apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I am sooooo interested in this too.

a highrise apt building in San fransiscoon Market near Van Ness, is supposedly at least cursed: the Fox Plaza Apts, by Anton LeVay, the former organist of the Fox Movie Palace, pissed off when it was torn down. Stories of strange fights and fallings circulate in the city.

Such an awesome idea!

The London Terrace Towers in Chelsea are said to be haunted. A doorman there once told me that some residents have told of seeing a man throw himself off the roof, like one of the Towers developers did back in the 30's when he went broke. This doorman says he personally saw what seemed to be an apparition of a boy dressed in 1930's garb, bouncing a handball against a wall in the basement. Also, a resident told me she saw a figure in her apartment one night - however, it was after a few glasses of wine...

Sure do!

My current apartment and a home I lived in as a teenager.

The apartment I live in now is the in basement of an building that was built in 1929. Sometimes it feels like I'm being watched or something will disappear and then reappear a few weeks later, when I'm home alone I'll hear someone talk to me or say my name...I have yet to see anyone but a couple weeks back I *felt* someone sit on the edge of the bed.

In the house I used to live it I *saw* things, we had one room that was always cold and my mother was actually attacked. The original homeowner's wife died in the home of a heart attack. That home was actually on the block of houses that was written about in a book, the name escapes me now but I'll try to find it and post it.

Orange ed, Anton levay the organist? Or perhaps a different anton? click my name if you don't know about him - he's the head of the church of satan.

Absolutely have lived in haunted places.....in Boston you can't avoid some sort of residue of history.

I worked and lived in a backpacker's hostel here in the city when I was in my early 20's. The room where I was to sleep instantly gave me a bad vibe but having little choice to go elsewhere I decided it was fine. The closet would close on you when you went to put something in there- and not like- ok- close on you and you feel the door- but physically feeling like someone was on the other side of the door trying to push and lock you in with the coats. I decided after a few of those experiences that I didn't need to hang anything up and lived out of a suitcase and a dresser while I lived there. One night I was washing my face (yeah there was a sink on the wall in my room- which only added to the creepiness) I looked up to wipe my face and saw a woman in the mirror. Dark hair, haggard looking- and in clothes that weren't modern. Of course I nearly pissed myself and when I turned around she was nowhere to be seen. She was definitely not someone with the land of the living.

Scared out of mind the next day I vaugely asked the manager and some other long termers there what the history of the building was like and did they every experience anything creepy- and the manager said the building had been a whorehouse back in the late 1800's and a prostitute had been killed there.

It STILL creeps me out.

I've posted my story only once, this is the second time I share it. My story continues...it began almost as soon as I moved in to my 2bdrm. apt. in the lower Hudson Valley. I have the most beautiful, magnificent view and share the apt. with both my daughter and husband. My daughter was about 11 or 12 years old at the time we moved in, this is about 10 years ago. These are a few of the incidents or paranormal activity we have dealt, continue to deal with. The incidents I'm about to share are real, they are ongoing, and the best way to rationalize why I'm still there is this (it's simply a no-brainer) there are more folk dead then alive. I believe in energy both good and bad, let me rephrase, I mean to say that I believe there are good and bad as well as sad and happy people who die everday. Their energy lingers on whereever they choose. Here are some of our paranormal incidents:
My daughter claimed in broad daylight that she heard voices calling out to her to play. I was washing clothes in the basement of my building where my husband manages and is the superintendent. I came upstairs twice and the second time with her door almost closed she was crying out to me. When I answered she wouldn't come out of the room. I had to literally walk through the hall towards her room and ask what happened. She was overwhelmed with grief but I calmed her down. Shadowy figures in the hall (look like foggy, misty poofs of smoke which disappear as soon as you take a second look.) Lights go on and off by themselves (this happened only once but was enough.) One night as I studied for an exam for school my daughter decided to stay up with me and decided to eat a snack. This was about 4 mths. after we moved in. I have an L shaped apt with a terrace and a walk through kitchen which continues with a hall which is where her room is situated and at the end is one bathroom. While she sat in the chair I remember she jumped and almost flew on top of my clinging on to me like a scared cat. She mumbled "I just saw a small boy walk into your room ma." I tried to calm her down and told her she must be seeing things and to stop but she began to describe in detail what this child had on and the color of his hair, skin, and eyes. She said he turned his head and looked right at her before proceeding into my room. My husband was asleep with the door closed. Infront of my mom in broad daylight a tiny stuffed piglet was on top of my computer simply flew towards me and hit me on my chest. I didn't know what it was till my mom pale as a ghost told me what happened. I've heard voices, music, seen my husband (although he was never there) have heard loud crashing noises right in front of me when nothing is there. A study group from school came over and one of the students heard someone whispering in their ear. They insisted it was another student there whispering but they sweared upon everything it wasn't them. I never told anyone not even my family about these incidents they began to tell me. That's how I know it's real. There are several incidents which I've never recorded and perhaps if the readers at AT want I can continue to share. These incidents come and they begin sublte and get out-of-control intense and out of nowhere come to a complete stop. They last from several days to as long as 6 months. Last incident was about 2 months ago. The building where I live is over 60 years old. It houses 64 families. I've known of 2 people who have died in their aptmts. I know before the building was built a mansion sat where the building is situated in today. I sometimes wonder who were those people and how many others have passed on. To be continued...

