Episode 31: The House of Death
If the rumors are true, this is a house for the dead.
Episode transcript
It means something different to all of us. For some, it's a little white house at the end of a quiet lane--overflowing with the nostalgia of childhood memories and heartfelt family traditions. For others, it's a small, over-priced apartment. One that's filled to the brim with mixed-matched furniture, college textbooks, and packages of ramen noodles in the pantry.
It's plain to see. We all have a different sense of the word home. But remarkably, these varying descriptions capture the same fundamental idea: home is a safe haven where we can feel at peace.
Or at least that's what it's supposed to be. Although, on some occasions, these safe havens betray us. Becoming more of a battleground for conflicts taking root.
Those conflicts, too, will often look different for everyone. They might emerge externally—encompassing everything from plumbing issues to roommate disagreements, or even neighborly quarrels. The likes of which make it nearly impossible for us to feel comfortable in our own homes.
On the other hand, internal conflicts are just as discomforting. All too often guiding us to suffer in silence, within the walls of a homemade prison.
But what happens when these conflicts are no longer internal or external affairs and instead stem from a realm beyond our human existence? Well as we will soon see, it takes very little for these sorts of contentions to escalate into dire predicaments.
I’m Courtney Hayes and you’re listening to Haunts. Stay tuned…
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If you’re familiar with the NYC real estate scene, you’re likely aware that Greenwich Village stands out as an exceptionally desirable neighborhood. In fact, with a population of nearly 30,000 residents, the village is likely one of the most coveted residential areas on the Lower West Side.
And for good reason too. You see, back in its heyday, Greenwich Village was known for being a creative space. During the early 20th century, for instance, the neighborhood was popular among artists and writers, each of whom was deeply inspired by their urban surroundings.
As time went on, the village played a pivotal role in birthing the modern LGBTQ+ movement while simultaneously nurturing the counter-cultural ideals of the 1960s. Today, the area is known for its iconic restaurants, quiet outdoor spaces, and unparalleled diversity. Simply put, Greenwich Village offers the quintessential New York lifestyle that’s so commonly depicted in early 90s sitcoms without belittling its historical significance.
There’s truly no wonder why this neighborhood remains so popular amongst New York locale. And with such a vibrant history, it’s difficult to imagine any shadows lurking here. But, of course, I wouldn’t be sharing this with you if that were entirely the case.
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Sitting inconspicuously at the heart of Greenwich Village, the apartments at 14 West 10th Street offer its residents a peak into that very darkness. Though it doesn't look like much--with its simple brick facade and large arched windows--the building has seen its fair share of history and tragedy.
Oh and apparently, these dwellings aren't just home to an array of artists, students, and retirees. No, if the rumors are true, this is a house for the dead.
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When construction began back in 1856, it wasn't supposed to be anything more than a single-family home. However as the years passed, the modest residence took on a more sinister reputation.
You see, in the 167 since it was first erected, the house on 10th street has seen a considerable number of fatalities--22 of them to be exact. I know, that seems quite high, especially considering that many buildings this age don't see a single instance of death at any point in their history.
So really I guess it makes sense that this seemingly normal home gained a rather formidable nickname. One that was only solidified with each morbid incident that occurred within its walls.
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They call it the House of Death. It's a fitting moniker, don't you think? I mean, even if it is quite grisly, the name does really hit the mark--in more ways than one.
As a matter of fact, the apartments that now make up this property, are said to be haunted by the spirits of these long-lost souls. And according to the tenants, at least, the activity is damn near impossible to ignore--with reports ranging from simple cold spots and uneasy feelings of being watched all the way to encounters with full-bodied apparitions.
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Now if you're anything like me, you're probably already wondering, who exactly are these spirits? And for that matter, why do they continue to remain in such an unsuspecting space? Well, if you’re up for the challenge, let’s take a walk through this little house of horrors and see if we can find that out for ourselves.
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Truth be told, this haunt's chilling story begins with what I can only describe as a series of extremely unfortunate events. The likes of which are not for the faint of heart. So before we go any further, I would like to extend a quick warning that this story, at least for a moment, is about to get a whole lot more grisly. So if you would like to skip ahead, now's the time.
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The first of these incidents occurred back in 1897 when celebrity cyclist Fred H. Andrew purchased the townhome at 14 West 10th Street. It was a hot summer's day when Andrew took his bike out for a ride through Greenwich Village.
Now given the warm weather, the New York streets were crowded with pedestrians looking to take advantage of the summer sun. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a problem for Andrew. After all, he was a pro-cyclist who was more than capable of navigating a crowded sidewalk on his bike.
However, as we are about to see, the residents of 14 West 10th Street are known to experience supreme bad luck. Fred H. Andrew was no exception to this rule. A fact that became utterly clear when he collided with an 8-year-old boy, breaking the boy's leg in the process.
Needless to say, it was a horrific scene. One that ultimately landed Andrew in jail--leaving his new abode vacant, at least for a time. Now eventually the property did change hands, landing in the lap of another renowned individual who had some haunting claims of his own. But more on that in a moment.
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Another tragedy unfolded nearly a hundred years later after this single townhome was converted into an apartment building. At the time, Joel Steinburg, a New York defense attorney, lived in one of those apartments with his partner Hedda Nussbaum along with their illegally adopted daughter, Lisa.
Yes, you heard that right. Elizabeth Lisa Steinburg wasn't legally their daughter, and it gets worse. As far as I can tell, Steinburg more or less abducted Lisa after her mother put her up for adoption.
I should explain. Michele Launders was a single mother who contacted Joel Steinburg for help. She was looking for a suitable and safe family to adopt her daughter, Lisa, and she felt that Steinburg could aid her as an attorney.
