The "Keep The Table Set For Emily!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Beautiful summer day about 20 years ago when our daughter's in-laws, Joe and Linda, visited Lancaster County from Maryland and met Carol and myself for a meal at the Accomac Inn along the Susquehanna River on the York County side of the river.  

The Accomac Inn along the mighty Susquehanna River.

We all had a great time and loved the meal and the Inn.  Several other times we have visited the site to take photos and admire the beautiful Inn.  Then, this past October the Accomac Inn suddenly closed and the owners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.  The Inn had already been for sale at the time since the owners, Doug and Charlene Campbell were going to retire and move out of the area.  

The ferry would take you from the small town of Marietta,
on the eastern side of the river, to the Accomac Inn on
the western side of the Susquehanna River.

The fine dining restaurant had been listed for sale for $1.4 million.  This beautiful building dates back to 1775 when it was a fisherman's pub.  Forty-six years ago the Inn was purchased by Doug Campbell and a partner who converted it into the fine dining establishment that everyone grew to know as an excellent place to eat.  Over the years it had received numerous awards for their meals and hospitality.  But, there is more to my story than just the love of the Inn.  Seems that in 1881 a young woman by the name of Emily Myers was allegedly murdered by a Mr. John Coyle close to the Inn.  

This stone is part of the foundation of the Accomac Inn.

Since that time it is said that the ghost of Emily makes visits to the Inn.  Due to the belief that she is still present in the area, a wall table stays set for her at the entrance to the Inn.  Emily's death and the trail to Mr. Coyle are recounted in the 2012 book "Across the River: Death at Accomac."  Now, up steps a Mennonite by the name of Henry Leon Shenk, who grew up in Lancaster County, but moved to Seattle and opened a seafood business known as Sleeping Giant Inc.  

Mr. Henry Leon Shenk, new owner of the Accomac Inn.

He happened to be visiting in Lancaster with family in October when he saw the headline in the newspaper telling that one of his favorite places to eat was for sale.  He remembered taking his parents to eat there a few years ago and thought that closing the place was just wrong.  So, while looking at the paper he held in his hand, he started to think.  He too knew the story of the hungry young woman who was murdered and decided he was going to buy the restaurant and keep the table set for her.  He bought the Accomac Inn for $1 million.  

A view fro the other side of the building, looking south.

He paid $600,000 for the real estate, $80,000 for the furniture, fixtures and restaurant equipment and $320,000 for the Pennsylvania liquor license.  Mr. Shenk hopes to open the restaurant once again, but also doesn't rule out other ideas such as a place for sustainable food service, recreation, education, bed and breakfast, yoga, stand up boarding and the arts and entertainment.  But, no matter what he decided to do in his new Accomac Inn, "the table will be set for Emily as long as I am the owner," Mr. Shenk said. "Her ghost haunts the Accomac because her killer is buried nearby, and he wants her to know that he respects her."  Will the table still be set?  I'm hoping so! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.