PCHS offers ‘A Halloween Season for the Ages’
By Patrick Lynn
The Portage Co. Historical Society wants to mix some history into Halloween this year.
John Harry, executive director for the PCHS, has announced “immersive Halloween history experiences that will prove to be frightfully interesting” this year, offering attendees a chance to learn about the darker side of Stevens Point’s past.
A tour of notable graves at Forest Cemetery, trick-or-treating at Heritage Park’s historic village site in Plover, and a historical costume contest are also part of the festivities.
On Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m., the Murder on Main Street Tour returns, featuring the “more gruesome side” of Stevens Point’s history. This tour starts at the Portage County Courthouse parking lot and is free of charge, but donations are accepted.
Friday, Oct. 20, and Saturday, Oct. 21, PCHS joins Jen Brilowski, a local cemetery historian, at Forest Cemetery in Stevens Point for an evening stroll of the second-largest cemetery in the county.
Attendees will hear tales of tragedy and loss — as well as eternal love and triumph — that they’ll never forget. Both twilight tours begin at 4:30 p.m. Space for the cemetery tours is extremely limited, and the $20 tickets are on sale now at pchswi.org/events.
Forest Cemetery is located at Patch St. and Cleveland Ave. and has an entrance on Church St. just south of the cinema parking lot.
A special trick-or-treating event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Heritage Park, 2700 Madison Ave. in Plover, for historically-themed, family-friendly trick-or-treating. Kids and their parents can dress up and stroll amongst the 11 historical structures while collecting candy and swag from at least 20 different local businesses. Historical costumes are encouraged, but not required.
Any local business that would like to sign up to hand out candy should contact Harry at [email protected].
The PCHS caps off the Halloween season on Oct. 31, with a 6 p.m. “Halloween party for the ages” at The Annex, 1136 Main St. in downtown Stevens Point. Local historian, and SPASH Class of 1995 graduate Chelsey Pfiffner will present “Shadows and Spirits: The Legends and Lore of Portage County.”
Guests will hear the spooky tales told and often repeated so often throughout the years that they have become local legends. There will also be a historically-themed costume contest at the end of the talk where guests can win prizes provided by the Annex and the Portage County Historical Society.
