A Hallmark Hallowe’en
Minnie Mouse and Fireman Forbes, outside the Maryboro Lodge Museum.
On October 31 as I meandered in the autumn sunshine down Oak Street towards the Maryboro Lodge Museum I thought “OMG!! This is a Hallmark moment!” All along the street neighbours were calling out to my little two and one half years old friend;” Hi Mr. Fireman! Would you like a treat?’ Merrill Pierce (aka Ask The Coach) sat on the front porch of her Victorian style house and gave my little friend two candy bracelets. (one for him and one for his daddy.) We walked by other beautiful historic homes on Oak Street and arrived at the original Maryboro Lodge Museum, nearly two centuries old. As we entered the Museum, a crazy woman was playing on the historic grand piano. Underwear hung on a line above her head, a filled chamber pot sat by her side, weird objets d’art spread across the lid of the grand piano. In the dining room a corpse, well known town crier Athol Hart, was laid to rest in a coffin, sobbed over by his grieving wife, Beth Sinyard. In the back room, the Anne Langton Gallery, there was a Monster Mash! The biggest monster was Glenn Walker disguised as a ghost. Any children who joined the dance were given a balloon. But this was NOT a Hallmark moment! This was our town, a real town, real people, real volunteers making our community such a wonderful place. Those weren’t fake historic house fronts, those weren’t fake leaves drifting down. Those weren’t paid actors. This was reality...our town!
The magic of that Hallowe’en night continued. Our next stop was “The Locker at the Falls”. There the owner, Samena Kennedy, had set up on her own time and expense, many amazing blow up monsters, ghouls, witches. Our little friend was greeted by a live dinosaur. He was captivated by a Bride of Frankenstein with purple hair who fascinated him with her rolling eyes. No one was obligated to purchase a meal or a drink. Children freely traipsed through and out onto the balcony where many really scary creatures were featured. Instead of insisting on charging for a drink or a meal, Samena asked for donations to the Boys and Girls club. Another amazing contributor, community member of our town!
And lastly, the magic of the Pumpkin Parade in the Grove theatre. An amazing night. Kathy Armstrong greeted us and explained how some pumpkins were entered in a competition by their makers whereas others were just in the parade for fun. My favourite, I thought the most original, was a pair of pumpkin eyeballs with false eyelashes. It took a long time to peruse the over 500 pumpkins. So many original creations, black cats, pumpkin houses with baby pumpkin people living inside, the silhouette of the headless horseman, pumpkins turned on their side with the stem as a long nose. Yes, it took a long time but there was hot apple cider, hot coffee with Baileys to warm us as we went up and down the aisles. Volunteer firefighters were there with their vintage fire truck. Tim Wisener, the co-founder of the Grove theatre was circulating and making everyone feel welcome, kids and grammas alike.
Not a Hallmark town, a real town, with a big heart. Thanks to all the amazing volunteers who made Hallowe’en so special.
These two pumpkins were entered in the contest. Which one would you vote for?
