Fire Patrol closed, congrats mayor, you even made a ghost homeless, 84 West 3rd Street

This is across the street from what 'was' the Poe House,  part of historic New York,  New York University destroyed in the name of progress.  (Go to the blog search engine and type in St. Ann's Church to see NYU's latest destruction of a historic site in the name of higher education.)

After 9-11 the mayor closed our firehouses which for me were "living" functional memorials and I had a letter published in The New York Times that stated closing the firehouses after 9-11 is tantamount to saying you don't have money to fly the troops back from Iraq.  I also do not understand how the mayor could close firehouses when he pushed this tsunami of mega development which means a higher population so you would think he would want to keep these living memorials open and have more firehouses.

You can see the memorial sign for  Patrolman Keith Roma who died Sept. 11, 2001.

This breath taking building from 1906, is also known for being the home of the ghost of Patrolman Schwartz.   I had this info in a book which  I had to throw the  out.  I was under duress and I threw out as many books as I could after carrying out about 25 years and hundreds of pounds (who needs a gym)  worth of books that I sold or gave away.  Sad but I remember he was broken hearted....anyway his ghost found solace in this stunning old house and mayor Bloomberg made even a ghost homeless although many just say anyone who is not rich is unwelcome in Manhattan thanks to the Bloomberg administration.  It is for you to decide.

I really question my move and my desire to stay so close -- more and more I question why not move out of New York all together...but for now I stay...I just have not adjusted to this "new New York" post 9-11 that is hideous and built on "old" New York's dilapidated infrastructure.

I found this FYI from The New York Times from 1999 and since entire buildings, neighborhoods and people disappear I decided to copy and paste this....

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By MICHAEL GOLDMAN
Published: February 14, 1999

Firehouse Apparition
Q. I've read of a haunted firehouse in the West Village. What's the story?


A. If you're referring to the firehouse at 84 West Third Street, it's actually Fire Patrol House 2. The Fire Patrol, established in 1839 by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, resembles the city's Fire Department. But the Fire Patrol is primarily responsible for protecting property in commercial buildings, not fighting fires. The West Third Street house was built in 1906, across the street from where Edgar Allen Poe wrote ''The Raven,'' and is one of the last three patrol houses in the city.

As for the ghost, ''that's Patrolman Schwartz,'' said Bill Tobin, 62, the patrol's oldest member and keeper of its lore. Mr. Tobin said Patrolman Schwartz worked in the house in the 1930's. He is said to have hanged himself from a sturdy rafter at the top of the four-story building after learning of his wife's infidelity. A psychic who ''read'' the building explained that the patrolman's ghost has remained in the building since, searching desperately for ''something left behind,'' Mr. Tobin said.

Several patrolmen have reported encounters in which the apparition, dressed in a firefighting uniform of the 30's, appears and disappears suddenly, moves objects and even taps the patrolmen on the hands as they walk down the building's narrow, winding metal staircase.

Some, including the commander, Capt. Walter Reimuller, don't buy the ghost story. As Mr. Tobin took a drag on a cigarette that was more filter than tobacco, he prepared an answer to the skeptics. ''You'll see him one day,'' he said. ''He'll touch you.''