History and the Headless Horseman.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, by Washington Irving, has been called “America’s First Ghost story." It is, perhaps, the story that most represents the Halloween season. But it also works in a lot of history, history that deserves to be remembered.
Check out our new shop for fun The History Guy merchandise:
thehistoryguy-...
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
You can purchase the bow tie worn in this episode at The Tie Bar:
www.thetiebar....
All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
Find The History Guy at:
Patreon: / thehistoryguy
Facebook: / thehistoryguyyt
Please send suggestions for future episodes: [e-mail]
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. If you like history too, this is the channel for you.
Subscribe for more forgotten history: / @thehistoryguychannel .
Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:
thehistoryguy-...
Script by THG
#history #thehistoryguy #Haloween

[@CarlosRomero-kn8vm]

I lived in Sleepy for fifteen years. I was a proud part of the Sleepy Hollow Industrial Complex. While a captain in the fire department, we replaced our fire engine that was yellow and white with a new one that is orange and black. We have a great picture of the Horseman on the side and a flaming jack-o-lantern on the back.

[@magistrumartium]

That is frickin' awesome!

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

Been there; love Tarry Town!

[@mattcoffey-s6b]

I would hate to live there

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@mattcoffey-s6bI would hate for you to live here too.

[@lilykatmoon4508]

That’s awesome.

[@LaikaLycanthrope]

I remember Wonderful World of Disney showing its version along with another cartoon as a kid. Good times.

[@samanthab1923]

When I was a kid I saw that, Ichabod Crane tale. Loved it. Tarrytown wasn’t far from my Nan & Pop’s house. We were out for a ride in the country & they bought me The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I was still too little but held onto that book. It’s spooky section of the world 👻🎃🍁

[@kennethrouse7942]

And I'll tell the truth and admit that I'm also old enough to have watched it one Halloween on Shirley Temple Theater! 🎃

[@barrydysert2974]

me too and i'm 62

[@garycarpenter6433]

Disney's version is my favorite especially with Bing Crosby as the narrator

[@samanthab1923]

@ Yes! And Der Bingle’s song 🎃

[@jayjablunov4697]

When we were young kids back in the early 70s, our dad would read this to us every Halloween, and I've been fond of the story and the legend ever since. In October of 2020, during the last few months of my dad's decline, I got to read the story to him, a memory I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. As an aside, one year my work took me through the Hudson Valley and I stopped in Sleepy Hollow to take in the history and the scenery. A stroll through the cemetery there can be a profound reminder of our mortality as the ultimate equalizer as there in that graveyard, one can find the resting places of both industrialist Andrew Carnegie and labor leader Samuel Gompers.

[@daviswall3319]

Good stuff Jay

[@LenTexDIY]

When I was a kid in the 70's, I had a Fisher Price record player and had a 45 record of the story. I'd play it every Halloween and it scared the crap out of me every time. :)

[@SlapShotRegatta22]

Mt. Pleasant native here. Been hearing the Legend of Sleepy Hollow since I was a wee child. When I went away to college (right around the time the Johnny Depp movie was released) I used to tell people that Sleepy Hollow was a real place and no one ever believed me 🤣😂 It's a great little town surrounded by tons and tons of history and historical sites. Definitely worth a visit.

[@TonysMusic1974]

I took the train from Long Island last week to check out the Halloween parade. Fun day

[@michaelmanning5379]

Years ago at a Revolutionary War re-enactment, I met a fellow whose persona was an American dragoon, complete with horse. He tells me that every year he plays the Headless Horseman at Sleepy Hollow. Being short of stature, he is able to wear a horseman's cloak in a way that makes the top of his head look like a headless neck. Carrying a Jack-o-Lantern, apparently he scares the bejeebers out of the kids. Lo and behold, at 12.25 there is a still of the fellow I met.

[@widowrumstrypze9705]

That's so cool! How tall do you reckon he was, with his original head, that is?

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

Must be quite the equestrian to be able to maneuver so confidently.

