The Hollow Man Movie
Nell Barreto
This event is supported by a Market New York grant from Empire State Development and I LOVE NY/New York State's Division of Tourism, awarded through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative
"On May 20, 1874, a group of concerned citizens created our local government. Each time when we meet to address the mutual needs of a community that has grown to over 12,000, we uphold the commitment that they made," said Sleepy Hollow Mayor Martin Rutyna. "Thanks to the planning and dedication of subsequent generations, Sleepy Hollow has become an ideal place to live, raise a family, open a business, explore historic sites, and experience natural beauty. Thanks to all those who continue to make the Village of Sleepy Hollow a welcoming place. If you haven't been here for our world-famous Halloween celebrations, our year-long 150th Anniversary events, and inaugural Sleepy Hollow Music Festival in June makes this the best year to visit Sleepy Hollow," Mayor Rutyna continued.
Each month, the 150th Anniversary Planning Committee will post historic facts, eventually releasing 150 facts that capture the sweeping scope of events that have shaped our Hudson River town community. With the support of the Historical Society of Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown and a sub-committee of the 150th Anniversary Planning Committee, these milestones will form an exhibition that will open later in the year. Here are some noteworthy facts to kick off the commemorative year.
Families and fans of automotive artistry and engineering flocked to Sleepy Hollow on Saturday, May 18 for a car show on the site of the former General Motors plant to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the village.
Over 50 cars were on display along a stretch of RiverWalk park, deeded to the village by Edge-on-Hudson.Where a factory once stood that produced 11,889,226 cars, crowds enjoyed four-wheel wonders; kids were catapulted inside bouncy castles, food trucks dispensed a diverse menu of refreshments and the Historical Society organized a tent where former workers at the plant could flip through photo binders to reminisce on their time on the production line.
Sleepy Hollow Mayor Martin Rutyna thanked all those who attended and those who worked to create the event that celebrated car culture and the village's 150th anniversary. "I've seen some beautiful cars, some I've never seen, some custom built.But we had to pick a winner," the Mayor said. "The popular vote went to the 1931 Cadillac Fleetwood," the Mayor announced as he handed owner Charles Hipp a best in show trophy.
And it just so happens that Cadillacs are made by GM Bill Lorenzen, whose painstakingly restored 1928 Depot Hack was built on the site 96 years ago, received an honorable mention plaque. "What a great way to continue your 150th birthday party," said assemblywoman Mary Jane Shimsky. "We got to enjoy the view, the breeze and two to three generations of vehicles," the assemblywoman continued.
The car show was the fifth event to celebrate Sleepy Hollow's 150th. Previous events included a pumpkin drop from a fire truck, ice skating and story time in the parking lot across from Village Hall, a 150th Anniversary float in the St. Patrick's Day parade and the planting of the 1st of 150 trees on Earth Day. For more information visit sleepyhollowny.gov
The Hudson River, known as the Muhheakunnuk ("; river that flows two ways") to the Lenape, has always provided great advantages to the people who lived alongside it. The indigenous peoples inhabited this area for over 10,000 years prior to the European colonization of the surrounding Valley. The most recent, the Weckquaesgeek, who scholars believe was affiliated with the Munsee-Lenape, hunted game along the river's edge, raised corn and other crops on the fertile banks, and fished its waters for shad, sturgeon, and oysters. One of the documented indigenous settlements was called Alipkconk ("a place of elms"), located along the eastern bank in the Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow area.
The name Sleepy Hollow has its origins in the Dutch language, specifically from the term "Die Slaperinge Haven" (or a derivation thereof), which translates to "Sleepy Harbor" or "Sleepy Hollow" This name seems to have been descriptive of a cove that sat in the area that became the location of the General Motors automobile assembly plant and is now the site of the Edge-on-Hudson development.
Frederick Philipse, a carpenter by trade, immigrated to America around 1650. He was known in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam as a Master Carpenter, essentially acting as an architect, a builder, a real estate developer, and an entrepreneur in the growing colony. Margaret Hardenbroeck was just 22 when she arrived in New Amsterdam in 1659 to work for her uncle as a "factor" or merchant's representative. Margaret soon met and married wealthy merchant Pieter DeVries, who died not long after the birth of their daughter in 1661.
Fredrick and Margaret met and married the following year. She brought to this new partnership both wealth, as an heiress to her first husband's sizable estate, and business savvy, as an international trader with her own ships and a respected voice in the business community. Together, they became the richest couple in the colony. Over the next twenty years, they amassed a large estate along the Hudson River, extending from Spuyten Duyvil to the Croton River (including our entire village), eventually including over 52,000 acres of land.
The Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow was built by Frederick Philipse and his second wife, Catherine Van Cortlandt over three and a quarter centuries ago. It has been recognized as one of the oldest churches in New York that continues to host worship services, is a National Historic Landmark, and is the setting for Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
George Washington passed through our community several times. One of the most well- documented visits occurred on July 2, 1781, when General Washington and his Continental Army rested at the Old Dutch Church on their way to Dobbs Ferry to meet up with the French Army.
Washington Irving, the youngest of William and Sarah Irving's 11 children, was born in New York City in 1783. Irving first came to our community in 1798, when he was sent here by his family to escape a dangerous Yellow Fever epidemic that had struck New York City. While spending the summer here, he visited with local families and stopped at many historic sites, including the Old Dutch Church. Irving was so deeply affected by his time here that he based one of his most famous short stories on the community. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, written in 1820, is truly a remarkable tale that helped propel Irving into becoming the first American author to earn international acclaim.
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