Recently we sat down with Don Johnson of leavetheleathermanalone.com and discussed his obsession with the Old Leather Man and the recent controversy surrounding the possibility of exhuming his body to obtain more information on his identity.

When did you first get interested in The Old Leatherman?

I remember when I was a kid, reading about him in a magazine at home. Then in 2002 we were driving through Hamden and saw the street named “Leatherman Trail” and it jogged my memory, so I got on the computer and started reading everything I could find. A couple of years later, we moved, and now I go by that street all the time.

I read you are a teacher; do you do anything with the OLM in your curriculum?

Yes, I teach world history, and I use the story of the Old Leatherman as an example of the enduring power of oral traditions. He regularly travelled through the town I teach in, and likely walked right by the present location of our school, so his story has a real world connection to my students. Other teachers have learned of my interest in him, and they have in turn incorporated elements of his story into Language Arts, Math and Science. For example, the Math teacher on my team had his students use the data from his route to determine that in the years he traveled his 365 mile circuit passing through our town, that he could have walked almost 25,000 miles, roughly the circumference of the earth at the equator!

We have read many different opinions on why the OLM made his trek. And why he didn’t interact with others on a personal level, do you have any theories yourself?

I have never really settled on any one theory, I prefer to leave it to my imagination, and sometimes my mood. I will admit that one of my favorites is the theory proposed after it was reported that he wrote the numbers 1 5 3 4 2 on a piece of paper after being asked his age. (Borrowing from Dan’s Book here, pg 41) From the Peekskill Blade Monday February 23, 1885 “…others, whose minds are capable of conceiving vast ideas, claim that the Leatherman must be 15,342 years of age.” I love that one.

Being Catholic, his story isn’t really all that unusual throughout history….well the leather part is pretty unique. I would compare it to some of the orders of Monks whose routine is the same day in and day out, as well St Francis of Assisi. They are all people who feel called out of this world to live a life devoid of earthly possessions. Others say he was paying a penance with his ritual. Do you think his motivation was spiritual or something else?

I do believe there was an intensely spiritual element to his journey through life. Maybe it was conditioned in him from an early age, and was all he ever knew. Maybe he was “called out” as you say. An individual’s spirituality is deeply personal. Some choose to stand at the pulpit and expound theirs to the world, while others choose to turn theirs inward, their devotion only evident through their actions. From what I have read, I would definitely place the Leatherman in the latter group.

I think by now we all know there is controversy over the plan to exhume his body. From the name of your website [leavetheleathermanalone.com], we know which side of the fence you sit on. But why not dig him up? If he was a Catholic and a believer in the resurrection, would he care while alive if this was done after death? After all Catholics have been digging up people and collecting artifact for centuries.

The idea of digging up anyone’s remains just seems excessive, like a last resort under extreme circumstances. From what I know, I am only willing to speculate that he was Christian. So this point could go in many directions. For instance, there are Christians who subscribe to the belief in a resuscitated corpse of Christ, those who subscribe to the resurrection of the Holy Spirit, and others in-between. It is their spirituality, and it is personal. Herein lays the issue with the Leatherman. Unless he left a detailed manifesto written in the first person expressing his religious beliefs, then I am saying we should err on the side of caution, and be prudent in the handling of his remains in light of the fact that to my knowledge, no such evidence exists. With the course of action I propose, I assume nothing of his religious beliefs. Instead, I have based my opinion not on an assumption, but on accepted fact – the man wished to be left alone. For a group of historians, genealogists, and scientists 120 years later, working in the secular realm and having never met the man, to make the assumption that either he wouldn’t mind being disinterred and give anatomical gifts, or would have preferred to have had a proper Christian burial is, excuse the pun, a “leap of faith”. And also to my knowledge, the Vatican is not involved in this case…yet.

We recently did an Interview with Dan Deluca, afterward you seemed to take some issues up with him in the forum. Care to expand on that?

Dan and I agree on more than we disagree on, and have acknowledged that publicly. The lengths that he is comfortable going to in the name of research are different from mine i.e. the taking of, and resulting destruction of, anatomical gifts from the Leatherman (bone tissue and a molar tooth), the removal of his skull from his remains for 3d imaging and facial re-construction in a laboratory, etc, Those are actions that I take issue with.

Obviously digging him up is physically invasive, but the books lectures, photos etc are all bringing someone who wished to remain private out into the spotlight. Is there really a difference in your opinion?

I thought about that before I named the website, and how it might be perceived as a contradiction. What I came to realize, is that in today’s hyper-connected world, there is very little I can do to control the flow of information about the Leatherman, nor would I want to try. What I mean by Leave the Leatherman alone is literally, leave him alone. Scouring archival newspaper microfiche in a small town America is a right guaranteed by our constitution, and I applaud the tenacity of the Leatherman researchers who have provided us with so much insight into his life thus far. The Leatherman did live in this country, so if he left clues behind during his life that can tell us more about him, I believe that it is certainly anyone’s right to search out information and publish their findings. Taking an anatomical gift from his remains might fast-track that research, but does so at the Leatherman’s expense on a genetic level and thus crosses a line that myself and many others are not at all comfortable with. I do not believe, in the case of the Old Leatherman, that any fellow human being has the right to such anatomical gifts just to “promote interest in historical and genealogical matters” (From Court docs). A judge did give them the right, but to me, it is not right. I say map his footprints, not his DNA!

Is anyone taking your considerations into account, and or responding to your objections?

Yes – As I mentioned earlier, I have had a very respectful ongoing discourse with Dan DeLuca, who has been very responsive thus far. Also, Connecticut State Archaeologist Dr. Nick Bellantoni has also promised some answers to my questions soon. I have also had private email, and personal conversations with others who are trying to make up their mind. The conversation has been very respectful thus far, and that is the spirit I was hoping for. My passion for this cause got the better of me with my initial “scoundrels” remark, and I give the other side of the debate credit for not holding it against me. Has anyone on the research team taken my points into account and said maybe they would re-consider? Not yet. Have others who initially supported the project changed their opinion after reflecting on some of the issues raised on my site? Yes.

Speaking of passion, what is it about the Leatherman that gets you so “amped up”?

It’s like Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam wrote in his song, “Leatherman”. “I heard about a man to whom I may be related – Leatherman.” Eddie Vedder has stated that he wrote the song right after visiting one of the Leatherman’s caves with a friend. Through the years, Ol’ Leathery’s story just has just resonated with certain individuals on a very deep level. As odd as it sounds, I feel a sort of “kinship” with him too, and I think it’s OK to be quirky and different without having to explain yourself. That’s why I feel like I must object to digging him up and doing testing on his remains. Another insight into how my worldview may be affecting me here is this story: I have three maple trees lining my driveway which are probably two to three hundred years old. An arborist came over one day to give me some advice on pruning them, and when he saw them, he just stood under the biggest one, and looked me in the eye and said, “These trees have been through more than you can ever imagine to still be standing here like this, three in a row. You are their steward now.” I really want to know how old they really are, but I would never cut them down just to count the rings. Still another is this song I heard once with the chorus, “There’s a ringing in my ear and I think it’s the call of the wild”. So, now that I’ve shared those three insights, there are at least two others I am aware of that I will not share, ever. So I’m going on record to request that no one ever dig me up, grab a molar and try to figure out what they were!

I have seen a lot of the polls in the newspapers seem to agree with your position. And the majority of people I have talked to seem to agree — leave him alone. But the courts don’t seem to be blocking the way. In the end do you think he will be exhumed?

I’m an optimist and a dreamer by nature, so I will say no. If this were to be settled in the court of public opinion, I would still say no. However, they have a Court Ruling in hand, they own the cemetery, obviously have far greater financial resources than I do, and they are under no obligation to grant my wishes. All I have is my honest opinion, my resolve to see this through to the end, and the right to share my views with my fellow citizens.

Many people visit our site to check out paranormal activities and hauntings. What do you think about reports that the ghost of the Leatherman can still be seen/felt in and around the route he walked in life?

Well, I personally haven’t had any “encounters” so to speak, but there are a few things that are very curious to me when thought of in that light. The first is that I recently found out that the access road to the cemetery was likely paved directly over his grave. So now, aren’t his remains being protected by the very same thing that he found some measure of comfort and safety in during life? His grave site now reportedly poses a public safety hazard. Wouldn’t one sure-fire way to keep yourself safe if you want to see his grave be to simply not go there? You can see a picture of it right on here on DamnedCT, right? His headstone has the name Jules Bourglay on it. Is there not a better way to maintain your anonymity after death than to have a mis-labeled headstone? Add to that, the fact that it is a recycled headstone, with someone else’s name on the back! It’s fitting because this guy was the ultimate recycler! Leather scraps, cigar butts, homemade shovels and pipes, wooden shoes, vegetable gardens, etc. Didn’t he personify the saying “Reduce, reuse, recycle, and “Leave only footprints”? The research team says that they are acting in his best interest to give him a place of honor on consecrated ground, with a proper Christian burial, and a properly labeled brand new headstone. Maybe he’s already left us hints that he’s at peace exactly where he lies? No matter what, it still all makes for one great folktale, that’s for sure.

