Halloween is right around corner. That means people are likely going to see all of the decorated houses on Tillson Street. However, that street isn't the only one that has featured Halloween-adorned homes. In fact, the photo seen above is one located on Main Street, and there was an article about it in 1994.
The October 26, 1994 issue of The Romeo Observer featured this picture for the article "Spruced up for Halloween: Romeo gets into spirit with ambitious decorations."
Writer Mike Kamyszek discussed how Romeo residents were "doing their part to enhance the annual celebration."
For many people, this meant decorating their front yards with coffins, graveyards, and bats. But, some went the extra mile. These included Stephen Sedgewick of Tillson Street and Philomena Somers of Main Street. The latter is seen in the photo above. Taken by Karen Hamilton, this picture depicts Philomena standing in her front yard and holding a ghost. Other items seen are an eight-foot dracula, a candelabra, a witch, a crypt keeper, and a makeshift graveyard.
Philomena stated that her house is popular on Halloween nights. The decorations are an obvious reason, but there's another one too. Philomena admitted that she always dresses up for Halloween by "being a ghost with the help of white face makeup, a blue veil and blue eyeliner."
Specifically, she said the following, "I sometimes will sit on my porch with my arm around the mummy and frequently the kids don't realize its me. It gives them quite a scare sometimes."
I would be scarred too if I saw that while trick-or-treating.
But why all the theatrics? It's because Philomena directs plays, and she wanted to make her residence the fun home on Halloween. She recalled, "I grew up in upstate New York and there was always one big fun house to go to, and I deiced to give a fun house to other kids."
Above all, Halloween is her favorite holiday.
Go and check out all of the decorated homes this Halloween, whether it's on Tillson, Main, or elsewhere in Romeo!
To see more photographs of past Halloweens in Romeo, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890, or you can access them through our online Archives Catalog.
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Melvin E. and Joan D. Bleich Collection, The Romeo Observer, October 26, 1994, p.1-A and p.9-A