing, sometimes seated alone at a restaurant table.
Another reported presence is “Charlie the Mortician,” described as a tall man in a dark suit who appears near the bar. Other accounts include unexplained whispers and cold spots in the basement, where bodies were once prepared.
Staff and diners have also reported objects moving unexpectedly, unexplained touches, and unusual sounds during live music performances. These stories remain part of the building’s local folklore, rather than verified paranormal activity.
Know before you go: Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub offers visitors a chance to experience one of Seattle’s more unusual historic buildings while enjoying traditional Irish food and drinks. The restaurant regularly hosts live Irish music as well. Those interested in its haunted reputation can ask staff about reported sightings and the building’s mortuary history.
