New York Is Home To The Only Legally Haunted House In The US
Sure there are plenty of creepy haunted houses in NYC, but the Ackley House is the real deal — even the Supreme Court says so.
The large waterfront Victorian home is nestled on the Nyack waterfront, less than an hour from NYC and right next to the Empire State’s beloved Halloween town, Sleepy Hollow. It’s gorgeous and welcoming, but legend — and the highest court in the country — says it’s responsible for some unsettling poltergeist activity.
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If you’re feeling a little spooky this October, we’ll give you insight into the country’s infamous “legal haunted house,” as it is affectionally known.
All about the Ackley House
Helen Ackley and her family moved into the New York home in the 1960s and remained there for 20 years. She documented this chapter of her life with an article in Reader’s Digest: “Our Haunted House on the Hudson,” which she wrote in 1977.
She alleges that a Revolutionary spirit haunts the home, and she cites typical signs of paranormal activity: “A light fixture cord swaying over the family dinner table on a windless day, then stopped in mid-swing as if by some unseen hand.” “French doors suddenly flung open.” “A casement window gaping.”
Her story makes for entertaining reading, but things became problematic in 1989 when she decided to sell the home to Jeffrey Stambovsky. He had sued Helen, alleging that she purposely withheld information about the home’s hauntings. The case made its way to the Supreme Court in 1991, which ultimately sided with Jeffrey. Per Case Brief, Stambovsky v. Ackley states “a condition that impairs the value of property, known to the seller and left undisclosed to the buyer can constitute a basis for rescission of the contract.”
There you have it, folks — if there are some creepy happenings in a home, the owner has to give the potential new inhabitants the heads up. Though the Victorian beauty has gone up for sale numerous times throughout the years, not all of the owners have alleged activity.
If you fancy a real paranormal experience akin to Helen’s, we suggest embarking on a ghost tour at Manhattan’s most haunted house.
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