RARITAN REVIEW OCTOBER ISSUE THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY ‘TWAS THE FIRST NIGHT HOLLOW OF FALL BY: MATT HAGBERG BY: KIERA MALLEY ‘Twas the first night of Fall and all through the land were hayrides and mazes and ghouls at hand! As you can see the Autumn sea- son is in full swing, with all of the fun activities that come with it! From themes to general fun, I’ve compiled a list of activities to do in the upcoming two months! 1. Apple picking! This is one of my favorite things to do in the fall. If you and a group of friends find yourselves bored on a beautiful Since its publication in 1820, Washington Autumn day, apple picking is the way to go. It’s Irving’s classic tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” exciting, easy, and makes great desserts! Check has both delighted and terrified audiences. There out places like Eastmont Orchards and pick are several adaptations of this iconic Halloween away! story, including films, television shows and spe- 2. Pumpkin picking! Some of my most cherished cials, and plays. One of the best script adaptations childhood memories were spent pumpkin picking of the tale is that written by Christopher Cook. with family and friends. The experience itself Both humorous and mesmerizing, this adaptation is always enjoyable, and seeing what you can will be performed by the Holmdel Theatre Com- carve out of it is even better! Casola farms is pany numerous times throughout October. The great for this! Holmdel Theatre Company is a non-profit, semi- 3. Casola Farms! With locations in Holmdel and professional, student focused theatre company Marlboro, Casola farms is great for everyone! At dedicated to presenting fresh interpretations of night they have attractions like haunted hay- classic plays as well as rarely-presented modern rides and dark mazes for those who love a good dramas and comedies. The Company’s unique fright, and during the day they have pony rides mission is to integrate young people and non- and wild west show! Fun for everyone! professionals with professional actors, technicians, 4. Zombie Walk! Asbury Park is hosting their designers and directors in a collaborative artistic eighth annual Zombie Walk this year! Being held and educational exchange. on October 3rd, crowds of people dress up like “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, directed by zombies and live the Walking Dead! No need to Raritan’s own Melanie Taylor, will premiere at The even register, just show up and enjoy the. . . Holmdel Theatre Company’s Duncan Smith Theatre chilling walk among the other groaning zombies on October 16th and will run until October 31st. around you? Seats are reserved, so be sure to make your way 5. Fright Fest! Six Flags hits its prime (in my to HTC’s website to get your tickets before they opinion) around this time each year with their sell out! Tickets are $22 for the general public, spooky Fright Fest! Swing by for some awesome $17 for seniors, and $12 for students. mazes, scary characters, and their ever-so-fun roller coasters! RARITAN REVIEW OCTOBER ISSUE BEST SCARY MOVIES TO D.I.Y. HALLOWEEN WATCH ON HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS BY: NICHOLAS INCE BY: EMILY O’CONNOR Halloween is a time for candy, dressing up Halloween Lanterns in silly costumes, and being scared. Scary movies Materials: empty milk carton, black construction are a way to spook you until you can’t watch an- paper, pencil, string of white or colored Christ- other second. Some people hate watching them, mas lights, scissors, glue (liquid works best) others are just too afraid, but if you’re the kind 1. Use a clean, empty milk carton. of person that likes those movies, I would recom- 2. Take a pencil and outline your design of mend these to you... choice on black construction paper. 3. Cut out your design and glue it to the outside 1. Halloween - On a cold Halloween night in 1963, of the milk carton. 6 year-old Michael Myers brutally murdered his 4. Carefully cut a hole in the back of the carton 17 year-old sister, Judith. He was sentenced and to string lights through it. locked away for 15 years. But on October 30th 5. Plug it in to show off your creation! 1978, while being transferred for a court date, a 21 year-old Michael Myers steals a car and heads Freaky Faces to his hometown of Smith’s Grove, where he Materials: assorted color swatches (available searches for his next victims. at Home Depot or Lowes), construction paper 2. The Ring - A mysterious tape is a little more (black, white, green), a pencil, glue(liquid killer in this movie. 4 teenagers get a random call works best), scissors that leads them to their deaths. After the call, 1. Use your pencil to draw out the pieces of the they watch a tape that has many demonic and face. scary images that kills them 7 days later. News 2. Cut out the pieces and glue them on the reporter Rachel Keller watches the video and has 7 color swatches where you want them to go. days to unravel this horrific mystery. 