The Nyack Haunted House

This Victorian home in Nyack, Rockland County, holds the unique distinction of being legally declared haunted by the New York Supreme Court in 1991. When Jeffrey Stambovsky purchased the home, he was unaware of its haunted reputation that previous owner Helen Ackley had publicly discussed. He sued, and the court ruled the home was "haunted as a matter of law" - the only such ruling in American history.

Helen Ackley claimed the house was haunted by Revolutionary War-era poltergeists. She reported ghosts shaking the beds in the master bedroom every morning, footsteps in the attic, and doors opening and closing on their own. Gifts left by the spirits appeared throughout the house. After the court case, the home gained national attention. Subsequent owners have reported continued activity including cold spots, disembodied voices, and objects moving. The Revolutionary War spirits seem benign, more interested in maintaining their residence than frightening occupants. The legal ruling ensured the haunting became permanently part of the property's disclosure.