THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW - THE LEGEND LIVES ON

My final stop of the day was in the Village of Sleepy Hollow, New York.  The small village was originally known as North Tarrytown. It was made famous by in the writings of Washington Irving and his popular short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”   The village embraced its notoriety and changed its name to Sleepy Hollow in 1996. Thanks to Irving, Sleepy Hollow is said to have some of the most haunted places in America, including Philipsburg Manor House, The Old Dutch Cemetery and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

It was late in the afternoon when I arrived in the tiny village and I made my way to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where Washington Irving himself is buried. In addition to writing “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Washington Irving also wrote the “Rip Van Winkle.”

 

Washington Irving was born in New York City on April 3, 1783. He was named after George

Washington and actually attend his inauguration in 1789. He received a private education and developed an early love of writing, penning a number of short essays using the pen name of Jonathan Oldstyle.  By his own admission he was a poor student, but did practice law for a few years after passing the bar exam in 1806.  In 1815 he traveled to England to help his brother in the family business which eventually failed. During this time, he composed a collection of stories and essays that became the basis of his most famous works, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle.” Irving spent most of his adult life traveling abroad and at his “Sunnyside” Estate in New York.  On November 28, 1859, only 8-months after finishing the final volume of his Biography of George Washington, Washington Irving died at his estate.  He is buried here in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Just a short distance from the grave of Washington Irving, is the grave of Andrew Carnegie who is credited with leading the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19^th century.  Through his leadership he made Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Steel Company the largest and most successful steel

companies in the United States. He eventually sold the company to J. P. Morgan for $480 million dollars, which is about $80 billion in today money.  Under Morgan’s leadership, Carnegie Steel became U. S. Steel. Over the years, Carnegie developed a personal wealth of more than $310 billion dollars and devoted his life to philanthropy, giving away must of his wealth to funding local libraries, and universities. He founded the Carnegie Institution for Science and Carnegie Mellon University.  He also built Carnegie Hall and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.  Andrew Carnegie died on August 11, 1919 at the age of 83.

Both Washington Irving and Andrew Carnegie are buried in the older section of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. And it was getting late when I made my way to the newer section, which is dominated by large private mausoleums. While driving around, I stumbled on the large Chrysler mausoleum. It is here that the founder and first president of the Chrysler Corporation is resting.  Walter Percy Chrysler was born on April 2, 1875 in Wamego, Kansas. He became involved in the automobile industry at an early age,

eventually becoming president of the Buick Motor Company.  In 1921 he took control of the Maxwell Motor Company and a few years later he absorbed Maxwell into his newly formed Chrysler Corporation. The new company grew and began creating the Plymouth and DeSoto Brands of Automobiles and in 1928 took control of the Dodge Corporation.  As a result of his success, Walter Chrysler financed the construction of one of New York City most famous buildings. At the time of construction, the Chrysler Building was the tallest building in the world but that claim to fame was short lived as a few years later the Empire State Building surpassed it.  Walter Chrysler suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and passed away on August 18, 1940.

Just a short distance away is another very large private mausoleum where the “Queen of Mean” is resting. Leona Helmsley was a real estate agent when she met and married multi-millionaire real estate investor Harry Helmsley. Together the two concentrated on building and owing some of the world’s best and most exclusive hotels, including the New York Palace, the Park Lane Hotel and the

St. Moritz.  The Company’s portfolio also included the sole ownership of the Empire State Building. Being personally involved in all aspects of the business, Leona was notoriously known for being mean and cruel to everyone she came in contact with.  Employees often referred to her as “The Queen of Mean.” Leona was charge and convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United State and tax evasion, for either failing to file or for filing false tax returns.  Harry was originally charged with the same crimes but was in ill health and physically unable to stand trial. During her trial Leona’s former housekeeper, Elizabeth Baum testified that she once asked Leona “You must pay a lot of taxes,” to which she replied, “We don’t pay taxes, only the little people pay taxes.”  The jury wasted no time in convicting her and she eventually served 18-months in prison. Harry died on January 4, 1997 while Leona lived 10 more years and died on August 2, 2007.

It was about dusk dark when I started to make my way out of the cemetery and my route took be down the hill and around the back side of the cemetery. It was here in a heavily forested part of the

cemetery that I encountered a small wooden bridge that crosses Pocantico Creek.  Legend has it that this is where Ichabod Crane was unseated by The Headless Horseman in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”  While the original bridge has long since rotted away and its original location is unknown, “The Headless Horseman Bridge is one of the area most popular destinations.

It was almost dark when I left the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and returned to the Quality Inn in Fishkill. After another quick supper at the 84 Diner another great day came to an end.