WE ARE SOLD OUT!

Due to popular demand, we have added another cemetery tour date on  Saturday, September 25th.  Come tour the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery by lantern in headless horseman country. This exclusive event is open to Haunted Hudson Valley™ Fans only. Walk with us as we roam through the winding gravel roads by flickering lantern light through the dark, black cemetery. What was that? You catch the shadow of an angelic face. Is there someone there?

Cemetery Historian, Jim Logan will be your guide as you learn about the cemetery’s famous and infamous residents during this “crime and punishment” themed tour. We will admire the eerie art and architecture of this historical cemetery in a unique experience that you are sure to remember for eternity.

You’ll even have the opportunity to enter the actual crypt that served as the resting place of the vampire Barnabas Collins in the 1970’s film, The House of Dark Shadows.

This is not a ghost investigation – this is a historical cemetery tour.

No Ghost Investigation out of respect for the families whose loved ones rest in this historical gem in Sleepy Hollow.

Everyone will get a free full-color Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Map and one raffle ticket for a chance to win a Haunted Hudson Valley™ T-Shirt! There will be five opportunities to win!

This is a two hour walking tour that covers various terrains. Be sure you are up to it.  Bring your camera, wear comfortable shoes and bring friends!

Time:

Cemetery Gates Open at 8:15 p.m.

8:45 p.m.  – Tee Shirt Drawing ( 5 Lucky Winners!)

9:00 p.m. – Tour begins at 9:00 and ends at 11:00 p.m.

Location: The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, 540 N Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591
Enter through the main gate and meet at the Chapel.

Space limited is to 30 guests. All proceeds support the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Historic Fund

Tickets: $20 per person

WE ARE SOLD OUT! If you would like to be put on a waiting list e-mail me at ghostwriter@hauntedhudsonvalley.net

Refund Policy: Tickets are refundable up to 2 days before the event. In the case of bad weather, we will determine a rain date.

Wait… did I just hear the faint noise of galloping off in the distance??

Your PayPal e-mail will serve as your ticket. If you have any questions, please e-mail ghostwriter@hauntedhudsonvalley.net.

Donna Davies, HHV and Author Doug Keister

Sleepy Hollow, NY—Historical cemeteries in the Hudson Valley are recognizing how rich they are in history, art, and architecture. Many are encouraging visitors to view their grounds as open-air classrooms where the histories of our communities are on display and often punctuated by great works of art.

The concept of cemetery art runs deeper than simply admiring the artistry of monuments to

the dead.  Through the often lavish use of symbolism, we can glimpse the values previous generations held dear as well as their attitudes toward life and death. I had the opportunity to learn more about how to “read” a cemetery from Douglas Keister, award-winning author, photographer, and expert in the field of cemetery symbolism. Mr. Keister recently lectured at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where he shared his knowledge and photos from his popular book, Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism

Keister’s book is a favorite among cemetery enthusiasts.  “This book is my bible. I photograph cemeteries, record and clean headstones, and seem to be getting pulled into doing tours by sheer interest, and I always have Mr Keister’s book with me.” says Laurel Ellis Pardo.  This stunning field guide beautifully illustrates the art and architecture that can be found in cemeteries locally and around the world.  Mr Keister eagerly shared his experiences with us as he took us on an extraordinary journey showcasing monuments you may never have the opportunity to experience in person.

The group experienced the common, unique, and unusual works of cemetery art though brilliant imagery.  You may have noticed common themes while walking in our local cemeteries, but were you aware of what they symbolized? Mr. Keister shared the meanings of the most common symbols and the many secret societies. The following is a sample of some common symbolism found in our local cemeteries:

Common Symbols:

• The Lamb usually used on children’s graves and symbolizes innocence.

• The Lily of the Valley symbolizes innocence, purity and virginity.

• The Weeping Willow suggests grief and sorrow and in many religions immortality.

• The Palm symbolizes victory or triumph over death. It characterizes the triumphant entry and the resurrection.

• Effigy is an image of a glorified soul, winging its way heavenward. The face isn’t intended to portray the deceased.

• The Laurel Wreath symbolizes victory in death and remembrance.

• Secret Societies: There is a plethora of secret society symbolism in cemeteries; you just have to look for them. Some of the popular symbols represent the Free Masons, Knights of Columbus and the Daughters of the American Revolution. If you are serious about tracing the origins of these secret Societies, Stories in Stone has an extensive list of acronyms to assist you with your research.

