Tarrytown, NY ─ In the village of Tarrytown sits an enchanting, romantic style home nestled on the banks of the Hudson known as Sunnyside. Sunnyside was the abode of author, statesman, and historian, Washington Irving and his extended family. With its watercolor landscape views and charming atmosphere, it’s hard to believe that it serves as a host to ghosts.

In the 17th century Sunnyside was said to be haunted. That was the norm for any location in Sleepy Hollow at the time. Irving spoke of the ghost of “a young woman in the southwest bedroom that died of love and green apples.”

According to a New York Times article published in 1947, Washington Irving’s great-great-nephew offered remarks at the Rockefeller dedication ceremony in 1947 stating that the “ghost of the legendary writer was seen by guests who stayed in the front room of the home facing the Tappan Zee. He is said to be an amiable ghost.” That is not surprising considering how Irving was revered in his time. This was the first publicly reported claim of Irving’s ghost at Sunnyside.

They say that spirits choose not to move on because they don’t want to leave what they loved the most─ the place where they were the happiest. Sunnyside was that place for Irving.

The Man Behind the Legend

Irving himself remarked that if he were ever going to come back as a ghost, he would haunt Sunnyside. To appreciate that comment, you have to have a basic understanding of who Irving was and how he felt about his home, his family and friends, and his lifestyle. These significant historical facts are vital to entertaining the notion of the return of his ghostly apparition.

Washington Irving was more than the author of celebrated classic ghost story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Irving was deemed the “rock star’ of his time; in reality he was a simple gentleman who experienced emotional and financial challenges just like anyone else. His fiancée died at the age of 17 from consumption, which scarred him and led him into living the lifestyle of a confirmed bachelor. At one point, he was thought to have been romantically involved in a love triangle with writer Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly. They surely would have made an extraordinary writing team. Who knows what great literary works would have stemmed from that relationship?

Irving worked as a full-time writer and was employed just enough to maintain his middle-class status. He was also well-traveled and acted as US Ambassador to Spain. He never owned a home of his own until he purchased Sunnyside. “As Irving wrote, he was eager for a home and was willing to pay a little unreasonably for it. Irving finally purchased the property on June 7, 1835 for $1,800” (Sunnyside 2010). Irving worked alongside artist and friend George Harvey and passionately developed Sunnyside into a collaborative work of art that collectively presented sophisticated international influences in its design. This small saltbox house would be built into a magnificent mansion that he would cherish and share with his family and dearest friends.

The renovation of Sunnyside was taking a financial toll. Irving hesitantly accepted an offer to act as envoy to Spain in order to continue with his plans for Sunnyside. “It will be a severe trial to absent myself for a time from my dear little Sunnyside, but I shall return to it better enabled to carry it on comfortably.”(Sunnyside 2010) He left for Spain and depended on his brother Abraham and his five nieces to run the estate. Upon his return from Spain, Irving spent his concluding days at his beloved Sunnyside.

Until His Dying Days

Irving was not in the best of health. He suffered from a heart condition among other ailments. He was cared for by two of his nieces, Catherine and Sarah who never married. Irving continued to write up through the last days of his life. Happy to be back in his home, Irving stated, “My heart dwells in this blessed little spot, and I really believe that when I die, I shall haunt it” (Weston 1959).

Irving was an eloquent writer who penned his own last will and testament. It is apparent how he felt about Sunnyside and the delicate care that he received from his family in the way he fondly outlines how his estate should be handled. Irving wanted Sunnyside and his family cared for until their time there was over. The will states,

I declare my general intention to be to dispose all of my estate, so that it may be as far as possible kept together as maintenance for my brother, Ebenezer; and his daughters who have become accustom to reside with me, to enable them to live with the same degree of comfort they have been accustom under my roof. I make this disposition as an early return for the brotherly affection shown to me by my brother… I make it also in return for the consideration and cherishing care in sickness and in health I have ever experienced by his daughters to me for years and have rendered my home a happy one…(1859)

On November 28, 1859 at 76 years old, Washington Irving passed away resting in his bed at Sunnyside.

