A cannonball completely blew the head off of a British soldier during the Revolutionary War in the 1700s. The headless soldier started roaming around the quiet little town of Sleepy Hallow searching for his missing head along the banks of the Hudson River.

It sparked one of the most legendary urban myths Legend has it that a school teacher named Ichabod Crane had a terrifying run in with this headless horseman one dark and stormy night.

The story goes that Ichabod would be safe if he crossed a wooden bridge, but he never made it and was never seen again. In 1820, Washington Irving wrote the legend of Sleepy Hollow bringing this haunting folklore to life. In 1949, Disney released an animated version, turning it into a Halloween classic.

Followed by Tim Burton’s version in 1999, which was a little less kid friendly. 50 years ago in 1974, a postage stamp was issued featuring the headless horseman chasing Ichabod and is even available online today.