Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in New York

                                                               
The Sleepy Hollow cemetery rests within the same grounds as the Old Dutch church, though they are two separate entities. Originally incorporated as the Tarrytown Cemetery, the name was changed posthumously to honor Washington Irving.

The graves are an array of towering Victorian memorials, lavish crypts, and marble mausoleums. Besides Washington Irving, the memorial grounds are a Who's Who of famous deceased Americans. Several high standing employees of the controversial Standard Oil Company. Including John and Nelson Rockefeller make Sleepy Hollow their final resting place.

Other top industrialists buried within include cosmetics magnate Elizabeth Arden. Leo Baekeland, a man known as the father of plastic. Steel empire founder Andrew Carnegie and his family. Walter Chrysler, the founder of the Chrysler Corporation. Even real estate mogul Harry Helmsley and his wife Leona are buried here. Leona Helmsley is known for bequeathing 12 million dollars to her dog after her passing.

Several other graves in the yard represent several prominent actors, artists, athletes, authors, and politicians. Certainly a wide array of various eccentrics. But after all isn't that just what America really is?

The cemetery routinely offers guided tours around the grounds. A guide points out some of the famous grave markers as well as some of the abnormal ones. Evenings in the Autumn season a Washington Irving re-enactor stops by to read his ghostly short story.

Old Dutch Church Sleepy Hollow, New York

The Old Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow has undergone many changes through the centuries. Fires wreaked havoc on the site, renovations were done, and than stripped away. But through resilience and neighborly pride the church has stood for over 300 years. It's believed to be the oldest church in New York state, it's certainly one of it's most famous.

When Frederick Philipse a very wealthy and prominent man relocated himself and his family to the area the parcel of land was a just few dozen gravestones. With his massive estate nearby he decided to build a church for his new neighbors. Following the passing of his wife a few years later. Frederick quickly remarried and was urged by his newlywed bride to build a more permanent structure for the community. Massive natural limestone rocks were used to strengthen the integrity of the building. In 1697 the first congregation and Pastor christened the church.

In 1961 the church was deemed a National landmark. It's not just the history or gothic construction that attracts so many visitors. It's the same hallowed grounds the Headless Horseman haunted Ichabod Crane in the legendary tale. In fact several of the deceased located within the grounds are believed to have been models for the characters in the book. Eleanor and Katerina Van Tassel are both believed to have been the inspiration for Katrina Van Tassel. A likeness to antagonist Brom Bones is also resting peacefully here. So are Joseph and Samuel Youngs, both or one of these men were believed to have been the basis for the Ichabod Crane character. According to the legendary short story by Washington Irving. This same cemetery is the final resting place of the headless Hessian who haunted poor Ichabod.

The sequestered situation of this church seems always to have made it a favorite haunt of troubled spirits. It stands on a knoll, surrounded by locust-trees and lofty elms, from among which its decent, whitewashed walls shine modestly forth, like Christian purity beaming through the shades of retirement. A gentle slope descends from it to a silver sheet of water, bordered by high trees, between which, peeps may be caught at the blue hills of the Hudson. To look upon its grass-grown yard, where the sunbeams seem to sleep so quietly, one would think that there at least the dead might rest in peace.

Sleepy Hollow, New York

The village of Sleepy Hollow, New York rests approximately 30 miles to the north of midtown Manhattan. Residents in the quaint town are exuberant, and friendly. There's a crispness in the freshness of the air, and astounding views of the Hudson as well as the city skyline. The two places seem almost a million miles away. Maybe that's the reason so many city slickers have been relaxing here for decades.

The town was originally incorporated as North Tarrytown. In 1996 the residents opted to have the towns name changed to Sleepy Hollow in honor of the infamous Washington Irving story. The community has embraced the change ever since. The Headless Horsemen can be spotted on any number of places throughout the village. I like to think it's like Halloween there every day. I doubt the residents feel the same.