Sunnyside Today

Washington Irving had many happy years at Sunnyside, probably the happiest years of this life. It is not unrealistic to think that the spirit of the author of the greatest legend of the Hudson Valley would remain. Irving created his own legend in the story of his life. His love of Sunnyside and the affectionate care of his nieces stage the perfect setting for a terrific ghost story. It has been said that a woman combing her long hair has been seen in the cottage. We assume that this story refers to the spirit of one of his nieces who may linger to continually care for her adored uncle. No matter what you believe, Irving’s spirit lives on in his work and influence. He made an everlasting mark on the town of Sleepy Hollow. Ironically, of all the legendary haunts of the Hudson Valley, the man who composed the greatest ghostly legend of all would in fact become a ghostly legend in his own right.

Visiting

The delicate care of Sunnyside by the Irving family makes it possible for you to experience this warm and charming historical home today. In 1947, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. donated $500,000 to restore Sunnyside to its original state preserving this great piece of history.

Experience Sunnyside and view the original furnishings and belongings of Irving and his family. Who knows, you may even catch a ghost?

Photo Gallery: *Note: You can not take photos inside the home.

April 1 to Oct. 31*

Daily except Tuesdays
10am-5pm; last tour at 4pm

Special Hours
May 27-28 and June 2: noon-5pm; last tour at 4pm
Nov. 1 to Dec. 26*

Saturdays and Sundays; Friday, Nov. 26
10am-4pm; last tour at 3pm
For More Information

Call 914.631.8200 Monday through Friday or 914.591.8763 on weekend.

Visit their Web site >

Visit Washington Irving’s final resting place at The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery >

Works Cited:

“Always for the Irvings.” New York Times. 23 February 1896.

Faber, H.” Irving Home Opens with Two Ghosts.” New York Times. 1947.

Sunnyside (Tarrytown, New York). (2010, June 2). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10:25, July 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sunnyside_(Tarrytown,_New_York)&oldid=365726076

Weston, M. “Sunnyside Revisited.” New York Times. 26 April 1959.

Patchett House

Montgomery, NY— On a chilly fall evening we arrived at the Patchett House located in Montgomery, NY, which is now home to the Wallkill River School for Artists. The Patchett House is a Colonial style home built in the early 1800’s that once served as an inn, a personal residence, and a funeral parlor that holds an unsolved mystery.  This haunted house has its share of  ghost stories from personal accounts to investigative reportings. This would be my first ghost investigation experience and being a fan of Linda Zimmermann’s Ghost Investigator series, I was curious about her experiences. I had no expectation of what the events the evening would hold. Let’s just say at times, the chill I felt was not from the cold.

Patchett House is a beautifully restored home that feels warm and cozy. I was warmly greeted by the Director, Shawn Dell Joyce. Shawn was delightfully clad in period attire suitable for a haunting. There was an impressive turnout for this event. We grabbed our complimentary copy of Ghost Investigator Volume 9 Back from the Dead, sampled some tasty treats from the kitchen, and admired the works of art that covered the walls of the entrance way while we anxiously waited for Linda to present her findings. You could clearly pick out the skeptics in the room, but that is what makes these events so much fun.

It’s Presentation Time!

Linda’s enthusiasm and sense of humor radiates throughout her presentation. You can’t help but absorb her excitement for the unknown. Having lived in the Hudson Valley all my life, I was excited to learn about these haunted destinations that were within my reach in the surrounding area. Linda shared the experiences of her team’s recent investigations of the Tamarack Inn, Iron Island, O&W Train Station, Cliff Park, Patchett House, and The Columns all  located within driving distance of the Hudson Valley.

