Apparently the skeletons of four people were uncovered during a recent renovation of Washington Square Park. This comes as no surprise, as apparently the land was used as a cemetary for the poor from 1797 to 1826, with over 20,000 people buried there. There are also tales (which may be apocryphal) that the site was also used for public executions.
News to me!
I don't know about you guys, but Washington Square Park has always creeped me out. I've never made a point of skulking around there. Although there was a Beatles love fest one night when we all sang "All you Need is Love," in general, the drug dealers and NYU students terrify me.
I'm sure New York is filled with skeletons and various other exciting relics from the past. Someone once told me that (what will eventually become) the 2nd Avenue subway tunnel contains a cafe from the early nineteen-hundreds, complete with bottles of of alcohol and tables.
All of this makes me want to go all Etheline Tenenbaum and start diggin' holes.
Do you have any spooky New York stories?
4 comments:
Fortunately I don't have any spooky NY stories but when I was taking an intensive photography course at Parsons we were instructed to spend a few hours at Washington sq. and take a full roll of pictures (yeah, back in the days, we used rolls and stuff)... So the place is rife with memories for me.
If you're interested in Plath (re: comment you left on my blog), you should read Ted Hughes's letters, just published by Faber in London. It's extremely moving (I mentioned the book in my blog).
I have a picture of Plath in my room, up on my wall above the desk. It's a cliche but I still love her.
PS: have you read this:
Ariel: The Restored Edition: A Facsimile of Plath's Manuscript, Reinstating Her Original Selection and Arrangement (P.S.) (Paperback)
by Sylvia Plath (Author), Frieda Hughes (Foreword)
?
i don't technically have any creepy NY stories, although i lived there for 15 yrs....and enjoyed it for the most part....mostly in Manhattan.
However i never knew this about washington square park...but you aint kidding about the drug dealers there...! Haven't seen any skeletons yet....hmmm
Jen Ramos
'100% Recycled DESIGNER Cards'
www.madebygirl.com
oooh, creepy!
they should renovate that subway bar, it would be so cool.
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