You had some T-shirts made up supporting your cause, where can I get some Leatherman gear?

Yes, those were a surprise gift from my family. There have been times over the past month where they have told me I need to “Leave the Leatherman Alone!” They’ve patiently listened to my ramblings, and been very supportive of what I’m doing, and had some “gear” made up for me for Christmas. They had to place a minimum order, so there are a few extras. I’ll probably put out word on the site soon, once everyone who has already asked for one has gotten theirs. What size are you?

I’m a s-medium,

Thank you Don, and good luck!

The advent of a new year is the perfect time to look back on the past one and remember some of the best weird news stories from here in Connecticut.

Although there were dozens of stories throughout the year, I thought about doing a top 10 ranking, but how do you rank a guy who rapes a horse against a man who gets his arm stuck in a furnace and tries to amputate it himself? Both are pretty damn weird as far as I’m concerned, so instead, I thought it made more sense to go through the year chronologically and hit some of the highlights.

The beginning of 2010 started off with one big case of celebrity odd, but there wasn’t much weird until the weather warmed up. And for whatever reason, the center of Connecticut weird seemed to be focused on Stratford this year.

Getting Ripped – Actor Rip Torn was arrested after breaking into a Salisbury bank with a loaded revolver and setting off alarms. Apparently, Torn was “highly intoxicated.” Or maybe he was just method acting — did anyone think of that? Okay, he was potted. He eventually pleaded to three years probation and avoided jail time. [Jan. 30, 2010]

Sign of Guilt – A sign that hung at the Greenwich Country Day School was returned after it had been stolen 43 years earlier. Apparently, an alumnus, who was near death, wanted to clear his conscience before passing away. No sign if it worked and the repentant thief ended up where he hoped he might. [March 3, 2010]

That’s Not What the Drive-Thru is For – Two Fairfield men called ahead to the Stratfield Road branch of People’s United Bank to announce that they were robbing the bank. They told bank personnel to have $100,000 in large bills loaded into bags — with no dye packs, of course — and ready for them when they arrived. Absolutely not coincidentally, police arrived at the same time and arrested the would-be thieves. [March 23, 2010]

A Heavy Heart – Bridgeport police needed to remove part of an exterior wall and the help of a pay loader to extract the body of an obese man from his Boston Avenue home. Sadly, Alexandros Martakis was estimated to have weighed between 800 and 1,000 pounds and was only 35 when he died of “natural causes.” It took police and fire personnel a few hours to remove the body from the second-floor apartment. [May 12, 2010]

Baby Blues – Thomas Wellington, 41, was arrested for public indecency after he was discovered wandering around the C-Town Parking Lot on Boston Avenue in Stratford wearing nothing but a diaper and sucking on a pacifier. Weird? Guess it depends on what you think is unusual. [May 25, 2010]

Dumping on Middletown – Todd Valluzzi, 37, was arrested by Middletown police after numerous witnesses reported that he dropped his pants on Main Street and defecated in plain view. Although he denied it — and was apparently inebriated, go figure — the “evidence” was piled against him … and on the sidewalk. [June 3, 2010]

Jesus: Naked and Naughty in Norwalk? – A naked man who was standing by the side of I-95 in Norwalk and yelling that he was Jesus, caused a five-vehicle accident that included a jack-knifed tractor-trailer. Unfortunately, numerous people were injured in the crash and had to be extricated from their vehicles. No word of “Jesus” aided in the healing of accident victims. [June 5, 2010]

A Call to Arm – In a nightmarish scenario, Jonathan Metz, 31, was forced to cut off his own arm after it had become caught in the furnace of his West Hartford home during a repair. Metz had been stuck and injured for two days in his basement, and with infection setting in, made the harrowing — and ultimately, life-saving — decision. A friend finally discovered him and called emergency personnel, who arrived to rescue Metz, although his arm couldn’t be saved. Metz has recovered well from his injuries, and was even provided with a new furnace and a prosthetic arm. [June 11, 2010]

Mummy Dearest – The mummified remains of a West Hartford woman were discovered in the Pennsylvania home of her twin sister. Authorities discovered that Jean Stevens, 91, of Wyalusing Township, had the remains of her sister June Matson Stevens — as well as the remains of her own husband, James Stevens — removed from their original resting places and placed in her home because “she missed them.” Realizing that the sweet (if slightly odd) old lady meant no harm, she was eventually allowed to keep the bodies as long as they were placed in an above-ground mausoleum. [June 17, 2010]

Something in the Water? – Southbury’s Pomperaug High School earned a possible spot in the Guinness Book of World Records when in June, 13 sets of twins graduated simultaneously. The former record had been 10, which occurred at a high school in Massachusetts. [June 25, 2010]

No Starch Needed – After an extended missing person search, Stratford police found the body of Frances Rodriguez under a pile of laundry in her bedroom of her Stratford Avenue home. Her husband had awakened more than 48 hours earlier to find the 60-year-old woman “gone,” and figured she had gone for a long morning walk, which was her custom. He went to work, but when he didn’t find his wife after his return, began a frantic search and  contacted police, who eventually found the body under the pile of clothes. They assumed Frances, who had been ill, had a stroke or heart attack, and while falling over, grabbed the clothes rack, which ended up on top of her, concealing her. [Aug. 3, 2010]

Mad Money – Mysterious 104-year-old heiress Huguette Clark gave her long-time nurse Hadassah Peri nearly $2 million in real estate. The reclusive — and eccentric, from most accounts — heiress, who hasn’t been seen in public in almost 80 years, owns a $24 million mansion in New Canaan in which she has never stepped foot. The property’s caretaker, Tony Ruggiero, has been employed by Clark for decades, yet has never even met his boss. [Sept. 6, 2010]

Thank You, Chuck Norris – Candidate for probate judge in Norwich Chuck Norris kept having his campaign signs stolen by fans of the other Chuck Norris, who apparently has made some sort of career for himself in the performing arts. Even without the missing the signs, the Republican candidate was able to prevail in the November election — apparently the publicity didn’t do him any harm. [Sept. 22, 2010]

A Fool and His Money — And Clothes — Are Parted – Stratford police arrested a 62-year-old Bridgeport man who was naked and throwing money into a marsh next to the Shakespeare Festival Theatre. The man had disposed of $9,271 before he was apprehended. [Sept. 29, 2010]

Whoa! – Marian Wegiel, 63, of Shelton made national headlines when he was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a horse. Wegiel claims he was trying to comfort Indiana, a mare, who was spooked by “a loud noise,” but an eyewitness and forensic investigations claim otherwise. Insert your own jokes  — and only your own jokes — here. [Oct. 18, 2010]

Bam! Biff! Pow! – Stamford police were called to quell a brawl between two men and a woman dressed as comic book characters. After a Halloween party, Captain America (not-so-secret identity: Michael Sanchez) got into a fight with Spider-Man (Vincent Decaro) and Poison Ivy (Nicole Bitterle). Not exactly what you’d call “Super Friends.” [Oct. 31, 2010]

Bad House Guest? – A man who broke into a Stratford home was discovered a short time later dead in the bathtub of self-inflicted wounds. Robert Smith was sleeping in his home on Seabreeze Drive when awakened by a forced entry — he scuffled with the intruder, Joshua Hamilton, 18, of Bridgeport, and then fled to a neighbor’s house to call authorities. When police arrived, they found Hamilton’s body. [Nov. 19, 2010]

He’ll Be Back – A Christian group placed billboards around the state of Connecticut proclaiming that Jesus will be back on May 21, 2011. Supposedly using scripture as a guide, the group has pinpointed the date and will be eagerly awaiting his appearance, although no mention was made of exactly where the savior might pop up. [Dec. 3, 2010]

Pink and Blue – The body of Cindy D’Aiuto, 48, of Westport was discovered by a newspaper delivery man in a snowy parking lot of Kings Highway North commercial complex, clad only in pink pajamas and slippers. A preliminary autopsy suggests the woman died due to exposure and hypothermia as the cause of death, but the investigation is ongoing. [Dec. 28, 2010]

Let’s hope the weird continues in 2011!

Unless you were hibernating the past few days — which would’ve been a good plan! — you had to deal with the blizzard the roared through the Northeast and buried a good deal of Connecticut under a windblown blanket of snow.

In terms of unusual snowfall, this wasn’t a particularly memorable storm as only about a 1 to 1.5 feet of snow fell on most of the state. No, what made this storm so exceptional was the strong winds — measured at around 50 miles per hour with gusts reaching almost 70 miles per hour in some spots! The wind created some monstrous drifts, caused white-out conditions and disrupted power in various spots.

From the “I didn’t know the difference between winter storms and blizzards until now” file: According to weather.com, “Blizzards are characterized by low temperatures (usually below 20 F) and accompanied by winds that are at least 35 mph or greater, there must also be sufficient falling and/or blowing snow in the air that will frequently reduce visibility to 1/4 mile or less for a duration of at least 3 hours.”

Check, check and check this week!

