Dead and Living in New York City

One of the most haunted buildings in New York City is located at Central Park West and 72nd Street. It is a well-known building named The Dakota and it was the home of former Beatle John Lennon. During his lifetime Lennon saw a UFO from the window of his apartment and in the long hallways the apparition of a woman he called "Crying Lady Ghost." Unfortunately, Lennon's spirit has joined this lady after his tragic murder outside of The Dakota.

The Dakota is just the right building to have fascinated The Ghostbusters and has amazed experts of the paranormal. The head of the Singer Sewing Machine Company Edward Clark built it between 1880 and 1884. During this time The Dakota was in a very remote part of New York City and there were no other buildings around. The architectural style is a mixture of French, English Victorian, Renaissance, and German Gothic. Like something out of some fantasy, the building includes high gables, terracotta features, exotic decor, and gargoyles. There are 65 co-op apartments with no two exactly alike. Since Clark was interested in the Western territories he named his creation The Dakota.

The Ghosts of The Dakota

In the 1960s the stories of haunting began. While the building was under construction workers saw a young man appear who had the face of a young boy. There was the apparition of a little girl in old-fashioned clothing. She would appear frequently and smile at people and greet them. This friendly spirit had long blond hair and bounced a ball.

Judy Holliday’s Apartment

The American actress, comedian, and singer Judy Holliday lived in The Dakota. When she died in 1965 the Smiths bought her apartment. They hired three men to repaint the apartment and varnish the woodwork. One day the workers felt as if they were being watched. One of them saw the ghost of a boy who looked to be about ten years old. He was dressed in a Buster Brown suit, the style of the early 1900s. The apparition was accompanied by a musty odor. While one of the workers was doing some painting in a large closet the door slammed shut and the light went out. He groped his way down the ladder, propped the door open, and turned the light back on. At that moment something grabbed his arm and put it against the light bulb.

Apartment on the Third Floor

A couple named Frederick and Suzanne Weinstein kept hearing footsteps and other noises in their apartment. In their dining room rugs and chairs moved on their own. Then one day coming home Weinstein saw a large glowing chandelier through his living room window even though no chandelier had been there. He figured his wife had one installed as a surprise but when he got into the apartment there was no chandelier in his living room.

In the Basement

Down in the basement a porter saw a heavy snow shovel fly off the wall and nearly hit him. He summoned tenant Wilbur Ross to the cellar and showed him garbage that was strewn all about and said that the bags had moved on their own. Ross was skeptical until suddenly a metal bar flew across the room and landed by his feet. When he tried to pick it up it was much too heavy.

Other tenants have also had strange experiences down in the basement. An electrician working there saw the apparition of a short, long-nosed man with a beard, no mustache, wire-framed glasses, and a wig. He was wearing a frock coat and a high hat. Others have also seen him and his description fits that of the builder Edward Clark. You would think that after erecting such an incredible building as The Dakota you would want to stay around even after death.

John Lennon

Joey Harrow, a musician living in the building said he saw Lennon’s ghost in The Dakota entrance doorway in 1983. It was the spot where he had been shot three years ago. The musician said that he was surrounded by an eerie kind of light. At the time of the sighting writer Amanda Moores was with him and she confirmed it. She said she wanted to go up to him and say something but the way he looked at her said, “No”.

Other witnesses have also seen Lennon and even his wife Yoko Ono has said that she has seen him sitting at his white piano. At that time he turned to her and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am still with you”. According to some Spiritualists Lennon’s spirit lingered on Earth for a little while and then a group of spirit guides helped him adjust to the world beyond. There are mediums who have received messages from him and he periodically visits The Dakota.

Amazing Facts about The Dakota

The late 19th-century building is known as Manhattan’s most mysterious and exclusive residence.

Ghost sightings in the building have been going on for years.

The building has no fire escapes. Architect Henry J. Hardenbergh slathered mud from Central Park between the layers of brick flooring to fireproof and soundproof it.

Original doors and fireplace mantels cannot be thrown away by residents. If residents don’t want these items there is a special storage area to put them.

The original owner’s former apartment has sterling silver floors.

Edward Clark commissioned The Dakota as a one million dollar apartment building for 60 families, including his own but died in 1882, two years before the building was completed.

Since 1884 the rich and famous have been eager to live in The Dakota. One of the first residents was The Steinway family, of Steinway piano fame. Actress Lauren Bacall had a nine-room apartment for 53 years and it was recently sold for $23.5 million. Other famous residents have been author Harlan Coben, U2’s Bono, Rex Reed, Jack Palance, Lillian Gish, Boris Karloff, Rosemary Clooney, Connie Chung and Maury Povich.

The Dakota had zero vacancies for 45 years after it was opened.

To become a resident years of financial statements and tax documents must be submitted, you must undergo a background check and pay a fee of more than $1,000. Once an applicant goes through this process the co-op board can still deny them.

Lots of notable celebrities have been rejected by The Dakota co-op board among them Cher and Billy Joel and others.

One unusually odd ten-room apartment has been up for sale for eight years.

There is a rumor going around that $30,000 is buried under the floor of the Lennon and Ono apartment. In 1996 author Stephen Birmingham wrote “Life at The Dakota”. In the book, he says that the previous resident hid the money under the master bedroom floor but the board refuses to destroy the floor to solve the mystery.

The boilers in the building could heat every structure in a four-block radius and there is an in-house power plant.

The former apartment of Leonard Bernstein was the most expensive sale. Located on the second floor the apartment has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a library, a dining room, a wood fireplace, kitchen and breakfast areas, and views of Central Park. Listed at $25.5 million it sold for $21 million.

New York City is my hometown and if I ever had the chance to live there again I would love to have an apartment at The Dakota. Of course, I would have to strike it rich or my ship would have to come in at New York Harbor. Perhaps the co-op board would understand that my heart belongs to this city and would be kind enough to let me live there. I would love to end my days living among the celebrities, ghostly residents, and other interesting people at this building and perhaps get a chance to hear Lennon play and sing at his white piano as I gaze at the beauty of Central Park in any season.