3. Hang your scary faces around the house for a 3. A Nightmare on Elm Street - Several Midwest- spooky effect! ern teenagers fall prey of Freddy Krueger, a dis- figured midnight mangler that haunts kids in their Creeping Eyes dreams and then ends up killing them in reality. Materials: paper towel tubes, pencil, scissors, Nancy and Glenn live on this street and try to un- glow sticks, clear scotch tape ravel the mystery before it is too late for them. 1. Outline the shape eyes you want on the pa- 4. Paranormal Activity - Soon after moving into per towel tube. a new house, Katie and Micah become increasingly 2. Use your scissors to carefully cut out the eye disturbed by events that have happened in their holes. house. So they set up cameras all over the house 3. Crack glow stick (don’t crack the glow stick to capture this paranormal activity, but were not until it’s dark out and you are ready to put prepared for what came that same night. out your craft!). 4. Use the tape to tape the glow stick to the inside of the tube directly across from the cut outs. 5. Place glowing eyes in bushes and trees to scare passersby. RARITAN REVIEW OCTOBER ISSUE THE TERROR BEHIND THE FUN FACTS ABOUT WALLS HALLOWEEN BY: KYLIE RIVERA BY: MARK CAPICHANA Are you sick and tired of that boring, redun- Halloween has been a widely celebrated dant hayride you’ve been going to for years? Have holiday for thousands of years. With the holi- you had it with childish daytime pumpkin picking? day being one of the more famous ones, we’ve If you and your friends are a thrill-seeking bunch become accustomed to the festivities that take and are daring enough to go looking for a Hallow- place, and the stories that are told, on that day. een scare of the spookiest sorts, it’s time to take We rarely take the opportunity to stop and think a step (and quite a bit of a drive) into the Eastern about what created those traditions, or stories. State Penitentiary. You’ll surely be in for a few Hopefully after reading this article, you will surprises. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have a better sense of how the halloween that the Eastern State Penitentiary is considered to we know now has come to be. be the world’s first true penitentiary. This meant it was a prison strictly designed to instill peni- The legends of vampires actually has 2 origin tence in its prisoners, hoping they would truly feel stories. remorse for the sins they’ve committed. Home 1. It was believed, in Medieval Times, that you to infamous criminals such as Al Capone and Wil- didn’t become a vampire until after you died. lie Sutton, this now haunted American prison is When a family member was sick and dying the widely speculated. There have been numerous whole family would visit and say their good- television shows, books, and audio tapes regarding byes. When this happened a few of the fam- and investigating the eerie, heart-stopping maze ily members that went to visit became ill, and of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. eventually suffered the same fate as the fam- While the prison’s year-round daytime tour is filled ily member that they had visited before. This to the brim with historical and interesting infor- began the myth of vampires being able to infect mation about this American travesty, it is known others. Because when they died, they died in primarily for its terrifying and massive interactive the same way as the others who were infected haunted house held every year during the fall sea- with the same disease. When the townspeople son. began to have a suspicion of vampires in the Being called the Disneyland of haunted at- town, they would head to the cemetery. To find tractions, Terror Behind the Walls is something you a vampire’s grave, they would have a 7 year- have to come out to experience. In 2015, there old go on horseback, on a white horse wearing are two new attractions in the haunted house, a white shirt, and they would let them loose in totaling six. The attractions include Lock Down, the graveyard midday. When the horse finally Infirmary, Detritus, Machine Shop, Quarantine 4D, stopped, they believed that the nearest grave and Break Out. Plan your visit today and celebrate was the grave of a vampire. When they dug the Halloween by scaring the you-know-what out of bodies up, the excretion of vital fluid stained you and your friends & family! the teeth with blood, the decaying skin would pull away from the gums and teeth causing the look of claws and fangs, and the movement of gases in the body caused the appearance of RARITAN REVIEW OCTOBER ISSUE breathing, starting the myth of these monsters FRIGHT FEST called “Vampires.” BY: SAMANTHA LOSURDO 3. The U.S. Defense Department actually has a As October rolls on in, we get ready for the plan against the Zombie Apocalypse. The name chilly fall days and spooky evenings. October is of the plan is “CONOP 8888” and is nicknamed known for countless Halloween themed hayrides, “Counter-Zombie Dominance.” parks and festivities. One of the more famous ones 4. The fear of Halloween is known as Samhaino- is Six Flags Fright Fest; rumored to be the scari- phobia. est of them all. At least once in everyone’s lives, 5. When the movie Halloween, released in 1978, they’ve been to Six Flags. And if you haven’t, I was first being made, they were on such a tight strongly advise going during Fright Fest. The crea- budget that they used the cheapest mask they tures and events that happen before your eyes are could find for Michael