In terms of major blizzards that were severe enough to be labeled natural disasters, according to the Connecticut State Library, there has only been three:

• Feb. 6-7, 1978 – This dumped two feet of the snow on the state and shut down the state for 3 days. I remember not having school that week — it was awesome! I also remember almost drowning in a drift in my friend’s driveway, which was not awesome and actually, a bit scary.
• March 11, 1888 – According to some reports, this monster storm was marked by almost 50 inches of snow in some places! That’s over 4 feet, if you’re counting. The good news was that there were no cars yet, so there were no driveways to shovel.
• Nov. 17-21, 1798 – Known as “The Long Storm,” this November blizzard buried almost all of the East Coast under 2 to 3 feet of snow. It was part of what was called “The Long Winter,” one of the coldest ever recorded in the region and that resulted in some of the rivers around Manhattan actually freezing, ice on the streets of New Hampshire through April and snow lingering in some shady areas of Vermont until June!

Funny, but on Sunday night while snuggled in my warm, cozy bed, and listening to the wind howling outside, I was very happy for modern building techniques, heating equipment and electricity! Can you imagine dealing with that storm for FOUR days in 1798 before the advent off all those conveniences? A rather chilling thought, so to speak.

Of course, as much as we worry about the extreme weather here, we should be thankful we’re not on Saturn! Recently, astronomers captured pictures of a giant storm that raged across its surface over the Christmas holiday — it’s the squiggly thing in the picture at right.

According to Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy (highly recommended), the main section of the storm is about 3,600 miles across, or about half the size of Earth! The whole storm is about 10 times longer than that.

Yeah, a storm that’s five times bigger than the Earth itself would put a damper on the holiday, no doubt. And put what we just experience to shame!

Wikimedia Commons/Matthew Brady, c. 1860

As many of you may already be aware, this year marks the 200th anniversary of legendary humbug and Connecticut native P.T. Barnum. As such, there’s been a number of Barnum-related events and stories in the news.

This month’s Fortean Times has a great article by local historian Michael J. Bielawa about the nearly forgotten story of reported attempts to desecrate the grave of the world-famous showman at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport.

From the article:

Shortly after his death, aged 80, something very unusual occurred at Barnum’s graveside. Newspapers across the nation debated what might, or might not, have transpired in the Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mountain Grove Cemetery. Barnum’s associates and friends professed that the evid­ence pointed a skeletal finger toward the midnight labours of grave robbers. On the other hand, the showman’s parade of detract­ors suspected yet another well-planned, albeit lurid, publicity stunt. Whichever the case, the sepulchres of Mountain Grove, a ceme­tery Barnum himself helped found, witnessed “something” eerie during the early morning hours of 29 May 1891.

As with almost everything related to flamboyant Barnum, it’s an entertaining read.

Of course, this site has a few other posts regarding Barnum.

• First off, we have been to the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport on multiple occasions. In addition to all sorts of Barnum and circus memorabilia, there’s also a replica of the FeeJee Mermaid and Pa-Ib, a 4,000-year-old mummy
• There’s also the story of the Cardiff Giant and how Barnum never actually the phrase that’s been attributed him: “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
• We also posted about the report that Hugh Jackman was going to star in a musical film based on the life of Barnum. We haven’t found any update on this as to whether it’s still going forward or has been canceled, so no doubt it’s floundering along in Hollywood development hell.
• And we also detailed some of the efforts to analyze the aforementioned Pa-Ib – acquired by Barnum in the 1890s — by the local scientists who were the stars of the sadly defunct “Mummy Roadshow.”

Still, it’s great to see that such a larger-than-life individual like Barnum can still inspire and awe long after his death. No doubt we will continue to devote space on this site to curiosities, oddities and events related to him.

Looking for some damned-type fun this October? Check out our statewide list of activities below, ranging from haunted attractions and hayrides to graveyard tours and family Halloween events. (Events are in chronological order by county.)

Please make sure to call ahead and check on any event you plan on attending — we try to keep this updated, but sometimes events will be canceled at the last minute, especially outdoor events that depend on good weather.

We are trying to update this list every day with new events, so if you know of something, please send it to us at damnedct@gmail.com!

Find an event by county:
Fairfield County
Hartford County
Litchfield County
Middlesex County
New Haven County
New London County
Tolland County
Windham County

Fairfield County

Halloween Happenings at Stew Leonard’s
October 1-31
Stew Leonard’s, Danbury & Norwalk
203.847.7213
Admission: Free
stewleonards.com
More info: Stew Leonard’s Norwalk & Danbury stores offer free family movie nights every Friday, hayrides through the “Spooktacular” and free ice cream for children in costume at the store on Halloween day.

Fairview Tree Farm Haunted Hay Rides
October 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29; 7-10 pm
Fairview Tree Farm, 484 Walnut Tree Hill Rd., Shelton
203.944.9090
Admission: Call for ticket prices & weather-related changes
fairviewtreefarm.com/
More info: The 15th season of terrifying haunted hay rides around the tree farm.

Frankenstein: The Halloween Hi-jinks Musical Comedy
October 9-31
Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Bridgeport
203.576.1636
Admission: $18
dtcab.com/stage/kids-stage
More info: Up in his Transylvanian castle, Count Dracula and his Gummy Grandmother, are planning to put little orphan Heidi into their Thanksgiving dinner pot. Horrors! But Dracula is a failure as a vampire and everything else. That’s when the fun begins!

Howl-O-Ween
October 21 & 22, 28 & 29; 6-9 pm
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport
203.394.6565
Admission: $8
beardsleyzoo.org
More info: Calling all ghosts and goblins! Come and spend a truly fun and frightful evening at the zoo featuring the Cryptozoology Hayride, Haunted Farmyard and magic show by Jim Sisti. Plus face painting, kettle corn, and of course, CANDY! Recommended for children ages 6-10.

Nightmare Fair: Trails From the Crypt
October 21-23, 28-30; dusk – 10 pm
The Discovery Museum, Bridgeport
203.888.6204
Admission: $10 per victim (not for kids under 11)
nightmarefair.com
More info: If you want to be scared witless at Halloween, don’t hesitate to take a trip round Discovery Museum, Bridgeport Connecticut’s Nightmare Fair. This year the theme is “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” — those of a strong disposition can head off into the crypt and follow the Halloween trail.

Inkubus

October 28 – November 3
Showcase Theaters, 286 Canfield Ave., Bridgeport
800.315.4000
Admission: Call for times & ticket prices
facebook.com/InkubusMovie
More info: An exclusive engagement of Woodhaven Production Co’s Inkubus, which tells the story of a skeleton crew working the final shift at a soon to be demolished police station. The night takes a gruesome turn when the demon, Inkubus (Robert Englund), calmly walks into the station holding the severed head of a murdered girl.

Zumba Zombie Thriller
October 29; 9:30-11 am
Breakthru Family Fitness, 48 Union St., Stamford
203.536.7018
Admission: $15
More info: A Halloween event for everybody with zumba, free Robeks smoothies and raffles prizes. Proceeds from the event will go to support Team for Kids charity.

Samhain 2011—A Witches Masquerade Ball
October 29; 6 pm
Harmony Masonic Lodge, 231 Main Street, New Canaan
646.396.7399
Admission: $30
More info: C.W.P.N. and The Akashic Temple invite you to and evening of fun, food, frolic, Ritual, and DANCE! Come Celebrate the Ritual of Life, Death, and Rebirth. Full Buffet Banquet, Veg and Carne choices! Wine, Mead and Brew only after 8 p.m. — B.Y.O.B. Masquerade Ball, Vendors, Costume Contest.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (in IMAX)
October 29; 9 pm
IMAX Theater, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Norwalk
203.852.0700
Admission: Call for ticket prices
maritimeaquarium.org/
More info: Do the Time Warp again with Dr. Frank-N-Furter on Connecticut’s largest IMAX movie screen, in a funky Halloween-weekend first at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Participants are encouraged to dress up as the film’s characters, and to bring rubber gloves, newspapers and party horns. Maritime Aquarium staff will handle the “interactive” elements involving rain, rice and toast. Please: no throwing items at the IMAX screen.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
October 29; 9 pm
The Palace Danbury Theatre, 165 Main Street, Danbury
203.794.9944
Admission: $15; $20 for ticket & prop pack
thepalacedanbury.com
More info: Be ready to join the fun and phenomenon of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Audience members are encouraged to dress as their favorite character, throw props at various times during the film, and be ready to yell back lines of dialogue as part of the audience partici-(SAY IT!)-pation. Prop packages, including everything you need to join in as an unconventional conventionalist, can be pre-ordered when ordering tickets. All fans 18 and younger must be accompanied by an adult, and no rice, hot dogs, toast or an open flame will be permitted.

AMAZEing Halloween
October 29 & 30; Noon – 4 pm
The Bartlett Arboretum, 151 Brookdale Rd., Stamford
203.322.6971
Admission: Free; please pre-register.
stamfordhalloween.eventbrite.com
More info: The Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens becomes home to a huge hay maze, fun activities for kids and other Halloween happenings. Also features free admission to The Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens and the new Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom as well as the “Monster Mash” costume parade and many other kid-friendly activities.

