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Legend of Sleepy Hollow

• Editor Northern Ireland on Friday, 13th June 2003

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  Sense of place received the following email from
  Judy Rigos in Hudson, New York , U S A in reply to the story of 'The Legend of Squire O'Hara'
  
  I'm from an area very near a town named " Kinderhook" ( Dutche) upstate NY., U S A .
  
  I grew up understanding and enjoying the well known" Legend of Sleepy Hollow" ( or,
  " Headless Horseman" ) as written by Washington Irving, the well recognised, east coast
  author of legend.
  
  I would like to say to you that I appreciate the write up I found on your site " A Sense of place",
  Re: Legend of squire O'Hara. It inspired me to respond.
  
  Unfortunately, I can't shed light on the original written legend. But I want to say that we here in
  upstate NY have identified with the story ( legend) for many, many decades, if not a full century past.
  I, my children, and ( gratefully ), my own grandparents, have been intrigued, mystified, identified, and
  enjoyed Washington Irving's " Legend". It was then, and still is, a treasured part of our lives.
  
  Living in close proximity to President Van Buren's home, Katrina Van Tassel's home and the original
  "Ichabod Crane" school house where Katrina was the teacher, according to legend, has always served
  to intensify our local appreciation and enjoyment of "Legend of Sleepy Hollow". And ( many years ago )
  inspired naming the local school after the legendary character of " Ichabod Crane".
  
  Is our precious bit of local legend / literature really rooted in the legend of Squire O'Hara?
  
  Thank you for an insight well received.
  
  Smiles, and warm regards,
  
  

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