Meyers, which just so hap-definitely scream-worthy. pened to be a William Shatner Star Trek mask. The park we all know and love is totally Shatner later stated that he was honored, when transformed into something that appears to be he found out a few years after the movie re- straight out of a horror movie. All around you are lease. mad-zombies from past centuries carrying shovels 6. Halloween was influenced by an Ancient Ro- and chainsaws, threatening to mark you at the man holiday called Pomona, which would cel- slightest movement. As you make your way around ebrate the goddess of harvest called Pomona. the park, they follow and torment you. One good Games played on Halloween that include food, thing is that the zombies are not allowed to touch such as Apple Bobbing, all originated from that you in any way. At least you know now that there Ancient Roman holiday. is more of a chance you can survive… 7. According to tradition, on Halloween night, if There are extra attractions open exclusively you wear your clothes inside out and walk back- for Fright Fest for an additional fee. Here are a wards, you will encounter a witch at midnight. few of the terrifying, horrific and bloodcurdling The word “” actually originated from a attractions: Asylum, Blood Shed, The Manor, The tradition that would be performed on Hallow- Haunted Heist, Voodoo Island and Total Darkness. een. They would light a fire to ensure that the Each of these attractions are meant to be bone- sun returned after the winter and often Druid chilling though I’m sure that if it’s too much for priests would throw cattle bones into the fire, you, you can kindly ask one of the workers inside which they got “Bone fire” and further began to where the nearest exit is. There are different call it “Bonfire.” attractions to visit with just a park ticket if you 8. Halloween is believed to have begun around don’t want to pay extra. However, the additional the year 4,000 B.C., making the holiday almost fee ones are more ‘scare you out of your wits’ 6,000 years old. scary. 9. Boston, Massachusetts has earned the record In conclusion, Six Flags Fright Fest is with- of the most Jack O’lanterns lit at one time, out a doubt something you should do during Oc- 30,128. tober. Between the zombies following you around 10. Last but not least, Harry Houdini, who was and the numerous, grim attractions, how could one of the most mysterious magicians to ever you not want to go?! Copy and paste the following live, died on Halloween night in 1926 after be- link and let me know if you like Fright Fest. ing punched 3 times in the stomach. The cause of death was actually from a ruptured appendix https://docs.google.com/a/hazlet.org/forms/d/1 caused by a mixture of appendicitis and those 3 qkg6vHmp7tjUeo9CCJWC5HhUuSzCOmaRBtvgdCV7 punches to his stomach. Ajo RARITAN REVIEW OCTOBER ISSUE to America and it has been a beloved part of Hal- HISTORY OF JACK-O- loween ever since. LANTERN D.I.Y. HALLOWEEN BY: EMILY O’CONNOR One of the cornerstones of tradition is the carving of a Jack-O-Lantern. BY: SAMANTHA LOSURDO Whether you carve a scary face, a silly one or Halloween is right around the corner and maybe a cat or a bat, your design is illuminated I’m sure that everyone is bustling around to get by the candle you place inside it just like it lit the best costume in town! What would you say the way for . The roots of the Jack- if I told you that the best costume could pos- o-Lantern were grown in the damp country of sibly be a homemade one? DIY costumes are Ireland. Stingy Jack was a drunken old man always very affordable and are a lot of fun in many years ago whose favorite thing to do was creating. I’ve done extensive research to find to play tricks on everyone. His friends, his fami- the perfect, simplest AND ultimate DIY Hallow- ly, strangers and even the devil. He once tricked een costumes! the devil into climbing up an old apple tree. First and foremost is a very unique cos- Before the devil could climb back down Jack tume; one in which, I’ve never seen anyone do put crosses all around the trunk of the tree. The before. A Bag of Gumballs is adorable, insanely devil, not being able to touch a cross, couldn’t straightforward and fun to make! First, start get down. Jack wouldn’t let the devil climb out with a clear trash bag that’s big enough for down from the tree until he promised he would you to fit in. Cut holes for the arms and legs so never take Jack’s soul. Years went by and Jack you’re able to move your limbs around and get grew old and died. He found himself outside the the best candy. Get a bunch of colorful balloons gates to Heaven where Saint Peter was waiting and blow them up, stuff them inside of the bag for him. Saint Peter told he was mean and cruel with you then grab a red ribbon to tie around and had led a miserable, worthless existence your neck! To be even more detailed, add the on earth and wouldn’t be allowed through the Nutritional Facts of real gumballs to the back of pearly gates. Jack went down to Hell, but keep- you and wallah! You’re a bag of good ol’ gum- ing his promise, the Devil wouldn’t take his soul balls! and refused to let him enter. Lost to wander the Another classic costume that’s ridiculous- Netherworld between heaven and hell