Video: The Ghost of Henry Ward Beecher Is In Brooklyn

Henry Ward Beecher, the prominent abolitionist and first pastor of Plymouth Church, is rumored to haunt the Brooklyn Heights landmark. Local interest in Beecher’s spirit stems from his involvement in a high-profile 1870s scandal where he was accused of having an affair with Elizabeth Tilton, the wife of his friend Theodore Tilton. The ensuing adultery trial ended in a hung jury and left a permanent mark on the clergyman's legacy.

According to Andrea Janes of Boroughs of the Dead, historical accounts of the haunting date back to the early 20th century. One early report from Everybody's Magazine claimed Beecher’s ghost appeared to a friend to complain about an unreturned coin known as "the widow's mite." Today, Beecher’s memory remains a fixture of the neighborhood, represented by two statues located near the church where he served from 1847 until his death.

Summary by Dispatch AI — read the full story at Gothamist.