FAQ for 2006

Welcome friends to SFH 2006. Let's get right to your questions:

Where do you get all this stuff?
We make most of it ourselves. We've learned how from some of the Web sites we link to. We also buy some of the stuff that's beyond our time or talent to make from other "haunters." As a last resort, we'll add some stuff in from the Halloween stores. However, we encourage you to avoid the high prices and poor quality that's all to often found at the seasonal stores. There's a lot of satisfaction in building your prop. We're not really that handy. You could do it.

Where do you keep it all?
In our basement. It takes up room. But maybe not as much as you'd think.

So, what you your neighbors think?
Our neighbors have been gracious and supportive. In fact, some of them seem to enjoy it as much as we do. Frankly, the haunt wouldn't be possible without their yearly indulgence.

Is the haunted basement back this year?
Yes.

How do you broadcast the radio show?
An FM transmitter. Similar (if a little bit more powerful) than what you might use to play an iPod through your radio in the car.

Anything new this year?
Well, not really. Or, at least, not yet. We had a new character planned, but started late and didn't get some of our materials in time. If time allows, and materials show, we'll add the character in later.

How many people stop by?
Carloads and carloads each night. Turn off your lights. Share the view. And, if you can't see well, just wait a minute. People come and go at a good pace.

Where can we take a photo?
It's not safe to enter the haunted yard. Too many electrical cords and hard-to-see guy wires. We suggest posing in front of the poor soul trapped in the haunted column. Watch out for the hot lights though!

If you have a question we didn't answer, leave a comment and we'll do our best to answer it.

Tall spots made easy.

If you'd like to raise a flood off the ground to light a prop on the roof or in a tree or whatever, here's an easy way to do it. Just use some black PVC, a cheap all-weather spot from any larger hardware store and some black duct tape.

Gothic lantern.

Generally, I don't love Gemmy Industries' products. Their products, while often inventive, trend toward cheesey and over the top. At least for my taste. So, when this lamp caught my eye in a store aisle, I was surprised to see it was a Gemmy product. Yeah, I know. It's still a little over the top, but, when weather allows, we'll probably make this part of the yard haunt. Should look pretty interesting from the sidewalk and street. We're trying to add more details such as this for 2006. Looking at last year's photos I was discouraged by the lack of texture and depth. Everything looked flat and sparse. So, while we hope to have one new character finished to add something new, we're really focusing on adding smaller bits of atmosphere to dress things up.

Perma-pumpkin Signage

Maybe not the most impressive of props, but some we've been meaning to get around to for years now. We hope these will help provide some friendly reminders for our guests for years to come. These foam pumpkins which are found at any craft store this time of year, seem like a great idea. However, be exceedingly careful when carving. They are less forgiving than a real gourd and intricate carving takes practice. Buy a couple extra and be sure to leave extra support for any "floating" pieces like the center of an "o."

The way things used to be.

A historical video of our haunt. Sweeney Family Horror vintage 2002.

Well, the gravestones are still around. The Gargoyle has been rebuilt. And we have a "new Kate." However, you'll note the graveyard fence has changed significantly. And there's no moving tombstone. Or haunted colums. This is also pre-radio show. You'll note, if you read the type, that this is part of an older storyline as well. However, it also might give you a hint to a new prop we hope to have completed in time for our 2006 installation.

Mid-Summer Update

Whew. It's so hot that thoughts of cool, creepy October evenings seem far away. But we're less than 1oo days from Halloween. Planning for this year's SFH is about to kick-off. This year, due to popular demand, we're planning to bring back the basement haunt. We need to make a few repairs to some of our props, but not to the extent of last year. This should free us up to concoct some scary new additions. We'd love to hear from the countless hundreds of you that stop by our haunt during October. Please use this blog as an opportunity to say hello!

Early Winter Update

Well, the props are buried in the basement and the busy holiday season is now through and I find myself thinking of Halloween today. I have found some great inspiration on other's haunter's site's and have resolved to get started on the props earlier this year. I had one idea that I thought would be very nice for people standing in line...for the haunted basement. We've had a lot of feedback from you all and are leaning toward bringing the haunted basement back for next year. There are two factors. One we're pondering. The other is a deal-breaker.

1. We may (emphasis on may) finally have to succumb and either seek a sponsor or donations. This is something I hate to think about, and if I can find a way to avoid it, I will. Still, with no improvements at all the hard costs for the just the basement portion of the haunt will approach $800. Of course, we'll want to offer improvements and we'll want to improve the yard haunt as well.

2. We need volunteers! Volunteers to help us build out the basement and, more importantly, volunteers to help us staff the haunted basement. We hope that help will come from some of our immediate neighbors, but, if you're a Sweeney Family fan and would like to spend Halloween with us...feel free to leave a comment here or on the guest book.

