Events Calendar
In This Section
Hobo union picks Akron for national convention
Spread holiday cheer, not the flu at parties
Serve edamame for the nutrition
Newbies get help to start cooking
How to stretch meatloaf recipe
Food Notes: Join Lisa at culinary club's benefit dinner
New eateries expand menu of options
Ceremonies and special events to honor Veterans
Retired Green officer finally gets Bronze Star
John Rosemond: Children adapt to different discipline styles
Most Read Stories
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
New eateries expand menu of options
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Louisville athlete commits to play for Boston College
Family found dead in Ohio home
Blogs:
Pets:
It Takes All Kinds
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
Tallmadge family's house gets ghoulish makeover for Halloween festivities
By Kim Hone-McMahan
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Oct 12, 2008
''Oops, too late!''
There are people who decorate their homes for Halloween, stringing spider webs on their front porches or placing glowing plastic skeletons in their windows. And then there's John Kerr.
For the past four haunting seasons, he's transformed his basement into a maze for his family and friends. Last year, nearly 300 invited guests, some of whom helped decorate, came to get the bejeebers scared out of them.
John had been wanting to create a haunted house at his home for some time. But his wife, Charlene, is no fan of Halloween (she's afraid of masks). So, John had to get his wife a bit juiced up before she relented.
''Get a couple of drinks in her, and she's agreeable to most anything,'' John joked.
But he knew better than to ask her to help decorate the cellar.
Even when it's not Halloween, Charlene won't go down there. The Kerrs' home in Tallmadge was built in 1826, the same year our second and third presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, died. And the year Sing Sing prison was opened.
''It's spooky. It's ugly. And it's dirty,'' Charlene said of the 900-square-foot basement.
A motorized trap door on the outdoor deck creaks as it opens. That's where visitors descend the steps to the world below.
Narrow passages lead guests to an autopsy room, a funeral parlor and the Lost Soul Tavern, where wakes are held and guests are offered drinks spiked with make-believe blood. In the yard is a cemetery with headstones made of Styrofoam.
''Rest in Pieces'' and ''Izzy Dead Yet?'' are scrawled on a couple of the grave markers.
The History Channel's Web site, http://www.history.com, notes that Americans spend about $6.9 billion (that's with a ''B'') each year on Halloween. After Christmas, that makes Oct. 31 the second largest commercial holiday in the United States. With all of that creepy merchandise available, it's a perfect excuse for people like the Kerrs to have a big party with all of the ghoulish fixings.
''If you're gonna to do something,'' John proclaimed, ''do it right.''
Kim Hone-McMahan's Sketches are short tales you can read before finishing your first cup of coffee. Know of a behind-the-scenes person or unheralded happening? Call 330-996-3742 or write kmcmahan@thebeaconjournal.com.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
