As you enter, an enormous door slams shut behind you. There’s a chill in the air and an eerie presence...the mansion is haunted.
This Saturday, Oct. 26, the Park-McCullough Historic House in North Bennington invites brave souls to tour the mansion and learn its spooky secrets. The weekend festivities begin on Friday with an evening of ghost stories; Sunday is devoted to children’s activities such as pumpkin painting and hayrides. To gear up for Halloween, visitors are invited to come in costume.
The idea is for visitors to interact with the house, said Jane Nicholls, executive director. The events are good-natured and light-hearted — and allow the Park McCullough House — “an architectural gem†— to be used to great effect. With rooms set up to look as if someone might walk in and sit down, the mansion is the perfect atmosphere for October fun.
Ghost story festival
The second annual Ghost Story Festival kicks off the weekend on Friday, Oct. 25 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Both classical and modern tales of the occult and supernatural will be told and read; these stories are designed for a sophisticated, “PG-16†audience.
The event takes its cues from the Victorian era of the Park-McCullough House. Perhaps like the original inhabitants of the mansion, visitors will gather to listen to strange and frightening tales. The supernatural was a huge part of Victorian life – and familiar figures like Dracula, Frankenstein and the Headless Horsemen were all born in this period, said Nicholls.
Ghost stories provided Victorians with not only entertainment, but also a outlet for exploring taboo subject matter. “It’s not just guts and gore, necrophilia, cannibalism, homosexuality, and eroticism are all elements in the 19th century ghost story genre,†she noted.
The program includes a brief intermission and light refreshments, and a Halloween Trivia Contest with award prizes donated by area businesses. Admission $5, free for members.
Haunted mansion tours
Haunted Mansion tours, recommended for ages 13 and up, are scheduled for Saturday night, Oct. 26, from 5 to 8 pm. The tours offer a chance to explore Park-McCullough House in a different way and to hear strange and ghostly stories associated with particular rooms and passed down through the years by family and servants, said Nicholls. “It’s not going to be a fright fest — we’re not going to lunge at you with bloody daggers,†she added.
When the house is cold and dark, it has a scary atmosphere. Nicholls told a story from last year that proved the power of the house to frighten: she found two volunteers who abandoned their posts because they got spooked.
Daylight Mansion tours on Sunday will offer a milder — though still creepy — experience for children. Designed to appeal to kids old enough to understand and appreciate a fright, Park-McCullough House recommends parental discretion for children under 10.
Admission to the Haunted Mansion tour on Saturday night is $8, for members $6. The Daylight Mansion tours are $5; discounted tickets are available for Sunday’s tours from Alldays and Onions (519 Main St., Bennington).
Children’s Halloween Festival
On Sunday, Oct. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m., Park-McCullough House will open up its Carriage Barn to kids of all ages for seasonal fun. One activity, apple-biting, offers a more sanitary alternative to bobbing for apples. Getting a bite from an apple on a string takes a little work; Nicholls admitted she had to try a few times before she got the hang of it last year.
The festival also features pumpkin painting, prizes, cider, snacks and hayrides with Petticoat Junction.
Joint admission for both Children’s Festival events is $8; family joint admission is $20. Admission to the Carriage Barn events is $4 per child (adults free when accompanied by children).
For further information visit www.parkmccullough.org or contact Park-McCullough House at (802) 442-5441, or thehouse@sover.net.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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