# Washington Square Park ~ Creepy! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2002, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704 "2002-11-20T05:29:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/1 "2002-11-20T05:29:43Z")
Well, this is mindless and pointless. I was creeped out when I read this about one of my favorite parks (located in Greenwich Village by the NYU campus), generally populated by free-sprited types: > [@](#): > > Washington Square Park’s hauntings originate from its use as a hanging ground during the American Revolution when people swung from trees that still stand today. The Park also served as a cemetery at one time and still has 15,000 bodies buried beneath its grassy lawn. :: hold me! :: :o ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/2 "2002-11-20T06:40:20Z")
15,000 bodies? Me thinks (probably) not - what is your source? The US tradition pretty much forbids using graveyards (hallowed or not) as playgrounds. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/3 "2002-11-20T07:49:06Z")
No estimates on exact numbers, but there’s gotta be a lot of skeletons down there. It was a mass gravesite for about 100 years. Read this: [http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour\_washsq.htm](http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour_washsq.htm) [http://www.citypaper.net/articles/090398/cb.bone.shtml](http://www.citypaper.net/articles/090398/cb.bone.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/4 "2002-11-20T12:36:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > No estimates on exact numbers, but there’s gotta be a lot of skeletons down there. It was a mass gravesite for about 100 years. Interesting links, **chula** , but there’s one sorta big problem with them: They’re about Washington Square in Philadelphia, not Washington Square Park in New York. [hijack] **LolaCocaCola** , when are we finally going to see you at a New York Doper gathering? The next one is the [Kosher Dope Dinner](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=144808) next Monday.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/5 "2002-11-20T12:38:46Z")
Sorry happyheathen, but the American tradition was, up until fairly recently, to use graveyards for just such an alternative use - playgrounds. Particularly in big cities, where open space was at a premium, graveyards were typically used as gathering places and recreation spots. One of the reasons that elaborate gravestones came into vogue was that people knew that other folks would be in the graveyard and would see them - sort of showing off and displaying your wealth evern after you’re dead. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/6 "2002-11-20T14:25:10Z")
Well, the way I came accross the information was I have a friend from Seattle visiting for Thanksgiving and I was looking up stuff for us to do that week: [http://www.theinsider.com/nyc/fun/3ghosts.htm](http://www.theinsider.com/nyc/fun/3ghosts.htm) And a few steps from Washingston Square Park we have this cheery little residence: > [@](#): > > Downtown at 14 West 10th Street (near Fifth Avenue), is a house supposedly haunted by ghosts of the more than 22 people who have died there. In addition, Mark Twain, who lived in the house from 1900 to 1901, is said to haunt the building’s stairwell. Adding to the house’s macabre reputation is the fact that Joel Steinberg lived here in 1987 when he was accused of beating 6-year-old Lisa Steinberg to death. :o **Billdo** , I’ll probably make a cameo appearance at one of the NYC Dope gatherings in January - just make sure you keep an itin. posted - particularly of the bars. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/7 "2002-11-20T14:26:20Z")
Well, for goodness sakes—you’re trodding over bodies in all East Coast towns! Bryant Park, on 41st Street, used to be a potter’s field, too, and look how many unexpected graveyards turn up during building excavations. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/8 "2002-11-20T14:30:22Z")
Oh, that’s right, **Eve**! I used eat lunch at Bryant Park everyday when I worked by there! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/9 "2002-11-20T14:33:19Z")
Yeah, why do you think my rosebushes produce such lush blooms? [Hessian blood](http://www.lihistory.com/4/gbatt28l.htm), man. Hessian blood. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/10 "2002-11-20T14:48:15Z")
Wow, that’s interesting, **Ike**. When I recently went to The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park high above the Hudson River bluffs (God, it’s beautiful there in the fall!) I read that 4,000 Hessian mercenaries attacked the outnumbered Maryland and Virginia riflemen who were defending the position (Fort Tryon). ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/11 "2002-11-20T14:59:38Z")
I think I remember reading that Edgar Allan Poe’s parents—itinerant actors who died young and poor—were buried in Bryant Park. Anybody gotta shovel? Wanna meet up midtown for lunch? ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/12 "2002-11-20T15:31:26Z")
Poe’s father disappeared from the scene and it is not known that became of him. Poe’s mother died here in Richmond is buried about 500 yards from where I’m sitting. Come on down, we can grab some lunch, but it won’t be in mid-town Manhattan. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/13 "2002-11-20T15:35:52Z")
I have a shovel. I would love to dig up a few stories with Eve. ---
**Author:** ![Mooney252](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7c8e57/32.png) [@Mooney252](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooney252)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/14 "2002-11-20T15:52:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, the way I came accross the information was I have a friend from Seattle visiting for Thanksgiving and I was looking up stuff for us to do that week Kamiak High School Show Band – Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: [Everett Herald](http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/02/11/17/16104150.CFM) ---
**Author:** ![Alto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Alto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alto)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/15 "2002-11-20T18:55:25Z")
There’s a huge tree still standing at the northwest corner of the park that is popularly reported to have been used as a hanging tree in the 1700s. I’ve always wondered about this legend–didn’t they use gallows?–but it’s certainly old enough. I also remember reading that when they used Washington Square as a military parade ground they had trouble because the weight of the guns occasionally caused the mass graves (from a yellow fever epidemic) to cave in. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/16 "2002-11-20T19:16:57Z")
[hijack]Sorry to continue the hijack, **Lola** , but you don’t have e-mail listed. Anyway, my suggestion would be to come to one of the smaller events before the big Dopefest so you can get to know a few of us in a more personal setting. We really don’t bite, much, unless you ask nicely. Anyway, e-mail me if you want to discuss this. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/17 "2002-11-20T19:29:22Z")
> [@](#): > > :: hold me! :: If you say so, miss.🙂 Strange. I wonder exactly how many other areas hold mass graves for revolutionary soldiers. But this kind of stuff: > [@](#): > > There’s a huge tree still standing at the northwest corner of the park that is popularly reported to have been used as a hanging tree in the 1700s. I’ve always wondered about this legend–didn’t they use gallows?–but it’s certainly old enough. _Really_ does freak me out, for some reason. I think it’s b/c I associate it _above the ground_ (unlike graves). ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/18 "2002-11-20T19:41:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Billdo \* > **Sorry to continue the hijack** Look out, **Lola** , this S.O.B. singlehandedly killed my **Stranahan** thread (including **Eve** ’s extremely intricate and clever Longfellow parody) making goo-goo eyes at **Gazelle**. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/19 "2002-11-20T19:44:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Billdo \* > **Interesting links, chula, but there’s one sorta big problem with them: They’re about Washington Square in Philadelphia, not Washington Square Park in New York.** :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704/20 "2002-11-20T19:47:21Z")
Independence Mall in Philadelphia has a similar situation. Its a mass grave. Not long after the AR, there was an epidemic of some sort (yellow fever?) and thousands of people died. I doubt seriously that it was contained to just Philly. Hessian blood? Ike, there were like a dozen dead Hessians from that fight. Besides, as we all well know, [Hessians are very silly people!](http://www.vondonop.org/VDpromotion.html) 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-square-park-creepy/137704.md?page=2)