Historic Sleepy Hollow, NY, Lighthouse Damaged by Fire, Vandalism
Times Union, Albany, N.Y.
(TNS)
Jun. 3—SLEEPY HOLLOW — An arson and vandalism "spree" significantly damaged the historic Tarrytown Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow last week, one year after a multimillion-dollar renovation, Westchester County Police announced Tuesday.
A Westchester County Parks employee discovered broken windows and smoke from an active fire at the lighthouse around 9:40 a.m. Saturday, police said. Sleepy Hollow firefighters extinguished the small fire inside the building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The alleged vandalism spree comes one year after Westchester County officials unveiled a $3.4 million renovation and restoration of the lighthouse's interior, including an overhaul of its historic spotlight that warned ships away from the east side of the Hudson River for nearly 80 years. Built in 1883, the structure is situated approximately one mile north of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, which connects Rockland and Westchester counties.
Detectives from the police department's General Investigations Unit were investigating but had not determined the cause of the blaze or identified any suspects.
" The Tarrytown Lighthouse is one of our county's most iconic and cherished landmarks," County Executive Ken Jenkins said Tuesday 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."
The lighthouse suffered "significant fire damage" to the flooring on the first floor and multiple broken windows, police said. Antiques, furniture and other items of historical significance were also destroyed, with police noting that about 35 antique books were thrown from their shelves onto the floor.
The lighthouse operated until 1961, when it was replaced by navigation lights on the Tappan Zee Bridge, according to a Sleepy Hollow tourism website. The following decade, Westchester County acquired the decommissioned building from the federal government and later opened it to visitors and tour groups.
Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the county police on a confidential tip line at 800-898-8477.
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