[@LucienSabre]

@@eldorados_lost_searcher I was about to write the same thing. 👍👏👏

[@michaelmanning5379]

@@widowrumstrypze9705 I would say 5'-5" or so.

[@michaelmanning5379]

@@eldorados_lost_searcher IIRC, he had a stable of horses which he used to mount the re-enactors in his unit. I watched them do a demonstration of military horsemanship at a "Burning of the Valley" event in Schoharie, NY. They all impressed me, non-rider that I am.

[@joshuawells835]

The Headless Horseman was always the story I told around a campfire during the annual Father-Son Campout with my church.

[@jamesf3084]

I was born in Tarrytown hospital, raised in Irvington, moved to Tarrytown, at age 17, about a quarter mile from the Washington Irving estate, worked in Elmsford evenings senior year in high school and grandparents are buried in Sleepy Hollow cemetery.

[@John-g6x1h]

That would just be so cool!

[@vinniegiordano3243]

My wife's family are Van Tassels. Katrina is an aunt on her family tree.

[@governorblack]

“Sleepy Hollow Industrial Complex” is just about the most History Guy thing ever.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Actually came from the New York Times.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Actually came from the New York Times.

[@timgagliano621]

I live nearby. It’s a real thing. The town grows 5x around that time of year.

[@150moonlightshadow]

Your mention of the huge tree about ten paces wide also brought back a few memories as well. If you know where to look for them, like in nearby Hartsdale, you can find a few splendid, gnarled old oak trees that easily date back to George Washington’s time. There aren’t many left and I heard earlier this year that at least one of them needed to be cut down for its own health, but they are about as enormous and huge as the description given in Andre’s capture.

[@debbiecalvino422]

Yes the Balmville tree has to be cut down

[@jccampbell100]

This morning I caught myself narrating (out loud) mundane task in THG voice 😅 “He folded the shirt……and put it…in the drawer”. Had to come over and delighted to see a new video! Thank you

[@andrewbillingsley9377]

You really must get out more

[@shelleymarquis2887]

Thank you! I love Irving! My older brother was born in Tarrytown so I'm familiar with the area. I also had a paternal aunt who owned a beautiful farm in Morristown, NJ, another very historical area. When my aunt moved to Ft Pierce, Fl to ease her arthritis the farm was sold to the town to become a public park. I haven't seen it since I was a little girl. I may try to find it before I shuffle off but it will make me cry. It was and is my idea of heaven. I wouldn't want to lose that memory to facts. (The Ft Pierce family history includes a prohibition era house of prostitution, building still standing, owned and run by my eldest paternal aunt who was killed rolling her convertible while roaring drunk ... long before I was born.) I consider Rip Van Winkle a time travel story and a dimensional swapping story as well as the first American sci-fi story. It struck me as time travel when I first read it in school in the 50s and of course, I was told that was wrong. Teachers were just the tallest bullies I had to deal with in those years. Not happy days; days of crushing conformity to gender roles for little girls who's moms built airplanes as my mom did. Can't have that! 😮 I ramble, but then all old people are boring while the history we lived through isn't. Ironic, ain't it?😅

[@mothercabbagepatch3344]

I never find old people boring. In fact, when I was a child, I used to harrass older people, so they would tell me about the past. It's where my love of history started. Your aunt sounds like quite a character ❤❤

[@aimeehartness9362]

Not boring at all!!! I loved every word… and relate whole heartedly to the “tallest bullies” and non-conforming gender roles based on inspiration from boundary busting Mothers! My Momma can do anything! If she doesn’t know how, she learns! And your Aunt; what a character!! Thanks for sharing🌻

[@justme_gb]

Fun fact: Springfield, Virginia's Washington Irving Middle School's mascot is the Headless Horseman.

[@widowrumstrypze9705]

That makes them the school with the nation's most badass mascot, for sure!

[@robertewalt7789]

The high school serving the Village of Sleepy Hollow is called Sleepy Hollow High School, their mascot are the Headless Horsemen.

[@amybeth323]

Kinderhook’s schools are Ichabod Crane (just down the road from the schoolhouse mentioned here). They’re known as The Riders.

