Latest news with #historiclandmark
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Historic Sleepy Hollow lighthouse gutted by baby-faced arsonists one year after $3.4 million restoration: ‘Heartbreaking'
Now they're in deep ship. A group of baby-faced arsonists burned and gutted Sleepy Hollow's beloved historic lighthouse just a year after its multi-million dollar renovation, police said Wednesday. Four young suspects hopped a locked fence leading to the charming red-and-white landmark at around 3:30 a.m. Saturday then smashed a window and climbed into the 142-year-old structure, Westchester County Police Public Information Officer Kieran O'Leary told The Post. The twisted firebugs then allegedly lit parts of the bottom floor, which is set up as a museum, on fire and damaged antique furniture and books — leaving behind smoldering ash, broken glass and more than $100,000 in damage, officials said. 'Setting a fire and trashing a place is bad enough. It's also one of the county's more iconic places,' O'Leary said. 'It's a cherished landmark,' he added. 'Everybody in Westchester is really upset about it.' Outraged locals have since flooded police with tips after cops released a photo of the alleged arsonists strolling over a bridge leading to the lighthouse, O'Leary said. The wild vandalism comes a year after the county unveiled a $3.4 million renovation of the lighthouse's interior — including a restoration of the historic spotlight that guided ships away from the banks of the Hudson River for decades. Built in 1883, the lighthouse at Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow once housed a family and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. 'It's disappointing, and it's heartbreaking to see this kind of damage that was just completely unnecessary,' Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said in News 12 footage. A Westchester County employee first spotted smoke wafting from the beloved landmark Saturday morning, prompting firefighters to rush to the blaze. The lighthouse is now temporarily closed for repairs. 'There have been weddings and proposals there and it's more recently become an Instagram spot,' O'Leary said. 'There's been a strong reaction to the vandalism.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
3 teens arrested for trashing, burning historic Sleepy Hollow lighthouse in ‘heartbreaking' fire
Three teens have been arrested for trashing and setting fire to the beloved historic Sleepy Hollow lighthouse in a 'heartbreaking' attack just a year after its multimillion-dollar renovation, according to officials. Baby-faced firebugs Elvin Ayavaca, 18, of White Plains and Richard Barrero, 19, of Harrison, along with an unidentified 17-year-old, caused at least $100,000 in damage to the charming 142-year-old landmark, the Westchester County Police said in a press release Friday. The trio was charged with arson, burglary and criminal mischief after getting caught on camera strolling over a bridge leading to the lighthouse Saturday, according to police. A fourth suspect is still at large. The young suspects are accused of hopping a locked fence at the 'cherished' lighthouse at around 3:30 a.m., then smashing a window and climbing into the towering red-and-white structure. Once inside, they allegedly lit parts of the bottom floor, which is set up as a museum, and damaged antique furniture and at least 35 precious books. The vandalism came a year after the county unveiled a $3.4 million renovation of the lighthouse's interior, including a restoration of its historic spotlight. The destruction sparked local outrage and plenty of police tips, Westchester County Police Public Information Officer Kieran O'Leary told The Post on Wednesday. The teens were arraigned in Sleepy Hollow Village Court on the felony charges, according to police, who said they aren't naming the 17-year-old because he's a juvenile. Built in 1883, the lighthouse at Kingsland Point Park once housed a family on the banks of the Hudson River and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. 'It's disappointing, and it's heartbreaking to see this kind of damage that was just completely unnecessary,' Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said in News 12 footage earlier this week. O'Leary added of the lighthouse, 'It's a cherished landmark. 'Everybody in Westchester is really upset about it.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Historic New York lighthouse was vandalized and set on fire
A group of four men broke into a historic New York lighthouse along the Hudson River, set a fire and vandalized the interior, destroying valuable antiques, furniture and other items. The Tarrytown Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow, built in 1883 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, had just undergone a two-year, $3.4 million renovation and reopened to the public last fall, Westchester County officials said. A county parks worker saw smoke coming from the conical, five-story lighthouse on Saturday morning, then discovered the damage, county police said. Police and firefighters responded and put out a small fire with extinguishers. The flooring on the first level was heavily damaged. Antiques, furniture and other historically significant items were destroyed. Thirty-five books dating to the 1800s and early 1900s were strewn on the floor and damaged. Multiple windows were broken. County officials say there is at least $100,000 in damage, and they expect that number to increase when an assessment is complete. 'The Tarrytown Lighthouse is one of our County's most iconic and cherished landmarks,' County Executive Ken Jenkins said in a statement. 'This was a truly despicable act, and we will do everything we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.' County police have posted surveillance photos on their Facebook page showing four young men near the lighthouse and are asking for the public's help in identifying them. No arrests have been made. As part of the renovation, interior and exterior sections were restored and repainted. Windows were replaced and the structure stabilized. Repairs were made to the cast iron exterior and masonry. Wood floors were repaired and restored. The fire burned nearly all the way through the wooden first floor, said Peter Tartaglia, first deputy commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. 'It's disturbing what happened,' he said in a phone interview Wednesday. 'But we'll get it fixed. We'll get it back. It was historically reconstructed and it's a wonderful piece of history. It's iconic in Westchester County to see that on the Hudson River.' The 60-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) lighthouse, owned by the county, opened in 1883 to guide ships past dangerous shoals along that stretch of the river, according to the parks department. Its lantern could cast a beam of light visible for 10 miles (16 kilometers), and it had a bell that could warn mariners during foggy conditions, the department said. During its 74 years of operation, 14 lighthouse keepers lived in the structure, some with their families. It was rendered obsolete when the former Tappan Zee Bridge was completed in 1955 and taken out of service in 1961, officials said. It's located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Manhattan in a park in the village of Sleepy Hollow, made famous in Washington Irving's 1820 tale about the Headless Horseman. It's one of seven Hudson River lighthouses that remain. The arson and vandalism comes a little more than a month after a barge pushed by a tugboat struck the historic Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) upriver from Tarrytown. The April 29 crash severely damaged the dock of the 151-year-old lighthouse, which advocates have been trying to save from crumbling into the river. ____ Associated Press writer Michael Hill in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.
