Hauntsville2008pt2

Hauntsville 2008

part 2

As fall once again comes to the sleepy little town of Hauntsville

(population 53) the towns folk are making their preparations for the big

night of October 31st. Some folks, however, seem to be more prepared

than others. Let's take a tour of the town to see what's happening this year.

The old Barlow house up on Moggin's Bluff has been vacant all summer

but just last week a couple of the Barlow clan showed up and occupied the

old farmhouse. They are a cranky old couple who definitely do not want to make friends with the neighbors and have even erected a sign warning folks to stay away.

It certainly looks like the Stein family maple tree farm is doing quite well

this fall. The trees are in full color and the family is hard at work tapping the trees and gathering maple syrup. They have even hired a couple of boys from town to assist with the work.

The boys, however, report hearing some strange howlings from up on the bluff.

Mr. Moggin has brought in a fine sampling of harvest produce again this year. In addition to his pumpkins, he has squash, corn, berries, beans and carrots.

Ben Moggin likes to spend his free time on these beautiful fall afternnons challenging Abe Stein to horseshoe pitching contests. Of course to improve their accuracy the duo occasionally indulges in a swig or two of moonshine. I wonder if the guest coming down the trail is coming for some horseshoe pitching, or a sampling of the moonshine??

Harold Chapman's apple orchard has produced another fine crop of

apples. You can get them by the basket, or for the rock bottom price of 5 cents each. His little daughter likes to lend a hand sorting the apples.

Hey, just who is that guy walking off with one of Chapman's apples?!

I know apples are supposed to be good for you, but isn't it a bit too late to help this guy's diet???

Things seem to be getting into high gear down on Main Street as well.

Beth Moggin is showing her skills with a blade as she does her annual pumpkin carvings. The carvings keep her occupied while the townsfolk come to "pick yer own" pumpkins from the patch.

I wonder if Beth knows about the new hand who is digging up some

pumpkins of his own??

The Moggin's pumpkin patch has done quite well this season. Mr. Wilson has been hired to drive a wagon load of prize pumpkins to Spooksville down in the valley. Think we should tell him about the passenger who is coming along for the ride?

During most of the year the Grimsley family are sort of stand-offish, but come October they start acting a bit strange. How come their trees are always the first in town to lose all their leaves? They also seem to have a number of strange guests visiting this time of year.

Just who is that really tall guy who hangs out by the front door. And what's with that hooded character coming down the walkway? Come to think of it, why is Grimsley's the only house in town to have a problem with bats???

The Forsaken Cemetery seems to be both adding and losing residents this time of year.

I guess being dead is thirsty work. I wonder how well these guys can hold their liquor?

The Macabre Theatre is playing a holiday season special tonight; "The Mummy Returns". The place seats over 100 people but tickets have been sold out for weeks and people say they haven't been able to buy any. I wonder just who has bought all the tickets?

With both funerals and haywagon rides, lots seems to be happening on Main Street.

Funeral services are being held tonight at Mordecai Mould's Mortuary. However, some of the bereaved who are attending look like they are pretty near Death's Door themselves.

Better hurry, here comes the haywagon!

It looks like All Saint's Day services are being held in the village church.

With everyone in town out tonight doing their Trick or Treating, I wonder why the kids are staying away from Barleycorn Manor? The host looks like he has quite a tray of goodies to offer would be "treaters".

Again this year the residents of Main Street have outdone themselves decorating for the Trick or Treaters. The Smiths have strung lights on their house and put up some fine crafted, homemade cut-outs on their front lawn.

Mr. Smith looks like he is just a big kid himself with all the pumpkins he has carved.

Next door the Andersons have put some holiday lanterns in their tree and added a ghost as well as "Pumpkin Man".

The Anderson's dog, Rover, had himself a good bone to chew until someone came along and stole it. I see Rover is not going to let this bone get away without a fight.

In my opinion the Johnsons have by far the best holiday display. They not only strung lighrts in their trees, but constructed a Pumpkin Man, trimmed their walkway with skulls, and hung a skeleton, but also added a graveyard with a coffin and tombstones.

While the Johnsons certainly have the most decorations the Hopkins are quite unique with theirs. They have constructed a cornfield, with lighted scarecrows in their yard. And check out that guy rising from the smoke stack on the roof!

Well, we have finished our tour of Hautsville 2008. Before we leave I just noticed that the Grimsley's seem to have a new guest arriving for tonight's party in an orange van. Wonder who that could be?