[@robertneal4244]

One wonders if a spooky tale inside a book would send shivers down its own spine...

[@Richard-od7yd]

Ouch 🫤

[@mikewithers299]

I see what you did there. Very clever 🤣

[@davidsigalow7349]

I grew up in the Hudson Valley. Our 7th grade class was scheduled to take a field trip to Washington Irving's home and historical center, but it was postponed due to rain. We never did get to go, but I've driven through that area, and in the fall, it's very spooky.

[@cbroz7492]

BOM BOM bom bompba bomp..BOM BOM bombapa bomp bo... Rip van Winkle, Rip van Winkle...sleep sleep sleep

[@Trapster99]

There is a ghost of a Hessian slain in battle in Westchester County NY. The ghost resides in an abandoned mansion atop Quaker Ridge Road. He's the reason why this old property still sits abandoned.......very close to the Battle of White Planes .

[@GravesRWFiA]

I grew up about 20 miles from sleepy hollow, my wife and i went on our first date to their fall street fair about 30 years ago and it was NEVER the big deal that it is today of course 'crayon' is a *pen name* Crayon is french for pencil Major Andre is buried in Westminster Abbey, a minor soldier buried among the honored dead of the realm a martyr to the revolution.

[@matthewpuzzo8997]

It's become a personal Halloween tradition of mine to visit Sleepy Hollow on Halloween. I even saw the "Headless Horseman" riding through the cemetery three years ago (with a plastic pumpkin mask.)

[@CommercialForest]

👻 Horror fiction in text form is true art. When well done, the reader’s imagination creates imagery more terrifying than CGI.

[@romad357]

"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend!" Maxwell Scott in "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence". Scott was played by actor Carleton Young.

[@Cleveland.Ironman]

“When the legend becomes fact, print the legend!” - Fort Apache 1948

[@inisipisTV]

The line is said by a News reporter character in John Ford’s "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence."

[@Cleveland.Ironman]

@ Thank you for the correction, i knew it was from a John Ford / John Wayne western movie however i was not sure which one.

[@inisipisTV]

​@@Cleveland.IronmanNo problem. The Western Cavalry trilogy by John Ford and his fav actor John Wayne are such a classic films.

[@danmartin8892]

You should consider reading short stories related to holidays such as The legend of Sleepy Hallow and A Christmas Carol. You do such an amazing job with historical stories I think you would be great reading these classics.

[@feliciagaffney1998]

Yes! I vote for readings of historical stories, as well! lol 😃 📚 📖 🤓

[@bearbryant3495]

Every Xmas for many yrs I'd get together with 2 friends and we'd take turns reading Christmas Carol until we finished it or got too drunk to continue.

[@davedraycott5779]

Yeah he’s a great narrator well paced and changes in emphasis.

[@HLStrickland]

I'm sorry - the Muppets Christmas Carol is THE best ...EVER. You know narrated by Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat.

[@adrianwebster6923]

Local histories and folklore like this are really fascinating. Definitely worth remembering. For another often forgotten New York story, you may want to consider an episode on the Anti Rent war and late colonial/early American feudalism.

[@topfacemod]

My mom is from Chatham Village in Columbia County and was born in the hospital in Hudson NY. There's a bridge into Hudson that crosses the Hudson River name for the Washington Irving character Rip Van Winkle. Her friend went to a nearby high school in Sleepy Hallow named Sleepy Hallow High. in the 1970s

[@zyxw2000]

North Tarrytown wasn't renamed Sleepy Hollow till 1996. Are you sure of the names of the high school?

[@amcalabrese1]

My cousin was married in the Hudson Valley this summer so we visited many of the sites connected with the story (including Irving’s house and grave). There is a lot of interesting history up there

[@Zorglub1966]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="118">1:58</a> Ok, we have a sketch book from a guy named Crayon, Crayon=>pencil (wood pencil) in French.

[@Abbeville_Kid]

Sleepy Hollow has always been my favorite Halloween time tale.

[@adriang6259]

Another stirringly triumphant video, Sir. Well done, from Perth Western Australia.

