THE GHOST OF 11 BANK STREET
The biography of Elizabeth Bullock needs to start with a ghost story. Around 1956, Dr. Harvey Slatin and his wife Yeffe Kimball purchased a 4-story red brick residential building at 11 Bank Street in New York City's Greenwich Village. Dr. Slatin was an engineer who had worked on the Manhattan Project; his wife Yeffe was an accomplished Native American artist. Upon moving in, the Slatins began to hear noises coming from the upper floors. Whenever they investigated, they found nothing and came to the conclusion that their new home might have a resident spirit.
Late in 1956, the Slatins decided to renovate their building and hired a carpenter by the name of Arthur Brodie. In February 1957, while Mr. Brodie was working on a top floor ceiling, a black metal container came crashing down. A little larger than a coffee can, the container was stamped with the number ''37251'' and labeled ''The last remains of Elizabeth Bullock, deceased. Cremated January 21, 1931. The United States Crematory Company, Ltd., Middle Village, Borough of Queens, New York''. After verifying the information on the label with the United States Crematory Company, the Slatins placed the container in their living room and began to think of Elizabeth as a member of their household. She was a special guest at all their parties and the strange noises from the upper floors ceased. Newspapers and tabloids of the day began to run stories about the Slatins' discovery and Elizabeth began to be known as ''The Ghost of 11 Bank Street''. It was eventually learned that Elizabeth's husband was named Edward D. Bullock and that they lived at 115 Perry Street. Her death at age 54 was reportedly due to being struck by a car while crossing Hudson Street near her home. None of the news stories however answered the question of how her cremated remains ended up in the top floor ceiling of the Slatin house.
A writer by the name of Hans Holzer suggested to the Slatins that they try to contact Elizabeth through a medium named Ethel Meyers. On July 17, 1957, a séance was held at 11 Bank Street during which Mrs. Meyers reportedly began speaking as Elizabeth Bullock in an Irish brogue. Elizabeth (Ethel Meyers) stated she was an Irish Catholic who had married a Protestant and been ostracized by her family. Her wish was to be buried in a Catholic cemetery in ''the shade of the Cross''. The Slatins accepted the results of this séance as fact and began contacting Catholic authorities in an effort to give Elizabeth a proper burial. Since there was no proof that Elizabeth was Catholic and the Church was staunchly opposed to cremation, the Slatins’ requests were denied and Elizabeth remained in the Slatins' living room.
Finally in 1981, Dr. Slatin (now remarried after Yeffe Kimball's passing) was contacted by a Father Thomas Devereaux, from the small town of Loleta in Humbolt County, Northern California. Father Devereaux was willing to give Elizabeth a burial among the many Irish Catholics in the local St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery. Thus in 1981, Elizabeth Bullock was laid to rest in ''the shade of the Cross'' with a simple concrete grave marker that read ''Elizabeth Bullock Died 1931 - Buried 1981''.
While this is an interesting story, it leaves many questions unanswered. Who was Elizabeth Bullock and how did her remains end up in the top floor ceiling of 11 Bank Street?
BIOGRAPHY OF ELIZABETH STRUBE BULLOCK
Elizabeth Bullock was born Elizabeth ''Libbie'' Strube March 3, 1876 in Albany, NY, the third child of Christian Andreas Strube and Mary Schweiker. Elizabeth’s father Andrew was born in Benneckenbeck, Saxony, Germany. He immigrated to America at the age of 21 in 1867. Her mother Mary was born in Albany, NY to an immigrant family that originated in the Baden and Pfalz areas of Germany. Records indicate the Strube family was Protestant.
Around 1904 Elizabeth married Edward D. Bullock. Edward was born November 19, 1877 in Bellows Falls, Vermont, the second child of Frank Elmer Bullock and Joanna ''Annie'' Sullivan. As a young man, Edward moved to New York City for work. The couple settled on the west side of New York's Greenwich Village, eventually moving to 115 Perry Street. Census records show Edward worked as a bartender and waiter while Elizabeth was a waitress. They apparently never had any children.
