New York City is known for its skyscrapers, culture, and nightlife, but it also has a dark side. The city is home to many haunted places, where ghosts and spirits are said to roam and torment the living. One of the most notorious examples is the apartment at 14 West 10th Street, also known as the “House of Death”.
The History of the House of Death
The apartment building at 14 West 10th Street was built in 1856 as a single-family home. It was later converted into 10 separate units, and over the years, it hosted many famous residents, such as Mark Twain, who lived there from 1900 to 1901. However, the building also witnessed many tragedies and deaths, some of which were violent and mysterious.
According to legend, the first death in the house occurred in 1864, when a young girl named Lisa fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Her ghost is said to haunt the staircase, where she can be heard crying and laughing. Another death occurred in 1889, when a man named Edward F. Smith shot himself in the head in his apartment. His ghost is said to appear in a brown suit and a derby hat, holding a revolver.
The most horrific death in the house happened in 1987, when a criminal defense lawyer named Joel Steinberg beat his six-year-old adopted daughter, Lisa, to death in his apartment. He also abused his partner, Hedda Nussbaum, who survived the ordeal but was severely injured. Steinberg was convicted of manslaughter and served 15 years in prison. His apartment is said to be the most haunted in the building, where Lisa’s ghost can be seen and heard, along with other sinister presences.
The Paranormal Activity in the House of Death
Many residents and visitors of the apartment building have reported experiencing paranormal activity, such as cold spots, strange noises, apparitions, and poltergeist phenomena. Some of the most common sightings are of Mark Twain, who is said to appear in a white suit and smoke a pipe. He is usually friendly and harmless, but sometimes he can be angry and hostile, especially if he is disturbed or challenged.
Another frequent sighting is of a woman in a long gown, who is said to be the ghost of Jan Bryant Bartell, a writer who lived in the building in the 1950s. She wrote a book called “Spindrift: Spray from a Psychic Sea”, in which she described her encounters with the supernatural in the apartment. She claimed to have seen a woman in a long gown, a man with a twisted face, and a cat with glowing eyes. She also felt a malevolent force that tried to push her out of a window. She died of a heart attack in 1973, and her ghost is said to wander the halls, looking for answers.
Other ghosts that have been reported in the building include a gray cat, a little boy, a lady in white, and a man in a cloak. Some of the paranormal activity is benign, such as footsteps, knocks, and whispers, but some of it is more disturbing, such as objects moving, doors slamming, and lights flickering. Some people have even claimed to have been scratched, pushed, or choked by unseen hands.
The Conclusion
The apartment building at 14 West 10th Street is one of the most haunted places in New York City, and perhaps in the world. It has a long and tragic history, and it is inhabited by many restless spirits, some of whom are friendly, and some of whom are evil. The building is still occupied by tenants, who have to live with the constant fear and uncertainty of what might happen next. The story behind this haunted apartment is terrifying, and it is not for the faint of heart.