During Autumn the town comes alive with festivities and activities for everyone to enjoy. Children's activities can be found going on at Washington Irving's former home, Sunnyside. Ghost tours are available at the historic cemetery that's also a burial ground of the Who's Who in America. While the braver ones head to the Phillipsburg Manor on evenings to get spooked at one of the top Halloween attractions in the country.

Keep following for more on Sleepy Hollow including spots to visit from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens

Cruising along the rural bypass on a Sunday morning. Feeling the breeze and coolness of a fresh Summer day. The sun beaming in the sky caught a reflection of beauty, hidden in neglect. Swerving into the overgrown driveway, behind towers of weeds and grass. Nestled inside of a dilapidated building, next to freshly manicured graves, was a beautiful hand painted stained glass, nearing it's final days. The roof of the building was quite in shambles and seemed destined for collapse at any time. Vaults lined the wall of the neglected memorial garden, sadly they too seemed forgotten.

The Good Shepherd Memorial Garden is just a small plot of graves that someone still cares for. Sadly the rest of the property has certainly seen better times. Not being familiar with the area I asked several locals if they knew any more about this lost structure. Unfortunately most knew very little. I had heard a few intriguing stories about crimes being committed with in the grounds. Though no evidence to support anything.
Maybe you know more about this mysterious property?  Maybe there's nothing to know?

The Gardens are located off route 315 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Do you know any more information?

Mark Twain & "The Remarkable Dream"

While in the city of Williamsport giving lectures. Famed writer Mark Twain found himself on a set of church steps staring in disgust. He found the deplorable conditions of the nearby cemeteries inadequate for housing the dead. As the author gazes off in disbelief he's approached by a skeleton who's gathering up his remains. Soon other residents of the cemetery join in. Together they scour the streets searching for a new final resting place.

Twain shares his conservation with the skeleton in his short story "The Remarkable Dream." The short story first appeared in the "Buffalo Express" in 1870. The author's story eventually raised awareness in the city. The tombs which had become too desecrated were eventually moved to a more fitting resting place.

Hooded Grave Cemetery Pennsylvania

So what do vampires, werewolves, grave robbers and the wealthy all have in common? No, this isn't a joke. They're all part of the mystery of the Hooded Grave Cemetery. Two of the gravestones in this rural resting place are encaged in what resemble large Victorian era birdcages. But why you may ask?

That's a question that holds much speculation. A few believe those buried in these graves may be vampires. Originally the cages had locks on them, leading to the assumption they weren't trying to keep people out but to keep the dead from escaping. Some believe these cages were installed to keep out werewolves. A few of the locals believed they were in the area, killing their livestock. They thought by caging the graves they would keep the wolves from desecrating the deceased bodies.

Most believe that the cages were built as a show of wealth. The cages are quite elaborately designed and quite ornate. The family members of the deceased in these caged graves were active in the iron ore business, a very lucrative business during the 19th century. But the most logical reason these cages exist is to keep out grave robbers. During the mid 19th century young corpses were in high demand. The city of Philadelphia at this time was the epicenter of medical science and studies. With well over 1,000 medical students a good corpse was often difficult to find. It became nearly a rite of passage for young medical students to rob graves of their corpses.

So what's the truth? I'll leave that up to you to speculate on, or you could read more in volume 20 of Outta the Way. Whatever your conclusion, you can be sure author Anne Rice would be greatly inspired by these mysterious graves from a past century!

Video of Hooded Grave Cemetery, click here!

Lancaster Cemetery and Augusta Bitner's Grave

Take a late night stroll through the Lancaster Cemetery and you’ll feel the history of the city engulf you, but be cautious of what else you may encounter in this plot of graves. Late night passersby tell tales of encountering a woman in a Victorian dress strolling the hallowed grounds. This woman is thought to be the spirit of Augusta Bitner, a young woman who died during childbirth and has yet to come to rest. Her grave is one of the most exquisite in the cemetery: a large statue of the Virgin Mary, which is thought to come to life during full moon nights. If you visit on the eve of her death, you may even witness tears of sorrow slowly weeping from the statue’s eyes. It’s thought Augusta will never rest until she learns the fate of her precious child who cost her, her own life.