Hidden by the neon glow of Times Square and darting between the shadows of New York’s towering skyscrapers, phantoms of The Big Apple tell tales of scandal and tragedy. This East Coast metropolis is a place of infamy, where sprawling parks and historic mansions harbor secrets whispered from cold, blue lips. Whereas photos of New York often depict the glitz of Tribeca and the glam of Broadway, there’s a darker side where spirits lie.
New York teems with energy, and not just from the travelers and locals who keep the streets abuzz around the clock. Haunted theaters and historic homes riddled with stories of death and murder are the legends of the City That Never Sleeps that you won’t hear unless you seek them out by venturing into the most haunted places in New York City.
St. Paul’s Chapel
As the city’s only Colonial church, St. Paul’s Chapel has seen New York evolve into the thriving metropolis it is today. Built in 1766, the chapel was intended to alleviate pressure from the nearby Trinity Church, which struggled to accommodate the growing congregation. In a touch of irony, the British-granted church soon welcomed future revolutionaries like George Washington. When fire spread during the war, it was only thanks to a “bucket brigade” that St. Paul’s didn’t suffer the same fate as Trinity.
While all of this lends to fascinating historic tales, it’s the sightings of apparitions that tend to spark interest. One apparition, in particular, actually: A headless phantom seemingly aimless in its wanderings. However, actor George Frederick Cooke is far from directionless. Legend has it that Cooke donated his skull to science. Instead, it was used in a production of Hamlet, standing in as the skull of Yorick. It seems ‘ole Cooke wants his head back, and he’s bound to his burial grounds at St. Paul’s, forever in search of his missing skull.
Merchant’s House Museum
The Merchant’s House Museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Tredwell family. For over 100 years, the Tredwells retained ownership of the old abode until the death of the last remaining daughter of merchant Seabury and Eliza. During their occupation, the Tredwells retained Irish servants, none of whom worked for more than ten years, and often allowed relatives to stay when they exhausted all housing alternatives. When Seabury passed in 1865, he left his seven children each $10,000. Essentially, it was a household that cared for one another.
For all those who lived within the Tredwell home, only Gertrude, the last child to die, remains an active part of the home’s legacy. Amidst the exhibits displaying objects and artifacts from the family, Gertrude keeps the staff alert. Volunteers and visitors have complained of a phantom floral perfume, an old-fashioned aroma that circulates through the home almost as often as the unexpected ringing of the servants’ bells. All of this pales in comparison to the actual sightings of Gertrude’s apparitions, who roams the museum’s halls as if she still owns the property.
One if by Land, Two if by Sea
Built in 1767, the old building was a carriage house where an icon of early United States and the New York State Attorney General, Aaron Burr, stowed his horses and coach. As time passed, the purpose of the carriage house changed. Long after Burr’s sordid affair with Alexander Hamilton, it became the engine house for a new fire house and, years later, it was converted into a silent movie theater.
Through all of its changes, one thing remained constant: The mystery of the tunnel that ran from the carriage house to the former shore of the Hudson River. Why the tunnel was built has never been answered, though many speculate it was used to smuggle contraband or was part of the Underground Railroad. Someone in tune with the other side may be able to uncover the truth, though, by reaching out to the ghostly figure of Aaron Burr said to haunt the restaurant today. Flickering lights are the mildest activity at One if by Land, Two if by Sea, as staff have complained about being pushed and having machinery turn on randomly.
Another spirit is believed to be Theodosia, Burr’s daughter who was allegedly kidnapped and killed by pirates.
New Amsterdam Theatre
Who doesn’t love a haunted theater? The New Amsterdam Theater was purpose-built in 1903 as one of the first theaters to open in the famed theater district. It stands today as one of New York’s most notable landmarks — and an undeniably haunted Big Apple venue. New Amsterdam’s specter dates back to the classic age of Ziegfeld Follies, extravagant revues that featured the talents of the city’s best dancers. Among them was 25-year-old Olive Thomas, a young girl robbed of the heights of her career.