On January 17, 1931, Elizabeth Bullock was struck by an automobile while crossing Hudson Street near her home at 115 Perry Street. She was taken to a drug store at 515 Hudson Street where she died. On January 21, 1931, Elizabeth was cremated by the United States Crematory Company in Middle Village, Queens, NY. Her ashes were presumably given to her husband Edward Bullock.
1940 Federal Census records show that Edward Bullock continued living at 115 Perry Street after Elizabeth's death. However his World War II Draft Card shows that in 1942, he had moved to 11 Bank Street, New York, NY. Edward passed away May 12, 1949 in nearby St. Vincent's Hospital. He was also cremated by the United States Crematory Company. Cremation records list his last residence as 11 Bank Street.
In conclusion, available documentation shows that Elizabeth Bullock was neither Irish nor Catholic and that her husband Edward lived at 11 Bank Street from 1942 until his death in 1949. How and why Elizabeth's ashes ended up in a top floor ceiling of that address remains a mystery.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This biography is based on publically available documentation including Federal and State Census records; birth, death and cremation records; New York City directories and numerous newspaper and magazine accounts of the time.
The biography of Elizabeth Bullock needs to start with a ghost story. Around 1956, Dr. Harvey Slatin and his wife Yeffe Kimball purchased a 4-story red brick residential building at 11 Bank Street in New York City's Greenwich Village. Dr. Slatin was an engineer who had worked on the Manhattan Project; his wife Yeffe was an accomplished Native American artist. Upon moving in, the Slatins began to hear noises coming from the upper floors. Whenever they investigated, they found nothing and came to the conclusion that their new home might have a resident spirit.
Late in 1956, the Slatins decided to renovate their building and hired a carpenter by the name of Arthur Brodie. In February 1957, while Mr. Brodie was working on a top floor ceiling, a black metal container came crashing down. A little larger than a coffee can, the container was stamped with the number ''37251'' and labeled ''The last remains of Elizabeth Bullock, deceased. Cremated January 21, 1931. The United States Crematory Company, Ltd., Middle Village, Borough of Queens, New York''. After verifying the information on the label with the United States Crematory Company, the Slatins placed the container in their living room and began to think of Elizabeth as a member of their household. She was a special guest at all their parties and the strange noises from the upper floors ceased. Newspapers and tabloids of the day began to run stories about the Slatins' discovery and Elizabeth began to be known as ''The Ghost of 11 Bank Street''. It was eventually learned that Elizabeth's husband was named Edward D. Bullock and that they lived at 115 Perry Street. Her death at age 54 was reportedly due to being struck by a car while crossing Hudson Street near her home. None of the news stories however answered the question of how her cremated remains ended up in the top floor ceiling of the Slatin house.
A writer by the name of Hans Holzer suggested to the Slatins that they try to contact Elizabeth through a medium named Ethel Meyers. On July 17, 1957, a séance was held at 11 Bank Street during which Mrs. Meyers reportedly began speaking as Elizabeth Bullock in an Irish brogue. Elizabeth (Ethel Meyers) stated she was an Irish Catholic who had married a Protestant and been ostracized by her family. Her wish was to be buried in a Catholic cemetery in ''the shade of the Cross''. The Slatins accepted the results of this séance as fact and began contacting Catholic authorities in an effort to give Elizabeth a proper burial. Since there was no proof that Elizabeth was Catholic and the Church was staunchly opposed to cremation, the Slatins’ requests were denied and Elizabeth remained in the Slatins' living room.
Finally in 1981, Dr. Slatin (now remarried after Yeffe Kimball's passing) was contacted by a Father Thomas Devereaux, from the small town of Loleta in Humbolt County, Northern California. Father Devereaux was willing to give Elizabeth a burial among the many Irish Catholics in the local St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery. Thus in 1981, Elizabeth Bullock was laid to rest in ''the shade of the Cross'' with a simple concrete grave marker that read ''Elizabeth Bullock Died 1931 - Buried 1981''.
While this is an interesting story, it leaves many questions unanswered. Who was Elizabeth Bullock and how did her remains end up in the top floor ceiling of 11 Bank Street?
