The Legend of the Headless Horseman

Indy-Anna Bones was an archaeologist, explorer, adventurer, cryptozoologist, and otter devotee.

She had come to the woods outside of Tarrytown in search of a vengeful spirit. Washington Irving's 1820 short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" established these very woods as the hunting grounds of the Headless Horseman.

Indy-Anna was hoping to get her book signed by the author. If the Headless Horseman were real, he would know where to find Washington Irving.

What better place to seek a ghost than the abandoned shack in the middle of the lake?

She set off on the trail, ready to face any beheaded Hessian she may come across along the way.

Upon reaching her destination, it seemed no more than a regular abandoned shack, and more importantly, she had no boat to cross the lake.

Indy-Anna took a moment to visit with a friendly slug.

If this adventure was to be had, Indy-Anna needed to go to the source. Indy-Anna Bones was headed for the town of Sleepy Hollow!

Washington Irving was the first internationally-recognized American author. Many of his stories were set in New York, which was still largely wild territory. His most famous story takes its name from  the author's home town.

A gangly schoolteacher named Ichabad Crane usurps the affections of Katrina Van Tassell, the most beautiful (and rich) girl in town. Her jilted ex-suiter is a local tough, Brom Bones. Most of the story involves Brom's unsuccessful attempts to win over Katrina again. 

Only the last few pages of the story involve the iconic chase to the Old Dutch Church, and across the bridge where the Headless Horseman could not follow.

The Horseman's pumpkin head was a twist ending spoiled by some notable film adaptions. As the ghoul rides along beside him, Ichabad Crane believes he sees a bloody, severed head. In the morning, all that remains are a few affects of Crane, and a shattered pumpkin, suggesting  Brom Bones, always a better rider than Crane, had made one last attempt to be rid of Ichabad Crane, and it worked.

Washington Irving was buried behind the Old Dutch Church beside Rockafellers, Carnegies, Elizabeth Arden, and Samuel Gompers.

Sleepy Hollow still celebrates Irving as their most famous resident with a street fair each October, the same time Ichabad Crane attended the fateful party that lead to his defeat.  The Old Dutch Church is open for visitors, and scavenger hunts and guided tours take place in the cemetery behind it. This is the final resting place of Washington Irving.

Indy-Anna picked about the tombs. Grand marble statues graced names she did not recognize. Instead, she found Irving on the side of the hill, overlooking to town, the valley, the Hudson, and the Tappan Zee Bridge.

The author is packed in with his family, behind a fence, the face of his tombstone scoured rough by the wind. Flags denote his stature. Indy-Anna did not expect he would wake any time soon to sign her book.