Thursday, November 1, 2018

HORROR HOUSE

If there is one thing New Hope and Lambertville do well here, it's Halloween. With the history of hauntings, and witch craft Halloween is huge around here. Last night, I left my basket of candy out for the trick or treaters, and headed to Lambertville to have Samhain martinis with my friends of mine. There were literally hundreds of kids going door to door....the residents must go through tons of candy. Whole streets are closed because the crowds over flow into the streets. Kids, and adults alike are all in costume and the drinking and dinning establishments are packed to the gills. A good time was had by all, and it was great fun to sit and watch all the pomp and circumstance. Afterward, as is tradition here on this blog, I always like to share the Halloween House each year.
Every October for the last decade or so, strange happenings descend upon Lambertville, a sleepy New Jersey town located 40 miles north of Philadelphia. The epicenter of the weirdness is a tidy Victorian house, where it looks as if all the props and characters from a Tim Burton epic were air dropped onto the front lawn. But this is no Hollywood set, it’s the home—and vision—of artist Dolores Dragan, whose fantastical Halloween display draws thousands of viewers from all over. Though now retired, Dragan was an art teacher at the local school when she first had the idea for her ghoulish (but intentionally not scary or gory) tableau, which was inspired by a black light theater production she had a hand in creating. 
What started as a modest array of elaborately decorated plaster-and-gauze, head forms and branch figures, blossomed into a cast of more than 90 characters. Soon neighbors began “hosting” some of her work on their properties and even adding their own creatures to the mix. Today, this little stretch of North Union Street is regularly rated as one of the best places to go trick or treating on the entire East Coast and has been featured on the TLC channel. Two years ago I had the privilege to talk with her when I was picture taking. Most of the characters are based on people she actually knows, and she adds one or two every year. When I asked her why she does it, she simply said probably no one has ever seen anything like this, and may never again.
I can say one thing....no denying her love of art, Halloween or talent.

29 comments:

  1. DAMN; girl got talent! you could pose for some of those figures.

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  2. What a fantastic, fun, and festive event! Art and spectacle! I love it! What amazing and stunning creations!

    I'd spend all night exploring the displays--right after I have my bag full of Halloween candy...did you say that you just leave a bowl of candy out the front door?

    Sounds like you had a blast!

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    1. Yes, since I dont get many kids...maybe 30, I leave the basket with a sign, please help yourself. And I still have some candy left, so the kids must be respectful.

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  3. That sounds super cool! And she’s a great artist, that’s for sure. It’s nice that people are keeping the tradition alive. It was a balmy night here and I got to see some trick or treaters, but certainly not as many as let’s say, five years ago.

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    1. It was warm here too. I felt like removing clothes.

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  4. Roadshow of Best Little Horror House in Jersey?

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    1. And you and I can be Miss Mona and Pearl. You know we'd be carrying on something terrible.

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    2. Maddie, I love you sooooo much! You can wear the big wig. I always looked like E.T. after Gertie dressed him up, on those rare times I wore a wig or had a weave. This sounds like a lot of fun. I can't sing worth crap, but neither could Burt Reynolds and that never stopped him!

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    3. You sure don't want to hear me sing either!!! But if we're a hit, we'll go on the road. I can at least pull off a huge wig and big jahoobies!!!


      So second thoughts, maybe we best just eat popcorn in the locker room watching the Aggie's.

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    4. I'm so in! No popcorn though. I try not to put anything in my mouth that I may choke on while in a locker room with nekkid to half nekkid men!

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  5. What a wonderful tradition. And it’s awesome that’the neighbors have expanded it.

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  6. Incredible - - really amazing!! An enormous amount of hard work and creativity have gone into that display.

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  7. I always love this post. The lady and her creations are beyond sweet and unique. I saw a special recently that featured New Hope and Lambertville. Charming towns for sure. Halloween must be fun there.

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  8. SO creative, creepy and classy!

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  9. Maybe she will add the Mistress someday

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    1. I think she wants to keep it PG rated.

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  10. Fantastic!!! What a difference between there and here....

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  11. William and I were there the night before halloween.....what a fun town. It's like a halloween of yesterday year when I took my kids. And yes....what a mind she has. Each definitely has a defined personally.

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    1. I was truly shocked by the crowds. It was crazy.

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  12. That second picture from the top is really something! It looks like Edvard Munch's The Scream redone in cotton.

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    1. Your right, that hadn't even crossed my mind.

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  13. I would swear, the east coast does season and holidays the best. Truly amazing.

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  14. I can say, I have never seen anything like it...she's right. Amazing.

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  15. You sure don't see things like that here. Very cool.

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  16. That fat one is my favorite! But they are all stunning creations.

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  17. That is absolutely fabulous! Better every year. Thanks for sharing! Wonder If they decorate for Christmas also?

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  18. This place is awesome! I need to see that in person.

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  19. Creepy! Those gauze-bodied alien mask head creatures in the sixth photo really are quite chilling. It looks as if they've got horrid stick-like limbs holding them up - somewhat like giant spiders.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!