all alone ly uncomplicated is a Silent Film Star. With this for eternity Jack began to grow scared. Feel- costume, you’ll need a full black dress or suit, ing pity for him, the Devil gave him an ember basically something to resemble the 1920’s to from the fires of hell. Jack put the ember inside the 1960’s. Grab some old white face and body a hollowed out turnip which was his favorite paint, some black eyeshadow and black lipstick. vegetable. Since that day Stingy Jack has wan- Black lipstick may not be a staple in most peo- dered the earth, without a resting place, with ple’s makeup kits so a run to Target or Harmons his Jack-O-Lantern to light his way. On Hal- would be a great option. Paint your visible body loween, the Irish would hollow out turnips and parts white mixed with the tiniest bit of black such to ward off evil spirits. A few waves of Irish and then break out the black eyeshadow. Use immigrants in the 1800’s brought the tradition the black shadow as blush and make sure to not RARITAN REVIEW OCTOBER ISSUE be afraid of going to town with it. Finally, fin- ish yourself off with some pearls or a top hat and MOST HAUNTED PLACES you’re back in the 50s as a movie star! Just re- member to stay quiet; audio wasn’t available in IN NEW JERSEY movies then! BY: MARK CAPICHANA HAPPY DAY Halloween is just around the corner, which means sitting around a fire with your FARM friends and telling stories. Although ghost BY: KYLIE RIVERA stories are fun, most are so far fetched that we just don’t even believe them. However, there This October, if you’re looking for a family are some stories that are so close to reality friendly, fun-packed place to get in the spirit of that we can’t see them not being true. Hearing fall, then I urge you to check out the Happy Day that these stories are so close to home, people Farm in Manalapan, New Jersey. Whether you’ve take the short drive to go get a little scare. been to Casola one too many times, or you are These stories have been told and investigated just looking for a festive place to take friends and over the years, and evidence begins to make have a good time, the Happy Day Farm ensures a people believe that maybe we’re not alone warm and colorful day spent in sunshine. With a here. Upon doing research, however, not all superfluous number of activities and attractions, these stories are true. All of these locations are you couldn’t possibly be bored! In the 2015 Fall in Monmouth county, and these aren’t even all season, the farm showcases its observation bridge, of them! sunflower maze, hi-striker, lavender garden, gi- ant checkerboard, spider web, 6 piece wooden Legends of the Dempsey House train playground, pumpkin decorating, and a giant This first story, is about the legend of rocking chair. These cute and fall-inspired attrac- The Dempsey house, or some know it as The tions could certainly make a weekend in October Devil’s Warehouse. The Dempsey house is a one to remember! It will certainly not fail to bring small house that is located in the Leonardo out the child in you either. With other festivities section of Middletown. It was made to be a such as the corn box, the hay ride, pig races, the pump house for local families, but Mr. Dempsey Timmy Town zoo, the hay maze, corn stalk tunnel, decided that the second floor should also hold pedal carts, rubber duck racing, tire mountain, some residents. The Dempsey family lived there photo cut outs, and horse shaped swings, there is for a while, but a building up that long is bound something for everyone in your family! Taking all to get some demons. Mr. Dempsey was very ill of these awesome excursions into consideration, I and needed his wife to do everything for him. haven’t even touched on the most popular feature One morning, Mrs. Dempsey went downstairs to of the Happy Day farm: its amazing 10 acre corn make breakfast for them, but she never came maze. Every year, there is a different theme to back up for him. Mr. Dempsey, not able to get the corn maze. You will be blown away by the im- up, just yelled for her to come help. She never peccable design and architecture. Visit Happy Day returned to her husband, and it is never said Farm this weekend, where getting lost is all about what happened to her. Mr. Dempsey was left on finding fun! that bed for three days. Shortly after, he died from starvation and dehydration. An unknown RARITAN REVIEW OCTOBER ISSUE caller had called the police and made a response. Once the call was received by the police depart- ment, they sent one of their officers to the scene. They sent a police officer just for recall, and, apparently, whatever he saw in the house was so horrific, that he went outside and hung himself on the tree right in front of the house. The police arrived to the scene and cut him down, but the rope still hangs there today. People have reported seeing the police officer hanging from the tree, and seeing Mr. Dempsey in the window, waiting for his wife to come help him. There’s also a tale of the house where Mr. Dempsey had a nervous breakdown. This caused him to go and kill his entire family, before killing himself. These are just two of the many stories told of The Dempsey House, but it’s enough to draw people from around the state to investigate it.

