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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-10-28, Page 19A spooky 20 years Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor EGMONDVILLE — The colours orange and black coat dwellings universally, an addiction for some. Halloween fanatic -Carol considers herself part of a cluster of folks she calls the "weird people (of) Huron County." Carol McLachlan from Egmondville, is no newbie when it comes to the holi- day celebrated on October 31. It has been more than 20 years since she dove head first in ghostly waters, continuously ornamenting her home. The front lawn lit at night is visible from blocks away in the suburban munici- pality of Huron East, drawing in large numbers of trick -or -treaters every year from all over the neighbourhood. The list goes on, from coffined mummies covered in spi- der webs to eight -foot blow up jack -o -lantern. And to differentiate the theme she also mixes in a sci-fi decoration known as E.T with an older -style telephone next to the alien looking mannequin. The words "E.T. PHONE HOME" are written on a sign. "I have one dad that comes and he says, well you've done it again Carol," she replied to the child's father. "I said what's that?" The father responded. "You've scared my kids, you've made them cry," McLachlan nar- rated a previous story in a joking manner. "My grandson, refers to that spooky guy, he calls him pooky. He still won't go by him and he's 10 -years - old now." This need for her prop- erty to be occupied with numerous decorations, all with the expectations of celebrating what's also known as "All Saints Day" does not come cheap by any means stated the 61 -year-old. To help deal with the costs, the day after Halloween she travels to lengths as far as the U.S. and several other regions within Canada. "I scour the sales and find it, you know cheap because Carol McLachlan setting up her haunted house, she has been involved with Halloween decorating for more than 20 years. it's too expensive paying full price for it," McLachlan said October 23. In a recent interview McLachlan expressed to the Expositor that this is an addictive pastime and she's also searching for new frightening gear not just during Halloween time, but throughout the year. This two -decade escapade is a personal hobby for the bookkeeper that works at McLaughlin Chevrolet Ltd. in Seaforth. She refers to the haunting items on her front yard as people, labeling them with the pronouns him and her. "I have another guy, I have to build a house for him, just like that little ghost in that house," she said pointing at one of the Halloween decorations. Referring to the screaming flying ghost. From the first site of the phantom looking object, she contemplated not purchasing it, but her obsession got the best of her, she had to have it, she said. 'I seen her in a store in the States, looked at her, walked away and then look at her again and walked away" stated McLachlan. After the third time of walking back and forth McLachlan said she could not resist, so she bought it. "You got to come home with me, just because it's so unique." Even though several haunted houses and holiday decorations fall victim from time to time to vandalism, McLachlan stated that the neighbourhood has been The screaming ghost that Carol McLachlan could not resist to buy. The Extraterrestrial Halloween decoration at Carol McLachlan's haunted house. 'great' with respecting the property. To date there has only been one theft and a single mishap of defacement. To add to the spooky frenzy McLachlan also rents out costumes, she owns approximately 800 outfits ranging from dinosaurs, Walt Disney characters and several other different items linked to Halloween. "When I came to town I had one bedroom, one closet, one row of heads. Now there's stuff spread out all over the house." McLachlan said. Wednesday, October 28, 2015 • Huron Expositor 19 Shaun Gregory Carol McLachlan stands next to a mummy at her haunted house in Egmondville. She has been renting out Halloween costumes and decorating her front yard for decades. The electric chair. One of the many scary items at the haunted house in Egmondville. A Targe jack -o -lantern at the haunted house in Egmondville.