Haunted Williamstown Plans Ghoulish Fun with Local History
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williamstown House of Local History's annuak Haunted Williamstown is sure to spark excitement in adults as well as children this Halloween. This year, the program is divided into three parts, each catering to a specific age group: children up to age 11, those 12 to 16, and ages 16 and older.
Sponsored by the Friends and Trustees of the David and Joyce Milne Public Library, Haunted Williamstown, will take place at the library Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31. Free parking will be available at the library and at the Williams Inn.
Sheep Hill and Eastlawn Cemetery also have been sites of Haunted Williamstown, which is produced by the library and the Williamstown House of Local History.
The decision last year to move the event to Eastlawn Cemetery stirred controversy over whether the town cemetery was an appropriate place for a Halloween celebration. The event, however, was a success despite the protests of some citizens.
Haunted Williamstown 2009 celebrates the amazing and strange in the history of 1059 Main St. Over the last 250 years, the property has been the site of Williamstown's first tavern, a mansion, an escape route, Pine Cobble School before becoming to the Milne Library and the House of Local History.
Juliana Haubrich, coordinator of Haunted Williamstown, gleaned an impressive knowledge of Halloween's origins and traditions as a student of archaeology.
"Ever since I was a kid, Halloween has been a big thing [for me]," said Haubrich, who works at the Milne Library and is on the board of the House of Local History. "When I was growing up in Michigan, I had a great time at the library's spooky haunted house."
Now Haubrich not only wants to provide a way for children to experience a good and safe Halloween, but to also "give parents a chance to get out and have fun on Halloween," she said.
The fun will begin for those 16 and older with a costume party on Friday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Ghosts, ghouls, witches and any other attendee in costume will be eligible to win a prize.
A $10 donation per person covers a live band, "Living Museum Tour," "Haunted History Tour," beverages and hors d'oeuvres. In honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of writer Edgar Allan Poe, a native of Massachusetts, Poe (Sean McHugh) will read "The Raven," a poem with supernatural undertone that gained him national fame. Then Poe will share with the audience secrets of his short and tragic life.
The library will be bedecked with Halloween decorations and during Poe's presentation, lights will be dimmed to create an eerie atmosphere.
Anyone who opts to take the "Haunted House Tour," will be warned that it is scary, said Haubrich. "It focuses on the mysterious aspects [of the building.]"
As visitors are guided to the courtyard, will any of them be brave enough to pause and peek into the basement rumored to be haunted? The rumor probably took root in the l970s when workmen cleaning the basement were beyond eager to leave, because strange things were happening. What most frightened them was the ghost they claimed to have encountered.
(Could the ghost have been the anguished spirit of an early resident who committed suicide, or the wandering spirit of a fugitive slave who, on his journey to Canada, had been succored by Dr. Henry Sabin, a former owner of the house who was believed to be an abolitionist.)
In later years, when sensors in the basement sounded an alarm repeatedly without cause, the police were called. "The sensors were high so it could not have been rodents," Haubrich said. The police investigated but did not uncover anything unusual. Finally, mystery still unsolved, the sensors were removed.
The children-friendly Halloween event is free of charge, courtesy of the Friends of the Library and the board of library trustees.
Children aged 11 and younger are invited to the Children's Hours on Saturday from 4 to 6; youngsters 12 and older are welcome at the Sunset Hours from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
The children's programs include entertainment and activities that will not induce nightmares or morbid thoughts.
Magician Scott Jameson will perform mystifying feats inspired by literary works such as the Harry Potter series. "Based on H.G. Wells' 'Time Machine,' I will do interesting things with water and sand," Jameson said in an interview. "Things will start in the present and move forward in time and then go backwards."
The youngest guests will be guided through the library on a Children's Book Tour conducted by members of the library staff and the House of Local History. They will meet beloved authors, such as Lewis Carroll and Beatrix Potter, and hear them read from their favorite books. The authors, portrayed by actors and volunteers, will give hints relating to their identity and the children will be asked to guess who they are.
In the library courtyard, a juggler will fascinate children with his ability to keep a number of items in the air at the same time. In a white tent set on the grass, children will find games, provided by the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation beckoning to them. For the convenience of little ghosts and goblins who have grown hungry, food will be on sale.
The Living Museum Tour — for all ages — takes visitors inside the library. Written by Steve Lawson of the Williamstown Theatre Festival and directed by Rita Watson of the history society, the tour will bring to life local and remarkable historical figures.
Lawson, a playwright and screenwriter, adapted letters and diaries into a script, and actors and actresses from Main Street Stage in North Adams plus a few volunteers, all wearing period costumes, will enact the story.
"Williams College [lent us} costumes and props," Haubrich said. "And Main Street Stage helped in whatever way we needed."
A donation is required to take the tours: $5 for children 8 to 11 and $8 for those 12 years and older. Proceeds benefit the House of Local History.
For more information, contact Haubrich at 413-458-5369 or jhaubrich@williamstown.net.
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