BIOGRAPHY OF ELIZABETH STRUBE BULLOCK
Elizabeth Bullock was born Elizabeth ''Libbie'' Strube March 3, 1876 in Albany, NY, the third child of Christian Andreas Strube and Mary Schweiker. Elizabeth’s father Andrew was born in Benneckenbeck, Saxony, Germany. He immigrated to America at the age of 21 in 1867. Her mother Mary was born in Albany, NY to an immigrant family that originated in the Baden and Pfalz areas of Germany. Records indicate the Strube family was Protestant.
Around 1904 Elizabeth married Edward D. Bullock. Edward was born November 19, 1877 in Bellows Falls, Vermont, the second child of Frank Elmer Bullock and Joanna ''Annie'' Sullivan. As a young man, Edward moved to New York City for work. The couple settled on the west side of New York's Greenwich Village, eventually moving to 115 Perry Street. Census records show Edward worked as a bartender and waiter while Elizabeth was a waitress. They apparently never had any children.
On January 17, 1931, Elizabeth Bullock was struck by an automobile while crossing Hudson Street near her home at 115 Perry Street. She was taken to a drug store at 515 Hudson Street where she died. On January 21, 1931, Elizabeth was cremated by the United States Crematory Company in Middle Village, Queens, NY. Her ashes were presumably given to her husband Edward Bullock.
1940 Federal Census records show that Edward Bullock continued living at 115 Perry Street after Elizabeth's death. However his World War II Draft Card shows that in 1942, he had moved to 11 Bank Street, New York, NY. Edward passed away May 12, 1949 in nearby St. Vincent's Hospital. He was also cremated by the United States Crematory Company. Cremation records list his last residence as 11 Bank Street.
In conclusion, available documentation shows that Elizabeth Bullock was neither Irish nor Catholic and that her husband Edward lived at 11 Bank Street from 1942 until his death in 1949. How and why Elizabeth's ashes ended up in a top floor ceiling of that address remains a mystery.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This biography is based on publically available documentation including Federal and State Census records; birth, death and cremation records; New York City directories and numerous newspaper and magazine accounts of the time.
THE GHOST OF 11 BANK STREET
The biography of Elizabeth Bullock needs to start with a ghost story. Around 1956, Dr. Harvey Slatin and his wife Yeffe Kimball purchased a 4-story red brick residential building at 11 Bank Street in New York City's Greenwich Village. Dr. Slatin was an engineer who had worked on the Manhattan Project; his wife Yeffe was an accomplished Native American artist. Upon moving in, the Slatins began to hear noises coming from the upper floors. Whenever they investigated, they found nothing and came to the conclusion that their new home might have a resident spirit.
Late in 1956, the Slatins decided to renovate their building and hired a carpenter by the name of Arthur Brodie. In February 1957, while Mr. Brodie was working on a top floor ceiling, a black metal container came crashing down. A little larger than a coffee can, the container was stamped with the number ''37251'' and labeled ''The last remains of Elizabeth Bullock, deceased. Cremated January 21, 1931. The United States Crematory Company, Ltd., Middle Village, Borough of Queens, New York''. After verifying the information on the label with the United States Crematory Company, the Slatins placed the container in their living room and began to think of Elizabeth as a member of their household. She was a special guest at all their parties and the strange noises from the upper floors ceased. Newspapers and tabloids of the day began to run stories about the Slatins' discovery and Elizabeth began to be known as ''The Ghost of 11 Bank Street''. It was eventually learned that Elizabeth's husband was named Edward D. Bullock and that they lived at 115 Perry Street. Her death at age 54 was reportedly due to being struck by a car while crossing Hudson Street near her home. None of the news stories however answered the question of how her cremated remains ended up in the top floor ceiling of the Slatin house.
A writer by the name of Hans Holzer suggested to the Slatins that they try to contact Elizabeth through a medium named Ethel Meyers. On July 17, 1957, a séance was held at 11 Bank Street during which Mrs. Meyers reportedly began speaking as Elizabeth Bullock in an Irish brogue. Elizabeth (Ethel Meyers) stated she was an Irish Catholic who had married a Protestant and been ostracized by her family. Her wish was to be buried in a Catholic cemetery in ''the shade of the Cross''. The Slatins accepted the results of this séance as fact and began contacting Catholic authorities in an effort to give Elizabeth a proper burial. Since there was no proof that Elizabeth was Catholic and the Church was staunchly opposed to cremation, the Slatins’ requests were denied and Elizabeth remained in the Slatins' living room.
