History of Sleepy Hollow Sleepy Hollow, Hudson River village defies the passage of time and has managed to preserve both its history and natural beauty. The village is known for its fabulous legends and great history and has a wide range of outdoor adventures and activities for the locals and tourists.The Village of Sleepy Hollow belonged to the larger province of the Native American tribe, Weckquaesgeck Indians, who are described as a Mohican Tribe or a Delaware Tribe1. The Sleepy Hollow countryside is made famous by the author Washington Irving. The village is located in the lower Hudson River valley and is today home to several interesting historic points and cultural institutions. New York’s Hudson River Valley remains a historical structure for the past three centuries. Its cultural heritage began with the Dutch and English settlers in the 27th century2. The historic highways followed the Hudson River from Tarrytown in the north though the six counties in the fertile valley of the Catskill Mountain to the west and the Berkshire Hills and Taconic highlands towards the east. Tarrytown is home to two historic properties, Lyndhurst, and Sunnyside Rohrs.Washington Irving Washington Irving mentions Sleepy Hollow and its people in his writings. He talks about the eastern shore of Hudson, the broad expansion of the river that was dominated by the Dutch navigators and the small town of Tarrytown 3. He is among the country's first great writers, who based his tales on the scenery of the Hudson Valley.
____________________1 Henry Steine."History of the Village”. 2016. sleepyhollowny.gov. (April 6, 2016). http://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/home/pages/history-of-the-village2 Rohrs, Kirsten. 1998. Hudson River valley holidays. Colonial Homes 24 (6): 92.3 Historic sleepy hollow cemetery. 1918. Park and Cemetery and Landscape Gardening (1900-1931) 28 (3): 56.
Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown
Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow have just about 20, 000 residents but boast of the most historic tourist attractions such as Phillipsburg Manor, Washington Irving's home, Rockefeller estate, Jay Gould's Mansion and Sunnyside 3. The region gets inquiries from tourists from all over the world. Tourist-related enterprises in the communities are thriving, and the region draws more than 200,000 visitors a year. Sleepy Hollow Country remains one of significant tourist attractions in the region. Tarrytown is a famous little place that lies on the verdant slopes of the Greenburg hills. Its chronicles date back to more than two centuries when the first purchases were made by the European adventures. The riverside settlements grew at a fast pace because of the neighboring New-England colonies. Tarrytown kept pace with the developments and son turned into a populous and thriving village. It was an active center of the national struggle for independence. British vessels and troops made their way up the river and into the neighborhood of Tarrytown. The countryside lay beaten the warring armies, and the scales of the war went up and down. Side by side the history, there are poetic and romantic associations seen with Hudson 4. The beautiful river and it shores, the verdant valleys, and mountains inspired many poets and artists. Englishman Henry Hudson, hired by a Dutch trading company, stumbled into Hudson Valley by accident. Hudson Highlands area begins about 50 miles north of New York City and the area saw an influx of colonists and the area during the
____________________3 Destination -- sleepy hollow: Westchester sites attract thousands of visitors. (focus tourism). 2002. Westchester County Business Journal 41 (20): 15.4 Richards, T. Addison. 1860. The Hudson: Sleepy hollow. The village of Tarrytown. Vol. 55. New York: American Periodicals Series II.
1600s. Hudson River played a significant role in the quest for independence5. The Historical Society, Inc. serves Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown and houses collections and artifacts from the region. Those artifacts comprise of educational, commercial, militia, and domestic objects. Research collections carry newspapers, books on state history, historic maps and atlases and more. The Historical Society organizes walking tours that introduce one to the unique history of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow6. The journey takes the locals and visitors through past historic sites and buildings, telling tales of historical accounts of real people and events.
