Andrea Janes gives ghost tours as a part of Boroughs of the Dead.
Photo: Andrea Janes/Boroughs of the Dead
This weekend, Boroughs of the Dead will be hosting a walking tour telling the stories of female ghosts in Greenwich Village.
Led by author and de facto ghost historian Andrea Janes, the 90-minute tour tells stories of historical women who are believed to haunt the area like Gertrude Tredwell, who is said to haunt the Merchant’s House Museum in NoHo, or Theodosia Burr, the daughter of founding father Aaron Burr.
Janes has been giving ghost tours since 2011, but feels particularly connected to women’s ghost stories. Similarly, she finds that her audience is primarily women — which she attributes to the idea that “we get murdered a lot.”
“We live in a state of constant vulnerability. So by exploring those parts of life that are scary and that are dark, it’s cathartic,” Janes said. “It helps us to metabolize all of the grief and the tragedy and the fear and the violence we live with all the time.”
Andrea Janes gives ghost tours as a part of Boroughs of the Dead.Photo: Andrea Janes/Boroughs of the Dead
Nearly 70% of Janes’ business is done in October (perhaps the spookiest month), but she said she looks to find ways to create tours surrounding other holidays. March is Women’s History Month, so people are generally more interested in the women-centered ghost tours, Janes said.
Boroughs of the Dead hosts tours all around New York City, including in Roosevelt Island about the Titanic, but this one is specifically located in Greenwich Village. Janes said it just worked out that way, given that there was a concentration of female ghost stories in the area.
For example, stories can be told about 20th century author Jan Bryant Bartell, who lived at 14 W. 10th Street — a mansion nicknamed the “House of Death.” Another example includes a historical aspect of Washington Square Park — where then-slave Rose Butler is believed to have been the only public execution on the property after being convicted of arson.
Andrea Janes gives ghost tours as a part of Boroughs of the Dead.
Janes believes what sets her tours apart is a focus on historical accuracy and nuance. She’s written two books on ghost stories, including one focused on American female ghosts. Her own research begins with a secondary source and works backwards to find primary sources, like property deeds to prove a certain individual actually lived at a certain place.
“They’re very interesting because they’re half history, half folklore,” Janes said. “You have this subjective account that you’re going to take on faith.”
Janes said that she personally found a lot of ghost tours exploitative, especially of female ghost stories — such as referring to women who were likely abused as “mistresses.” She hopes her tour leaves guests with a sense of empowerment, and knowledge of individual stories, so the women won’t be forgotten.
“They were real people,” Janes said. “They deserve to be remembered respectfully, and not a sort of pawn in somebody’s money making scheme to sell tourists a fun experience. It’s not a haunted house.”
Those who are interested in Janes’ tours can check out bookings here. The Ghostly Women of Greenwich Village tour is only offered once this month on March 28, but might return in September, depending on demand.