Haunted Dakota Apartment Building
Scene of Horror Movie and Infamous Murder also Home for Ghosts
Jul 21, 2008
The grand apartment building and National Historic Landmark at 1 W. 72nd Street, across from Central Park, was built by Edward Clark in the late 1800s. One of Clark’s friends remarked that he could have built it in the Dakota Territory because it was remote from the inner city. Clark named it The Dakota and asked the architect to incorporate western carvings into the design, adding to original plans for gargoyles and other exotic décor, a perfect setting for paranormal happenings.
Dakota’s Fame
The Dakota has been home to many celebrities including Judy Holliday, Yoko Ono and John Lennon. In 1967, Rosemary’s Baby, considered by some to be one of the scariest horror flicks, was filmed there.
On the night of December 8th, 1980, tragedy happened. Mark David Chapman fatally shot John Lennon outside the building. Lennon’s ghost has been seen.
Young Girl’s Ghost
Painters working in the hall saw a girl with long blonde hair and dress of an earlier time bouncing a ball. None of them saw her before and she didn’t fit descriptions of children who lived there or of guests.
A woman, waiting for a friend in the foyer, saw the same apparition who walked into what she thought was an adjacent room. Later, she discovered it was a closet and she had seen the “ghost-in- residence” by others who sighted her.
Judy Holliday’s Apartment
In 1965, after her death, the Smiths bought the apartment. They hired three men to repaint walls and re-varnish woodwork. The workers felt they were being watched. One saw a ghost of a boy of about 10 dressed in a Buster Brown suit, a style of the early 1900s. A musty odor accompanied the apparition.
The three saw a ghost that had the body of a male in his 20s and a face of a young child.
After the job was done, one of the painters was doing some touch-up work in a large closet. Suddenly, the door slammed and the light went out. He groped his way off the ladder, propped the door open and turned the light back on. He felt something grab his arm and put it against the light bulb.
Third Floor Apartment
Frederick and Suzanne Weinstein have heard footsteps and other noises in their home. In the dining room, other paranormal phenomena happened. Rugs and chairs slid on their own. One day, when Weinstein was coming home, he saw, through his living room window, a large crystal chandelier, lights aglow, although none had been there. He thought Suzanne had it installed as a surprise. When he went into the living room, there was no chandelier, although bolts for one remained.
The Basement
The porter summoned tenant Wilbur Ross to the cellar because a heavy snow shovel flew off the wall and nearly hit him. He showed him garbage that was thrown about, explaining the bags began to move of their own volition. Ross was skeptical until a metal bar flew across the room, landing by his feet. He tried to pick it up, but it was too heavy. Other tenants had similar experiences.
An electrician, working in the basement, saw the ghost of a short, long-nosed man with a beard, no mustache, wire-framed glasses and a wig, wearing a frockcoat and high hat. Later, others sighted the same apparition. The description matched that of Edward Clark.
Related articles:
Source:
More Haunted Houses, Richard Winer and Nancy Osborn Ishmael, (Bantam Books, 1981)
 |
 |