[@samanthab1923]

I even like the Johnny Depp Sleepy Hollow. 👻🎃🍁

[@cauxzieruffhausen9547]

"You must never move the body." "Why not?" "Because."

[@gilpolanco1514]

Once again, your way of telling a story transforms me into a little kid who hears it for the very first time. You have a gift.

[@marysue7165]

I saw the Disney version when I was a kid in the theater. It scared me silly

[@HLStrickland]

I was TERRIFIED of the Wizard of Oz - the lying monkeys. SCARY STUFF. XD

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

I like this historical rendition.

[@Dinoguy555]

his bow tie is awesome

[@RussJennings]

What a great legacy left by Mr Irving, still shaping history a century later.

[@bobyoung1698]

Thank you! That tale has long been a favorite. I guess I've taken it for granted; I had no idea it was so complex.

[@timothycreasy2161]

This is an awesome story to cover rite at Halloween. The back story of these people bring new light to this for me .

[@tinamclaughlin1991]

Happy Halloween!

[@shawnharrington9548]

A great way to start my day off. Thank you.

[@paulkinzer7661]

I loved this! How many ways can the spooky phrase 'We may never know' come into play? I've always loved the ambiguous aspect of whether the Headless Horseman was real or a trick. Knowing that there are lots of other questionable aspects to this story is loads of fun.

[@DawnOldham]

As always, a well researched and well told story! Thank you, History Guy!

[@rockymountainlifeprospecti4423]

Great timing for things story! Thank you for putting together a interesting and informative short documentary in the well known headless horseman,or how well did we know until now? Looking forward to sharing what I learned with my teen niece and family..All the best THG! 🎃

[@zach7193]

The legend of Sleepy Hollow was mentioned in a episode of Arthur. It is said that the story has its roots from a soldier who was killed in battle. Hessian.

[@kylecarmichael5890]

The Sleepy Hollow Industrial Complex...I LOVE IT!😂😂😂

[@Richard-od7yd]

Go sit in any Hudson Valley Apple orchard on a typically Grey November Evening at about sunset . Now you know where Irving got his stories , from the sounds and sights of the wind .

[@hxcdanny3x]

was just up there last thursday walking around the cemetery

[@sailordude2094]

When I was 16 years old, I would go to the cemetery there at night. Really old tombstones, fun memories, thinking of the Headless Horseman!. Great channel, thanks for the history!

[@HM2SGT]

*There is a wonderful drive through the area on the Sawmill parkway. I couldn't resist turning off and visiting Sleepy Hollow during one of my first commutes between my home and The Notches of Northern New Hampshire and my duty station at the time at Naval Station Norfolk.* *You could do an interesting piece on The Sawmill parkway. Maybe tie it in with the skyline drive, or is it the Blue Ridge Parkway? I remember they were among the many WPA and CCC projects during the Depression.*

[@zyxw2000]

And the Bronx River Parkway, the oldest in the US, was built in 1933. It's just as narrow today as 90 years ago, but with 2024 traffic.

[@jaymiepobanz8801]

A most excellent detailing of this haunting tale and of facts surrounding its origin and history. Very enjoyable!

[@kenthawley5990]

"The Sleepy Hollow Industrial Complex." I believe Eisenhower warned us against this :)

[@magistrumartium]

Nope.

[@grene1955]

Authors always look for names to use for their characters. I have a friend who is New York Times best seller, and I keep hoping she will use my name for some nefarious character!

[@samanthab1923]

Do you have a good villain name? 😊

[@johnfun3394]

I always try for a different movie version of this story around Halloween, this worked great. Thanks

[@katiehewes423]

I like the one that Jeff Goldblum did….

[@paulholmes672]

Pithy with a capital Y, Sir! Love the connections, and Washington Irving sounds like an ironic character in his own literary world. Too bad he hadn't discovered Pirates, because don't all good stories...