Symbolism changes over time as traditions and perspectives on death change. You can see this in an example of how effigy has changed from a skull and cross bones to a more angelic face as view of death changed.  The secret society connection was very popular due to death benefit offering to its members. Today joining a secret society gives you a good reason to go and hang with guys or girls..  That’s how much times have changed. When I hear the phrase “secret society,” I picture Fred and Barney rushing out the door in an effort not to be late for their ‘Loyal Order of Buffalos” meeting.

If you roam through any local cemetery, you will be able to find at least some representation of these cemetery symbols.  What you may not know about are the strange and remarkable monuments to mortality that exist beyond your wildest imagination that lie elsewhere.

Magnetized by the Macabre

More than likely it is not the common symbols that fascinate us but the morbid and the macabre. Who knew that the phrase “skeletons in the closet” was actually derived from the practice of hiding corpses in closets for dissection and experimentation in the 1700s when the surgical field was an up and coming profession? An acute shortage of legally obtained cadavers inspired another profession: body snatching! Mr. Keiser shared a sinister looking photo of bars over a grave, closely resembling a jail cell for the dead—a contraption named the “Mortsafe” to protect against grave robbers. On another note, how many times were you told that in New Orleans cemeteries bodies are interred above ground because they will once again rise from the dead? Not as ghosts or zombies of course, but to float away as the water levels rise. This is a fallacy. Mr. Keister explained that this style of above-ground burial was actually common place in Spain and early settlers followed suit. Morbid stories aside, there is a wealth of stories behind some of the most unique monuments that serve as a final calling card.

Listen to an interview with Douglas Keister on NPR (Scroll to his name)

Lasting Impressions

Mr. Keister shared an abundance of imagery of some of the most fascinating, and some pricey, symbols that truly leave a lasting impression. From heart-wrenching to hilarious, there is a flavor for everyone’s taste.  I will share some of my favorites as there are just too many to mention.

• Tse Mercedes – A tribute to a young man who passed suddenly without ever fulfilling his dream to own a Benz. Wish granted. He rests under a full-sized granite replica of his dream car in a New Jersey cemetery.

• Marie Laveau– Marie was know as the  Voodoo priestess of New Orleans. A popular tourist destination.

• Merello/Volta Monument – A very forlorn bronze woman in a wedding dress clutching her bouquet. Talk about “Til death do you part.” This monument is located in the Brooklyn, NY.

• Mel Blanc – The ever popular final words from the “man of a thousand voices,’ “That’s All Folks.” Mel Blanc rests in Hollywood, CA

While these monuments are bold and beautiful, it was time to go in search of the cemetery symbolism located in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Historian Jim Logan

Walk thorough any cemetery, and you will immediately gain some sense of the affluence of the community or families living within by the monument that marks their final resting place. The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is rich in symbolism and history. In fact, The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is often compared to the Père Lachaise in Paris—famed as the final resting place of singer, poet, and song-writer, Jim Morrison—as a most visited tourist destination.

Following the lecture, we took a guided tour led by cemetery historian Jim Logan.  We wandered the cemetery soaking up the history that is left to future generations marked only by a slab of stone. Shadowy figures danced across the dark night sky, as we roamed though the lush rolling hills of the famous or should I say infamous cemetery. The gravel crunched beneath our feet as we followed the glistening illumination reflecting off the stream of lanterns lighting the way through this vast city of the dead.

View the photo album below

We crept around the cemetery in this two-hour tour learning about the legacies of those left behind. The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is the final resting place of an impressive list of celebrities of prosperity of their time.  Authors, artists, spiritualists, and a wealth of business tycoons are memorialized by the most impressive works of art and symbolism in the area. It is one thing to read about these great works of cemetery art, but it an entirely different experience to admire them in the dark by the glow of a lantern. I assure you that as ideas of death change over time, we will not see this type of artistry in future years.

The End

Learning about cemetery symbolism and touring cemeteries often makes me think of my own mortality. The final note that struck a chord with me is how strongly Keister expressed his feeling that cemeteries are for the living, not for the dead. He believes that in a time where traditions are changing we may be tempted not to leave any trace of our existence behind. In closing Keister states, “Don’t be selfish. Leave a legacy for those who come after you.”   I began thinking about what my legacy would be. I am the last of my line. Is it really that important? I am fortunate to be rich in the many friendships that I have made over the years. How do I want to be remembered?  I have no desire to be laid to rest in a Mercedes or be remembered as a forlorn bride. The truthful answer is I don’t know what my story will be.

What will be your story in stone?

What a fun night! You can come along on our next visit.  Make your reservation for Saturday July 17, 2009 for our very own exclusive Haunted Hudson Valley™ Night! Learn more about this event. Don’t wait spots are limited.

