NAPS Investigator Kim DeLorenze KT Research: Interview

I (Kimberly D) interviewed Mr. Joe Eidt concerning events that may or may not have happened at King’s Tavern in 1930s. Mr. Joe is 77 years old and has a sharper memory than most people my age. The reason I felt he was a credible witness, is because his Uncle, Bill Eidt, owned the corner building attached to King’s Tavern in 1933. This was around the time that the bodies were allegedly found in King’s Tavern and all of the paranormal activities were suppose to start. The building that is now the bar for King’s Tavern, was once a gathering place for the towns people to hang out and listen to music. It was an environment of fun complete with a juke box, pool tables, blues and other music. The name of the place was Windmill Music Co.

Mr. Eidt said that while he was there as a boy, he use to enjoy watching the records in the juke box as they flipped out and fell into place. He enjoyed the place so much that, later in life, he took over for his Uncle. During the time that Bill Eidt owned the Music co., He and Joe would hear the stories and things going on around the Tavern.

"You would hear all kinds of stories about Madeline and the bodies. My uncle said that he heard about them finding bones there, but he didn’t know how many or to whom they belonged. We would go in there to eat and they would seat us next to the fireplace and say, "if you watch closely... sometimes Madeline will walk to the fireplace, hoist her skirt and warm her bottom"It never happened. Every once in a while, we would hear a few strange noises in our building that were unexplained, but the whole "very haunted" part was over exaggerated. I think that the stories are not all real, but it does add intrigue and atmosphere to the restaurant as you enjoy a great meal. That is one of the only places my wife will go out to eat because she enjoys the food so well. I don’t know if it is really haunted or not, but you do get a feeling there that you don’t get many places," said Joe.

I also heard a claim (from someone wishing to remain anonymous) that a Native American group in Natchez owned that area and had a small building or inn there in 1716. I was told that people and soldiers would come down the river and, on their way back up the trace, they would stop at that post to get food and rest because there was no other place to stop on the trace. (Except the side of the road) Then the French made the Native Americans give up the area and tore down the building to use the area. Soon after, the area became occupied by the British who built a building and used it as a base and inn for their own soldiers. And it is there that the stories and history picks up. We know through deeds and research that this is more than likely not true. Records indicate that there was not a building before 1798. (Thanks to Summer) However, as far as folklore goes, I thought this would be an interesting story and angle to add to the file.