“It is said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannonball, in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War; and who is ever and anon seen by the country folk hurrying along in the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind.” – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

In 1820, a short story was published that would spark fear and suspense into the minds of generations of readers. When Washington Irving penned this work, who knows if he imagined his tale of Ichabod Crane, a superstitious teacher from Connecticut, would become such a beloved piece of history. It is a horror story and love story merged into one, where poor and awkward Ichabod and large and imposing Brom Bones vie for the love of the beautiful and wealthy Katrina Van Tassel. However, the image of a headless, caped rider terrorizing the night is what has become permanently embedded into our brains.

With more than 40 variations of the story on stage and screen, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has become one of the most famous and well-known pieces of literature across the world. And with its roots right here in New England, the story resonates strong with everyone who has grown up here or has made the region their home.

It is argued that the makings of the legend of the Headless Horseman actually originated long before this story and was a spoken tale passed down by the Dutch and told to Irving years before while he lived in the Hudson Valley – the story of a headless hunter who played vigilante and chased murderers and thieves away from the area or removed them by other means. Others believe the idea came from stories he heard while in the highlands of Scotland and other parts of Europe when he visited there seeking literary inspiration. This debate may never be settled, but regardless of where the idea came from, it certainly doesn’t make a difference to its success.

Old Sturbridge Village, which many of us residents visited on a field trip in elementary school or junior high, is a living and breathing outdoor museum giving true insight to what life was like in New England in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The land spans more than 200 acres and was once owned by David Wight; some of the buildings on the property are original, such as the gristmill. When you step into Old Sturbridge Village, it is as if you stepped through a time warp. It was a time when people placed much weight on the supernatural and spiritual. What better place could their possibly be to have a live production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with a natural outdoor backdrop that existed at the time the story takes place?

“We have done Halloween events before, such as our Bump in the Night event, and we found that we were always grappling with staying true to our overall mission,” said Darin Johnson, senior strategist at Old Sturbridge Village. “There was no grappling with this, though. It’s an easy connection. We want people who visit here to be immersed and inspired by the history of our area, and so we make everything at Old Sturbridge Village as realistic to the time period as possible. This is a New England story, and it was published in the time period we highlight – it made perfect sense for us to make this happen.”

“The neighborhood is rich in legendary treasures of the kind. Local tales and superstitions thrive best in these sheltered long-settled retreats; but are trampled underfoot by the shifting throng that forms the populations of most of our country places.” – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Johnson said the production started in Georgia three years ago and has been enormously successful there. When he reached out to the director, Brian Clowdus, about having the production at Old Sturbridge Village, Clowdus agreed to visit.

“For the Georgia production, they had to build a covered bridge, which is so central to the story’s setting. We already have a real one here. In fact, the entire set was just sitting here waiting for the story to come to life. Using the real landscape will bring it to a whole new level,” Johnson said.

Though this was never stated to be a Halloween tale in the text, it does mention that it takes place in autumn. Standing there in the dead of night, lit only by the faint glow of lanterns and candles, out in the open with the sounds of actual creatures in the surrounding woods and the smell of the fall season in the air, the cool wind touching your face … this is where true horror stories begin. And knowing that at any moment a headless horseman may charge at you brings fear to new heights. In this production, you are not only a spectator; you are a part of the story as it unfolds.

“Musicians and ghouls mingle with the crowd as they enter the 19th-century tavern, where they are served soups and chowders and drinks,” Johnson said. “The crowd will move throughout different buildings, including the school and along the roads of the village. It is an immersive and interactive experience.” During the intermission, the crowd will also have a chance to grab refreshments and talented musicians will perform some songs, making this seem like a natural break in the evening.

I asked Darin if the headless horseman is a prop or a real actor and was happy to hear that it is a real person on a real horse. In my mind, this makes an enormous difference, as you will see the cloud of the horse’s breath, hear the clap of hooves on the planks of the bridge and see the road dust kicked up as Irving’s words come to life.

“Just then he saw the goblin rising in his stirrups, and in the very act of hurling his head at him. Ichabod endeavored to dodge the horrible missile, but too late. It encountered his cranium with a tremendous crash – he was tumbled headlong into the dust, and gunpowder, the black steed, and the goblin rider, passed by like a whirlwind.”
– The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Johnson said the original production in Georgia had an amazing media response and sold out of five weeks of shows; he was hopeful that they would have the same happen for this production. His wishes were granted, as the shows for this year have indeed sold out in record time. Whereas they may add more shows this month, he said the good news is that Old Sturbridge Village will definitely bring the production back in 2017.

If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a ticket, please know that you should dress warmly for a brisk New England fall evening, wear comfortable shoes and that you are allowed to take pictures throughout the event.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow will take place at Sturbridge Village, 1 Sturbridge Road, Sturbridge, from Oct. 11-16, Oct. 19-23 and Oct. 26-31. The show is currently sold out; however, tickets are $30-$35, and more shows may be added. For more information, visit osv.org.