Photo Gallery:

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The copyright of the article  is owned by Haunted Hudson Valley, Ltd. Permission to republish Stories in Stone in print or online must be granted by the author in writing. Contact Donna Davies

Sleepy Hollow, NY – It was a dark and dismal day. I couldn’t think of a better time to visit the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery located in Sleepy Hollow, NY. I had high expectations from the research I had done planning my trip. Due to inclement weather, my official tour was canceled, but that didn’t stop me from venturing south. With map in hand, I was ready for a haunting adventure.

View the Photo Album

Catriena Van Tessel 1793

The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery was very easy to find. It is just couple of simple turns off the Taconic Parkway from the north. As I approached, I was very excited by the view of the Old Dutch Church featured in Washington Irving’s classic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The Old Dutch Church and Old Church Yard is adjacent to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. I ventured into the Old Churchyard and almost immediately located the grave site of  Catriena Ecker van Tessel. It is said that Catriena is likely to have been the inspiration for Irving’s Katerina Van Tassel in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I was surprised that I could still decipher the inscriptions on the red stone tablet after 216 years.  The Old Dutch Church was closed, but a quick peer through its cathedral windows was truly the vision into the past.

On to the Sleepy HollowCemetery

The sprawling cemetery grounds are awe-inspiring. There is nothing about this cemetery that reeks of death. I sensed nothing but a feeling of serenity. It was a gray and cloudy day, but the lush grounds where rich with life and the calming sounds of the running waters of the Pocantico River. The monuments that surrounded me are a celebration of life not the remembrance of death. I was not haunted by ghosts, but by the haunting magnificence of its setting.

You can easily roam the cemetery for hours. Be prepared to walk because you will immerse yourself into the beauty and the history that surrounds you.  As an avid Dark Shadows fan, I was on a mission, but first things first.  You can not visit the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery with out paying homage to Washington Irving’s grave. He literally put Sleepy Hollow on the map!

On to the Receiving Vault—I couldn’t believe that I was actually standing in front of Barnabas Collins’ crypt! Of course, this created a new uncontrollable resurgence of my unhealthy interest in the show, but I digress.

Glory to God in the Highest

I continued to roam the winding roads of the cemetery admiring the ornate workmanship of the shrines that surround me. While the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is the final resting place for many of the rich and famous from the Astors to the Carnegies that was not what intrigued me. I was more captivated by the design of the testaments to the memory of the deceased. There are too many to mention without writing a novel. I was most impressed with the gothic church miniature (Thanks Jim!) marking the grave of Owen Jones (1815-1844), department store and real estate mogul.  My personal favorite is the angel and the inscription reads GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO (Glory to God in the Highest). When you visit, please tell me what your favorite monument is.

This trip met my every expectation and I am anxious to return for the evening guided tour. I highly recommend getting tickets as soon as possible. October is a busy month in the little town of Sleepy Hollow.

The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is a treasure in its own right located within Hudson Valley, New York. Whether you love “The Legend” or centuries of rich Hudson Valley history, this is a destination not to be missed. Your visit is what you make it. You may not be haunted by the spirits of Sleepy Hollow, but its history may haunt you for a lifetime.

Visiting the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is located on 540 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. The Cemetery is open Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Phone:  914-691-0081

Evening Tours:

Cemetery historian Jim Logan leads these popular evening lantern tours of the cemetery. After paying respects to Washington Irving, author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” we visit a Revolutionary War general, the cemetery’s Revolutionary War and Civil War monuments, a notorious counterfeiter, a soaring gothic monument of a wealthy merchant, industrialists Andrew Carnegie and William Rockefeller, and others. Evening tours cover more than a mile on foot over broken ground, so wear walking shoes or sneakers.

Check Dates

Photo Album:

Sources:

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery: http://www.sleepyhollowcemetery.org

Is there anyone out there who is not familiar with the legendary tale of Ichabod Crane’s clash with the Hessian trooper who continues to fight his battle after death? This is one of my all time favorite ghostly Hudson Valley ghost tales. If you are not aware, you can tour Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and trace the infamous ride of Ichabod Crane.

Read about my visit to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Be sure to visit the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Web site.  The site  is beautifully crafted with stunning photos and tons of  great information. They have just updated the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery tour schedule for 2010. They are offering day and evening tours. Night tours are guided by lantern. How spooky is that?   Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Tours are scheduled throughout October.

Advanced reservations are required.

Please be sure to check their Web site for tour information. I know I’m getting my tickets now!

Learn more about The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – Washington Irving

(*This tour is not affiliated with Haunted Hudson Valley. Please be respectful of the mourners who have family at this location.)