Finally in 1981, Dr. Slatin (now remarried after Yeffe Kimball's passing) was contacted by a Father Thomas Devereaux, from the small town of Loleta in Humbolt County, Northern California. Father Devereaux was willing to give Elizabeth a burial among the many Irish Catholics in the local St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery. Thus in 1981, Elizabeth Bullock was laid to rest in ''the shade of the Cross'' with a simple concrete grave marker that read ''Elizabeth Bullock Died 1931 - Buried 1981''.
While this is an interesting story, it leaves many questions unanswered. Who was Elizabeth Bullock and how did her remains end up in the top floor ceiling of 11 Bank Street?
BIOGRAPHY OF ELIZABETH STRUBE BULLOCK
Elizabeth Bullock was born Elizabeth ''Libbie'' Strube March 3, 1876 in Albany, NY, the third child of Christian Andreas Strube and Mary Schweiker. Elizabeth’s father Andrew was born in Benneckenbeck, Saxony, Germany. He immigrated to America at the age of 21 in 1867. Her mother Mary was born in Albany, NY to an immigrant family that originated in the Baden and Pfalz areas of Germany. Records indicate the Strube family was Protestant.
Around 1904 Elizabeth married Edward D. Bullock. Edward was born November 19, 1877 in Bellows Falls, Vermont, the second child of Frank Elmer Bullock and Joanna ''Annie'' Sullivan. As a young man, Edward moved to New York City for work. The couple settled on the west side of New York's Greenwich Village, eventually moving to 115 Perry Street. Census records show Edward worked as a bartender and waiter while Elizabeth was a waitress. They apparently never had any children.
On January 17, 1931, Elizabeth Bullock was struck by an automobile while crossing Hudson Street near her home at 115 Perry Street. She was taken to a drug store at 515 Hudson Street where she died. On January 21, 1931, Elizabeth was cremated by the United States Crematory Company in Middle Village, Queens, NY. Her ashes were presumably given to her husband Edward Bullock.
1940 Federal Census records show that Edward Bullock continued living at 115 Perry Street after Elizabeth's death. However his World War II Draft Card shows that in 1942, he had moved to 11 Bank Street, New York, NY. Edward passed away May 12, 1949 in nearby St. Vincent's Hospital. He was also cremated by the United States Crematory Company. Cremation records list his last residence as 11 Bank Street.
In conclusion, available documentation shows that Elizabeth Bullock was neither Irish nor Catholic and that her husband Edward lived at 11 Bank Street from 1942 until his death in 1949. How and why Elizabeth's ashes ended up in a top floor ceiling of that address remains a mystery.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This biography is based on publically available documentation including Federal and State Census records; birth, death and cremation records; New York City directories and numerous newspaper and magazine accounts of the time.
The biography of Elizabeth Bullock needs to start with a ghost story. Around 1956, Dr. Harvey Slatin and his wife Yeffe Kimball purchased a 4-story red brick residential building at 11 Bank Street in New York City's Greenwich Village. Dr. Slatin was an engineer who had worked on the Manhattan Project; his wife Yeffe was an accomplished Native American artist. Upon moving in, the Slatins began to hear noises coming from the upper floors. Whenever they investigated, they found nothing and came to the conclusion that their new home might have a resident spirit.
Late in 1956, the Slatins decided to renovate their building and hired a carpenter by the name of Arthur Brodie. In February 1957, while Mr. Brodie was working on a top floor ceiling, a black metal container came crashing down. A little larger than a coffee can, the container was stamped with the number ''37251'' and labeled ''The last remains of Elizabeth Bullock, deceased. Cremated January 21, 1931. The United States Crematory Company, Ltd., Middle Village, Borough of Queens, New York''. After verifying the information on the label with the United States Crematory Company, the Slatins placed the container in their living room and began to think of Elizabeth as a member of their household. She was a special guest at all their parties and the strange noises from the upper floors ceased. Newspapers and tabloids of the day began to run stories about the Slatins' discovery and Elizabeth began to be known as ''The Ghost of 11 Bank Street''. It was eventually learned that Elizabeth's husband was named Edward D. Bullock and that they lived at 115 Perry Street. Her death at age 54 was reportedly due to being struck by a car while crossing Hudson Street near her home. None of the news stories however answered the question of how her cremated remains ended up in the top floor ceiling of the Slatin house.
