Sheldon Lane loves decorating his exterior property for Halloween and his biggest supporter is his wife Susan, who tells him to go for it and the spookier the better.
Sheldon, who is originally from Gambo, got his thirst for Halloween honestly as his family is in love with the season, dressing up and having “Spooky” fun.
For a few years some family members came to Stephenville prior to Halloween and they’d have a great time dressing up and fooling around, even going to the homes of some of Lane’s neighbours.
It usually takes Sheldon about two days to set up decorations outside the house and once that’s done, he adds on a bit each year.
“It’s all about doing it for the kids to have something to look at and enjoy,” Susan said of why they decorate to such an extent. “Kids don’t go door to door at Halloween much anymore, so we decorate to make it fun and feel like a place to come.”
They’ve already had lots of cars stop by with people getting out having a look and that’s just fine with the Lanes, as long as everything is left intact.
Last year they had more than 300 trick-or-treaters drop by. They were set up for 300 and luckily for them neighbours came to the rescue during the latter part of the evening, sharing their treats.
Lane said she’s purchased enough for 350 and even some backup this year and hopes that every bit of it goes.
In addition to her husband’s family being involved in Halloween, Lane’s mom Doreen Denty, always decorated for the occasion.
Their kids, Cody, who is 16 years of age and Faith, 14, don’t trick-or-treat anymore but they want mom and dad to continue with the tradition.
The decorations are along the line of scary and not gory featuring witches, goblins and skeletons.
“Over the years our kids have been spooked by a witch or two in the shower,” Lane said with a laugh. “But they take it all in good fun.”
The Lanes always dress up on Halloween night to give out the treats.
Susan said they’ve been told by people that their location at 23 Hillview Avenue is an excellent one for creating a spooky look, with trees in the front, a sloping front yard to spread out the decorations and then the two story house itself.
She remembers taking her own kids around on Halloween to John and Meline Noseworthy’s house at the end of Hillview Avenue.
“Their house was the place to go to because it was always decorated so well and they (Noseworthy’s) continue to do that now,” Susan said.
The Lane’s are praying for a wonderful Halloween night with good weather.
She said right now she and Sheldon enjoys decorating for Halloween and will keep it going as long as trick-or-treaters keep coming. There’s only one rule, everyone that comes dressed up gets a treat with no restriction on age.