Associated Press
6 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Historic New York lighthouse was vandalized and set on fire
A group of four men broke into a historic New York lighthouse along the Hudson River, set a fire and vandalized the interior, destroying valuable antiques, furniture and other items. The Tarrytown Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow, built in 1883 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, had just undergone a two-year, $3.4 million renovation and reopened to the public last fall, Westchester County officials said. A county parks worker saw smoke coming from the conical, five-story lighthouse on Saturday morning, then discovered the damage, county police said. Police and firefighters responded and put out a small fire with extinguishers. The flooring on the first level was heavily damaged. Antiques, furniture and other historically significant items were destroyed. Thirty-five books dating to the 1800s and early 1900s were strewn on the floor and damaged. Multiple windows were broken. County officials say there is at least $100,000 in damage, and they expect that number to increase when an assessment is complete. 'The Tarrytown Lighthouse is one of our County's most iconic and cherished landmarks,' County Executive Ken Jenkins said in a statement. 'This was a truly despicable act, and we will do everything we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.' County police have posted surveillance photos on their Facebook page showing four young men near the lighthouse and are asking for the public's help in identifying them. No arrests have been made. As part of the renovation, interior and exterior sections were restored and repainted. Windows were replaced and the structure stabilized. Repairs were made to the cast iron exterior and masonry. Wood floors were repaired and restored. The fire burned nearly all the way through the wooden first floor, said Peter Tartaglia, first deputy commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation. 'It's disturbing what happened,' he said in a phone interview Wednesday. 'But we'll get it fixed. We'll get it back. It was historically reconstructed and it's a wonderful piece of history. It's iconic in Westchester County to see that on the Hudson River.' The 60-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) lighthouse, owned by the county, opened in 1883 to guide ships past dangerous shoals along that stretch of the river, according to the parks department. Its lantern could cast a beam of light visible for 10 miles (16 kilometers), and it had a bell that could warn mariners during foggy conditions, the department said. During its 74 years of operation, 14 lighthouse keepers lived in the structure, some with their families. It was rendered obsolete when the former Tappan Zee Bridge was completed in 1955 and taken out of service in 1961, officials said. It's located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Manhattan in a park in the village of Sleepy Hollow, made famous in Washington Irving's 1820 tale about the Headless Horseman. It's one of seven Hudson River lighthouses that remain. The arson and vandalism comes a little more than a month after a barge pushed by a tugboat struck the historic Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) upriver from Tarrytown. The April 29 crash severely damaged the dock of the 151-year-old lighthouse, which advocates have been trying to save from crumbling into the river. ____ Associated Press writer Michael Hill in Albany, New York, contributed to this report.
CBS News
02-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Historic Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. lighthouse damaged in arson and vandalism spree, investigators say
Sleepy Hollow, New York's historic lighthouse suffered "significant" damage from arson and vandalism, Westchester County officials said. The Tarrytown Lighthouse on the Hudson River, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, reopened last year after undergoing a $3 million renovation. "The Tarrytown Lighthouse is one of our County's most iconic and cherished landmarks," County Executive Ken Jenkins said. "This was a truly despicable act, and we will do everything we can to identify those responsible and bring them to justice." Sleepy Hollow lighthouse damaged A Westchester County Parks employee discovered the damage to the lighthouse Saturday morning, police said Monday. The worker saw smoke, broken windows and other property damage, according to police. Sleepy Hollow police and firefighters responded and put out a small fire, officials said. There was significant fire damage to the flooring on the first floor, along with multiple broken windows on the first and second floors, they said. Valuable antiques, furniture and other "items of historical significance," were also destroyed, officials said. Around three dozen antique books were also vandalized, police said. Chopper 2 over the historic lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow, New York, after police said it was damaged in an arson and vandalism spree. June 2, 2025. CBS News New York The damage is estimated to total around $100,000. Anyone with information is asked to call the Westchester County Police tip line at 800-898-8477 or send electronic tips to tips@ The department's mobile app can also be used to send tips. Tipsters may remain anonymous, police say.