Legends and Hauntings Lantern Tour
October 29 & 30; 6-8 pm
Fairfield Museum and History Center, 370 Beach Road, Fairfield
203.259.1598
Admission: $7; members $5. Please pre-register.
fairfieldhs.org
More info: Get chilled to the bone on this walking tour that explores haunting legends and folklore as night descends. Hear about body snatching in the cemetery, ghost legends at the Tavern and stand on the site where wary townsfolk tested alleged witches in the 17th century.

Black Rock Halloween Parade & Neighborhood Party
October 30; 1 pm
Bridgeport Public Library – Black Rock Branch, Bridgeport
203.337.9676
Admission: Free
bportlibrary.org/blackrock/
More info: Meet at Ellsworth Field at 4:30 for the annual march to Black Rock Branch Library where there will be ghoulish treats, storytelling and fiendish fun for all ages!

Trick or Treat at Stamford Museum and Nature Center
October 30; 1-3 pm
Heckscher Farm, Stamford Museum and Nature Center
203.322.1646
Admission: $10; seniors $8; students $6; children $5
stamfordmuseum.org
More info: Don your Halloween costume and head up to Heckscher Farm to trick or treat with your favorite farm friends! Grab a map and head off in search of different “treats” at the trick or treating stations. Then, stop by Overbrook for “Ick-Fest” and get slimy with our slime table, visit live reptiles and bugs, and create crafts around some of our favorite Halloween critters.

Boo at the Zoo
October 30; noon – 3 pm
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport
203.394.6565
Admission: $11; free for children in costume with a parent
beardsleyzoo.org
More info: This spooktacular afternoon includes music, harvest hay rides, face painters, our scarecrow competition and more!

Hartford County

Halloween Happenings at Stew Leonard’s
October 1-31
Stew Leonard’s, Newington
203.760.8100
Admission: Free
stewleonards.com
More info: Halloween happenings include free family movie nights on Fridays, a free Hay Maze and free ice cream for children in costume at the store on Halloween day.

The Haunted Graveyard
October 1-31; Friday & Saturday dusk to midnight, Sunday dusk to 10 pm
Lake Compounce, Bristol
860.583.3300
Admission: $29.99 (combo park & graveyard); $21.99 graveyard or park only
hauntedgraveyard.com
More info: A mammoth walk-through attraction featuring six haunted houses and a graveyard all linked by a labyrinth of terrifying trails with 17 adult rides operating.

Spirits at Stowe: An Otherworldly Tour
October 1-29; Fridays & Saturdays at 6:30, 7:30 & 8:30 pm
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Hartford
860.522.9258 ext. 317
Admission: $15 (reservations suggested; ages 12+)
harrietbeecherstowe.org
More info: Who will show up on the K2 meter and the digital voice recorder? What did the Ghost Hunters Team find? What did Harriet Beecher Stowe know about seances and Spiritualism? A 45-minute spine-tingling tour offered Fridays and Saturday evenings only in October.

Witch’s Dungeon Classic Movie Museum
October 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-31; 7-10 pm
90 Battle St., Bristol
860.583.8306
Admission: $2
preservehollywood.org
More info: The longest-running tribute (45 years!) to the classic horror films of Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi and others – accurate life-size figures in 13 scenes based on these vintage chillers. Voice tracks guide you through the 6-minute tour, with special voice recordings by: Vincent Price, June Foray, John Agar and Mark Hamill.

Rails to the Darkside
October 7-29; Fridays & Saturdays 7-9:30 pm
Connecticut Trolley Museum, East Windsor
960.627.6540
Admission: $13; under 12 $6
ct-trolley.org
More info: A bone chilling ride aboard a trolley cart the the “Darkside” where anything can happen. Also, a terrifying tour of the spirit inhabited cemetery and car barn.

Graveyard Shift Tours
October 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 27; hourly from 6 to 9 pm
Mark Twain House Museum, Hartford
860.247.0998
Admission: $18; members $15 (reservations required)
marktwainhouse.org
More info: Reported ghostly apparitions, mysterious bangs, and other unexplained phenomena, along with visits from Syfy’s Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters Academy, have led to reprise the popular Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours this year. Hear spooky tales and learn about Mark Twain’s own interest in the supernatural.

The Rocky Horror Show—The Play, Live
October 14-29; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Oct. 22 & 29 midnight shows
Trinity-on-Main, 69 Main Street, New Britain
860.229.2072
Admission: $22; in advance $18, VIP $26 (center, first five rows)
trinityonmain.org/rocky-horror-show
More info: Do the Time Warp again with Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Participants are encouraged to dress up as the film’s characters. Cash bar and other refreshments and participation bags available.

Spookley the Square Pumpkin Planetarium Show
October 21-23, 28-30; 4:30 pm
The Children’s Museum, 950 Trout Brook Drive, West Hartford
860.231.2830 x 44
Admission: $5; members $4 (call to register)
thechildrensmuseumct.org
More info: A Special Planetarium Show for Halloween! In a world where “The only good pumpkins are round pumpkins,” Spookley The Square Pumpkin is often teased by the other pumpkins because of his odd shape. Soon, Spookley is befriended by Edgar, Allan and Poe, three hilarious spiders, who convince Spookley that, square or not, he has a right to be the “Pick of the Patch” on Halloween.

Haunted Miniature Golf
October 21-31; Thurs.-Sun.
Farmington Miniature Golf, Farmington
860.677.0118
Admission: $10
farmingtonminiaturegolf.com
More info: Eighteen holes of Halloween fun await participants upon entering the 12-foot-high Jack-O-Lantern. Try to catch a mysterious moving doughnut, wander through a haunted graveyard and visit Dracula’s Fountain and the Haunted Pirate’s Tavern. Halloween treats will be available at the Ice Cream Parlor.

West Hartford Hauntings
October 21 & 22, 29 & 30; 6-8:45 pm, every 15 minutes
North Cemetery, North Main Street, West Hartford
860.521.5362
Admission: $13; under 17 $9 (reservations highly recommended)
noahwebsterhouse.org
More info: A spooky theatrical lantern light tour of North Cemetery, featuring encounters with the ghosts of historical characters. The stories this year include husband and wife train accident victims, the story of a Revolutionary War prisoner, and the tale of a runaway apprentice.

Spooky Kingdom
October 22-23, 29-31; 7-9 pm
14 Lovley Dr., Plantsville
Admission: Free, but donations to the Alzheimer’s Association are encouraged
spookykingdom.com
More info: Spooky Kingdom has a spooktacular amount to offer including a fire-breathing gargoyle, a scythe-swinging grim reaper and a horse-drawn hearse only for the dead, a proper graveyard (where some can’t rest), a fortune teller and a backyard chef.

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” with storyteller Jonathan Kruk
October 25 & 26; 7:30 pm
Mark Twain House Museum, Hartford
860.280.3130
Admission: $20
marktwainhouse.org
More info: The Mark Twain House & Museum offers special Halloween tricks and treats when Sleepy Hollow, NY’s official storyteller Jonathan Kruk gallops to Hartford chased by the Headless Horseman himself! Washington Irving’s classic tale of Ichabod Crane’s unfortunate encounter with a malevolent ghost has kept many a child awake with fright. Kruk performs this beloved chiller in the spooky basement of The Mark Twain House.

Ghost Hunting 101
October 27; 6:30 pm
Burlington Public Library, 34 Library Lane, Burlington
860.673.3331
Admission: Free (registration required)
burlingtonctlibrary.info
More info: Andy Laird of the Rhode Island Paranormal Research Group will present true paranormal research using actual case material. The audience is invited to come and share their experiences.

Haunted History Tour
October 28; 6-9 pm
Old State House, 800 Main St., Hartford
860.522.6766
Admission: $10; $8 in advance with reservation
stanleywhitman.org
More info: Watch performers from the Stanley Whitman house as they re-create the 1630s witch hunt with In a Preternatural Way, the Witchcraft Trial of Mary Barnes at 6 p.m. After that, guests can sit down with Andre Keitt for spooky stories, go on a ghost hunt and tour the Old State House. At 8 p.m., staff members from the Old State House will lead visitors on a guided lantern tour of the Ancient Burying Ground. Light refreshments, craft activities and scavenger hunts will be available all night.

Halloween Best Dressed Costume Party
October 28; 9 pm – 2 am
Crush Lounge, Hartford Marriott, 200 Columbus Blvd., Hartford
860.760.2340
Admission: No cover (age 21 and over)
waterfordgrouprestaurants.com/crush
More info: Apple scary cider, skeleton martinis and much more at this happening Halloween party in downtown Hartford.

Cedar Hill’s Haunted History Lantern Tour
October 28
Cedar Hill Cemetry, 453 Fairfield Avenue, Hartford
860.956.3311
Admission: $15 (pending availability); $12 in advance (guaranteed reservation)
cedarhillfoundation.org
More info: The only night during the year that the cemetery is open to the public after dark. Led by lantern light, attendees will visit the final resting places of some of Cedar Hill’s notable and not-so-notable residents. Character actors will share their true-yet-darker-tales. To ensure your participation in this tour, reservations are required for specific time slots! Please note: This tour may NOT be suitable for children under 13. Wear appropriate walking shoes and bring a flashlight.

