Jim Logan
Jim is superintendent of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where he has researched the cemetery’s history for more than 20 years. He draws on an extensive collection of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown historical resources for the material on Sleepy Hollow Country.
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The Bewitched Mill of Sing Sing
The tale of the bewitched mill of Sing Sing, or the Ossining witch, comes to us down a winding path that begins at the ancient and now vanished shad fishing camp at Crawbucky Point, where local legends were told and retold around the evening campfires. But before we dive into our story of the bewitched mill, let’s take a brief detour into the shifting name of the village presently known as Ossining. 17th Century Dutch maps of the Hudson River show a settlement on the east shore occupied by a band of the Mohegan tribe known as “Sint Sinck.” In 1813 European settlers founded a village they called Sing Sing, Anglicizing…
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The Fiery Ghosts of Mount Gulian
Here at Sleepy Hollow Country we first learned of the fiery ghosts of Mount Gulian through a series of articles titled “Weird Westchester Tales,” published in Westchester County newspapers in 1956. Reporter E. L. MacKay opened the series with one of our favorite local legends, that of Spook Rock in Sleepy Hollow. MacKay next shared the following eerie tale from further up the Hudson Valley. The Ghosts of Mount Gulian Unveiled While many have claimed to see or hear ghosts, such stories are often dismissed, especially when the witness is alone. But in this case, the spectral figures were witnessed by not just one, but four people—a policeman and three…
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The Ghost of Sybil Harris King
The ghost of Sybil Harris King is reputed to linger around her former mansion which today is part of the Tarrytown House Estate. This corporate retreat center and event venue, located in Tarrytown, New York, has a rich history that dates back to the 19th century. The property is the combination of three Gilded Age estates owned by wealthy families who were drawn to the Hudson River Valley for its scenic beauty and proximity to New York City. It is situated on East Sunnyside Lane, just off South Broadway and not far from Washington Irving’s home, Sunnyside. Of the three original mansions, two remain standing: Uplands of broker James S.…
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Tarrytown Boat Works
Tarrytown Boat Works was part of a vibrant Hudson River working waterfront during the early years of the 20th century. It was one of at least three boat builders on the Tarrytown waterfront over the years, including local powerhouses John O. Brown and Julius Petersen. While traces of any local boat builders are hard to find 100 years later, we dug deep into the archives to piece together this brief history of Tarrytown Boat Works. Sadly, we have not been able to track down any surviving watercraft from this shop. What we know for sure is that the business was incorporated in 1910. The annual report from the New York…
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Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York, is one of the most storied and picturesque burial grounds in the United States. Nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley, this historic cemetery is renowned for its connection to Washington Irving’s famous tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” as well as for its beautiful landscape and notable interments. With a rich history dating back to the 19th century, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is a place where the past comes alive through its legends, architecture, and the famous individuals laid to rest there. Historical Background Sleepy Hollow Cemetery was established in 1849, at a time when the rural cemetery movement was gaining…
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Those Wild and Crazy Tarrytown Squirrels
Here in the pages of Sleepy Hollow Country we live and breathe the odd and unexplained. Today we tender a few offbeat stories on rather unusual behavior by a bunch of Tarrytown squirrels. Before we start it is only fair to point out our little furry friends aren’t the only critters to exhibit outlandish behavior in these parts. Goats, chickens, and even mosquitoes have had their moments. A student of literature, however, may recall a line from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that suggests it is the human residents of the hollow who have a propensity to see marvelous visions: “They are given to all kinds of marvelous beliefs; are…
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The Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow
Nestled amidst the enchanting landscape of Sleepy Hollow, New York, lies a structure steeped in both history and folklore—the Old Dutch Church. As one of the oldest churches in the state, its weathered stones and stoic architecture have witnessed centuries of change, yet it remains an enduring symbol of the region’s rich cultural heritage. More to the point, this is the church and churchyard that appear in Washington Irving’s short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Early History of the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow The precise age of the building is unknown, but it seems likely to place it between 1685 when the church ball was cast in…
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The Bard of Tarrytown
The Bard of Tarrytown. The Poet of the Pines. The Tanyard Poet. The World’s Most Gifted Seer, Palmist and Medium. These were just some of the professional titles used by the tireless and shameless self-promoter John Henry Titus throughout his long life. He missed the chance to apply even more apt titles to himself: Spinner of Yarns, Teller of Tall Tales, Purveyor of Pablum. Hold on as we explore the life of John Henry Titus through a trail of newspaper advertisements, news articles, and self published books. Here in Sleepy Hollow Country we are all too familiar with out-of-towners sweeping in to school us simple, unsophisticated yokels. A fellow named…
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The Ghosts of Emily Shaw’s Inn
Emily Shaw’s Inn, once a popular restaurant, was located just 20 miles from Sleepy Hollow as the raven flies. Generations of Westchester County residents celebrated holidays and special occasions over the more than four decades Emily and her son John operated the venerable Pound Ridge establishment. The original part of the building was built as a residence around 1833, attributed to Alsop Hunt Lockwood. Eventually it served as a boarding house known as Dexter Lodge. By the early 1900s the population of this part of the county dropped precipitously as farming in the area fell into steep decline. By the 1930s the building, like many of its neighbors, was rundown…
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The Obstreperous Tarrytown Goats
In fairness to goats everywhere, Tarrytown goats are not unique in their obstreperousness. They are an unruly animal across the board. However, here in Sleepy Hollow Country we have more than our share of oddities, and our goats are no exception. Make that past tense. At the time of writing, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow restrict livestock within village limits. Here are three of our favorite tales of Tarrytown goats. Tarrytown Goat Sets Monetary Policy In the late 1800s the United States Congress hotly debated changes to monetary policy. At issue in the “money question” of the day was whether to base American currency on gold or on silver. Further, there…
