Spooky: Gravestone Found During Washington Sq. Reno

(Photo: NYC Dept Of Parks and Recreation)
An interesting find the other day at Washington Square Park. A backhoe working on the renovation of the park dug up a gravestone for one James Jackson, an Irish immigrant who died in 1799 at the age of 28. Jackson was from George Street (now named Market Street) in Manhattan. Finding bones and skulls on site is not uncommon, since nearly 20,000 bodies where buried there years ago when the area served as a potters field for the indigent. What is more mysterious however is why someone who could afford a gravestone would be buried in a potters field? Anyway, if you are spending your time in the Village this Halloween, perhaps this will make your day just a bit more spooktacular!
Gravestone From 1799 Is Found In Washington Square Park (CityRoom/NY Times)