Whipporwill Valley and Cooper Road

We’ve all heard someone tell you, or someone else, their own experience on Whipporwill, or Cooper Roads infamous Cry Baby Bridge. These 2 byways are the most talked about road in our area. The two haunted roads are isolated in a rural area of Middletown, making it vulnerable for folklore. The stories of Whipporwill have been told with such belief, that people truly believe that these roads are a gateway to the supernatural. All of the stories told seem to point to the fact that, yes it is. It’s also believed, that this road used to be home to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and that you can still see some rituals being performed today. Stories have been told of people seeing people in hooded white robes, and burning crosses in the field near the road. Someone even got road blocked by a KKK member on horseback! Whipporwill is also famous for its history of witch trials. A story is told that back in the 1800’s, 15 women were accused of witchcraft, and when the town had the trial they were sentenced to death. Before the women were burned at the stake, they put hexes on each of the 7 farmers. After they were burned, they buried them 10 feet away from the cemetery, which is where the road lies now. After 10 months, the 7 farmers all died from strange diseases. Could this have been the witches? Next to Whipporwill is Cooper Road. You may not know this road specifically, but if you’ve ever heard of Cry Baby bridge then you’ve heard some of the stories. This haunted site is connect- ed to some of the stories of Whipporwill. The idea is that if you drive on the bridge late at night, stop on the bridge, and turn your lights off, you will not be able to start your car up. You can also hear the sound of someone trying to walk in the water, which is believed to be the of slaves who escaped from the KKK. The bridge received its name from another story told about what happened in the area. The story goes, that a man and his wife finally had the kid that they’ve been waiting for, but the mother died shortly after giving birth to the child. The father, filled with anger and grief, couldn’t look at his own child without feeling so much hate for it. The father had dealt with the hate for a few months, but he couldn’t take it any longer. One night the father decided that he couldn’t live with this child anymore. He took the baby and went beneath the bridge and drowned the baby and left the body there. If you sit in your car with the lights off, you’re supposed to be able to hear the baby crying. Which, rightfully, gave the bridge its name, Cry Baby Bridge. RARITAN REVIEW OCTOBER ISSUE The Phantom of Phalanx Road

On September 14, 2006, 2 friends were driving home from a concert. They tried to take the back roads, to avoid traffic, but they got lost. Eventually, they ended up on Phalanx Road. The friend who was driving decided to have a cigarette, so she rolled down the window and attempted to light the cigarette. She dropped her lighter so she stopped the car and picked the lighter up. When she rose back up, she saw a woman staring at her through her window, motioning her to fol- low her with a blank stare. Naturally, the two friends began to scream and they shut their windows. They drove away, but only a few yards until they looked back. She was standing there, just star- ing into her eyes. The strangest part was that, even though it was raining outside, the apparition didn’t seem to be effected. The friends described the apparition, “She had light brown hair that was pulled back. I thought she had a bandanna on, but my friend didn’t remember seeing that. She had on a brown, short-sleeved shirt and jeans—no bag or purse—and her clothes and hair were dry.” Although it was midnight and raining, they were able to make out her features as if it were day. The phantom took a step away from the car as they drove off, and when the two looked back, she had vanished. Finally, they ended up in Colts Neck. The went to the police station and explained what hap- pened, and the police sent an officer to go investigate. The officer reported seeing nothing. The two friends drove home, in disbelief of what they had seen. Was there really someone on the road? If so, why was she there? We may never know, but people have their suspicions. Some say that it’s the daughter of the farmer who used to own a farm where Phalanx road is today. The family tragi- cally died in a fire and the girl is the daughter looking for help. The Phantom of Phalanx Road is certainly a story to be told.