Cemetery For Sale

Welcome to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of Philadelphia's rich history.    The Historic Mount Vernon Cemetery located at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and W. Lehigh Avenue (3301 W. Lehigh Avenue) is now available for sale.  According to the City's survey, the property contains 1,166,987 sq. ft. (26.79032 acres). The Cemetery is the final resting place of numerous famous Pennsylvanians and their families including members of the Drew and Barrymore families, revolutionary and civil war veterans and other prominent persons.  The Cemetery’s entrance sports an impressive, gated archway and associated gatehouse building designed by notable architect and landscape gardener John Notman. The gatehouse building is in shell condition and will require full renovation.    Buyers must conduct their own due diligence to determine whether there is any unused burial land remaining among Cemetery’s over 26 acres.   The buyer of the Cemetery will also receive financial support through restricted plot trust funds for maintaining the Cemetery in perpetuity under the supervision of Philadelphia Orphans’ Court and the Pennsylvania Attorney General.    A copy of the Survey Plan of Property is available upon request.  The Property is being sold in as-is, where-is condition.   All offers are subject to court review and approval. Buyer responsible to obtain any/all municipal certifications, etc.  All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.

$1,000,000.  I'm thinking of buying.  
Move the headstones.  Build some housing.  

Click below for the listing...

The Dean Of American Craftsmen

We traveled to Malvern, PA recently to visit the amazing Wharton Esherick Museum.  From their website:

Wharton Esherick (1887 – 1970) was an internationally significant figure in the landscape of art history and American modern design. As a sculptor, Esherick worked primarily in wood and extended his unique forms to furniture, furnishings, interiors, buildings, and more. His motto, “If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing,” is evident in the joyful expression of his work. Now recognized as a leader of the studio furniture movement, Esherick saw himself as an artist, not a craftsman, and his concern was with form, not technique. He pursued his artistic vision in forms that might turn to furniture or other sculptural furnishings. More importantly, these were but one aspect of his art complemented by the paintings, prints, drawings, poetry, and sculpture he also created.

As a guy who creates organic stuff from old wood, I was in a blissful trance for the entire tour through this home.  As Jenna put it, "It's like stepping into a contemporary witch's cottage."  And that's totally the vibe you feel when you arrive and see the crooked architecture outside, and then again when moving slowly through each gorgeous room of Esherick's home.  A highly recommended destination for sure.

Below are some photos she took.

More information here.

The Autumn People

First of all, it was October, a rare month of boys; full of cold winds, long nights, dark promises. Days get short. The shadows lengthen. The wind warms in such a way, you want to run forever through the fields, because up ahead, ten thousand pumpkins lie waiting to be cut.

- Ray Bradbury

Now Playing: Potter's Bluff

From the new album by 400 Lonely Things.  

Click below...

Angel Of Light

Old Hollywood comes alive for this live immersive walk through horror experience that marks the beginning of Rota Krisha's gripping anthology through a journey of macabre and suspense.

Prepare to embark on a thrilling experience where ancient curses, sonic secrets, and demonic possession intertwine.

This is the story of Rota Krisha and her saga, twisting you into depths of darkness, enveloping you in a world where morbid reality and nightmares blur. We invite you to relive the arrival at the historic Los Angeles Theater, and be transported back to 1935 stepping through the gates of purgatory to receive the light.

Its dark hallways, its underbelly, its shadows... welcoming you to the fall...

And so, it begins, the Los Angeles Theater, 1935 - relive the arrival and come receive...

Image by jericl cat.

Click here for a trailer and more info (never heard of this attraction).

Haunt Teaser: Halloween 2024

Click below…

Blood And Guts

Images by Josh Mauser.

Memories Of Halloweens Past

The next submission for this fun blog series (click here to see the others) comes from the super talented home haunter Fraidy.  This one is terrific, and it's not tied to a particular Halloween possession, but rather a haunted attraction - The Indianapolis Children's Museum Haunted House.  Started in 1964, it's the oldest continually operated spook house in the country.  Fraidy shared that she has many fond memories visiting this attraction and provided some links featuring vintage photos from its early days... Old School Halloween Heaven for sure, "Looking back, it was actually pretty scary! - even for adults - and over the years, it has inspired countless young Halloween fans to make haunted houses of their own."

Click below for a fantastic article about the Haunted House, which includes some amazing would-never-do-that-stuff-now memories from a blogger who grew up near the attraction.  Here's an excerpt:

October 1 was the day we walked into our classrooms at school and found the “Dial-A-Witch” flyer on our desks promoting that year’s version of the haunted house.  While the themes of the haunted house would change annually, there was always a loose association with these witches who were kind of the marketing team for the haunted house.  The “Dial-A-Witch” flyer would not only provide with the hours of operation for the haunted house, but provide you with a 1-800 number to call in order to talk to a witch.  This, for me, was as sacred a Halloween tradition as trick-or-treating!

Read the rest here.

And click here for some wonderful vintage photos.

This submission opens up some possibilities for this blog feature - so if you're sitting there thinking that you don't necessarily have a Halloween item that's been with you for decades, but you have a specific memory that you cherish and that may have started your Halloween obsession, send it on!  I would love to post it on the blog.   

Thanks, Fraidy!  This was really great.  I had never heard of this Haunted House before.

Click here for her Youtube channel.

Click here for her Instagram account.

For anyone interested in submitting, you can email me at pumpkinrot @ gmail . com (remove the spaces, of course!)

Zacherley's Intro Of Intros

Click below for the coolest intro to an album ever.  

Recent Acquistions

Picked up an insane cement tombstone and a massive iron cauldron for a steal at the aforemtioned Collectors Bazaar.  

That cauldron (over two feet across) will surely be making an appearance in a future Haunt.  

Collectors Bazaar

We found a really amazing antique/oddities store in Quakertown, PA.  Decent prices and an incredible selection of the most peculiar things.  

Below are some photos that we snapped.

Here's their Facebook page.