Our guide had done his homework and started us off with a recap of Manhattan’s early days as ownership of the island went from the Lenape people to the Dutch, and then to the English. Directly under the Washington Square Arch with its towering George Washington statues, one of GW the soldier, and one as president, we learn the land beneath our feet is a potter’s field, the resting place for criminals, those who succumbed to disease, or bodies never claimed. Due to the large number of unknowns, the bodies were buried en masse in unmarked graves, one atop another. Of course, noted Trevor, that sets up the perfect breeding ground for reports of spirited activities.
The Hangman’s Elm
Not too far away is a tall, leafless Elm which folklore has named the Hanging Tree, or Hangman’s Elm. In the late 1700s and early 1800’s, traitors, criminals and prisoners were supposedly hanged directly from its branches. One such victim was Rose Butler who in 1819 was convicted of arson, a charge she may or may not have been guilty of, leaving another soul not at peace.
Stop after stop, with a great deal of attention paid to brownstones along West 10th Street, we heard about Mark Twain and Emma Lazarus and how they continue to interact with the living. We stopped at the Jefferson Market Library for a sad and shocking tale of the “woman in the blue dress,” then an address on Gay Street where 1920’s NYC Major Jimmy Walker kept a mistress in a former speakeasy. Last stop involved Aaron Burr, but we don’t want to give it all away.
Trevor, our guide ,next to the speakeasy on Gay Street
In his introduction, Trevor explained his passion for history and the enjoyment he gets from giving these tours. Whether or not one believes in these myths, legends and folklore, the people and places themselves are fascinating on their own. On this night, the pleasant weather provided a relaxed atmosphere for the telling of these tales. Not so, I’m sure, when the streets turn empty, and the lights go out. And, I’m not about to find out.
US Ghost Adventures offers a variety of NYC tours including the Ghost Tour, stories of 9/11 and Ground Zero, Superheroes/Marvel & DC Comics Origins, a Ghost Boos and Booze Pub Crawl, and Taste of NYC/Soho, Little Italy, and Chinatown Cultural Tour.
U.S. Ghost Adventures
Top photo: Plaque on Mark Twain’s former home on West 10th
All photos by MJ Hanley-Goff
