New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-28
TIE SLEEPY HOLLOW CHURCH.
TT Has RrrN ABrsED DURING IT'S TWO CEN
TURIEs OF EXISTENCE AND NOW IT'S RES
TORATION Is PROPOSED.

Many OF the admirers OF Washington irving VINO
have made pllgrimages TO Tarrytown. and then
visited the old Dutch Church Of Sleepy Hollow.
around which hovers the romantic associations Of
that writer's celebrated story. will be rather sur
prsed TO learn that this object OF their vencration
has been subject to the vandal hands Of the country
carpenter and mason, and now stands bereft OF
many quaint features. of which II WAS robbed at a
time when people cared little about architectural
earance and less about the historical value Of
the sturdy little building that had descended INTO
their custody and care.
Several OF the older pastors OF the church nave
called attention In writing TO these alterations.
among them tho Rev Abel T. Stewart in 1885, but
II IL only recently that anything like systematic
examination OF the building has been made and ex-
act data obtained as to the former appearance OF
the church from tho outside and Its interior ar
rangements.
Tho principal changes In the structure took place
IN 1877 and from recent examinations appear to
have been radical and in many instances unneces-
sary
The walls Of the building were pierced for win
dows where at present no windows exist These
windows we're In the north and In the south walls.
M the west end OF the building. They have been
filled In with masonry. but upon the Inside enough
remains OF the plaster to Indicate their original
dimensions They were five feet four inches in
inches from the west wall OF the church. and
seven feet two riches above the present floor.
TO the edge Of the roof. Examination OF the other
windows Of the structure show that they were all
of the same size those mentioned. The windows
were originally square and the spaces above the
Gothic tops OF the existing windows are filled with
stones that are well laid the original
stonework OF the church walls
At present there are galleries in the building
OF the old west gallery were eight feet above the
floor It now exists. Whether tradition is correct
IN placing another gallery at tho north side has not
been determined. The supports Of the befry have
been changed. to the detrment OF the strength Of
the building, and the statement that the original
window Is, has been verified The ceiling
formerly Of wood. lad In thin. sx-inch strips
OF oak, overlapping at the edges, and laid upon a
longitudinal centrepiece OF oak. From the top OF
the walls north and SOUTH oak beams crossed the
building at Intervals OF about twelve feet, from one
OF which depended the rod that supported the
sounding board over the pulpit BEYOND doubt, hut
for the NEEDING changes OF 1897 the old church
would he one OF the strongest buildings In the
country to-day. In spite of Its 200 years OF history
Tho honesty Of its first builders finds In its work.
manshp an enduring monument
1t is now proposed to raise a fund for the proper
restoration OF the structure to It's former harmc ny
OF design and strength and the undertaking Is one
that should meet the most hearty support OF ali
Interested In the historical landmarks Of coun-
try The old Dutch Church. even az II now stands
surrounded by tho graves Of generation after
beautifully located so far as the scenery OF the
surrounding country goes, and who ever
came within the fascinating influence Of Irving
tales OF Sleepy Hollow and the Neutral Ground was
disappointed, when. for the first time he behed the
church Of Katherine. van Tassell, Brom Bones,
Ichabod Crane and all the other characters OF the
locality that emaqated from the brain Of the genial
master OF sunnYsi6s>