I vaguely recall an article in the NYTimes about a family renovating their haunted appartment in Manhattan. super creepy.

Not apartments, but houses. My parents' house had a ghost that loved my bedroom and was very territorial about who went in there and what they did. It was great when I was a teenager; it chased my siblings and parents out of there numerous times, even locked my door - which didn't have a lock on it - many times. I was the only one "allowed" in, and the ghost was very protective of me. Everyone else in the family was terrified of that part of the house (only bedroom on that side of the building), but I always felt completely safe there. The ghost left a few years after I was gone, but continued to chase everyone out of my room when I was away at college.

My sister's house has two ghosts that have been seen by everyone in the family and half of their neighbors. Like my ghost, their ghosts (a man and a woman) are very protective of the family, but they love to pull all kinds of pranks that are not mean but scare the living daylights out of almost everyone. They have various periods of activity and then lie low for awhile, popping up again when things get quiet.

No horror stories in either house, fortunately.

there's said to be a ghost that lives a few doors up from my mom at 11 bank street. i remember when i was a kid that the people who lived there told my parents that it kept them up all nite. as kids we steered clear of that house!

i've also heard that the dakota is haunted.

I dated a guy in college who lived in a house with a ghost. Although I never saw it, the boyfriend had a couple of encounters where he would wake up, feeling like someone was in the room. He saw an apparition at the end of his bed a couple of times, but that was really it. His teammate and roommate refused to sleep on the third floor (where the ghost was) because he was too scared.

There was a family who lived across the street from me when I was growing up who had a haunted house too. The parents knew about the history of their house but the kids didn't. One day the son told his mother -- very matter of factly -- about the man who walked him down to the bus stop and stood with him until the bus came. He then proceeded to describe the original owner of the house, a man who had died in a fire there about 30 years ago.

I don't *really* give credence to these sort of things, but still. Creepy.

Oh! Cold chills! Love this thread!

My first apartment in Brooklyn Heights had every indication of being haunted. The previous tenant, a single woman, had lived there 30 years, left a bookshelf that had organizational tabs on the bottom that said things like "esp" and "psychic phenomena," and, according to another old tenant who knew her, had some kind of near criminal trouble with someone.

But nothing ever, um, materialized.

Probably for the better, since it would have scared the sillies out of me.

Cielo:

Have you tried talking with your ghosts? I know it sounds weird, but often they are responsive to direct requests. My ghost was very "parental" towards me; it would pull my blankets up around me when I was in bed, sit on the foot of my bed while I was trying to go to sleep, and bang on the windows when it thought I was up too late (if all lights weren't out and music off by 1:27 a.m. then much window knocking would take place until everything was turned off). When it got on my nerves I would either say out loud or think "Thanks for your concern, but I would appreciate it if you left now" and all would cease and desist. My niece and nephew and brother-in-law do the same thing with their ghosts, and the requests are always honored.

Can't hurt to try!

Hi Sydney ~ I believe I told them once they could stay if they wouldn't appear (materialize) take form in front of us. It was when my daughter told me she saw the little boy. I remember we stayed up that time till about 3:15am. It's difficult to tell who but I think there are many of them that come through. One in particular likes to play games. Another is very sad. Many times especially around the holidays when I walk down that hall I get this heavy feeling of sadness. Once or twice I have actually cried walking down that hall towards the bathroom. I really have begun to ignore them as best as I know how. But my daughter who is now 24 yrs old will come home and tell me stories of what happened to her on a Fri. or Saturday morning after partying with friends. On these occasions she is has had nothing to drink. She is her own designated driver.

Sorry your experiences have been so sad, Cielo; your ghosts need to move out! You might want to try a house clearing/blessing to help send them on their way, that is often very successful. Catholic priests routinely bless houses, even for non-Catholics, or you might want to call a professional space-clearer. Living with such painful energy stuck in your home isn't good for anyone.

Next time you "talk" with your ghosts, tell them their lease is up and it is time to hit the road. Good luck; you have my sympathy!

I'm drawn to this post but also know how much I am going to regret it tonight when I'm at home alone in bed . . . may have to sleep with the lights on!

I agree with you. I think it got to the point where I've convinced myself that they're a part of my space. But I've had many a sleepless night - sometimes, like I mentioned they are pranksters others are more frighening. I am a Catholic but not a practicing one. But my mother is and she does not stay in my apartment for very long. I will take your advice though I think it's time way overdo.