Ghost Investigator 9

We sat at the edge of our seats intently listening as Linda shared her knowledge of her connections with the spirits that remain tied to these locations. The most memorable stories are the incidents at the Tamarack Inn, The O&W Train Station, and The Columns.  The Tamarack Inn’s tumultuous past of drugs, suicides, and accidents that contributed to 157 deaths is a prime setting for a haunting. A dark, mysterious figure engages Linda and she immediately goes into hot pursuit. As the aggressive game of cat and mouse continues, she is unsuccessful at capturing the image that any ghost investigator would want to claim rights to—a shadowy image on film.  The O&W Train Station, also known as the Rusty Nail Restaurant, dishes up a ghostly prank that costs her a 25-cent toll, which takes place at the hand of a spirited apparition determined to make his substantiated presence known. Finally, a visit to The Columns gives Linda a hair-raising experience as phantom fingers run through her tresses. The spirit continues to aggressively show her who the mistress of this realm is. This active specter calls Linda out in an intense way.  This spirit desperately wants to communicate the fact that she knows Linda  and is determined to prove it.  After a series of encounters with this  female ghost, Linda put the pieces of the puzzle together and is guided to a file cabinet where she retrieves an  article that bares her name. I think that is a fantastic example of a unique ghost investigation.

The most chilling experience was a photo that Linda shared with us that she deemed to be her best ghostly image taken at a home in Pamona, NY.  There were 2 photos shown. The first photo was of a dimly lit room.  The second photo was of the same dimly lit room with a huge, dark, shadowy figure within it.  It reminded me of the large ghostly shadow of a huge monster in a Scooby-Doo cartoon only real.  It was extremely disturbing and sent a chill down my spine. The crowd in the room gasped in amazement, and had I been the one taking the photo, I would have been running for the hills! I think the entire crowd felt the same way. This photo and story can be found in Ghost Investigator Volume 6 Dark Shadows.  At this time, I was feeling a little uneasy knowing my next move was heading down into the former embalming room.

The Patchett House Hauntings

Embalming Table

As stated earlier, Patchett House was an inn and a personal residence before it was a funeral home. In 1977, the funeral home director mysteriously vanished and the house was vacant for more than 20 years.  Know one knows what happened to the man. This remains an unsolved mystery today.  Maybe the rumored ghosts that inhabit the embalming room of Patchett House scared him away.

Linda shared her findings of her previous investigation, she clearly described the activity that occurred in the embalming room.  A mounted motion activated camera generated blurred images, which could only have happened if something or someone was moving the cameras. The camera produced an irregular shadow within the image. Good to know as  we enter through the Bilco style doors of the basement!

The first thing you notice when you enter the dark, dank,  room is the embalming table, which looks like nothing more than a triple sink. There is a slight chemical odor. This is where the bodies were laid out and the draining and embalmed occurred. You would think that there would have been more sophisticated equipment used even in the 1970’s.

EMF Demonstration

Linda demonstrated how the EMF (Electromagnetic Fluctuation) monitor works while trying to detect changes in energy in the room. She clearly explained how you can get irregular readings due to cell phone and normal electrical interference. We did get a few short readings on the meter; nothing significant. No one should have the expectation that you can walk 25 people into a room and have an experience. In my opinion, if something is going to happen to you, it will be very personal.

We then ventured back upstairs where Shawn Dell Joyce, the Director, continued the tour. Shawn is very passionate about Patchett House and its history. Shawn shared some of her experiences in the home. She explained that at one time she and students heard a phone ringing; an old-fashion bell-type ring. There is an old phone in the house, but it was not connected.  There have also been issues with lights being turned on and off and when no electricity was connected in the house. Repair men have actually walked off jobs after working in the basement claiming they felt something down there with them.