[@MrsIda]

When I was trick or treating one year, my brother dressed up as the headless horseman. He rode through our neighborhood until he found me. He had taught his horse to prance and rear up on command. Half quarter horse and half Tennessee Walker, Red was an impressive figure! My brother scared the dickens out of me. I ran all the way home. No more candy! I just wanted to live! 😂

[@RedJax69]

I have always wondered about the truth behind the tale. I listen to the story every October and love it. Thank you for the deep dive.

[@John-g6x1h]

Can you imagine sitting around the fireplace in 1820 and reading that? You'd never go out at night again!

[@victorkreig6089]

I'd like to point out that those Hessians weren't demonized post-revolution. In fact something like 60% of them decided to defect and stay in America instead of going back or continuing to work for the British. The majority of them became farmers and community members just like everyone else.

[@workingcountry1776]

As a New Yorker educated in the Leather stocking area we had to read Washington Irving. Great old stories. Like most of your work; reminder of known facts and a few new ones. Ironic our previous minivan was built in Sleepy Hallow aka N. Tarrytown.

[@Blaqjaqshellaq]

I knew the story, along with "Rip Van Winkle," from the CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED comic book! Arguably, the story is about the new America vs. the old one (like Rip Van Winkle). Notice that Ichabod dreams of moving west after marrying Katrina...

[@kimfleury]

And "West" meant Michigan

[@scotto9591]

Young America had so many curious things about it. Especially short stories like this one. I still love the story of Paul Bunyan and his ox Babe. And please don't get me started about the works of Mr Twain 😂

[@johngregg5735]

Washington Irving was so busy that he didn't have time to write 'The Headless Horseman' Instead, he used ghost rider..... lol

[@HLStrickland]

You can let yourself out now .... XD

[@zyxw2000]

Ghost writer?

[@CandaceAustin-bv2wo]

Love being reminded of such great stories. Thank you❤

[@williamdonnelly224]

Thanks!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you!

[@badlandskid]

Idk… Ichabod comes from the OT, and it means “the glory of the Lord has departed”. Crane, well that’s a long, gangly bird. The literary description of that character fits the name, or Vice verse.

[@LBGirl1988]

Love this! Thank you!!!!

[@820hurleyj]

One of my favorite stories!

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

Its been quite a headless horseman halloween for me

[@jameswarkentin2798]

Very good, thank you. I went searching to find out if the legend had a basis in history. Your video came up, nine hours old!

[@debbiecalvino422]

Washington Irving's home Sunnyside in Tarrytown is a great historic home to tour!

[@Mylunaseas]

Pvt Abraham Van Tassel 1754-1825 was my 5th great grandfather and according to family tales (which must always be taken with a grain of salt) was Leah's father and the one for whom "Brom" Bones was named. Opinion varies on whether he was a quiet man who was slightly annoyed at this or if he he was a big red-haired brute of a man that threatened to thrash Washington Irving for his temerity. Interestingly, while this was my mother's family my father's family has a connection to your video as well. David Williams, a Tarry town farmer and my 6th great uncle, was the person who actually removed the plans from Major Andre's boot.

[@carolbaugh1300]

I always enjoy watching you. You are one of my favorite KZbinrs!!

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Back in the Saddle Again Naturally

[@ToneeRhianRose]

The part of the Headless Horseman may have been based on certain mythologies...Dullahans for example. They're based in Irish mythology & are depicted as headless riders on a black horse.

[@mikewithers299]

Growing up in upstate NY my teachers in the '70's read this story to us around this time of year. Spooked us every time 🤣

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Ichabod Crane was the first place holder for the name of Niles and Daphnes Crane baby . From the uproarious sitcom Frasier 🌈🌈🌈🌠 The More You Know

[@shadowdawg04]

Perhaps the best series ever written.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

@shadowdawg04 I couldn't argue with that!

[@WarHawk-]

An excellent presentation, Sir!

[@IndieAnnieJones1]

Enjoying your channel so very much. Thank you for all this work😊😊

[@aprilrichards762]

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is the first book I bought from the Troll Book Club in kindergarten. It scared me and i love it! The Tim Burton 1999 movie is one of my favorite movies. (The other is the various Dune movies)

[@mikereinhardt4807]

I knew you would bring pirates into the story somehow, "After all don't all great stories have pirates"? 😂😂 LOL!...

