New York City is well-known for its skyscrapers, culture, and nightlife, but there is also a darker side. The city is home to several haunted spots, where ghosts and spirits are claimed to roam and harass the inhabitants. One of the most renowned examples is the 14 West 10th Street apartment, often known as the “House of Death”.
History of the House of Death
The apartment building at 14 West 10th Street was constructed in 1856 as a single-family residence. It was eventually renovated into ten independent units and has hosted many prominent occupants, including Mark Twain, who resided there from 1900 to 1901. However, the structure has witnessed numerous catastrophes and deaths, some of which were violent and unexplained.
According to history, the first fatality in the house happened in 1864, when a young girl named Lisa went down the stairs and shattered her neck. Her ghost is reported to haunt the stairs, wailing and laughing. In 1889, Edward F. Smith committed suicide in his flat. His spirit is believed to emerge wearing a brown suit and a derby hat while brandishing a pistol.
The most brutal death in the house occurred in 1987, when Joel Steinberg, a criminal defense lawyer, beat his six-year-old adoptive daughter, Lisa, to death in his flat. He also abused his partner, Hedda Nussbaum, who survived the ordeal but sustained serious injuries. Steinberg was convicted of manslaughter and served 15 years in jail. His flat is said to be the most haunted in the building, with Lisa’s ghost visible and audible, among other evil presences.
Paranormal Activity in the House of Death
Many tenants and visitors to the apartment complex have reported paranormal activity, including cold spots, weird noises, apparitions, and poltergeist events. Some of the most popular sightings include Mark Twain, who is supposed to appear in a white outfit and smoke a pipe. He is normally pleasant and harmless, but he can become aggressive and belligerent, especially when disturbed or challenged.
Another common sighting is a woman in a long gown, believed to be the ghost of Jan Bryant Bartell, a writer who resided in the building in the 1950s. She created a book called “Spindrift: Spray from a Psychic Sea” on her experiences with the uncanny in the flat. She claimed to have seen a woman in a long robe, a man with distorted features, and a cat with luminous eyes. She also felt an evil force attempting to shove her out a window. She died of a heart attack in 1973, and her ghost is rumored to haunt the hallways, searching for answers.
Other ghosts seen in the structure include a gray cat, a young kid, a lady in white, and a man in a coat. Some paranormal activity is benign, such as footsteps, knocks, and whispers, while others are more distressing, such as items moving, doors slamming, and lights flickering. Some victims claim to have been scratched, pushed, or choked by unseen hands.
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The Conclusion
The apartment building at 14 West 10th Street is one of the most haunted places in New York City, and possibly the world. It has a long and tragic past, and it is home to a large number of restless spirits, some friendly and some malignant. The building is still occupied by tenants, who live in continual terror and uncertainty about what will happen next. The story behind this haunted apartment is terrible, and it is not recommended for the faint of heart.