Shawn fondly spoke of the ghost of Emma who was born and died while living in Patchett house. It was her only home. She lived through the late 1800’s and passed in 1976 at the age of 97 years. Once a Patchett family member drove past the house and just happened to look in the window of the second floor and was shocked to see his Aunt Emma looking out. You see, Emma had been deceased for quite some time. Emma is also particular about her house. If she doesn’t like the doors and windows open, she will let you know about it. She will just close them for you. There is one room is the home that is Emma’s room. It is a shrine to her memory as she was a very caring and generous woman. Shawn feels very comforted by her presence and feels that it is her spirit that protects her ancestral home and she will not leave it behind.

No Souvenirs

The lecture and tour of the Patchett House was very informative and interesting. Linda Zimmermann is an engaging and dynamic speaker. One thing I will always remember is her clear warning to “Never bring anything home with you!” That means spirit or otherwise.

The Patchett house is a beautiful, well-preserved home that serves as an educational institution for artists.  I am certain that Emma is proud of that fact. Visitors to Patchett House have sensed and even visualized the presence of a woman in the home. I don’t think Emma ever left her domicile.  This strong presence of Emma could signify a deep love for the home in which she lived in for 97 years.  Maybe she just doesn’t want to leave it behind, but we would have to.  It was time to venture home.

I was exhausted from our trip and the mind does play tricks.  I rolled into bed and slept soundly.  I woke up at about 5:30 a.m.  The light was on in the hall. I was certain I had turned it off. It would have kept me up all night if I hadn’t.  I hope Emma didn’t reconsider and follow me home!

www.ghostinvestigator.com

Learn more about Patchett House

www.wallkillriverschool.org

Tarrytown, NY—Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, NY is the theatrical setting for Collinwood, the mythical estate in the Dark Shadow movies. And while Dark Shadows had its fair share of spooky elements and unearthly events that Lyndhurst can’t quite hold a candle too, there are a few instances that make Lyndhurst a little out of the ordinary.

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East Bedroom

In the first movie, The House of Dark Shadows, we learn that Barnabas Collins went to England in 1797. It would be another forty years until Philip Paulding began construction on what would become Lyndhurst, and another 132 years until the movie was released in theaters nationwide.

While the Paulding family was wealthy and prominent political figures, by 1864 they fell on hard times and were forced to move out of their gothic revival style home. They passed it furnished to George Merritt. Merritt made grand improvements to the property, building a massive wing and the three story tower. After his death, his wife sold the estate to Jay Gould. Lyndhurst remained in the Gould family until 1961 when the current owner, Anna Gould who had become the Duchess Talleyrand Perigord through marriage, gifted it to the National Trust so it would remain a historic property.

Rear Exterior of Lynhurst

One of the most key (and extremely rare among historic homes) features of Lyndhurst is the furnishings. As each family moved out, they left their furniture and trinkets behind, leaving us with a rich historical account of the lives and deaths of those who once lived there. This must have also been a great attraction to location scouts for Dark Shadows, as many scenes show items which are still in the house today. Any visitor to the estate will recognize desks, beds, vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, trompe l’oeil painted walls, gothic doorways and more from the movie. Dark Shadow’s fans will also recognize the carriage house, children’s playhouse, rose gardens, green house and other out buildings on the property.

While the grounds, mansion and internal furniture are beyond beautiful, one can’t help but wonder if the movie’s producers were attracted to its macabre curiosities. Was Dark Shadow’s shot at Lyndhurst only for the spectacular visual appeal, or was there another connection?

The library at Lyndhurst is one any bookworm would be jealous of. Thousands of volumes line the shelves and a combination of Gould’s and Merritt’s furniture make cozy reading nooks throughout. George Merritt was an avid reader, and mostly choose weighty topics to fill his library. Records show that he had requested the purchase of tomes on history, travel, nature and poetry. But if you look closely, you can find one solitary shelf with a few different topics. A Treatise of Specters, Travels of the Jesuits, Witchcraft, Christian Dogmas and more helped educate Merritt on the more “occult” side of life.

