This Victorian Home In Upstate New York Became America’s First House To Be Declared Legally Haunted After Its New Owners Sued The Previous Residents For Failing To Disclose It Was Home To Three Ghosts
Usually, hauntings are relegated to myths and legends. They’re considered to be fictional occurrences that stem from overactive imaginations.
However, there’s one seemingly idyllic house perched on the banks of the Hudson River in Nyack, New York, that was declared legally haunted in 1991. It was the first house in the United States to earn the title.
The Ackley House is located at 1 LaVeta Place in Nyack, New York. It is a three-story Victorian home that was built around 1890. The mansion features a wraparound porch and a fenced-in pool.
From almost every room and window, picturesque views of the river can be seen. Inside, there are eight bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. Some of the unique Victorian details include elaborate moldings, stained glass windows, and high-quality hardwood floors.
Not much is known about the early human occupants of the house, although it likely belonged to a family that still lives in the area. For about a decade in the 1960s, the house went unoccupied.
So, whatever happened in the Ackley House that would cause its residents to abandon such a beautiful dwelling? Apparently, the house was haunted by three different ghosts.
The rumors of ghosts originate from the story of Helen and George Ackley. The first encounter Helen had with a ghost was in the late 1960s.
She was standing on a ladder, painting her living room ceiling, when she looked over and spotted a man seated near the fireplace. The figure had white hair and was dressed in a colonial-style suit. He was rocking back and forth as if he were sitting in a rocking chair, but no chair was in sight.
In another instance, George claimed to have seen a pair of disembodied feet clad in moccasins walk past him. Furthermore, their daughter Cynthia, who was in high school at the time, was shaken awake every day by some mysterious entity until she politely asked the room to let her continue her slumber.
Nando Azevedo – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
While these experiences may sound frightening, the Ackleys did not feel threatened by the spirits in any way. In fact, Helen stated that their presence was actually comforting.
The ghosts were friendly and even generous at times. On several occasions, including one of the daughters’ wedding and a granddaughter’s christening, the ghosts left small gifts of gold or silver rings on the bedside tables.
In 1989, Helen sold the home after the family had been living in it for about 25 years. A young couple, Jeffrey and Patricia Stambovsky, agreed to purchase it.
They put down a deposit, but soon after, they wanted a refund. They sued Helen for failing to disclose the fact that there were ghosts in the house. In the end, the New York appellate court ruled that the house was haunted as a matter of law.
The Stambovskys received half of their deposit back. Afterward, Helen had no problem selling her house, as the case had attracted many interested buyers.
Since then, 1 LaVeta Place has seen a series of new owners. None of them have ever mentioned anything about paranormal activity.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Freaky