Museum After Dark: 5th Annual Costume Party
October 28; 8-11:30 pm
New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington St., New Britain
860.229.0257
Admission: $20; members $15
nbmaa.org
More info: Performance by Hartford’s premiere burlesque troupe Beat City Beauties. Connecticut’s DJ ORIGINATE will get you on the dance floor with his drum and bass mix. Costume Contest (Most Creative, Best Duo/Group, Best Overall).

Haunted Whitman Inne: A good old-fashioned scare!
October 29; 6:30-8:30 pm
Stanley-Whitman House, Farmington
860.677.9222
Admission: $8 plus a canned good; members $5 (ages 10 and up; registration required)
stanleywhitman.org
More info: Traveling through Farmington? Looking for a place to rest your bones or someone else’s? Tour the Haunted Whitman Inne! Ghosts, ghouls, and gruesome figures around every corner – you may find someone or something in your bed. Be warned, if you stay the night, you might not survive! You will be emailed or mailed a ticket with your party size and reservation time.

Saxophone Studio Halloween Concert
October 29; 8 pm
Bliss Music Room, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford
860.768.4826
Admission: Free
hartford.edu/hartt
More info: The students of Carrie Koffman present a Halloween Concert with a new soundtrack written for the 1978 film version of Dawn of the Dead.

Spooktacular Science Weekend
October 29-30
Connecticut Science Center, 250 Columbus Blvd, Hartford
860.724.3623
Admission: Free with regular museum admission
ctsciencecenter.org
More info: A fun weekend for the whole family including arts and crafts, trick or treating, costume parade, scary face painting and airbrush tattoos.

Food for the Dead: On the Trail of New England’s Vampires
October 30; 2:15 pm
Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, Wethersfield
860.529.0612
Admission: $10 (reservations required)
webb-deane-stevens.org
More info: The word “vampire” conjures up so many images, from Bela Lugosi as Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula to Robert Pattinson as the young and sexy Edward Cullen of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight. But another kind of vampire survived in the remote areas of New England more than one hundred years before Stoker penned Dracula in 1897. Michael Bell relates his quest to unravel the mystery of these little-known, so-called vampires.

Hobgoblin Fair
October 29; 10 am & 1 pm
Roaring Brook Nature Center, Canton
860.693.0263
Admission: $6 per child; $5 for members (pre-registration required)
roaringbrook.org
More info: The Hobgoblin Fair features the “Track-and-Treat” walk, children’s crafts, cupcake decorating, face painting, a Country Kitchen of yummy homemade items, and a delicious lunch of homemade soup, bread and apple cider. Suitable for children ages 3-8 and parents.

Are we missing an event? Let us know!

Litchfield County

The Rocky Horror Show
October 15, 22 & 29; 8 pm & 11:59 pm; 21 & 28, 8 pm
Warner Theatre, Torrington
860.489.7180
Admission: $22
warnertheatre.org
More info: Back by popular demand! The play that inspired the cult film is the risque tale of straight-laced lovebirds who seek refuge in an eerie mansion up the street.

Woodbury Lions Club Haunted Hayride & All-New Haunted Barn
October 21 & 22, 28 & 29; 6:30-9:30 pm
Mitchell School, School Street, Woodbury
Admission: $10; under 12 $5
woodburyctlions.org
More info: Now in 3-D! Once you enter, you may never find your way out of this classic hayride, now in its 21st year! Refreshments also available.

Action Wildlife Haunted Hayride

October 22 & 29
Action Wildlife, Goshen
860.491.9191
Admission: $10
actionwildlife.org
More info: Enjoy some spook-tacular fun with a kid-oriented haunted hayride around the park.

Washington Green Cemetery Tour
October 28; 6:30-8:30 pm
Gunn Memorial Library & Museum, Washington
860.868.7756
Admission: Free
gunnlibrary.org
More info: Tour the cemetery and learn about the lives of the people buired there through first person, costumed narratives. This year focuses on the impact of the Civil War, honoring Washington’s Civil War soldiers.

Halloween on the Green
October 29; 2-4 pm
The Green, Danbury
203.792.1711
Admission: Free
citycenterdanbury.com
More info: The 19th Annual Halloween on the Green in Danbury features a Costume Parade scheduled for 3:30 pm. Prizes will be awarded for Most Original, Scariest, Cutest and Funniest get-ups. Children will have their own costume parade and games and get to decorate a pumpkin.

Halloween Spooktacular
October 29; 6:30-9:30 pm
Starting at the Tapping Reeve Law School, Litchfield
860.567.0857
Admission: $25; LHS & WMCC members $15 (pre-registration and pre-payment required)
whitememorialcc.org
More info: The evening begins at the Tapping Reeve Law School with a candlelight reading of excerpts from the Washington Irving classic, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” followed by a walking tour along Gallows Lane, site of the hanging and death of America’s first mass murderer. The evening ends at White Memorial’s A.B. Ceder Room with spooky treats prepared. Meet an owl and a bat and watch out for other things that go bump in the night! Bring a flashlight! Halloween costumes are suggested but not required.

Slightly Spooky Campfire Stories
October 29; 7 pm
Pratt Nature Center, 163 Papermill Rd., New Milford
860.355.3137
Admission: Free; donations accepted.
prattcenter.org
More info: Enjoy slightly spooky campfire stories and roast marshmallows by the campfire.

Lantern Tour of the Plymouth Burying Ground
October 29; 7 pm
Plymouth Green, corner of Main St. and North St., Plymouth
860.921.6118
More info: Judith Giguere, Plymouth Town Historian, leads a lantern tour of the historic Plymouth Burying Ground. Bring flashlights or camping lanterns. Rain date is Oct. 30.

The Halloween Express
October 29 & 30; noon & 2 pm
Railroad Museum of New England, Thomaston
860.283.RAIL
Admission: $16; seniors & children $14
rmne.org
More info: The Halloween Express will take costumed passengers on a scenic 20-mile round-trip ride that runs along Mattatuck State Forest to the Brass Mills of Waterbury and back to the spectacular Thomaston Dam amid splendid fall foliage. Free pumpkins are given to every child as long as the supply lasts.

Halloween Carnival and Costume Parade
October 30; 11:45 am – 3 pm
Rockwell Park, Bristol
860.584.6160
Admission: Free
More info: Boys and girls up to 5th grade are invited to participate in the parade begins at noon with Amazing Andy’s Magic Show to follow. Carnival games, arts and crafts, Big Daddy’s Racing, an old fashioned photo booth, Twinkles and Jingles the clowns and Train Rides are also on the agenda. Each child will receive a free reflective trick or treat bag. Children participating in the Costume Parade will receive a small bag of treats.

35th Annual Kent Pumpkin Run
October 30; noon
Kent green, Kent
860.927.1463
Admission: $27; in advance $22
kentpumpkinrun.eventbrite.com
More info: The 35th running of this Kent Classic offers something for everyone! The festivities begin with a Kids Fun Run @ 11:15 AM followed by the 5 mile run/walk. The spectator-friendly, USATF-certified course starts and finishes at Kent Green in front of Town Hall. Music, refreshments (including Billy’s famous Pumpkin Soup!), face painting, Halloween fun and much more. Post Race party for all!

The Silo and the Supernatural
October 30; 4-6 pm
Hunt Hill Farm, Upland Road, New Milford
860.355.0300
Admission: $15; in advance $10 (ages 12 and up)
hunthillfarmtrust.org
More info: Enter the realm of the paranormal with The Northwest Ct Paranormal Society’s professional investigator John Zontok and Bob Mills, a professional photographer who helps the team differentiate true paranormal pictures from forged images. They will discuss the history of the Society, the ‘tools of the trade,’ the history of paranormal photography, and share audio of ghostly voices and videos of what could be a revolutionary soldier. Plus a question and answer segment.

Halloween Costume Party for Children
October 31; 4:30 pm
New England Carousel Museum, 95 Riverside Dr., Bristol
860.585.5411
Admission: $1; children free
thecarouselmuseum.org
More info: Costume contest is scheduled for 5 p.m. Ghoulish games and fun are promised, along with a crazy costume contest and what is billed as “frightening foods.”

Are we missing an event? Let us know!

Middlesex County

Bash the Monster at Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park
October 1-31; Noon – 9 pm
Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park, Portland
866.860.0208
Admission: Full park $28; Halloween events only $18
brownstonepark.com
More info: A Halloween party to end the 2010 season, featuring a haunted peninsula ready for brave thrill seekers, a roaring bonfire, zip line costume contest, extreme pumpkin carving contest, rock wall pumpkin smash and the soon-to-be-famous Bash-the-Monster Catapult Pumpkin Launch.

Haunted Zip Line Tours
October 7-31; Wed., Thurs. & Sun. at 6 & 7 pm, Fri. & Sat. at 6, 7 & 8 pm
Empower Leadership Sports & Adventure Center, Middletown
860.622.8726
Admission: $64; reservations required
leadershipsports.com
More info: Enjoy a one-of-a-kind haunted experience as you zip through the night sky in the woods, surrounded by ghosts and ghouls while 40 feet in the air.