Another connection between the vampires of Dark Shadows and Lyndhurst is the painting Wallachian Caravan in Winter by Adolph Schreyer. This oil on canvas painting depicts a traveling line of pack horses and their handlers navigating through the snowy mountains. The Wallachia region is a mountainous area, conveniently located just south of Transylvania. While horses were a very common theme in his work, most of Adolph Schreyer’s paintings were entitled with the focus on Arabs. We found only one other mention of Wallachia in his work. Was this piece brought into the house purely for it’s Transylvanian connection?

Then there are the stories of the bizarre. Anna, the Duchess Talleyrand Perigord, was an animal lover and very much attached to her three Pekingese dogs. As each pooch passed on she had it interned in it’s own dog sized lead coffin. She never quite knew what to do with the coffins and they remained in the house for some time. Finally, knowing she couldn’t just keep them lying around the house, she had the coffins moved outside and they were placed on saw horses by the children’s play house, Rose Cottage. They remained there for years before they were finally moved to an unknown location. May the Pekingeses rest in peace.

Rumor has it that at least one someone isn’t resting in peace at Lyndhurst. We got a secret tip about an unexplained event in the home. One quiet evening at the estate as our mystery guest was working alone in the house, he passed through what used to be the servant’s dining room. As he walked up a short set of stairs he felt the presence of someone behind him. He turned to greet his follower and he found that no one was there.

Who was with him in the servant’s dining room that evening? Was it a family member of the Paulding, Merritt or Gould family’s who each enjoyed their time in their majestic castle like home on the Hudson River? Was it one of Anna’s dearly departed pups? Or maybe it was Barnabas Collins come back from England!

Photo Album

Photo Credit: Donna Davies/Haunted Hudson Valley

Watch it online at Amazon Video on Demand.

Plan your visit to Lyndhurst:

Lyndhurst
635 South Broadway
Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591
(914) 631-4481

www.lyndhurst.org

Wappingers Falls, NY – Danielle Masterson, former curator and ghost investigator at the Meiser  Homestead in Wappingers Falls, NY, contacted me about occurrences she experienced at the site. I immediately agreed to tour the site and learn more about the happenings that occurred there.  I was excited to be back in my old stomping grounds in Wappingers Falls. I was already haunted by my childhood memories of hanging out in the Meiser Park and recalled using the Grinnell Library’s facilities after a night of drinking in the Zion Episcopal Church’s cemetery. Nothing to be proud of, but all these events made me who I am and now have led me back here today. My internal haunts aside, I did not expect to have an eventful afternoon. I was dead wrong.

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The History

In 1776, a well-to-do loyalist tea merchant from New York City, Peter Mesier, arrived in Fishkill. He bought the 750 acres of land and the homestead from Nicholas Brewer and opened a small store in the homestead. Mesier angered his customers with high prices and in May of 1777, a number of people broke into his store and demanded tea, refusing to pay the high prices asked. For three days, the intruders beat Mesier and his wife and servants, destroyed his property and raided his cellar.

Peter Mesier and his wife, Catherine Sleight, lived peacefully after the incident and together had eight children, three boys and five girls. Upon the death of Peter in 1806, their son Matthew took over the Mesier Homestead. Matthew and his wife had two sons, Henry and Abram and two daughters, Johanna and Maria. These heirs of Matthew were the last owners of Mesier Homestead.

The Mesiers and the Brewers, along with early settlers of Wappingers Falls are buried in the Zion Episcopal Church burial grounds.

The Tour

Headstone of Nicholas Ganse Died 1866

First Stop – The Zion Episcopal Church Burial Grounds
My associate, Laura Schnecke and I both met Danielle at the homestead. She is a very knowledgeable, energetic and bubbly. She immediately led us to the old Zion Episcopal Church burial grounds where the Mesiers and the Brewers are buried. It is surprising that the stones are still intact given that it was the premier party destination in my time.  The photo op was not as successful as I would have liked─ both our cameras had gone dead at the same time.  What are the chances of that happening? I was able to finally get mine to work, but not the Laura’s.  Odd, but it could happen.