The rich history During 1609, the Sleepy Hollow belonged to Weckquaesgeck Indians, a Native American tribe known as the Mohican or Delaware Tribe. Earlier the relations been the Dutch and the tribe was relatively peaceful. Later, the war opened between them. However, it is still not clear when Europeans first settled in the Sleepy Hollow area exactly. A Dutch colonist Van der Donck stated to the Pocantico River as Sleepers’ Haven. This is perhaps where the village got its Anglicized name as Sleepy Hollow. British took over the New Netherlands colony in 1664 and retitled it as New York 7. Gradually, the ambitious Dutchmen increased their influence with initial councils and governments of New York and
____________________5 Rebecca Haynes. Explore The Hudson Valley's Rich History. 2016. hudsonriver.com (April 6, 2016). http://www.hudsonriver.com/hudson-river-history6 "Historical Society." 2015. visitsleepyhollow.com. (April 6, 2016). http://visitsleepyhollow.com/historic-sites/historical-society/7 " Henry Steine."History of the Village”. 2016. sleepyhollowny.gov. (April 6, 2016). http://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/home/pages/history-of-the-village
bought large areas of land from tribes along the Hudson. Pocantico Purchase is one such acquisition that represents the majority of the current-day Sleepy Hollow. There are a mill, church and a manor house built on the lower ends of Pocantico. The Upper Mills was made of some hundred acres and preserved as forest. Today’s Sleepy Hollow village is made of a couple of farms and the Upper Mills. Upper Philipsburg extends from Dobbs Ferry until the Croton River and is made of mills, church, mills and surrounding lands. In the early 1700s, the village became a hub of movement for nearby farmers and people traveled miles to appear for the Sunday services at the Dutch church and baptisms and marriages 8. The mill became a popular destination during harvest time, and the expanse of Sleepy Hollow was commonly frequented by local families by the time of the Revolution. These families were mostly French Huguenot, Dutch-American, Swiss, and German.
The Sleepy Hollow area was varied and miscellaneous even in colonial times and there were African American slaves and Native Americans present. After the War of Independence, local farmers got the chance to purchase their tenant farms and towards the conclusion of the eighteenth century, Old Dutch ways prevailed in the area. Washington Irving visited Sleepy Hollow during the late 1790s and traveled the area, hunting, hiking and fishing 9. His visits later were immortalized in American literature as the story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that draws deeply from Sleepy Hollow’s magnificent landscape and interesting customs.
____________________8 " Henry Steine."History of the Village”. 2016. sleepyhollowny.gov. (April 6, 2016). http://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/home/pages/history-of-the-village
9 " Henry Steine."History of the Village”. 2016. sleepyhollowny.gov. (April 6, 2016). http://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/home/pages/history-of-the-village
The industrial and commercial past
Sleepy Hollow waterfront had docked, and there was a market boat at Tarrytown Harbor which plied between New York and the neighboring Tarrytown, that later emerged as a burgeoning commercial center in the early nineteenth century. Sleepy Hollow area remained wholly agricultural. However, the industrial age touched Sleepy Hollow by the 1840’s as the railroad put its imprint on the riverside 10. A part of the village was used to layout with streets. Immigrant workers began to come in and settle in the area, bringing with them new traditions and styles. Irish, Italian, and German came looking for opportunities. New houses of worship came up, thus eclipsing the importance of the Old Dutch Church. There was a new Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow with polished granite and grand monuments.
Commerce and industry were influencing Sleepy Hollow and its present and future. Millionaires purchased large farmlands to build impressive homes. Because of the expanding workforce and their needs, modest new homes came up. Affluent professionals also came to settle here in new developments at Sleepy Hollow Manor and Philipse Manor French-Canadian, Slovak and Polish workers arrived during the post-World War II years, followed by Dominicans, Cubans, Ecuadorians and others 11. The industrial age did usher in economic opportunities in the village but faded away the village’s historic and cultural legacy at the same time. Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow is a witness of those past three centuries and remains the oldest church in New York State. Many
____________________10 " Henry Steine."History of the Village”. 2016. sleepyhollowny.gov. (April 6, 2016). http://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/home/pages/history-of-the-village
11 " Henry Steine."History of the Village”. 2016. sleepyhollowny.gov. (April 6, 2016). http://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/home/pages/history-of-the-village
acres in the northern part have bene donated to build public state park preserve. The Rockefeller mansion is open to the public. Cold Spring, a small town across the West Point is well known for its quaint atmosphere, magnificent scenery, and antique shops. Established during the War of 1812, it was selected for manufacturing railroad engines and cannonballs because of its proximity to West Point and easier access to the river. The first Catholic Church to be built for the foundry workers was The Chapel of Our Lady in Cold Spring 12. The foundry continued to thrive after the war's end because of its location and as a primary transportation route because of the Erie Canal link to Hudson River. The Putnam County Historical Society Foundry School Museum showcases documents, records, articles, photos and letters from the 19th century. The Hudson River
The Hudson River has been the backbone of the economic and environmental prosperity in the region. It was also the center of revolutionary struggles and fights. Historians believe that American tribes lived peacefully along the river before the arrival of the Europeans, who were attempting to find a shortcut to India. There were development pressures from the north of the New York City on the banks of the river. The battle to clean up the river has lasted for more than twenty-five years and this is thrice the time of the revolutionary wars as Hudson River cleanup 13. Communities are coming together for the river as they understand its significance as the economic engine with other industries.