Fright Train
October 21-23, 28-31; 6:30 & 8 pm
Essex Steam Train, Essex
860.767.0103
Admission: $20
essexsteamtrain.com
More info: It’s a mystical, foggy evening, the anniversary of a 1925 train wreck…and you’re traveling aboard The Fright Train…will the ghosts from this terrible tragedy appear?

Connecticut Paranormal Research Society Lecture
Oct. 28; 6:30 pm
Essex Public Library, 33 West Ave., Essex
860.767.1560
Admission: TBA
cprs.info
More info: The mission of the Connecticut Paranormal Research Society to offer education and assistance to those experiencing paranormal disturbances and to present to the world the simple truth regarding facts and evidence of paranormal activity obtained through skillful scientific investigation and tireless research and documentation.

Wadsworth Mansion Halloween Costume Bash
Oct. 29; 7 pm – midnight
Wadsworth Mansion, 421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown
860.347.1064
Admission: $38 (ages 21 and up)
wadsworthmansion.com
More info: The mansion gets haunted with a Halloween Bash not to be missed! Show up in your favorite costume for dancing, food, cocktails, door prizes and more! Palm readings and portraits will also be available! This event is a fundraiser for the Conservation Fund of the Friends of Long Hill Estate which supports the work of the Wadsworth Mansion.

Ghost Hunting 101 for Kids
October 22; 6 pm
Deep River Public Library, Deep River
860.526.6039
Admission: $20 tour only; VIP passes $25, under 12 $12.50
deepriverct.com/library
More info: Kids are welcome to enjoy a special ghost hunting workshop.

Are we missing an event? Let us know!

New Haven County

Trail of Terror: Nightmare Clinic-NC:17
October 1-30; Friday-Sunday evenings
PNC Park, Wallingford
888.695.0888
Admission: $10; speedpass $20
trailofterror.com
More info: One of the state’s most terrifying outdoor attractions where visitors walk through multiple classic horror sets and past dozens of scary characters.

Fear Factory
October 20-23, 27-30; 7-10 pm (11 on Fri & Sat, 8:30 on Sun)
375 Washington Ave., North Haven
Admission: $15; FastPass $25
fearfactoryct.com
More info: The fear begins now! Over 18,000sq ft of indoor terror! The entire Fear Factory experience includes 4 back to back attractions. Benefiting the American Cancer Society.

Cinderella Skeleton: The Musical
October 21-30; Fri. 7:30 pm, Sat. 2 & 5:30 pm, Sun. 2 pm
Arts Hall at ACES Center for the Arts, 55 Audubon Street, New Haven
203.937.6206
Admission: $15
cinderellaskeleton.com
More info: A fantastical graveyard named Boneyard Acres is the setting for this fresh, fun and frightfully delightful retelling of the classic Cinderella tale, appropriate for the whole family.

Spookytown
October 22-23 & 29-30; family events 11 am – 6 pm, after dark events 6-10 pm
Smoking Gun Research Agency’s Library & Research Center, 284 Racebrook Road, Orange
203.247.0310
Admission: Free; certain kids activities $2-$5
sgra.org/spookytown
More info: The Smoking Gun Research Agency presents a local event that features spooky stories, paranormal information, history and more, all in a family-friendly way.

America’s Ghosthunter: Lorraine Warren
October 26; 8 pm
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
203.392.6154
Admission: $10; students $8 with ID
southernct.edu
More info: Renowned ghost hunter and demonologist Lorraine Warren talks about her career and most famous cases.

Haven String Quartet & Monster Movies
October 29; 8:30 & 10 pm
Firehouse 12, 45 Crown St., New Haven
203.785.0468
Admission: $20
firehouse12.com
More info: MThe Haven String Quartet will be presenting a concert featuring silent horror films with live musical accompaniment, a repeat concert of last year’s sold out performances that will feature a new world premiere by Glenda Wharton and Ian Melchinger. The concert will feature scenes from classic horror films such as “Faust”, “Phantom of the Opera”, “Dracula” and a new hand-drawn film from award-winning animator, Glenda Wharton. All proceeds from the concerts will go toward Music Haven, a non-profit organization.

Adults Only Halloween Costume Party to Benefit the Boys & Girls Club of LNV
October 29; 7 pm – Midnight
John J. Sullivan Restaurant, 557 Wakelee Ave., Ansonia
203.926.0001
Admission: $40
More info: Dinner, dj and dancing, prizes, a raffle and more. Prize for the best costume. Sponsored by Serra & DelVecchio Insurance and People’s United Bank.

Mysteries of Halloween
October 29: 10-3
Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven
203.432.5050
Admission: $9; seniors $8, children $5
peabody.yale.edu
More info: The annual celebration of some of the “spooky” animals and nature-based traditions associated with Halloween. Come learn about spiders and snakes, and don’t miss some of the strangest-looking skeletons from the closets and collection rooms that rarely see the light of day. Also, a puppet show, live birds of prey, games and crafts, including the chance for young visitors to create and frame their own mock X-ray image of a fish skeleton!

Terror on First Ave
October 29 & 30: dush – 10 pm
242 First Avenue, West Haven
203.933.5424
Admission: $3, children $2
terroronfirstave.com
More info: A benefit event to raise money for local charities. NEW This Year: The Asylum, the Crazy Clown Maze, Sweeney Todd and a brand new Tiki Bar. Plus Other Surprises . . . Returning: The Graveyard—Zombies! Zombies! And More Zombies! Plus, the White Room and Skull Tunnel.

The Connection Wicked Good 5K Road Race & Family Festival
October 30; 10 am
Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven
203.481.5933
Admission: $25; in advance $21
jbsports.com
More info: Run or walk the 5K race, then enjoy the fun Family Festival with food and drinks, music and kids’ activities, including face painting, games and costume contest. Also, enjoy free carousel rides, all to support The Connection Fund.

An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe
October 30; 7 pm
Lyric Hall, 827 Whalley Avenue, New Haven
203.915.9971
Admission: $20
More info: Dramatic readings of selected classic stories and poems as read by Michael G. Sayers featuring “The Raven” a film by Connecticut resident Peter Bradley.

Halloween Concert
October 31; 11:59 pm
Woolsey Hall, New Haven
203.562.5666
Admission: Tickets sold only in advance in the Woolsey rotunda the week of the show
yso.research.yale.edu
More info: The Yale Symphony Orchestra presents its annual Halloween show.

Are we missing an event? Let us know!

New London County

Dark Manor Haunted House
October 1-31; check website for days & times (most weekend nights 6:30 pm – midnight)
25 Main Street, Baltic
860.822.TOMB
Admission: $18
darkmanorproductions.com
More info: “Where Terror Lives in Connecticut”…voted Connecticut’s #1 Haunted House with two haunted attractions in one — The Manor, two floors of special effects and heart-stopping terror, and The Graveyard and Haunted Village, an outdoor attraction with creeps and chainsaw freaks that will have you begging for your life!

Mystic Seaport’s Sights & Frights
October 21-22 & 28-29
Mystic Seaport, Mystic
860.572.5322
Admission: $13; (members $12)
mysticseaport.org/
More info: A haunted Halloween celebration with fun for the entire family. Step back in time and wind your way through the spooky 19th-century village with beautifully carved pumpkins lighting the way. Take a journey through a haunted ship, or listen to chilling tales of long ago. Have your future told by a roaming fortune teller, enjoy seasonal refreshments in our tavern and be entertained by musicians singing eerie tunes of long ago. The fun includes crafts, games and a nightly costume parade for our younger visitors. There will be activities that are “family-friendly,” “mildly-creepy,” and “not for the faint of heart!”

New England Spiritual Team Paranormal Presentation
October 24; 7 pm
Bill Memorial Library, 240 Monument St., Groton
860.434.5542
Admission: Free
facebook.com/event.php?eid=183067851750548
More info: Meet the New England Spiritual Team and their friends. Listen as they describe what it is that they do, share some of their stories, show some pictures/videos and host a Q&A session. Learn not only about the paranormal but history, too, and get the accurate facts on stories/legends.

Norwich Cemetery Tour
October 28; 6 pm
Yantic Cemetery, Lafayette Street, Norwich
Admission: $10; ages 5-18 $5, under 5 $3
More info: This year, the tour, led by city Historian Dale Plummer, is at the Civil War era Yantic Cemetery on Lafayette Street. Tickets are available at Utley and Jones Pharmacy at 20 Town St. Anyone who donates used glasses to the Lions Club at the event will win a prize.

Phantom of the Opera Silent Movie Spooktacular
October 28; 7:30 pm
Christ Church, 78 Washington St, Norwich
860.425.0663
Admission: $5
ccsarts.org
More info: A Halloween celebration for all ages. Enjoy Lon Chaney’s 1925 silent movie Phantom of the Opera with accompaniment by Robert Humphreville, organist. Wear your creepiest costume and come help us welcome the Phantom to Norwich!

Haunted Eagle
October 28-30, 5-7 pm (for kids) 8-10 pm (adults)
Fort Trumbull Pier, New London
Admission: Free
More info: The Haunted Eagle will be “PG,” suitable for children ages 13 and younger, from 5 to 7 p.m., and a scarier version will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. Donations of nonperishable food items and canned food will be collected and donated to a local charity.

