My very own 'Grim Reaper'

Who knew that the Grim Reaper uses a wheelchair?

This creepy fella is actually my husband Ralph. He and I had a great time Saturday night getting into the spirit and telling a scary story outside the Edward F. Adzima Funeral Home on Elizabeth Street in Derby.

We were part of the Derby Cultural Commission's second annual Haunted Lantern Tours event, which by all accounts was a big success.
The walking tour stopped at several downtown locations where stories about "The Dark Side of Derby" were recounted. 
The tour ended with people getting a chance to go inside the historic (and haunted?) Sterling Opera House across from the Derby Green.

We hope those who took the haunted tour and heard the spooky stories enjoyed themselves as they learned some Derby history and legends.

A 'graveyard' was set up on the Derby Green.

Before the tours the Cultural Commission sponsored a "Fright Night" for kids 12 and under, which featured a Halloween costume contest, magic show, and more.

To see photos from the daytime event visit the Cultural Commission's page on Facebook.


{This is a re-post from my View from the Valley blog for the New Haven Register.}

Lantern tours are a fun way to learn local history

Last Friday evening daughter Allegra and I learned some local history as we walked, punched-tin lanterns in hand, around downtown Derby, Ct.
It was a nice evening, quite moderate temperatures for late November. The Derby Historical Society sponsored the Churches by Lantern tour. All of the churches were built in the 19th century.

Our first stop was a Catholic church, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, which is beautifully ornate, full of artwork and stained glass.

These lanterns at left stood at the ready on the steps of the church for us to use as we walked about a block to the next location. There were about 30 of us in the group. I wasn't working, so I didn't bring my notebook. Now I'm sorry I didn't.


I was trying to keep the flash off, so as not to disrupt the speakers. I just discovered 'auto-level' so I was able to lighten the sanctuary photo. The architecture and decor were beautiful.
This back-lit statue (below) stands to the right of the altar.

Next stop , Second Congregational Church:

This is in the sanctuary at Second Congregational as seen from the pew we chose. The beautiful pipe organ is a focal point.
These banners add color to the interior, which is painted a pale green.

I think the walls may look more attractive in the daytime, when natural light is filtering through the stained glass windows.
















Next up was Derby United Methodist Church. I used the auto-level on the second picture. The lighting was quite dim in that sanctuary.

Below is the interior of our final stop, Immanuel-St. James Episcopal Church.
In the second photo you can see the shadows that make it seem like there are three crosses on the wall. The rector said the shadows symbolize the three crosses of Calvary.

I am including a photo I took of the beautiful stone church on Veterans' Day, since it is across from the Green where the veterans' services were being held.

This post is about local history. The only problem I see with it is there is no history mentioned. But since I didn't take any notes that evening, that would require research (shudder). Sounds like work. Hope you liked the tour.

Not spooky v. spooky ~ Part 6

OK, so I guess you can tell by checking out this photo of these orbs I captured on camera at a local cemetery Sunday night that this is the spooky part of the post.

Ralph and I joined about 20 other people and took a lantern tour of the cemetery with the local historical society director as our guide. The tour was supposed to be on Saturday night, but bad weather postponed it to Sunday, which turned out to be a perfectly mild and beautiful evening.

Linda was supposed to be on the tour with us Saturday, as was her daughter Amanda. Sadly our plans didn't materialize (like these orbs seem to have!)

Q. What did one ghost say to the other ghost?

A. Do you believe in people?

hahahahahaha

Not spooky:Card I sent to our great-nephew, Adam, for his second Halloween.