When we made a quick trip to visit our old hometown, my son and I got to take a Ghost Tour of Uptown Whittier. We met an old friend who had only decided to start giving these tours a couple of months ago. He started with just one spooky story, but now has quite a repertoire of stories to tell. He explained that every time he takes a group out for the tour, someone shares another story with him.
Whittier, California has been inhabited by indigenous tribes, then Mexicans, then Quakers, then the rest of us. In the late 1800's, when the Quakers bought the land, they wanted to name it after the famous poet John Greenleaf Whittier in hopes that would entice more Quakers to move from the east coast, and perhaps Mr. Whittier himself, to the settlement. He never came, but the Quakers did set up a beautiful little community. One way the settlers chose to build their houses was with the help of the Sears Roebuck catalog. In those days, the family would order a "Kit House" from the catalog, have it shipped by train to California, then they would convince their neighbors to bring their wagons and horses, and their tools and skills to help them put it together.
Whittier, California has been inhabited by indigenous tribes, then Mexicans, then Quakers, then the rest of us. In the late 1800's, when the Quakers bought the land, they wanted to name it after the famous poet John Greenleaf Whittier in hopes that would entice more Quakers to move from the east coast, and perhaps Mr. Whittier himself, to the settlement. He never came, but the Quakers did set up a beautiful little community. One way the settlers chose to build their houses was with the help of the Sears Roebuck catalog. In those days, the family would order a "Kit House" from the catalog, have it shipped by train to California, then they would convince their neighbors to bring their wagons and horses, and their tools and skills to help them put it together.
More houses featured in "Hocus Pocus." Most of the houses are situated around a central park and built in the late Victorian style or early Craftsman period style. Many are well loved and kept up, but some of them have interesting stories to tell about spirits that may or may not want to leave the premises. And some of the houses and streets were featured in the Disney movie "Hocus Pocus." (Our tour guide had actually happened by during the filming of the movie and told us how so much of the area was completely covered up with black drapes during the shoot.)
As we walked around and heard the stories, I was just amazed at how charming the houses were. (I love the craftsman style especially. My husband built our house in that style.) I was surprised by how well we could appreciate the different houses even at night.
It reminded me of how Color and Contrast really make a difference for Curb Appeal. Many of the homes had been decorated for Halloween with orange lights and spooky ghouls, pumpkins and skeletons. It really added to the spooky ambience of the Ghost Tour.
It reminded me of how Color and Contrast really make a difference for Curb Appeal. Many of the homes had been decorated for Halloween with orange lights and spooky ghouls, pumpkins and skeletons. It really added to the spooky ambience of the Ghost Tour.
Example of French Country architecture We have a newly built house in our neighborhood that is guaranteed to be spooky year-round. Most of the houses on the street are little brick ranchers from the 1950's. This house was interesting to watch during construction because we all got excited that a beautiful French Country mansion was being built. There were some beautiful features we had great expectations for.
We expected light colored stucco or siding with contrasting trim. We hoped for romantic rock facing and charming details around the windows and doors.
We expected light colored stucco or siding with contrasting trim. We hoped for romantic rock facing and charming details around the windows and doors.
The Spooky House That's not what appeared a few weeks later. The owners painted the entire house -- brick, rock, siding and all --- BLACK to match the roof. No Color or Contrast and absolutely no Curb Appeal. It is truly a Spooky House. Maybe it will be featured in a Halloween movie someday!
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