When most people hear of Sleepy Hollow, they envision the characteristic small town and accompanying Headless Horseman. But few people realize that the author of this tale, Washington Irving, used both setting and events inspired by Tarrytown, New York. Learn more about this historic small town and the fascinating events that inspired one of the most noteworthy horror stories in American literature.
In the 1700s, this small town in the Hudson River Valley was run by outlaws and those trying to impose laws in light of the Revolutionary War. There was also a large population of German mercenaries known as Hessian Jagers, famous for their horsemanship skills.
They were considered a rather ruthless group by the Dutch residents, who told tales of German horsemen killing mercilessly. At one point, the headless body of a Hessian soldier was discovered nearby and buried in an unmarked Dutch graveyard. This would soon become an iconic image in the world of ghost stories.
Those familiar with the fictional Sleepy Hollow tale know of the teacher by the name of
Ichabod Crane. Author Washington Irving met a military man named Ichabod Crane in 1814 and was inspired by his name and mannerisms, drawing upon them for his story.
The town of North Tarrytown hadn’t officially embraced its association with the Legend of Sleepy Hollow until 1996. Until then, it was widely accepted that Irving used Kinderhook, New York as his inspriation.
Today, a visit to Tarrytown’s Sleepy Hollow will prove as quaint and charming as you could imagine. That is…until the sun sets and the ominous feel of the town truly sets in. Putting yourself in Irving’s shoes, it’s not difficult to imagine how hearing tales of Tarrytown’s early days and experiencing the enchantment of this small town put the famous story into motion.
Have you visited this small and historic town in New York? We'd love to hear about your experience there!
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