Prospect Park's Wandering Spirits Bemoan Gig Economy

Haunting Prospect Park is not what it used to be, according to members of the Prospect Park Alliance of the Dead.

"It's hard to find a good haunting post these days," said Leah Smallwood, Alliance Vice-President, who had been crushed by the wheels of a carriage outside of the Litchfield Villa in the 1893 and now generally wanders the Picnic House area. "And when you do find a gig, half the time people are just asking us to do it for it for the 'exposure.' I've been doing this for more than one-hundred and twenty years—do you think I need exposure?"

"Right now I'm doing this for free," she said, causing a park lamp to flicker on a foggy January evening.

"Back in the old days, there was job security," said Augustus Drinkwater, one of the first to be buried in Prospect Park's Quaker Cemetery in 1851. "You felt like you were doomed to haunt the Park for eternity. We didn't know how good we had it."

"Now," he says, "the best you can find are gigs for holidays and festivals."

Drinkwater's most recent job, like many spirits, phantoms, and specters, was a three-week stint as a Ghost of Christmas, but that wrapped up on January 5th. He has a lead on a "Day of the Dead"-themed quinceañera party in the spring, but isn't sure he'll get it.

"Until then," he said, "I guess I'll just shamble along."