Known as the Grey Lady of the New Amsterdam Theater today, Thomas once drew admiration from audiences and caught the eye of actor Jack Pickford. She showed promise as a young star until September 10, 1920, when she died during a trip to Paris. Days earlier, the starlette had swallowed mercury bichloride, though how and why remains unanswered. Media exclaimed everything from murder to suicide, though it’s more widely believed to have been an accident, brought on by a French label that an inebriated Thomas believed to be a sleeping tonic. Anyone curious about an answer can try their luck at the theater, where Thomas continues to relive her stardom as the Grey Lady.
Morris-Jumel Mansion
Built nearly 10 years before the colonies separated from the British, the haunted Morris-Jumel Mansion was the pride of Roger Morris. Tuscan columns enhance the facade of the old mansion, allowing it to stand out among the common architecture of that time. It did catch the eye of General George Washington, who converted it into a temporary headquarters for the Battle of Harlem Heights. Not long after, Stephen and Eliza Jumel purchased the mansion, at which point a darkness seemed to hover overhead.
Stephen’s sudden death in 1832 proved suspicious, especially when famed psychic Hans Holzer allegedly channeled his spirit. During the seance, Stephen revealed that Eliza was behind his death. After her husband fell on a pitchfork, Eliza removed his bandages and allowed him to bleed to death. She later went on to marry Aaron Burr, and lived together in the future Morris-Jumel Mansion.
It must be a love triangle today, as Stephen, Eliza, and Burr are all said to haunt the historic home. It’s believed that Stephen returned to reveal the truth behind his death, Eliza refused to let go of the home she loved, and Burr never recovered from their divorce just four months after marriage.
The Ear Inn
Though The Ear Inn is a relatively new name for this historic watering hole, the building it occupies is over 250 years old. Originally built in 1770 for George Washington’s African aide, James Brown, after his passing, it took its first turn into debauchery. By the mid-1800s, Thomas Cooke converted it into a personal brewery, where he distilled corn whiskey and beer for Civil War soldiers. Come the 1900s, a dining room was added to change the space into a full-fledged restaurant. Even when Prohibition turned New York into a dry town, it became a speakeasy, and eventually returned to its purpose as a local bar open to the public. Upstairs, the attached apartment filtered through its own purposes, from a doctor’s office to a brothel.
Though a reputable historic landmark and functioning bar today, much of The Ear Inn’s past still lingers. One regular, Mickey the Sailor, loved his alcohol so much that The Ear Inn became a second home when he wasn’t at sea. How he died is a matter of speculation, with one theory suggesting he drunkenly stumbled in front of a car after a night at The Ear Inn. Regardless of the “how,” it resulted in his spirit being free to stay at the bar for as long as its doors remain open. Unfortunately for female staff and guests, Mickey has a difficult time keeping his hands to himself.
Mark Twain House
What legacy must a place have to be dubbed the “House of Death?” Though notable for being the former home of Sam and Olivia Clemens, there’s a darkness in the old New York building that shadows the presence of the famed author. Sam, who penned many classic novels under Mark Twain, lived in the brownstone for about a year. During that time, the noted skeptic spoke of spectral encounters, like floating pieces of wood and drops of blood that suddenly appeared. Speculation was that the visions related to an 1897 incident, when cyclist Fred Andrew crashed into a bow and broke his leg.
The mysterious incidents continued many years later, when Jan Bartell rented an apartment above the home. During her time in the apartment, Jan complained of shadowy figures, lumbering entities that followed her wherever she went. Often, the rotting smell of decaying food wafted through the apartment with no source. A new spirit joined the mix in 1987, when 6-year-old Lisa Nussbaum was murdered by her father. The young girl’s ghost remained bound to the old brownstone, the negative energy generated by her death contributing to the shadowy figures and electrical problems that persisted.
Venture Into Haunted New York
Maybe New York never sleeps because of its plague of phantoms and wraiths that patrol old brownstones and iconic watering holes. While these seven locations represent some of the most haunted spots in New York City, they’re merely a sampling of what has manifested over the years since the establishment of New Amsterdam. The apple may be big, but be forewarned, for the frights may be bigger, and a New York City ghost tour is the best way to learn all about New York’s haunted past.