A writer by the name of Hans Holzer suggested to the Slatins that they try to contact Elizabeth through a medium named Ethel Meyers. On July 17, 1957, a séance was held at 11 Bank Street during which Mrs. Meyers reportedly began speaking as Elizabeth Bullock in an Irish brogue. Elizabeth (Ethel Meyers) stated she was an Irish Catholic who had married a Protestant and been ostracized by her family. Her wish was to be buried in a Catholic cemetery in ''the shade of the Cross''. The Slatins accepted the results of this séance as fact and began contacting Catholic authorities in an effort to give Elizabeth a proper burial. Since there was no proof that Elizabeth was Catholic and the Church was staunchly opposed to cremation, the Slatins’ requests were denied and Elizabeth remained in the Slatins' living room.
Finally in 1981, Dr. Slatin (now remarried after Yeffe Kimball's passing) was contacted by a Father Thomas Devereaux, from the small town of Loleta in Humbolt County, Northern California. Father Devereaux was willing to give Elizabeth a burial among the many Irish Catholics in the local St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery. Thus in 1981, Elizabeth Bullock was laid to rest in ''the shade of the Cross'' with a simple concrete grave marker that read ''Elizabeth Bullock Died 1931 - Buried 1981''.
While this is an interesting story, it leaves many questions unanswered. Who was Elizabeth Bullock and how did her remains end up in the top floor ceiling of 11 Bank Street?
BIOGRAPHY OF ELIZABETH STRUBE BULLOCK
Elizabeth Bullock was born Elizabeth ''Libbie'' Strube March 3, 1876 in Albany, NY, the third child of Christian Andreas Strube and Mary Schweiker. Elizabeth’s father Andrew was born in Benneckenbeck, Saxony, Germany. He immigrated to America at the age of 21 in 1867. Her mother Mary was born in Albany, NY to an immigrant family that originated in the Baden and Pfalz areas of Germany. Records indicate the Strube family was Protestant.
Around 1904 Elizabeth married Edward D. Bullock. Edward was born November 19, 1877 in Bellows Falls, Vermont, the second child of Frank Elmer Bullock and Joanna ''Annie'' Sullivan. As a young man, Edward moved to New York City for work. The couple settled on the west side of New York's Greenwich Village, eventually moving to 115 Perry Street. Census records show Edward worked as a bartender and waiter while Elizabeth was a waitress. They apparently never had any children.
On January 17, 1931, Elizabeth Bullock was struck by an automobile while crossing Hudson Street near her home at 115 Perry Street. She was taken to a drug store at 515 Hudson Street where she died. On January 21, 1931, Elizabeth was cremated by the United States Crematory Company in Middle Village, Queens, NY. Her ashes were presumably given to her husband Edward Bullock.
1940 Federal Census records show that Edward Bullock continued living at 115 Perry Street after Elizabeth's death. However his World War II Draft Card shows that in 1942, he had moved to 11 Bank Street, New York, NY. Edward passed away May 12, 1949 in nearby St. Vincent's Hospital. He was also cremated by the United States Crematory Company. Cremation records list his last residence as 11 Bank Street.
In conclusion, available documentation shows that Elizabeth Bullock was neither Irish nor Catholic and that her husband Edward lived at 11 Bank Street from 1942 until his death in 1949. How and why Elizabeth's ashes ended up in a top floor ceiling of that address remains a mystery.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This biography is based on publically available documentation including Federal and State Census records; birth, death and cremation records; New York City directories and numerous newspaper and magazine accounts of the time.
Inscription
ELIZABETH BULLOCK
DIED 1931 - BURIED 1981
Gravesite Details
Inscription is hand inscribed on a concrete ground marker.