____________________12 "Rebecca Haynes. Explore The Hudson Valley's Rich History. 2016. hudsonriver.com (April 6, 2016). http://www.hudsonriver.com/hudson-river-history13 "Homsy, George. 2008. Reclaiming the hudson. Planning 74, (4).
The Hudson River Valley has played a central role in defining the consequence of the Revolutionary War. The British invaded the valley from three directions, but George Washington strategic decisions to maintain control of the Hudson River 14. The British returned but never threatened the Hudson Highlands. Hudson Valley was the fastest growing region between 1820 and 1830. The civil war marked the ends of one period of Hudson Valley history to begin another. Critical events occurring in Hudson Valley towns have influenced the course of American history. Inhabited by Native American for four centuries, the commerce of Hudson River was the lifeblood for New York State for centuries. Water transportation made it possible for industries to develop and the natural wealth and beauty of the region lured artists, writers, and poets. Famous tales such as “The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle” took place in the Hudson Valley 15.
The Hudson River enjoyed years of military, strategic and economic importance, especially after the invention of the steamboat in 1807 that made way for fast and affordable travel. More than a hundred vessels were making their way up and down the river carrying a million passengers. The Hudson Valley became a focal point because of the river and Americans continued their struggles with freedom and building their identity. Hudson River was the main arteries of trade in the nation and opened gateway to the west, thus prompting major economic expansion in the area in the process 16. Cruises on the Hudson River are still popular.
____________________14 "The American Revolution in the Hudson River Valley." 20164. Hudsonrivervalley.com. (April 6, 2016). http://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/Files/Brochures/109744HudsonRevolution.pdf15 " Hardie Truesdale and Joanne Michaels, Hudson River Towns: Highlights from the Capital Region to Sleepy Hollow Country (SUNY Press, 2011), 168. 16 " Rebecca Haynes. Explore The Hudson Valley's Rich History. 2016. hudsonriver.com (April 6, 2016). http://www.hudsonriver.com/hudson-river-history,
Famous heritage of Sleepy Hollow Rockefeller estate is a spectacular house that was built in 1910. The magnificent estate is well maintained and offers some of the best views of the Hudson River Valley. Not far is the Union Church also referred to as Rockefeller Chapel and is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows. Towards the south is Sunnyside estate that is known to reflect the real magic and mystery of the Hudson River Valley. Lyndhurst is a gothic castle right next to Sunnyside estate that was built in 1840’s and 1860’s and boasts of expansive grounds. Another notable point is the Phippsburg Manor that carries a historical significance. The wind-powered mill was operated by enslaved Africans in the 1700s. It is observed that most Americans are unaware of the presence of slavery except for during the colonial America. About eight miles from Phippsburg Manor is Van Cortlandt Manor that is an original 18th-century tavern furnished with antiques 17. Historic Hudson Valley takes care of those historical points in Sleepy Hollow. Historic Hudson Valley (HHV), was founded by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and is a nonprofit organization that oversees restorations in Sleepy Hollow and its properties. Philipsburg Manor is a living-history museum in Sleepy Hollow and was established in the160018. The fifty thousand acres plantation produced flour and hardtack plus other goods. Enslaved Africans labored in the manor house and the Hudson Valley grounds, who were later sold and their families were torn apart. Slavery up north is something one knows nothing about or tends to ignore. New York State did not abolish slavery until 1827, and this was just about 34 years before the Civil War. Historic
____________________17 "Popular country destinations in the historic sleepy hollow. (leisure travel transportation: Advertising and resource guide). 2002. Fairfield County Business Journal 41 (42): S418 "Ames, Katrine. 2012. The real story of sleepy hollow is not a legend: Historic hudson Valley, philipsburg manor, and the american past retold. Vol. 179. New York: Brant Publications, Incorporated.