He, of course, agreed--taking little Lisa under his wing. But instead of honoring her mother's wishes, Steinburg simply took the girl home. He didn't even sign adoption papers. A fact that makes their relationship illegal, and well, creepy. There's no other way to say it. And to make matters worse, this was neither a suitable nor safe situation for young Lisa.
It was 6:40 in the morning on November 1st, 1987 when 911 operators answered a horrific call. Lisa Steinburg had been attacked by her so-called father. She was just six years old.
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Later that day, Joel Steinburg was arrested and charged with first-degree manslaughter. His conviction came 14 months later when he was found guilty of those charges. I know, it wasn't exactly a speedy path to trial. But here's the real kicker: Steinburg was released from his jailhouse back in 2004. Meaning that he only served 2/3 of his 25-year sentence.
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Now it goes without saying that freak accidents and vicious murders do not solely make up the framework of this home. However, these incidents do cast a chilling aura upon the building's overall facade.
This fact was undeniably true back in 1900, when yet another well-known figure took up residence at 14 West 10th Street. Although, at the time, Mr. Samuel Clemens-- or should I say, Mark Twain--was a vehement skeptic.
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You see, Twain lived in this townhome for a single one-year period--spanning from 1900 to 1901. By the time that he moved in, the residence already had a reputation for being the most haunted house in Greenwich Village. However, the accusation didn't trouble Mark in the slightest. After all, he had written ghost stories before, and as far as he was concerned, they had never been anything but fictional.
Now, be that as it may, the author experienced some strange activity while living on 10th Street. And even he had trouble explaining how these anomalies occurred.
On one occasion, for instance, Twain witnessed a large piece of kindling floating above the fireplace. It was a startling sight--one that only got stranger as he watched the log drop to the floor. As he began to investigate, Twain discovered fresh blood spatter alongside splintered wood on the floor.
According to one of my sources, at least, he initially attributed the experience to a supposed animal that had somehow found its way into the residence. However, even Twain had to admit that no intruders, animal or otherwise, were with him inside the townhouse. So it would seem, he was the only living soul to be found.
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Suffice to say, Samual Clemens didn't exactly have a peaceful experience living at 14 West 10th Street. But if the rumors are true, he may be making up for that, now during his afterlife.
According to several more modern-day residents, this skeptical author is likely one of the most active spirits who shares the building they call home. In fact, Twain's ghost is commonly seen on the first floor and along the staircase--more often than not sporting a rather sour demeanor.
Take the following experience, for example: On one occasion, an apparition that fit Twain's description manifested before two startled occupants, apparently with the sole intention of airing out his grievances. He walked right up to them and casually mentioned having an unsettled matter to resolve. Then just as quickly as he appeared, he vanished right before their eyes.
And so, they were left to wonder if there was any truth behind the legend. Could the house of death truly be haunted? And if it is, just how many ghostly residents are still calling this place home?
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By now it should be quite apparent that many believe the House of Death to be haunted by more than just ghosts. It's a cursed reputation that has become all but undeniable, fueled by the many unsettling experiences and unexplained deaths that have quite literally stained its walls in a crimson red.
Of course, this claim has been met with at least some skepticism, as many view these freak incidents as nothing more than unsubstantiated coincidences. But even so, it's hard to deny that the residence at 14 West 10th Street is incredibly unlucky. I mean based on sheer frequency and consistency alone, these occurrences seem to be, well, paranormal.
So before we end today's episode, I think it's only fitting that I share one final story. One that brings the nature of the curse, and its many haunts, into a whole new light.
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It was 1957 when Jan Bryant Bartell and her young daughter found their new home on 10th Street, settling into a generously sized apartment on the top floor of a century-old building. This dwelling held unique historical significance, having previously served as a servants' quarters. However, that was not the reason why Bartell was interested in this particular unit.
Being a creative and psychic medium herself, Bartell was well aware of the building's so-called curse. And as morbid as it may seem, it was a rumor that Jan had to see to believe.
Now it wasn't long before this intention was set into motion. Because almost immediately upon moving in, she saw what she was looking for. In her own words, it is a "monstrous moving shadow." One that seemed to follow her around the apartment.
I know that would be enough to send most of us packing; but Bartell, on the other hand, remained--collecting paranormal experiences as the time passed. On one occasion, for instance, Bartell encountered a ghostly male figure while walking down the hall to her apartment. Intrigued, she boldly reached out to touch this apparition, only to feel a peculiar diaphanous substance, an ethereal touch that left her fingers chilled to the bone.
Jan Bryant Bartell wrote about this experience in her book entitled Sandrift: Spray from a Psychic Sea, where she recounts the chilling story of her time living on 10th Street. Eerily enough, this manuscript was released shortly after her own mysterious and untimely demise--leading many to believe that she too had fallen victim to the house of death.
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As always, I will have Sandrift linked in today's show notes at hauntscast.com. And if you're curious enough to learn more about this alleged curse, I encourage you to check it out.
But for now, I'll leave you this: the apartments at 14 West 10th Street still function as active rental properties, nestled in the heart of a popular New York neighborhood. Meaning that these charming units are theoretically up for grabs, almost as if they are waiting for the next unsuspecting tenant to come along and sign a lease.
Sources
https://archive.org/details/spindriftsprayfr00bart
https://www.6sqft.com/how-a-greenwich-village-brownstone-became-known-as-the-house-of-death/
https://nyghosts.com/the-house-of-death/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Village
https://www.villagepreservation.org/2016/10/19/the-house-of-death/
https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/31/nyregion/steinberg-is-guilty-of-first-degree-manslaughter.html
https://usghostadventures.com/new-york/mark-twain-house-house-of-death/