Archive: Around Town

Last Saturday (10/29) the Lansing Community Center underwent a spooky transition. Dark wraiths floated out front, flagging down cars to come into the Haunted House.

Each of the past 15 years Lansing Boy Scouts turn the upstairs hall into a series of scary scenes, including a graveyard, a pirate battle, a vampire bed, and some chilling vignettes such as Martin Keefe chained to a wall that also has several hands -- but no bodies -- chained to it. Harry Wilhelm loaned a theremin, a spooky sounding electronic instrument played by moving your hands near its two antennas. There was a maniacal Santa wielding a chain saw, a werewolf, dead people in coffins and vampires.

"The reason I like it is the kids are the ones who create it," says Rick Vaughan, the Lansing troop's Scout Master. "If there's one activity that we do from year to year, this is the one they love to do." They love it so much, he says, that they forgo other scouting events to do it.

The scouts plan the event with adult guidance. It is a group effort that has taken place every year since about 1990. Some of the scenes are repeated from year to year, such as the grave yard scene, but what is in them may differ. Others are new ideas. Every year they change it," says Mr. Vaughan. "This year they have a prison break. They come up with the ideas and the theme."

Who is that masked theremin player?

"We try to have some things for younger kids," says Mr. Vaughan. These are less scary activities such as crafts and a magician. "Some of the kids get a little over anxious. You know, the screaming and that kind of stuff. It depends on your comfort level."

Martin Keef hanging around and Scount Master Rick -- or is it Elvis  -- Vaughan

For the brave, there are tour guides.  They  take visitors upstairs and through the haunted house. If they survive the eight or nine haunted scenes there are refreshments after the tour.

There's a werewolf in the closet!

Magician Sheldon Craig

In the kitchen, making spooky snacks

A lot of parents were there to help out, and many of them dressed for the roles.  "People are good," says Mr. Vaughan. "They come and help set up. A lot of the moms take charge of doing makeup." This year about 20 scouts from ages 11 to 17 participated. A spooky time was had by all.

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