The old time Dreamland of Washington Irving has been consecrated
since 1859 as his resting place where worshippers come with reverend
footsteps to read on the plain slab this simple inscription:
“Washington Irving, born April 3, 1783. Died November 28, 1859,” and
recall Longfellow’s beautiful lines:
“Here lies the gentle humorist, who died
In the bright Indian Summer of his fame,
A simple stone, with but a date and name,
Marks his secluded resting-place beside
The river that he loved and glorified.
Here in the autumn of his days he came,
But the dry leaves of life were all aflame
With tints that brightened and were multiplied.
How sweet a life was his, how sweet a death;
Living to wing with mirth the weary hours,
Or with romantic tales the heart to cheer;
Dying to leave a memory like the breath
Of Summers full of sunshine and of showers,
A grief and gladness in the atmosphere.”
Sleepy Hollow Church, like Sunnyside, is hidden away from the steamer
tourist by summer foliage. Just before reaching Kingston Point
lighthouse, a view, looking north-east up the little bay to the right,
will sometimes give the outline of the building. Beyond this a tall
granite shaft, erected by the Delevan family, is generally quite
distinctly seen, and this is near the grave of Irving. A lighthouse,
built in 1883, marks the point where the Pocantico or Sleepy Hollow
Creek joins the Hudson:
Pocantico’s hushed waters glide
Through Sleepy Hollow’s haunted ground,
And whisper to the listening tide
The name carved o’er one lowly mound.