Once upon a time, in a secluded village nestled deep within the woods, there lived a witch. She was rumored to haunt the night, casting spells and practicing dark magic. The villagers lived in fear and whispered tales of her wickedness. It was said that her powers knew no bounds and that she could control the very fabric of reality. The myth of this witch originated generations ago when a tragedy struck the village. Crops withered, livestock perished, and disease plagued the land.
What are your ghost stories of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow? Send your stories to [email protected].
There are several local ghost stories that have to do with Spook Rock, an actual rock situated on the eastern side of Rockefeller State Park, next to the Saw Mill River Parkway. The group worked diligently for five years, using court records, maps, aerial photographs and even some fancy ground-penetrating radar to bring the 1692 witchcraft hysteria.
Crops withered, livestock perished, and disease plagued the land. Desperation hung heavy in the air as the villagers searched for a solution. In their desperation, they turned to the witch.
Are There Ghosts and Witches in Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow?
According to Sara Mascia, Executive Director of The Historical Society, Inc. of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, there have always been rumors about “spooky people and spooky happenings” in our two villages. In the 18th and 19th centuries, townspeople were very superstitious, and anyone who was different was considered to be a witch. The Chronicles of Sleepy Hollow (written in the 19th century) detail a number of spooky stories from the Revolutionary War era while Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (also from the 19th century) recounts a few local ghost tales. These stories were discussed a great deal in the last century and then disappeared with the advent of TV as people turned from oral legend to television entertainment. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in our local ghost and witch stories as these stories have been dramatically narrated in The Old Dutch Church, and celebrated by self-professed witches and tourists alike, particularly around Halloween.
SponsorBelow are two notable local legends other than that of the infamous Headless Horseman that, if you are relatively new to the area, you may not have heard of yet: the story of Hulda the Witch, and The Legend of Raven Rock or Spook Rock.
Hulda the Witch
Washington Irving warned in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that Sleepy Hollow was bewitched by a “high German” doctor. According to local legend, this doctor, Hulda, was also a witch and was first seen in Sleepy Hollow in 1770. The minister of The Old Dutch Church quickly pronounced her a witch and urged the Sleepy Hollow townspeople not to associate with her. Despite this, she healed the sick by leaving baskets (that she, like many witches, had woven herself) filled with healing herbs at their doorstep. People were grateful and left her gifts at the door of her own hut at Spook Rock. Isolated from the townspeople socially, she survived by trading with the Native Americans. She died in a battle fighting the British in the Revolutionary War, and her body was found in the woods (in what is now-called Rockefeller Preserve). According to legend, soldiers originally planned to leave her body there to decompose but changed their minds and took her to Spook Rock. There they found a Bible and some gold that was willed to the widows of the soldiers who fought in the Revolution. Ultimately Hulda was buried in an unmarked grave at the north side of The Old Dutch Church.
If you would like to learn more about Hulda and witches in the Tarrytowns, you can attend the annual Festival of Witches in Sleepy Hollow (www.festivalofwitches.com). This festival was founded in 2014 by Krystal Madison, the self-proclaimed “Witch of Sleepy Hollow,” to celebrate Hulda’s life and to show locals that, according to Madison, witches are in fact real and they are here to serve the community.
The Legend of Raven or Spook Rock
There are several local ghost stories that have to do with Spook Rock, an actual rock situated on the eastern side of Rockefeller State Park, next to the Saw Mill River Parkway. The first is one found in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; Ichabod Crane heard it while at the home of the Van Tassels. Irving mentions a woman in white who haunts the rock and shrieks on winter nights before storm, having died there after seeking shelter from a snowstorm. The History of The Tarrytown’s also mentions this lady in white, saying her cries sound like the howling of the wind and her gestures seem to warn of drifting snow. This publication mentions two other legends: the tale of an Indian girl who roams the area lamenting her death at Spook Rock by a jealous lover, and the ghost of a colonial girl who tried to escape the sexual-harassment of a Tory raider during the revolution by jumping to her death. Another legend pertains to the story of Star Girl, a supernatural Indian woman who met a local hunter at Spook Rock and took him on as a lover, ultimately having a baby with him. A few years later, she disappeared and, as a result, her little boy refused to eat and died of starvation. The hunter buried his son in a grave by the Pocantico River, sat by the river all night crying and then disappeared himself. After three years had gone by the Star Girl returned, and searched unsuccessfully for her lover and son. It is said that even today, on a clear quiet spring night, one can stand on the banks of the Pocantico River and still hear Star Girl crying out for her lover and child.