Hygienic Howling Halloween Bash
October 28; 8 pm
The Haunted Ballroom in the Historic Crocker House, New London
860.443.8001
Call for tickets
hygienic.org
More info: Fantastic costumes, unlimited wicked cocktails (open bar), and bloody yummy morsels!

New London Halloween Town
October 28-29; 6-10 pm
28 State Street, New London
860.443.3786
Admission: Free; cost for some attractions & activities
newlondonhalloweentown.com
More info: Dare to be scared? Have the courage to face things that go bump in the night? If so, visit Southeastern Connecticut’s spooky Halloween destination. Spooky attractions at New London Halloween Town include: Pirate Ship, hay rides, safe trick-or-treating, food, ghouls, goblins and more.

Spooky Nature Trail
October 28-29; 5:30-7:30 pm
Denison-Pequotsepos Nature Center, Mystic
860.536.1216
Admission: $9.50; members $7.50
dpnc.org
More info: Investigate the Nature Center trails on a self-guided tour past nymphs and fairies, wild animals, jack-o-lanterns and other frightful and delightful creatures. In addition to the haunted woods, participants will enjoy Halloween treats and cider, spooky crafts for children, games, and up-close visits with the Nature Center’s resident snakes, turtles, and frogs. Don’t forget your flashlight! Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Halloween Party & Parade
October 29; 10 am – 5 pm
Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme St., Old Lyme
860.434.5542
Admission: Included with museum admission
flogris.org
More info: The Halloween fun lasts all day with treats and crafts. Visitors are encouraged to dress up and march the Fairy Tale Trail. Parade begins at 11am. Costume prizes awarded for Best Fairy Tale Character, Not-So-Very-Scary, and Laugh-Out-Loud Funny. Candy, cider, and doughnuts for all.

Are we missing an event? Let us know!

Tolland County

“Vampire Folk Belief in Historic New England”
October 27; 7:30 pm
Hebron’s Old Town Hall, Hebron
860.643.9288
Admission: Donations accepted
hebronhistoricalsociety.org
More info: State Archeologist Dr. Nick Bellantoni will speak on “Vampire Folk Belief in Historic New England,” and answer questions from the audience.

Evenings at Hale: Ghost Stories
October 28; 6 & 8 pm
Nathan Hale Homestead, 2299 South Street, Coventry
860.742.6917
Admission: $25; $20 for CT Landmarks members
ctlandmarks.org
More info: Experience the Hale Homestead by candlelight. Special historical-themed tours focus on 18th-century courting practices, tavern life, Hale family art and ghost stories.

Are we missing an event? Let us know!

Windham County

Spooky Stew and Story
October 27; 6-9 pm
The Inn at Woodstock Hill, 94 Plaine Hill Rd., Woodstock
860.928.0528
Admission: $20 (reservations required)
woodstockhill.com/events
More info: It will be a thrilling night of spooks, festive cuisine, and classic holiday stories. Enjoy entertainment throughout the evening, surprises around every corner, and the Inn’s daunting decorations. Scary stories read by Darlene Stubbe and Gwyneth Tillen.

Damned Connecticut would like to announce the publication of the Connecticut Curiosities: 3rd Edition, from Connecticut’s own Globe Pequot Press.

Why, you ask?

As it turns out, this edition has been revised and updated by Damned Connecticut’s own Ray Bendici, who has  …

Okay, I can’t talk about myself in the third person like a professional wrestler. Although maybe I should — “Listen up, brutha. Ray is gonna get a Coke out of the fridge, then Ray is gonna crack that bad boy open, and then Ray is gonna watch the Jets open a can of whoop ass on the Patriots … you know, as long as it’s okay with his wife …”

Umm … yeah.

So here’s the deal — about a year ago, I was recommended to Globe Pequot, who wanted someone to update and revise the next edition of the book, which was originally written by Susan Campbell and Bill Heald. After I got my jaw of the ground, I agreed and immediately dove into the project. I was given the task to fact-check the entire manuscript, delete outdated articles and then add about 25-30 new curiosities. I also got to add a new introduction and chapter openers, plus contribute a bunch of images throughout the book.

Basically, they paid me to share my knowledge of all that’s weird, unexplained and unusual in Connecticut. Pretty cool, right?

So along with Steve and Kate, I went around the state, finding curiosities and taking pictures along the way, which was a lot of fun, and then I added them to the book. Just a few of the many things new to this edition:

• Charles Island
• Skull & Bones
• Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine
• The World’s Largest Jack-in-the-Box
• Dunnellen Hall
• Boothe Park
• Little People’s Village
• Midnight Mary
• The Timexpo Museum
• The Voynich Manuscript
• And of course, The Melon Heads. Couldn’t forget them!

And like I said, I added much more beyond that in effort to really ratchet up the “curiosity” factor of the previous edition. I think I really accomplished that.

You can pick up your copy of Connecticut Curiosities: 3rd Edition through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or you can go old school and get it from a local bookstore — Borders, Barnes & Noble and even some of the independent bookstores should have it in stock over the next few months.

Hope you enjoy it!

After we wrote about the alleged haunting of the John York House in North Stonington, we were pleasantly surprised when we were contacted by Dan Wilms, one of three young sons of the family who lived there from 1964 to 1987. During that time, the Wilms reported many unusual goings on and even had their home investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Dan, who is now 50 years old, resides in Payson, Arizona “with a wonderful wife” and “is living a Christian life.” He graciously took the time to answer some questions for us via e-mail.

Damned Connecticut: We’ve heard that spirits are sometimes drawn to “believers” — was your family interested in the paranormal before you moved in? Had you heard any “ghost” stories about the house before you moved in?

Dan Wilms: My family knew absolutely nothing about the paranormal before coming to our new house and we had not heard any “ghost” stories prior to moving in.

Damned Connecticut: How old were you when your family moved in?

Dan Wilms: I was about 4 years old when we moved into the house — that would have been 1964.

Damned Connecticut: What events did you personally experience?

Dan Wilms: Not long after we moved in we had a barometer that was hanging in an entry way. Well, this barometer kept falling off of the wall — my Dad kept putting in bigger and bigger screws into the wall to keep it in place until finally one day the barometer jumped off of the wall and broke into a million pieces.

When I was 9 years old things started happening to me. The first thing was that my bed started to move on its own while I was asleep in it — then other things started to happen …. Footsteps up the back stairs through a locked door and up the stairs to the attic. Lights turning on and off. Things of that nature.

Damned Connecticut: There were stories about one of the Wilms’ sons being attacked — what happened?

Dan Wilms: Yes. My oldest brother felt a hand on his shoulder while he was laying in bed — it pinned him down and paralyzed him almost to the point of not being able to breathe. After several minutes of this the hand released its grip and when he turned the light on and inspected his shoulder he could plainly see the finger marks on his shoulder where the hand had been.

Damned Connecticut: Did you ever feel that you personally were in danger? How about the rest of your family? Were you in constant fear or more a state of constant annoyance?

Dan Wilms: No. I personally did not feel I was in any danger, I figured if my parents were not afraid why should I be afraid? The overall reaction was neither fear or annoyance but curiosity. We all tried to keep an open mind, especially my parents. You see … people are afraid of what they don’t understand and my parents tried to learn as much as they could about this sort of thing.

Damned Connecticut: What lead your family to call in the Warrens?

Dan Wilms: We became friends with a photographer/reporter from the New London Day and it was he who introduced us to the Warrens.

Damned Connecticut: What was your experience with the Warrens like? What did they experience/do?

Dan Wilms: The Warrens brought two gentleman from the University of Connecticut. One of these men, while in a trance, saw a man who was distraught over killing his best friend. They were arguing over a woman and in a rage he stabbed him to death. This was the earthbound spirit that was inhabiting the house. I know firsthand that there is also a spirit inhabiting the house in the form of a woman and has been seen by several people.

Damned Connecticut: Did you feel as if the events ever actually stopped? Why?

Dan Wilms: No, they continued over the years right up until the day we moved out. A man came over to get some old bed frames and saw the lady in the upstairs hall adjacent to my bedroom. I saw the lady one more time prior to leaving the house.

Damned Connecticut: Looking back now, what is your overall take on the situation?

Dan Wilms: The experience taught me to keep an open mind about everything.

Damned Connecticut: Have you had any sort of paranormal experiences after leaving the John York House?

Dan Wilms: Nothing of a terrestrial nature but I have seen some things in the sky that I cannot explain over the years — white and green rotating lights stationary in the sky, I just can’t explain them!

Thanks again to Dan for taking the time to answer a few of our questions and sharing his experiences!

Just got an e-mail from Jackson Kuhl, with whom I’ve worked on a few occasions in regard to abandoned properties and decaying historical sites. In response to a recent story in the Connecticut Post about artists making over the abandoned buildings on the stretch of Connecticut barrier beach that is called Long Beach West in Stratford and Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport, he went out and investigated.

