'Halloween House' is a tradition in Plaucheville
Sun, 10/25/2015 - 05:00
Raymond Daye
Carolyn Scallan says she does it because 'the children love it'
By RAYMOND L. DAYE
For 40 years, Carolyn Scallan of Plaucheville has had as much fun on Halloween as the thousands of children who have knocked at her door over those years.
“I have always decorated for Halloween for the past 40 years -- just not to this extent,” Scallan said.
October began taking on a December look about 15 years ago when Scallan began decorating the yard with inflatable figures and started adding strings of lights around the house.
“The children love it,” she said.
Before the more extensive decorations, the Scallan house was a “haunted house” on Halloween, with the hosts in costume to hand out treats to the children.
She decorates with the help of her son, Jeremy Bordelon, and his wife, Deedra Bordelon.
“It takes about three full days to get everything done,” Scallan said. “I’ve invested a lot of money in decorations, but it’s worth it.”
She said there are four or five new additions this year.
Scallan said there were over 350 trick-or-treaters last year. The local Knights of Columbus also came to the house to hand out candy to the children.
“I started doing this when my son was young and would trick-or-treat with his friends,” Scallan said. “Now, their kids are taking their kids here. They call me “the Halloween Lady.”
One 3-year-old whose family dropped by the house while these photos were being taken was very excited about the dragon, ghosts, giant black cat and all the lights.
When asked what he was going to be for Halloween, little Dylan said, “This IS Halloween.”