The Reckoning of the Piermont Ghost

“If ghosts were as plentiful in fact as they are in newspaper columns white-robed shapes and people who can be seen through would be almost as numerous as stray cats. It is astonishing what a quantity of ghost stories are in circula­tion among the journals of the country.”

-White Plains Eastern State Journal, April 23, 1887

Five miles from Sleepy Hollow as the raven flies, or ten by highway, lies a stretch of road where the Piermont ghost had the time of its afterlife in March of 1887, terrorizing residents of the villages of Sparkill and Piermont. Unlike the shy specters hiding in attics, this ghost was the social butterfly of the spirit world, making regular appearances and impressing locals with its towering 8-foot frame, bulletproof aura, and ninja-like stealth—more than a match for man or beast. We cover a lot of reported ghost sightings in these pages but this one stands out for the number of people willing to go on record with their encounters with ghost.

Let’s return for a moment to our introductory quote from the Eastern State Journal in which it lamented the sheer number of ghost stories floating around the newspapers of the day. After feigned outrage, the paper gleefully compiled seven ghostly sightings from around the U.S. and one from England, including the Piermont ghost. None of the other six were as dedicated to their craft—or their haunting schedule—as the one at Piermont. Described as tall, pale, and quieter than a mime convention, the Piermont ghost appeared between 11 pm and 2 am, like clockwork.

“Those who have been scared declare that it is fully eight feet in height, pale as the driven snow, and as noiseless as death. It makes its appearance between the hours of eleven at night and two in the morning.”

-White Plains Eastern State Journal, April 23, 1887

Not only did the Piermont ghost keep regular hours, it maintained an unusually public presence along a a busy half mile stretch of road from Haddock’s Hall to David Kipp’s store at the Erie Railroad grade crossing in nearby Sparkill. Haddock’s Hall, today a private residence, was at the time Piermont’s Village Hall, library, music hall, and a general store, according to the Piermont Historical Society.

Showdown at Piermont

By March 20, 1887 The New York Times had picked up the story of the Piermont ghost. Under the headline BULLETS ARE RECEIVED BY THE SPECTRE WITH GHOULISH GLEE the newspaper reported, “Several attempts have been made to capture the object which has frightened the people, but without success, and the other night one of Piermont’s best and most reliable citi­zens fired several pistol shots at the ghost, but the ghost was not injured.” Imagine the surprise of the reliable citizen when he realized he brought a pea shooter to a paranormal showdown.

A different “sober, staid, and reliable citizen” said to the Times’s correspondent “The people of the outside world may think we are acting like a lot of fools, but there is something very mysterious in this whole matter. Of course, I don’t want to believe in ghosts, but if there ever was such a thing in this world as a real spook, the object seen in this place is one. Why, the people living along the road from Haddock’s Hall to Sparkill are nearly frightened out of their wits, and there is no telling where this thing will stop. If it is some man trying to play a joke on the people, he must have an ironclad hide and the wings of the wind, for pistol shots do not affect him, and no one can get near him.”

Counsellor Gowdey Meets the Piermont Ghost

Not about to be upstaged by a New York paper, the Rockland County Journal launched an investigation of the ghostly appearances. After interviewing prominent local citizens it published the results in its March 26, 1887 edition. Lawyer William E. Gowdey, who might have missed his calling as a ghostbuster, was thrilled to go on record with his spectral adventures. Perhaps a little too willing.

Just a few nights before he was interviewed by a reporter, Gowdey allegedly got within three or four feet of the apparition. “I have had considerable experience in the line, and the happiest moments of my life are when I can go at midnight into a cemetery and walk around in the place where ghosts are supposed to be raised. This Sparkill ghost is a genuine spook; I know whereof I speak, for I have seen it.”

Noticing the reporter’s skepticism, Gowdey attempted to dispel any doubts, “You needn’t look at me so suspiciously for I am a temperance man and have not taken anything.” No liquid courage involved here!

In its March 20, 1887 edition, The New York Times touched on Gowdey’s concern over accusations of booze-induced visions. The Times wrote “When his ghostship was first seen it was claimed by nearly every one in the community that the few who saw him has mixed too much Piermont beer with Sparkill whisky. But now the scare had assumed a different phase, and the ghost is seen by Prohibitionists and members of the various Piermont churches.”

Justice Slocum’s Serious Search

Moving from lawyer to judge, the reporter turned his attention next to Justice Slocum. The honorable Slocum declined to give his opinion to the Rockland County Journal. However he had the appearance of grave seriousness about him when the reporter approached. Justice Slocum, taking a break from judging the living, was later observed taking a solemn stroll down the stretch of road where the Piermont ghost was known to lie in wait. The Rockland County Journal hinted he was on a covert ghost hunt, searching for evidence of the apparition. Although the newspaper promised to follow up on the progress of the judge’s investigations at a later date, it left readers in suspense like a good ghost story should.

The Piermont Ghost Walks no More

Alas, the ghostly antics came to a screeching halt one fateful Thursday night in late March. A local hero, who preferred anonymity (because, who wouldn’t?), faced off with the Piermont ghost near the stone bridge at Sparkill. The New York Times reported, “The man picked up a good-sized stone and hurled it at the object, striking him a pretty hard blow. The spook became angered and clinched with the man. The gentleman proved too muscular, however, for the spectre, and grasped it by the throat. The ghost, in a human voice, begged for mercy.”

After losing the heated wrestling match, the ghost—revealed as a mere mortal—agreed to terms. The deal? Our hero, magnanimous in victory, promised to keep quiet if the ghost retired from its haunting escapades.

The Rockland County Journal summed up, “Our friend promised not to tell who he was, providing he never attempted to do this ghost business again. The person who practiced this work is well known by all in Piermont and Sparkill. We think this will end the ghost business, and it is time, as had not it ended as it did, the people proposed to take steps to fathom the case and end it right on the spot.”

Got another spooky tale? Shoot us an email at ghost.editor@sleepyhollowcountry.com.