[@minasgettingold]

Say Knickerbocker 3 times. Love your presentations of history, History Guy. 😄

[@magistrumartium]

Say Beetlejuice 3 times and see what happens.

[@richardthornhill4630]

Interesting how legends become reality to some.

[@patriciadean1649]

You are an interesting and entertaining story teller-thanks❤❤

[@kamixkazexkollie]

Thank you for this video!!! My book club read “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” this month, and most of the other members disliked it. They missed the subtle humor and atmosphere that I thought were genius. I have really enjoyed learning about Irving, too. Quite his own character! Would love to visit the real Sleepy Hollow someday. I currently live in Hawaii and you can maybe imagine how fantastical it seems to us over here 😂 We have plenty ghost stories of our own though!

[@fearthehoneybadger]

This story goes well with our brainless politicians. Happy Halloween.

[@ajg617]

Great episodes. Grew up in Yonkers and grandparents near Kinderhook - parents always drove between the two locations and throughout the Hudson Valley (that was in the '50s) but there was never much promotion of Sleep Hollow. The first time I had heard the story was Walt Disney's version.

[@zyxw2000]

North Tarrytown changed their name to Sleepy Hollow in 1996.

[@Hiddensecret9]

Through Ichabod Crane’s journey and the ominous Sleepy Hollow, Irving offers a window into early American society, traditions, and fears. It’s a story that, while perfect for Halloween, reminds us of a shared history that still haunts and fascinates us today.

[@alansnyder5535]

As a side note, hopefully at least somewhat interesting, there is at least one education institution that uses Ichabod as its symbol/mascot/emblem, the institution is Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, USA.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Actually, the Washburn Ichabods are named after Ichabod Washburn, an early contributor to the University. The University website says that he is unconnected to Ichabod Crane, although there is an undeniable similarity in appearance.

[@Richard-od7yd]

VIRGINIA TECH used to be called the ICHABODS .

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

@ I thought they were The Gobblers before they were the Hokies.

[@shawnr771]

Thank you for the lesson.

[@chrais78]

Fascinating stuff. I'd love to see more KZbin videos covering the pre- and early English history of New York.

[@dwhitman3092]

🍁🧡Happy Halloween History Guy! 🎃🍂

[@scotttaxdal5297]

Great breakdown! Happy Halloween 🎃

[@tonykeltsflorida]

My favorite story for the Halloween season.

[@neverlearnitall]

This is awesome! Also just a bit confusing! 😃 I'm very familiar with Disney's adaptation of this story, so I really enjoyed this! Thank you!

[@BasicDrumming]

I appreciate you and thank you for making content.

[@nathanfisher1826]

Thanks😊

[@nickcoulter973]

The portrait of Ichabod Crane is unreal. It looks like a photo

[@powderriver2424]

Living in the land of Rip Van Wrinkle it is certainly a place of countless history that was one of the focal points that shaped our Nation. Living in the upper Hudson Valley of NY is certainly a fantastic place for history lovers as it really happened here, to say the least.

[@REBELSCL]

I’m amazed at how convoluted the history alluded to is…..

[@150moonlightshadow]

Happy Halloween and thank you so much for this video! Sleepy Hollow is a beautiful and bustling sight at this time of year, and it’s an especially rare video to hear someone mention the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze up in Van Cortlandt Manor (another grand sight to see at night!). I’ve been trying to hunt down the name of the Hessian solider for a few years now to little luck, although I did come across a macabre description of his body still twitching after decapitation while the other soldiers were moving it out of the way during the Battle of White Plains. Where his skull went is anyone’s guess as well, as it easily could have been blown apart by the blast. I could have sworn a small newspaper local to the area, The River Journal, noted the name in print once, but I forgot what it was and haven’t been able to track it down since and couldn’t find it on their website. It’s remarkably easier to find information on and a possible name or two for The Leather Man (also once local to the area) than it is on the Hessian soldier!

[@WayneCampbell-l3b]

Thats a mouthful!