Hudson Valley tackled the issues, not until1999 and finally saw African-American slavery as racism. The African-American history of Philipsburg Manor was after all part of American history. HHV set up an African-American advisory board that organizes monthly meetings to discuss any issues. The prime aim was to educate the masses about slavery in the North, discuss cultural diversity and the relationships between European tenant farmers and the Africans. It is essential to tell the real truth about slavery and dispel any myths. It was essential to show the slaves as individuals, with families and emotions. History often portrays those who were enslaved as objects. The enslaved individuals at Philipsburg Manor are referred to as millers. It takes the time to understand the complicated situation and the intricacies of slavery. The enslaved were bargained with the only things they had, their skills and labor, in exchange for their desires 19.
Conclusion
Sleepy Hollow is the country home of the most famous writers, Washington Irving. Sunnyside, located in Tarrytown is a property of Historic Hudson Valley. As the village enters the twenty-first century, it still carries its famous heritage, community diversity, and its riverfront location. It still has the ability to create and preserve history. History is fluid and continues to develop further at Sleepy Hollow, as HHV continues its work on the Philipsburg Manor and addressing the highly charged issues. The Hudson Valley and its future are taken care of actively by different environmental groups who are working towards lowering the pollution in the river while the Historical Society, Inc. is serving Sleepy Hollow, preserving its culture and heritage.
____________________19 "Ames, Katrine. 2012. The real story of sleepy hollow is not a legend: Historic Hudson Valley, Philipsburg Manor, and the American past retold. Vol. 179. New York: Brant Publications, Incorporated.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ames, Katrine. 2012. The real story of sleepy hollow is not a legend: Historic hudson valley, philipsburg manor, and the american past retold. Vol. 179. New York: Brant Publications, Incorporated.
Destination -- sleepy hollow: Westchester sites attract thousands of visitors. (focus tourism). 2002. Westchester County Business Journal 41 (20): 15.
Henry Steine."History of the Village”. 2016. sleepyhollowny.gov. (April 6, 2016). http://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/home/pages/history-of-the-village
Historic sleepy hollow cemetery. 1918. Park and Cemetery and Landscape Gardening (1900-1931) 28 (3): 56.
"Historical Society." 2015. visitsleepyhollow.com. (April 6, 2016). http://visitsleepyhollow.com/historic-sites/historical-society/
Hardie Truesdale and Joanne Michaels, Hudson River Towns: Highlights from the Capital Region to Sleepy Hollow Country (SUNY Press, 2011), 168.
Homsy, George. 2008. Reclaiming the hudson. Planning 74, (4).
Popular country destinations in historic sleepy hollow. (leisure travel transportation: Advertising and resource guide). 2002. Fairfield County Business Journal 41 (42): S4.
Rebecca Haynes. Explore The Hudson Valley's Rich History. 2016. hudsonriver.com (April 6, 2016). http://www.hudsonriver.com/hudson-river-history
Richards, T. Addison. 1860. The Hudson: Sleepy hollow. The village of Tarrytown. Vol. 55. New York: American Periodicals Series II.
Rohrs, Kirsten. 1998. Hudson river valley holidays. Colonial Homes 24 (6): 92.
The American Revolution in the Hudson River Valley." 20164. Hudsonrivervalley.com. (April 6, 2016). http://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/Files/Brochures/109744HudsonRevolution.pdf
