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.

Our Tour Guides - Brittany and Matt

Yonkers, NY—When we visited Untermyer Park, we had no idea what we were walking into, and it quickly became a lesson in doing your homework before venturing out. Whether you are doing a paranormal investigation, urban exploring or enjoying a Hudson Valley historic site, knowing what you are going to encounter will give you the best experience. If we did not have a little luck on our side that day, we never would have found the real historical gem held within the riverside park.

We were visiting lower Westchester County for a trip to the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, and upon a tip from a Facebook fan, took a little detour on our trip to the Yonkers site of Untermyer Park. We just did not realize the history that the park held. Luckily for us, the Haunted Hudson Valley name is well known, and we quickly made friends with some fellow lovers of lore when they recognized my tee shirt.

We met Brittany and Matt as they were trying to find a way out of the gardens while we were trying to find a way in. The gardens were not in the cards for us that day though, but with the couple’s local expertise, we trekked down the “Thousand Steps” to what is left of the Son of Sam’s Devil’s Cave. If I had known the extent of satanic activity that had taken place in this abandoned building, I am not sure I could have gotten myself to go. My research later showed me a story more twisted and mangled than the trees we had to climb through to get to the Devil’s Cave.

David Berkowitz was hearing voices. Dogs were talking to him. Satan was giving him directions. He was setting thousands of fires in New York City. His sanity was slipping. By 1976 he started his year-long killing spree, all in the name of sacrificing blood to the demons. It very easily could have been his adoption or his intense loneliness that stoked the fire in Berkowitz’s head. That is the story he told the police when he was finally arrested after killing six people and wounding seven more.  Instead of the one-man killing spree for which the police jailed him, David Berkowitz claimed he was simply the fall guy for a murderous conspiracy of a satanic cult.

In 1976 Berkowitz was living at 35 Pine Street in Yonkers, just a short mile from Untermyer Park. Within the park’s boundaries, the cult found exactly what it needed to perform the satanic rituals. While the park sits in a busy suburb of New York City, its densely forested acres allowed for plenty of coverage. Abandoned buildings permitted even more privacy. An old pump house, where satanic markings were found inside, became known as the Devil’s Cave. Inverted crosses, pentagrams, Hitler related terms, and the triple six were scrawled across the interior of the ruined building.

Employees at the adjacent St. John’s Hospital reported seeing robed figures in the park as well as torches, and hearing chanting. The bodies of slain German shepherds were found along the Old Croton Aqueduct which runs along the back of the park property. Necropsies on the corpses proved the animals were strangled.  Animal sacrifice, in particular of German shepherds, is a common practice among satanic cults. Countless other cults, which can be connected to the Son of Sam cult, also have a history with German shepherds.

Exactly what took place at these rituals, Berkowitz has never revealed. However, through a series of interviews, letter correspondence and over nine years of extreme detective work, journalist Maury Terry was able to piece together a puzzling story. A tale of murder and mayhem, crisscrossing the entire county, unraveled. Drugs, kiddie porn and prostitution were main sources of income for the cult, making the group’s aims even more taboo. Murder, arson, and the rape of virgins were known to be the ultimate sacrifices a cult member could make, and Satan had to be appeased before cult holidays. How many crimes that the cult carried out will forever be kept a secret. The original Devil’s Cave was demolished years ago, with the re-growth of vegetation showing no signs of where it once stood.

Today’s ne’er-do-wells have moved their criminal activity to a building that once housed the servant’s quarters on Untermyer’s Estate. Rumor has it that fresh satanic related graffiti can be found at the reincarnated Devil’s Cave, but we saw none the day we were there. The signs of teenage delinquency scatter the grounds and can more than likely explain the graffiti. Although, as the secrets of the Son of Sam cult will never fully be revealed, neither will the truth of a satanic cult using Untermyer Park today.
Visit Untermyer Park during the summer when the gardens are in full bloom and open to the public. Behind the gardens you will find the “Thousand Steps” leading to a beautiful view of the Hudson River and the Palisades. Do your homework first if you plan to explore the Devil’s Cave former site.

Photo Gallery:

Visiting Untermeyer Park:

The park is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it contains Grecian gardens and other landscapes. The park was donated to the city of Yonkers in 1949. There are many great places to overlook the Palisades and the Hudson river.

Address: On North Broadway near St. Johns Hospital.

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.)