Boggs Run Elementary Schools is being renovated to accommodate the World Renowned Halloween Museum The old Boggs Run Elementary Schools is
being renovated to accommodate the World Renowned Halloween Museum.
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - Castle Halloween will be opening Sept 1 of 2005 at 577 Boggs Run Road
in Benwood (Wheeling), West VA. The old Boggs Run Elementary Schools is
being renovated to accommodate the World Renown Halloween Museum, an antique
shop, Trick or Treat Trader Publications, and the residence of Chris Russell
and author, Pamela E. Apkarian-Russell (The Halloween Queen T), The Museum
will consist of over fifteen thousand items of Halloween and related
memorabilia from the 1860s to present. Though most of the items are vintage
there will be a major representation of contemporary folk art including many
of the important southern potters such as the Meaders, Craig, Rogers, and
the Millers.
Collecting for almost forty years Pamela E. Apkarian-Russell has
written hundreds of articles on the subject and is the author of
"Collectible Halloween", "More Halloween Collectibles", "Halloween
Decorations and Games", "Salem Witchcraft and Collectibles" "Postmarked
Yesteryear", "The Tastes and Smells of Halloween", etc, Apkarian-Russell the
accepted authority in the field, showed segments of the collection on the
Martha Stuart show in October 2003 and has appeared on the BBC program
Collectors Lot. Almost all of the items seen on the television programs and
in the books will be on display in the museum as well as a Harry Potter
display, a country store -advertising display of vintage to contemporary
product advertising and signs, a "Nightmare Before Christmas" display, a
fortune telling display, a funerary exhibit, and one on the Salem Witch
trials, as well as the well loved nostalgia and memorabilia of old time
Halloween.
Candy containers, lanterns, games, postcards, original paintings, toys,
as well as over a thousand costumes, are just a part of the museum.
Exhibits of the works of various artists will be mounted regularly and
book-signings by authors are planned. Lectures and guided tours can be
arranged by calling ahead.
TheBetty Hollway Russell research library, which consists of thousands
of books, periodicals and magazines, including many rare volumes will
consist of not only books on Halloween, but the Salem Witch Trials, the
paranormal, Spiritualism, Theosophy, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Gypsies,
Archeology, Day of the Dead, antiques and collectibles, Celtic and other
early cultures, genocide (especially the Armenian Genocide but not
exclusively), Metaphysical, etc., etc The library will be by prior
arrangement to researchers and authors.
The move itself is a mammoth task, packing and transporting the museum,
shop, and themselves from New Hampshire to West Virginia. The antique
shop-gift shop will open on Sept 1st, as well and will be the major support
for the shop. As renovations take place, and as Castle Halloween will still
be in the primary stages the entry donation will only be 6.00 per person.
The couple had unsuccessfully looked for a place in New England before the
Boggs Run Elementary School was found and there are many more renovations to
the building than had been anticipated, and a botched roofing job has
hampered the renovations.
Mr. Russell is already on premises as a full time resident. Pamela
Apkarian-Russell will maintain the
