1 Laveta Pl, Nyack, NY, 10960 $1,795,000
HAUNTED HOUSE FOR SALE
Here is a haunted house for sale. In the 1991 landmark case known as the Ghostbuster ruling, the New York Supreme Court ruled that 1 Laveta Place was “legally haunted.” The Stambovsky vs Ackley lawsuit is such a landmark case that it is widely printed in textbooks and taught in US law schools.
As the story goes, the previous owners, the Ackley family, lived in the home knowing that there was paranormal activity for over 20 years before they put the house on the market in 1989.
According to Wikipedia:
The house had been vacant and was in disrepair when the Ackleys moved into the waterfront home in the 1960s. Local children purportedly warned them that the house was haunted, though no prior paranormal incidents appear to have been published. Helen Ackley claimed there were at least three ghosts in the residence. She described two as a married couple who lived in the 18th century, and the other as a Navy Lieutenant in the American Revolution. In 1993 she was contacted by paranormal researcher Bill Merrill, and medium Glenn Johnson who claimed to have already made contact with two of the spirits at 1 LaVeta Place. The pair met with Helen and disclosed that the couple were likely the poltergeists of Sir George and Lady Margaret who lived in the region in the 18th century. In 1995 Merrill and Johnson published a book about their findings entitled Sir George, The Ghost of Nyack (Deer Publishing, Beaverton, Oregon) – still available on Amazon.
- Helen claimed to have seen Sir George:
sitting in midair, watching me paint the ceiling in the living room, rocking back and forth… I was on an 8-foot stepladder. I asked if he approved of what we were doing to the house, if the colors were to his liking. He smiled and he nodded his head.
- Helen’s daughter, Cynthia, when she was a child, reportedly would be woken most mornings by one of the spirits shaking her bed. When Cynthia was out of school for spring break she announced loudly before going to bed that she did not have school in the morning and would like to sleep in. The next morning she was not awoken by a shaking bed.[1]
- Helen reported to neighbors that they heard phantom footsteps and slamming doors.
- Helen’s grandchildren allegedly received trinkets, such as rings, from the ghosts. These trinkets would later vanish.
- Helen’s daughter-in-law was gifted disappearing coins in the same manner, and Cynthia as an adult, claimed to receive silver sugar tongs.
- Helen claimed that her son came “eyeball-to-eyeball” with the figure of the Revolutionary Navy Lieutenant.
- Mark Kavanagh lived in the home briefly while engaged to Cynthia, he purported hearing conversation from a vacant room
So during the course of her ownership of the property at issue, Helen Ackley and members of her family had reported the existence of numerous poltergeists in the house. She had reported the existence of ghosts in the house to both “Reader’s Digest” and a local newspaper on three occasions between 1977 and 1989, when the house was included on a five-home walking tour of the city. She recounted to the press several instances in which the poltergeists interacted directly with members of her family.
Neither Helen Ackley nor her real estate broker, Ellis Realty, revealed the haunting to Jeffrey Stambovsky before he entered a contract to purchase the house in 1989. Stambovsky made a $32,500 downpayment on the agreed price of $650,000 for the house. Stambovsky was from New York City and was not aware of the folklore of Nyack, including the widely known haunting story.
When Stambovsky learned of the haunting story, he filed an action requesting rescission of the contract of sale and for damages for fraudulent misrepresentation by Ackley and Ellis Realty. Stambovsky did not attend the closing which caused him to forfeit the downpayment (although he was then not obligated to buy the house). A New York Supreme Court (trial court) dismissed the action, and Stambovsky appealed.
The law eventually ruled in Stambovsky’s favor. Despite all the bad press, the house subsequently has had quite a few owners, including the singer Ingrid Michaelson and the rapper, Matisyahu. None have reported ghosts, and Helen Ackley has said that she took the ghosts with her when she moved. The grand home is now back on the market for $1,795,000.
Side Note: The exterior of the home was painted red before its present light blue color.
REALTOR COMMENTS
Queen Anne Victorian Home For Sale! Hudson River front Queen Anne circa 1890; location for one of Edward Hoppers paintings. This perfectly restored classic is located on one of Nyack’s prettiest tree lined dead end streets. Previously home to the award winning film director Adam Brooks, indie singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, and now home to the singer rapper Matisyahu, the beautiful space and soft river light form a perfect sanctuary to nurture the creative spirit. River views from almost every room foster an unparalleled connection to the river in this spacious yet intimate home. Fully renovated home complements the style and was crafted by a top builder. The spa-like master bath features a hand crafted copper soaking tub. An in-ground salt water spa pool overlooks the river. The 2 car garage was recently built and has space for a workshop. Period details include arched doorways, stained glass, exposed brick, original mantles, inlaid h/d floors and a wide wrap around porch. Riparian rights. Walk to Village of Nyack.