The Spirit
of Mabel
Today, there are bars who claim the theme of “speakeasy,” crafting an air of secrecy with hidden doors and whispered passwords. But The Black Salt isn’t pretending—this building was the real thing. Built in 1917, it began as a grocery store before officially registering as a “Real Estate Office” in 1921—a common front for speakeasies in Hamtramck. While much of the country fought to enforce Prohibition, this city thrived in open defiance. The bars never went dry, the music never stopped, and the people never stopped dancing.
For those seeking freedom, Hamtramck was a sanctuary. Liquor flowed as freely as the jazz pouring out of packed rooms, and people came here to escape—not just the law, but the constraints of a rigid world. It was in this very building, above the bar, that Mabel O’Rilley lived nearly a century ago.
Mabel’s story, uncovered in a 1927 newspaper article, is one of courage and survival. At just eighteen, she broke free from an abusive marriage, disappearing without a trace for two weeks before returning—not to her husband, but to her own future. Her escape wasn’t just from a man but from the expectations forced upon her. In a time when women were told their place was at home, she rejected the life assigned to her. She wanted more.
Witchcraft, like rebellion, has always belonged to those who refuse to be controlled. To cast a spell is to claim power over one’s fate, and in many ways, Mabel’s disappearance was its own act of magic—an unbinding, a ritual of escape and self-reinvention.
As we built The Black Salt, we felt drawn to her story. And in the fall of 2024, our resident psychic and medium, Rachel Knorp, channeled Mabel’s spirit during an energy clearing of the bar and apartments above. With no prior knowledge of her story, Rachel connected with a woman who had waited nearly a century to speak.
Below, you will find the original 1927 articles detailing Mabel’s escape, followed by a transcript of Rachel’s channeling session. This is Mabel’s story—one of defiance, strength, and the unshakable power of a woman who refused to be forgotten.
HIS BRIDE MISSING, HE ACCUSES PARENTS
Father-in-Law, However, Denies Part in Plot.
Hearing on a writ of hubeus corpus inquiring into the whereabouts of Mrs. Mabl O’Rilley, missing 18 year-old bride of Frank O’Rilley, 2764 Florian avenue, Hamtramck, was postponed to Friday morning by Judge Adolph F. Marschner in the Circuit Court, Wednesday.
O’Rilley told the court that his bride of a few weeks is being hidden by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Pastrick, 2811 Lawton avenue because of their objection to their daughter’s marriage. The Pastrick’s are Czecho-Slovakians, O’Rilley said, while he is Scotch and Irish.
O’Rilley said his wife became ill while they were visiting her parents, Dec. 10. and was asked to stay with them until she recovered. Both he and his wife agreed, O’Rilley said, and he went home alone. The next day, when he returned, he said his wife was gone and her parents said they did not know her whereabouts.
Pastrick told the court his daughter left their home of her own accord and that he had searched the day for her in vain.
Judge Marschner told Pastrick and O’Rilley to make a more thorough search and come to court for a further hearing Friday morning.
A MISSING WIFE RETURNS,
BUT NOT TO HER HUSBAND
Mrs. Mabel O’Rilley, 18 year-old bride of Frank O’Rilley, 2764 Florian avenue, Hamtramck, who had been missing for two weeks while her husband and parents searched the city for her, appeared dramatically before Judge Adolph F. Marschner in the Circuit Court to answer a writ of habeas corpus inquiring into her disappearance and announced the end of a Belle Isle swimming beach romance.
The girl’s appearance was a surprise to her husband and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Pastrick, 2811 Lawton avenue, who had come to the courtroom to inform Judge Marschner they had been unable to locate her. The girl told the judge she had been staying with an uncle in Tarentum, Pa. since her disappearance Dec. 12.
SAYS HUSBAND HIT HER
Mrs. O’Rilley told Judge Marschner she and her husband had visited her parents Dec. 12. Taken ill there, she told her husband she would stay there to recuperate, and send him away, she said. Shortly after he left, she said, she left without a word to her parents and went to her uncle’s home to regain her health.
When Judge Marschner asked her the nature of the illness, Mrs. O’Rilley bared her arms, showed several freshly healed bruises, and accused her husband of striking her.