From Jackson’s blog:

Anyway, I hustled out there to take some photos of the art before it was gone. I wasn’t surprised to find the po-po stationed at the beginning of the construction road going through the dunes. I asked an officer about the artists. He said they didn’t know how long the artists had been camping on Long Beach West but the place was deserted now. He also said a lot of people had recently been ticketed for trespassing out there. He added that while it was acceptable for me to take pictures of the cottages from below the high-tide mark (which in Connecticut is open land), if I or anybody else went above it, we would be “jackpotted.” Does anybody really believe a main function of the police isn’t revenue collection?

I thanked him, then drove to a paddleboard launch far from his prying eyes. I paddled up Lewis Gut and used one of the still-existent docks to access the cottages. There was no one about; the workers were only doing preparation work on the road, with the actual demolition days away. I surreptitiously took my photos (exteriors only, since this cat has an aversion to treeing himself) and then paddled away. Mischief managed.

You can see some images he captured of the art on his blog — cool stuff!

Courtesy of savepleasurebeach.com

Jackson is well acquainted with Long Beach West — here’s a great photo essay he’s done, while here’s a piece he recently penned for Connecticut Magazine about how Pleasure Beach (60 acres of prime Connecticut waterfront) has been allowed to waste away like a ghost town for 14 years! Just mindboggling.

If you don’t know the (“abridged”) story — starting in the late 19th century and going on for decades, Pleasure Beach was a popular Connecticut destination, with seasonal cottages and an amusement park that thousands would visit each summer. It was connected to the main land in Bridgeport by a swing bridge, which unfortunately burned in a 1996 fire. Rather than fix the bridge, the decision was made to vacate the island, and it has stayed empty ever since. The buildings and amusement park were literally left to rot, and have fallen victim to vandals and the elements.

As mentioned, it’s a barrier beach, and you can hike out there from Stratford — technically, there is no trespassing, but if you stay below the high-tide line, you can visit since that is outside of town’s jurisdiction.

Since being abandoned, Pleasure Beach/Long Beach West has been a political football, batted about by politicians, developers and special interest groups. The Stratford end of the beach is now home to all sorts of wildlife, including endangered sea birds like the piping plover, which nest there in the summer; there was talk of selling the property to the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, but that deal fell through. The structures on the Bridgeport end, including old cottages and some remnants of the old amusement park, are slowly collapsing or being demolished, but still, there are no specific plans for the site — some want to have a natural recreation area for all to enjoy, others want to sell it for development. Recently, the town of Stratford has begun to demolish some of the cottages on the Long Beach West end.

Meanwhile, another summer has passed and this potentially wonderful resource continues to go unused — you know, aside from the artists who have tried to make something out what was formerly a great place to visit.

As you’re getting the burgers and dogs ready for your Labor Day barbecue, consider this story from the other day about UConn zooarchaeologist Natalie Munro being part of a team that discovered a prehistoric feasting hall in Israel. The site is 12,000 years old and the recent excavations uncovered pieces of meat and tortoise shells, both of which were apparently on the menu.

From the article –

When the archaeologists excavated two hollows that were carved out in the cave, they counted up the remains of at least 71 tortoises and three wild cattle, also known as aurochs. They said the bones and shells showed signs of being carved up and cooked for human consumption. The tortoise shells were found surrounding the shaman’s skeleton, in such a way as to suggest that they were thrown in during the burial ceremony.

The tortoises alone would provide enough meat to feed 35 people, although many more than that may have been in attendance. “We don’t know exactly how many people attended this particular feast, or what the average attendance was at similar events, since we don’t know how much meat was actually available in the cave,” Munro said in the news release. “The best we can do is give a minimum estimate based on the bones that are present.”

Munro and Grosman consider their find to be the first clear evidence of communal feasting, but there’s ample evidence that humans had meals together thousands of years earlier. Last year, archaeologists reported finding a barbecue pit in the Czech Republic that was used about 30,000 years ago for roasting mammoth meat and other morsels, luau-style. In 2007, scientists turned up evidence that humans cooked up mussels, clams and snails on South Africa’s seashore 164,000 years ago — and perhaps even gussied themselves up for the clambake.

Mmm … prehistoric barbecued mammoth ribs. Uhhhhh …..

[*wipes away drool*]

Apparently, this “cooking” thing goes back even further — from this article about cooking mammoths –

Svoboda, a professor at the University of Brno and director of its Institute of Archaeology, and colleagues recently excavated Pavlov VI, where they found the remains of a female mammoth and one mammoth calf near a 4-foot-wide roasting pit. Arctic fox, wolverine, bear and hare remains were also found, along with a few horse and reindeer bones.

The meats were cooked luau-style underground. Svoboda said, “We found the heating stones still within the pit and around.”

Boiling pits existed near the middle roaster. He thinks “the whole situation — central roasting pit and the circle of boiling pits — was sheltered by a teepee or yurt-like structure.”

Sounds like the tradition of the big family barbecue goes a ways back. I wonder if any of the events ever ended prematurely when someone drank a little too much fermented berry juice, became belligerent, insulted Aunt May’s dress and then started scuffling with Uncle Joe before knocking Gramma Jean into the pool and …

Sorry, sorta drifted there.

Anyway, I’ve often wondered who was the first person to eat certain animals. I mean, mammoths, horses, reindeer — I can see that people probably just copied what they saw other predators eating. But what about a creature like a lobster? Who was the first person that said, “Yeah, look at the giant green underwater grasshopper — I bet that’d cook up, real nice.”

Then again, we’ve proven as a species that we’ll eat just about anything — monkey brains, maggot cheese, roasted silk worm pupae for starters (or are they main courses?) How about tarantulas, tuna eyeballs, rotten soybeans or codfish sperm (Gah!) Perhaps a little puffin heart, live octopus or duck fetus eggs with a shot of snake wine to chase it down? Oh, and in case your lunch has come up and you want to replace it: fried calves’ brains, stuffed camel, fermented basking shark and of course, haggis.

Yeah, that’s all just nasty. I don’t doubt that Steve has eaten many of these, or worse. (You all don’t want to know.)

Of course, some might argue the weirdest thing to eat here in Connecticut is a steamed cheeseburger from Ted’s in Meriden. That’s more my speed, you know, until someone figures out how to properly clone mammoths.

Okay, this is one of those true stories that seems more like a tale right from the pen of Charles Dickens: Mysterious reclusive 104-year-old heiress who surrounds herself with dolls owns sprawling mansions in which she’s never stepped.

Miss Havisham, anyone? A touch of Charles Foster Kane? Or maybe a dash of Howard Hughes?

It appears that Huguette Clark may possess some of each — a real-life enigma wrapped in a riddle and shrouded by mystery, with a nifty Connecticut connection.

I highly recommend reading the full MSNBC story — but in a nutshell (so to speak): The daughter of William A. Clark — a notorious Gilded Age entrepreneur, U.S. Senator (Montana) and copper baron — Huguette Clark, who hasn’t been seen in public for 80 years (yes, you read that correctly), is the sole heir of the massive Clark fortune. Apparently, aside from her lawyer and the few attendants who take care of her at the undisclosed New York hospital in which she is living, no one has even had contact with her in decades. It has been suggested that she may have Alzheimer’s disease, although at 104, she may be suffering from all sorts of age-related maladies.

She has no direct heirs, and from what the MSNBC reporter can gather, she lives almost-childlike in a rather insulated world, surrounded by a huge collection of French dolls. She apparently was fond of “The Flintstones” and harp music, and collected antiques, paintings and other rare items. She had almost no friends or acquaintances for most of her life outside her immediate family (her closest relative, her mother, died in 1963), and although she was married in 1928, it was for only two years and there were rumors that the union was never consummated.

Actually, she almost sounds like the character of Kathy Geiss from “30 Rock.”

And the Connecticut connection, you ask?

From the MSNBC article:

Huguette’s Connecticut country house in New Canaan, Le Beau Château, is out of view at the end of a long driveway that curls through woods. There’s no intercom or bell, but one can rap on the air conditioning unit of a caretaker house by the gate. Tony Ruggiero, an 81-year-old former boxer, answers the knock but won’t open the gate — attorney Bock has given strict instructions. Huguette bought this “country house” in 1952 and added a bedroom suite with an artist’s loft — one can see the tiny paintbrushes carved into the handrails — but she never moved in. The 12,766-square-foot house with 52 acres is on the market for $24 million. The attorney and accountant keep the bills paid, including $161,000 a year for property taxes. Only one car is parked in the garages — Ruggiero’s 1987 Jaguar. Ruggiero doesn’t have answers, but he does have a question about the woman he has served for 21 years: Do you think she’s still alive?

Can you imagine taking care of an empty mansion for 21 years? Oh, and never meeting your boss? Nice work if you can get it.

Some specs of Le Beau Chateau: 22 rooms, nine bedrooms, nine baths, 11 fireplaces, a wine cellar, trunk room, elevator and walk-in vault. It also has marble and herringbone floors, and 13-foot ceilings.

Here’s the listing — it’s going for a bargain-rate of $24 million. Of course, since it has sat empty for over half a century, the kitchens may need updating. (You would think for $24 million that would be move-in ready, right?)

Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see what happens to Huguette’s fortune and properties when she dies. Maybe someone will even get to enjoy the beauty of La Beau Chateau.