The Old Dutch Burial Ground is the most sacred space in Sleepy Hollow. Its rows of antique gravestones present the visitor with a simultaneously beautiful and creepy vision. The oldest markers were apparently set in place as early as 1638.
Since the founding community here was Dutch in the 1600's, some of the markers bear the Dutch language, as on the stone seen above. They also commonly feature whimsical representations of angels, or perhaps of departed souls, which typically appear as winged heads near the top of each marker:
Many of the ancient stones are so timeworn that they bear cracks, stains, flaking, and sometimes even show signs of extensive repair (above). Such weathering, however, often results in subtle colors, shapes and textures that give these markers a profound character that could only be acquired over time:
The text on this stone features a subtle error. Just imagine how the carver must have kicked himself when he discovered his oversight - in the word "Deliverance," he neglected to include the "r" during the first pass, and was obliged to add it later by the only means possible:
While some of the markers still retain crisp text, others composed of a softer material have worn down until their text has become barely discernible, giving these stones a ghostly, ethereal quality:
On to Celtic Crosses of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery...
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