“He had a violently jealous nature,” she said, “and couldn’t bear to see me even look at another man. He’s the old-fashioned type of husband, I believe. If I did not put down my sewing instantly when he told me to do so, he would strike me.”
THROUGH WITH THE MARRIAGE
“I met him last summer while I was swimming at Belle Isle. Our eyes chanced to meet. He came over immediately and began talking to me. I had never met a boy that way, but he seemed so nice and had such a wonderful personality that I fell in love with him. We were married Oct. 22. I believed his jealousy would cease after our marriage. But it didn’t. He was as jealous as ever.
“I am through with married life now. I want to go back to high school and finish my studies.”
The girl’s parents wept while she was testifying. When she had finished her recital, her husband rushed up to her and pleaded to be forgiven.
“No, Frank, I’m through,” she said. “You’d better find another girl.”
Judge Marschner dismissed the writ. Arnold F. Zeleznik is attorney for Mrs. O’Rilley.
“I COULD HAVE BEEN A STAR”
When Rachel, our resident psychic medium, channeled Mabel in the fall of 2024, what emerged was more than just a spirit—Mabel was a presence, a force, a woman with a story still waiting to be told. She carried herself with boldness, humor, and an energy that felt almost cinematic.
Early in the session, Mabel revealed glimpses of her past. She spoke of the struggles in her marriage, the way her husband controlled and diminished her. “He didn’t want me,” she said, referencing his infidelity and the final betrayal that pushed her to leave. She described hiding a weapon in the apartment, seeking protection in a world where she had little of her own. More than anything, she mourned the version of herself she never got to become. “I could have been a star,” she declared. “If he didn’t groom me at that time.”
Rachel saw her spirit reflected in old Hollywood, in the defiant strength of Barbara Stanwyck—a woman Mabel seemed to idolize. Mabel’s energy was larger than life, her presence filling the space as she offered words of encouragement and approval. She praised the transformation of the bar, saying, “Go get ‘em, honey!” as if cheering on the new life being breathed into the space she once called home. She even shared a bit of humor, reminiscing about a past lover. “I dated a Tiger,” she said with a laugh, before teasing, “He was fierce in the bed.”
When asked about the cocktail being created in her honor, Mabel made her preferences clear. She wanted gin—no surprise for a woman of her time—but she also specified floral notes, particularly geranium and rose. This request sparked a deep search for the perfect spirit, leading to the discovery of a geranium rose liqueur crafted by a woman-owned distillery.
Mabel was not a lost soul, nor was she trapped in the past. She was present, aware, and engaged, a spirit who lingered not out of unrest, but out of connection. As the session came to a close, she left us to do what we do best: honor her with a drink worth remembering.
“The Spirit of Mabel” is more than a cocktail—it’s a tribute, a toast to a woman who refused to be forgotten.
Rachel is available for mediumship readings on Thursdays by appointment at The Black Salt. She is also available for psychic readings on Sundays by walk-in. Sign up is available in the bar.
To book, reach out to her here.
THE COCKTAIL
During Prohibition (1920–1933), Detroit and Hamtramck became vibrant centers of clandestine revelry, openly defying the nationwide ban on alcohol. In this spirited environment, gin emerged as a popular choice among bootleggers and patrons alike. Its relatively simple production process, which didn't require aging, allowed for quick and efficient manufacturing—a perfect fit for the era's demand.
Champagne, with its effervescent allure, also maintained its status as a symbol of celebration during these years. Despite legal restrictions, clandestine imports ensured that this sparkling wine continued to grace the glasses of those who sought to defy Prohibition's constraints.
In crafting a cocktail to honor Mabel, we've drawn inspiration from these historical nuances. The drink features Citadelle gin, harmoniously blended with a geranium rose liqueur sourced from a woman-owned distillery, reflecting Mabel's affinity for these floral notes. A splash of Cava Brut adds a celebratory sparkle, reminiscent of the enduring allure of Champagne. This cocktail not only pays tribute to Mabel's spirit but also offers a sensory journey back to a time when resilience and defiance shaped the cocktails we cherish today.