The Legend of Sleepy Hallow

 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Welcome to "Sleepy Hollow"!

“From the listless repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its inhabitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this sequestered glen has long been known by the name of SLEEPY HOLLOW. . . ”

.....Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Sign at the entrance to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

One of Ichabod Crane’s sources of fearful pleasure was to pass long winter evenings with the old Dutch Church wives as they sat spinning by the fire, and listened to their marvelous tales of ghosts and goblins, and haunted fields, and haunted brooks, and haunted bridges, and haunted houses, and particularly of the headless horseman, or Galloping Hessian of the Hollow, as they sometimes called him; all the while trying to win the affections of the Lady Abigail Van Tassel.

The Old Dutch Church

The Old Dutch Church was one of the favorite haunts of the Headless Horseman, and the place where he was most frequently encountered.  Not far from the church, along the Hudson River was a wooden bridge; the road that led to it, and the bridge itself, were thickly shaded by overhanging trees, which cast a gloom about it, even in the daytime; but occasioned a fearful darkness at night. 

Tombstones dating back to the 1600's

As one strolls past the Old Dutch Church on a dark Halloween night, it is easy to imagine the shadow of the horseman rising up from behind the gravestones, many dating back to the 1600’s.  Armed with a Jack-O-Lantern, the Horseman gallops along in search of his head; wherein lies the history of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow which began over 200 years ago, and his spirit has lived here ever since.

The Graves of the Inhabitants of "The Old Dutch Church"

If you look closely at the many "Tombstones" you will see the names of many of the characters featured in Washington Irving's legendary story of Sleepy Hollow!

A Halloween View along the Hudson

About two years ago, my sons' surprised me for my birthday, with a "Midnight Walk" through the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.  The tour lasts two hours, coincidentally, it was only 2 degrees that night!  By end I couldn't even feel my toes.  We were met by our guide at the entrance, and each given a lantern to guide our way (this being the only light throughout the Cemetery)!   I must admit that even with my lantern, I managed to trip numerous times on the rocky and uneven pathways!  

                                                                         

    Lantern to guide our "Midnight Walk"!

During the Halloween Walk, we would stop at various gravesites, where our guide would relate some of the strangest stories of "murder and mayhem" almost a century ago, of famous Sleepy Hollow residents.  Some of the most famous tenants buried along the way, were the Rockefeller and Carnegie families, who of course, had the largest Mausoleums'.

One bizarre story was that of a prominent resident who wanted to bury his dog, although against the protests of many families who had plots throughout the Cemetery.  In protest, they would continually dig up the grave. Finally the owner of the dog had his casket encased in a steel box, then covered in cement.  So there the dog still remains!  Another story took place on New Year's Eve.  One Sleepy Hollow resident invited his close friend, and a  woman, who unfortunately they both had an interest in.  At midnight while toasting the New Year with flutes of Champagne, one guest didn't make it even to 2 minutes past Midnight!  Yes, the host poisoned his best friend for the love of his paramour!

Pleasant Dreams!

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