Volume 69, Issue 6

October 10, 1997

 

Haunted Crack House finalizes preparations for second year

Timothy Cunningham

October marks that special time of year when the dead awaken and walk the earth again on All Hallows Eve. The whole month of October is spent in preparation for the event. Pumpkins become available at every fruit stand, and fangs, demon masks and fake blood clutter the shelves in just about every store. The lucky, young ones will celebrate with trick or treating, while others of us too old to get free candy will veg out with Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street movies. But here at Washington College, we're celebrating with a "Haunted Crack House."

Before anyone gets too excited, and the Federal Narcotic Squad comes busting in- we'd better explain. The Haunted Crack House is an event that will hopefully dissuade the young and impressionable from seeking a life of drug abuse. The House will consist of 12 rooms, with 12 different scenes demonstrating the steps in the life of a junkie- from the first drug experience to her inevitable demise.

The Haunted Crack House will take place on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 23 to 25, starting at 7:30 p.m.

It was almost not resurrected this as the administration was concerned that two consecutive years would be too taxing to students, since last year's event involved over a fifth of the campus. But due to its popular demand, the Haunted Crack House has returned.

The Haunted Crack House is not new to the Eastern Shore. It made its debut first in Centerville in 1989. Due to its popularity, it continued to steal the Halloween Haunted House stage for an additional three years, but ended its series in 1992. Since then, it has spread all across the United States and other countries. It took place on the Eastern Shore for the first time in five years, last year. Eric Johnson brought the project to Kent County, remembering its success in Queen Anne's County years ago. Mr. Dorsey Owings permitted the use of his house in Crumpton to be the Haunted Crack House for 1996. The Crack House was a great success with over 2,500 people touring the house last year. This year it will take place at 400 High Street in Chestertown, a historic location donated by the City Commissioners. Crack House junkies are expecting even more attendees this year, predicting at least 4,000 visitors.

Diana Clapp, who has organized the Haunted Crack House, says, "We hope to reach as many families as possible. The community is also becoming extremely involved. We want to make it theirs as much as ours."

She remarks that if parents make the tour a "family event" and discuss this information with the children after taking the tour, it will have a significant impact on the younger generations. Clapp works 40 to 60 hours a week on the Haunted Crack House. The group of students working for Diana Clapp have been helping her to plan and have been volunteering their time every weekend. Clapp notes that she has received a response from many students saying that they would like to participate. When the project begins, she will have more people participating.

In preparation, she has had many meetings with county and town governments for their approval. Much building and constructing has been happening, like painting, and the laying of electricity. She has been recruiting actors and tour guides, and formulating advertisements. Mastens, JBK's, many town governments and other contributors donate daily to the Haunted Crack House.

Hopefully, the Haunted Crack House will include more and more members from the surrounding community. Clapp says, "We feel that the more the community is involved, the better a success we will have in spreading education about drug addiction and prevention." She also mentions, "I feel it is important for the kids to understand that there are people willing to help and who care. I also hope we convince at least one youth not to get involved in drugs."

If you are interested in finding out more information about the project, please call the information line at (410)810-2801.