The Grinnell Library

Danielle led us back though the park and pointed out the Grinnell Library, established in 1867, is one of the oldest Libraries in the state.  She explained that three police officers saw a full body apparition in the window in the early morning hours of one of their shifts. To get three male police officers to admit a sighting is a feat in itself. Needless to say, I was intrigued.  She suggested that this may be a residual haunting and that should be investigated at a later time.

The Tour of Mesier Homestead:

When we entered the homestead, I did feel not as relaxed as I usually do. I felt a little edgy. It could have just been the excitement of the visit, but I don’t think so. I felt as if I took a step back in time. The restoration of this substantial home is impressive given that it was the former police station in my time. As luck would have it, the original structure was left intact.  There have been some structural changes made in the process of restoring the home.  Danielle shared the excitement of her paranormal experience at Meiser Homestead.

Listen to the sound clip:

Audio One

We proceeded into the dining room, which was simply decorated with a very basic dining table and chairs. There are photos of the homestead from early times that illustrate what the home looked like in its original state. As Danielle proceeded to give us a historical overview of the restoration and the homes contents, she asked if I would like to take a photo to document the original state of the dining room from the portrait. I commented that I didn’t want to interrupt her discussion and would take photos at a later time.

Photo Courtesy of Danielle Masterson

We navigated through the home entering the parlor. This room looks just like you would imagine an 19^th century sitting room would appear. There is a plush green couch and coffee table inviting you to sit for a spell for some conversation over a hot cup of tea that faces the front of a sealed fireplace. There is a gorgeous black period dress on display that may take you back a bit at first glance; especially in a haunted home. Danielle points out the fact that an outline of a person sitting on the couch has been seen in the past and that the onset of activity seemed to occur once the renovation of the home began.

We walked up a tiny staircase to the second level of the home. We entered the slave quarters. This was a very small room that I felt claustrophobic in, and I can only imagine what it would have been like to have to share that small space. It was in this room that Danielle was able to capture a photo of what appears to contain three images in. Where these the apparitions of it’s previous resident slaves?

Danielle explains how she took the ghostly photo:

Audio Two

Continuing through the home, we learned more about the artifacts and family heirlooms left behind as a monument to the past. On the wall of an upstairs room is a lineup of service uniforms. There are books, hats, clothing, Indian arrowheads and other trinkets from the long-ago. Are their spirits attached to these possessions? Danielle shared a strange happening with a pair of glasses that seem to go missing to be found hanging from a book on a shelf that contains a small library. What that book a favorite or is someone trying to communicate from the past?

The Joke is on Me

As our tour was coming to a close, we suddenly heard some strange clicking. A doorknob jiggling? Creaking? There was an instant silence among us. This is very unusual for a group of girls.  Mind you, we are locked in the homestead there is no way to get in without us knowing it or hearing it. My heart stopped. I froze. We all stared at each other.  We walked into the dining room. Danielle knows this homestead like the back of her hand. She asks, “Was that card table there before?” I swear to you I don’t think so. I am very clumsy and I would have tripped over it. The table appeared right beneath the photo that Danielle had asked if I wanted to take a photo of and I declined. Had I taken that photo, I would have had proof. Was the joke on me? As I stated before, there was very little furniture in the dining room and I stand by that. Laura swears she heard the hinges of a table unfold, but no footsteps. Not to mention, there where muddy tracks on what was once a pristine floor with no tracks in or out and no trail through the house. We covered that house from top to bottom. None of us had mud on our shoes it was a dry sunny day.

I remain skeptical and the mind can play tricks on you, but truthfully I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Yet, I couldn’t get the incident out of my mind.

How to visit Meiser Homestead:

Contact:

Wappingers Falls Historical Society

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