Here's the Times article about the haunted pre-war apartment: A New Home, Not Quite Vacated

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/30/realestate/30ghost.html?ex=1160193600&en=ab31ad42497268f6&ei=5070

Last weekend there was a story in the Washington Post about students at Catholic University in DC having their dorm rooms blessed by one of the campus priests. None of the students were dealing with unwanted spirits in their rooms (unless it was their living, breathing roommates), but those who had their rooms blessed said it brought a peaceful, calming energy to their space. Best kind of "cure" possible!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/30/AR2006093000493_pf.html

In college, I lived rent free in old houses I rehabbed on the weekends, hanging sheet rock, painting, sanding floors etc.

One old house was 3 floors, and I slept in a bedroom on the 3rd floor. For months on end I would wake up at the exact same time, 3:15 am, to the sound of footsteps on the stairs. Then the rustle of an old sash window, then the sound of the sash window crashing down.

The first few times it happened I got up to look. Never was anyone else in the house, never was anything disturbed. I finally resigned myself to it being the quirks of an old house settling.

One day, while working in the front yard, anelderly neighbor from across the street came over and struck up a conversation. She was happy to see new life being breathed back into the old house. She was one of the original residences of the block some 60 years before.

The comment that left me cold in my tracks was...."You know it's such a shame what happened to the couple that built that place you know....".

I asked her to elaborate...She explained that the husband worked the mid-night shift at the local refinery, and left the wife alone with a gun to protect herself. Being an old "wild cat refinery" town, it was pretty rough around the edges.

One night,in the middle of his shift, the husband feel ill, and left his job to return home. On returning, he realized he did not have his house key....and went around to a window on the landing of the stairs.

Trying to pry up the sash window he thought he would let himself in without disturbing his wife.

She, of course hearing the noises from downstairs, thought it was an intruder. She got her loaded rifle, creeped slowly down the stairs, and saw the intruder in the landing window....

Well you know how the story ends.....

Never believed in spirits before this, and you know what?
I never heard another sound in that house....

i stayed in the hotel figueroa in los angeles once. we were there on my husband's company's tab because it was a business trip. so we had no control over the accomodations, but they were nice enough to put us in a suite, which means there was extra room with a futon and some pillows and a mini fridge.

during the first night of hearing and feeling and seeing things i can't describe, i freaked out and told my husband. I saw a little girl about a foot away from my face. he couldn't believe i said something because he was thinking the same thing.

we moved to the ritz in marina del ray the next day because everything downtown was booked for of the convention. I'm sure everyone thought we were assholes but we weren't going to tell them the truth. There were at least 8 other rooms in our group and no one complained about ghosts. I don't even remember what our excuse was. The next night someone else from the company took over the room and had a little party. this is a photo from it:

http://www.jenhorn.com/orbs.JPG

thank you everyone who shared a story, it's facinating. reading these accounts makes me think that some people have a gift or sensitivity to become aware of these spirits and some of us don't.

rachel, yes, that Anton, from what i was told, nevr looked into his emloyment there...just last week tho i heard nearly firsthand about someone who fell or jumped, but was blown to a balcony just a few stories below...maybe Caspar's hanging around, har har...

Patrick~I myself never actually felt or witnessed anything like this till I moved into this apartment. At the time I was going to school specializing in clinical social work with families and their children. While doing internship I worked with many young children who were diagnosed with many physical and behavioral disorders. Many had experienced horrific things in the their young age. One in particular; I can't disclose private info. was invloved in a horrific crime. Some of the children I worked with believed in the supernatural. Some told me stories about monsters (what I interpret as ghost) others knew that something or someone spoke to them at night or during the day. As a professional I ofcourse can only speculate whether these stories are just that stories. Perhaps for attention or maybe viewing too much junk on t.v. I know scientifically if you can't prove something it isn't real. I am a believer and mainly because I as well as friends and family have witnessed it without my saying a word. I feel that sometimes the mind can play tricks on you and if someone tells you a certain place is experiencing paranormal activity it's likely your going to believe them. I don't think I'm sensitive in this area. But again, I wouldn't know. I do not know much about the paranormal except for what I've experienced and although it frightens me at times I am still more concerned and scared about a real person trying to do me or my family harm.

http://theshadowlands.net/places/newyork.htm

my partner once told me "I do not believe in ghosts... but I am afraid of them." Not me, I believe in them and am scared of them. Reading about even the most trivial 'encounter' makes my eyes tear a little.

When I moved into my apt two years ago there were what I could only call disturbances... doors opened and slammed, cabinets opened, photos taken had weird orbs, woke up from sleep with what felt like a weight on my chest. Within a month everything settled down.

A friend in Hell's Kitchen has a spirit in his apt that fiddles with his electronics. It turns off his tv when he goes to the bathroom & blasts his stereo at 2 am.