But what about more contemporary ghost sightings and especially sightings in people’s homes? Sure enough, residents of the Tarrytown’s have come to The Historical Society to find out more about their own houses because they have heard “something strange” or have had “otherworldly feelings,” in the house. Often, they are reluctant to say more than this because they are both skeptical and afraid. According to Mascia, most of the time the house has a normal history but once in a while there are odd occurrences. Recently, residents of a house in the Tarrytown inner village came to The Historical Society complaining that they repeatedly heard the sound of someone tripping down the stairs, and saw water pooling at the top of the stairs. Research into the house’s history revealed that 80 years before, the owner of the house had slipped in a pool of water at the top of the stairs, fallen down the stairs and died. In the manors of Sleepy Hollow, meanwhile, rumors have circulated that some residents have called in professional ghostbusters to remove spirits from their homes.
Finally, in Sleepy Hollow High School, some current students wonder if a ghost is controlling the light at the top of the tower, noting that the light changes color often and randomly. Do they know about the friendly ghost of Margaret Howard next door at 200 N. Broadway (the current administration building for The Public Schools of the Tarrytown’s)? School employees have reported seeing her over the years in the upper story of the building. Do the students know about the ghost of a sad young woman who reportedly haunts the attic of the same building, having thrown herself out the window to her death when she was working in the dress factory?
What are your ghost stories of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow? Send your stories to [email protected].
Happy Halloween everyone!
They begged her to use her magic to save them from their plight. But the witch had a sinister secret. She had been scorned by the villagers in the past, cast out and left to fend for herself in the unforgiving wilderness. The pain and suffering she experienced fueled her desire for revenge. She accepted their pleas for help, but her intentions were far from pure. As the night fell, the village became shrouded in darkness. The witch's powers surged, and she unleashed a torrent of curses upon the land. Chaos consumed the village, as the once peaceful streets turned into a battleground between the villagers and the witch. Amidst the chaos, a brave young woman named Emily emerged. She had heard tales of the witch's malevolence her whole life, but she believed there was more to the story. With unwavering determination, Emily set out to uncover the truth of the witch's motives. Through her investigations, Emily discovered the witch's tragic past. She learned of the pain and suffering the villagers had inflicted upon the witch, driving her to seek revenge. Emily understood that the witch's actions were born out of her own pain and anguish. Armed with this newfound knowledge, Emily devised a plan to confront the witch and find a peaceful resolution. She pleaded with the village to lay down their weapons and embrace forgiveness. Slowly, the villagers began to see the error of their ways and join Emily in her quest for understanding. Finally, the day of reckoning arrived. Emily, with the support of the villagers, confronted the witch in her lair. Emotions ran high as the witch defended her actions, clinging to her rage and bitterness. But Emily's words struck a chord within the witch. She saw the pain in Emily's eyes and realized that revenge would never bring her true solace. With a heavy heart, the witch relinquished her powers and agreed to make amends for her actions. The village and the witch worked together to undo the damage caused by her curses. Through their collective effort, the land began to heal, and a new era of understanding and forgiveness dawned. The saga of the witch who haunted the night became a cautionary tale for generations to come. It reminded the villagers of the inherent darkness and light within us all, and the power of compassion in overcoming even the deepest of wounds. The legend of the witch ceased to be one of fear, but rather one of redemption and the triumph of the human spirit..
Reviews for "The Midnight Hunt: Tracking the Elusive Night-Witch"
1. Sally - 1/5 stars - I found "Saga of the witch who haunts the night" to be incredibly dull and unengaging. The plot dragged on and I struggled to connect with the characters. The writing style felt disjointed and inconsistent, making it difficult to follow the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. John - 2/5 stars - While "Saga of the witch who haunts the night" had an interesting premise, the execution fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it felt like the story didn't really go anywhere. The characters lacked depth and I found it hard to care about their fates. Additionally, the writing style was overly descriptive and repetitive, making it a struggle to stay interested. Overall, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - "Saga of the witch who haunts the night" was a disappointment for me. The world-building was confusing and poorly explained, leaving me feeling lost throughout the entire book. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters. The plot lacked originality and felt like a rehash of other fantasy novels I've read. Overall, I found this book to be lackluster and wouldn't recommend it to fans of the genre.