Here's to a spooktacular 2006,

The Spirits of Sweeney House

Front Porch Magic Mirror

Once again, the "Well of Souls" or "Magic Mirror" was our Halloween surprise. You can't see the face, in this shot, but you can see the frame where the face "appeared." Our Halloween guests were able to chat with the spirit in mirror and pick up their treat. This effect (from our friends at ImaginEERIEing is a lot of fun. Last year we mounted this in the basement. this year, as you can see, we built inside our front entry way. Worked very well. Didn't get any in process photos but I'll pop a few when we take it down later this week so you can get a behind-the-scenes look.

Happy Halloween 2005

The January Family hopes you had a very happy Halloween. It was a perfectly spooky night for it. We were glad to see so many of you turn out...and as you can see by this photo...it would seem there were many spirits haunting the yard! We went through more than 700 pieces of candy. Though, I am pretty sure some of you took more than one piece!

Now, some of you wondered why we didn't do the haunted basement this year.

The reason is pretty simple: time.

With two little kids at home and other things like work, time is very tight. The basement takes me at least three weekends to build out, and it just couldn't be done this year. In addition, the haunted basement is pretty expensive. We put most of our budget into the haunted column this year. We watched many of you have fun with that, so we hope it was a fair trade-off.

Will we bring back the basement next year? Can't promise it. You may consider if you would be willing to help us work it on Halloween night! With enough help, the chances are much better that we'd attempt it.

But all this is discussion for next year. For tonight we just wish to say; Happy Halloween! Thanks for sharing this neighborhood tradition with us.

Part of the scene

This gives you a daytime look at part of the tableau we've created as our yard haunt. Here you can see the drop panel column, to right of it is the moving tombstone (from Lothars Lair)our repaired and improved gargoyle over the front door and, if you look on the screened in porch, you can just make out the FCG. Lit at night, the static and animated props work together to create an intergrated scene which serves as the backdrop for our Sweeney Family Horror radio play that our guests can listen to in their cars. Each of the props is weaved into the story as are the Sweeney famiy graves. You can't believe how many people ask us if the story is true. If you scroll down a few entries you can see what lies in wait inside the drop panel prop. This prop would not have been possible without the assistance and guidance of Bret Ross at Devious Concoctions.

Drop Panel Close-up

Here's a good look at the drop panel column in the day. The gap you see is because the pneumatics are currently turned off. When pressured, the panel raises to its ready position. Next year, we'll add an air cannon to this prop for extra scare power. In the background, you can see out gatekeeper prop holding a sign that invites people to tune in the radio play which is broadcast 24 hours a day.

Drop Panel Column Cemetery Fence

Here is a day-time view of the Sweeney Family Horror cemetery fence. The column with the drop panel is in the distance, along with our gatekeeper figure. Our yard haunt is designed to create a night-time tableau that is accompanied by a five minute story broadcast thru a low-wattage FM transmitter. Carloads of families listen to each night. On Friday, October 28th, we a steady stream of cars between 7 and 11:00. It was a lot of fun to watch so many families and friends out on such a great Fall night.

Stones at night

A detail of one of our tombstones. Here you can see some of the detailing that's not readily apparent from 25 feet away. The cracks and pitting really add a lot of realism to the stones. These have been incredibly durable. They are the oldest props we have. I keep thinking we'll remake them...but they do the job. The skull detail is from our friend Steve Hickman over at Terror Syndicate

The Sweeney Family Spirits Request...

We are thrilled to see so many of you enjoying the haunt together this year. That's why we do it, of course. We love seeing families together on these spooky Fall nights. A few requests for everyone's enjoyment:

Share the view! Do your best to enjoy the haunt and make sure others can, too.

Lights off! Particularly if your lights are shining into the back of another car. Plus, it's just not as creepy when your headlights part the shadows.

Stay on the sidewalks! The lawn is not safe. Besides the possibility of coming face-to face with a spirit, there are electrical cords and guy wires that are just waiting to trip you.

Be gentle with the props! It's okay to touch them lightly, but do not obstuct movement or grab them in a manner that might cause damage.

Hands away from the haunted column! 'Nuff said.

Tell your friends! We see more of our neighbors this time of year than any other, we're glad to see you at our home.

Night is best! Most of the props aren't turned on during the day. Plus the whole thing just isn't as spooky in the light of day.

If you see us say hi! You are welcome. If we come out to check on the functioning of a prop, don't be shy. We're always glad to answer questions.

See you Halloween night! More behind the scenes pics coming soon!

Column Gargoyle and the moon

Thanks to Jim Dawson for this awesome photograph of the gargoyle that tops the haunted column. Is that moon perfect or what?: