>>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT -- AHEAD OF THIS HALLOWEEN WEEKEND.

WE'LL HELP GET YOU IN THE MOOD FOR GHOSTS AND GOBBLINES WITH A VISIT TO SOME SPOOKY AREA CEMETERIES FOR A LESSON IN LOCAL HISTORY.

>> AND THEY'RE PRETTY REMARKABLE BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THEY PUT A LOT OF INFORMATION, EVEN TO THE POINT OF EXPLAIN TO THE READER NOT ONLY WHO THE PERSON WAS BUT HOW THEY PASSED.

>> WE EXPLORE THE TRADITIONS BEHIND A LOCAL CELEBRATION OF THE DAY OF THE DEAD.

>> IN A VERY LITERAL SENSE, IT'S THE RETURN OF YOUR LOVED ONE'S SPIRITS BACK TO THE EARTHLY REALM.

>> AND WE'LL TAKE A TRIP TO THE BIRK ISOLATED SHOWERS FOR A HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN DISPLAY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE!

>> IT'S WONDERFUL.

THEY HAVE PUMPKINS AND CHRYSANTHEMUMES, ALL FALL COLORS.

IT'S GORGE.

AND THEY'RE ALL THROUGH THE GROUNDS.

>> WE'LL BRING YOU SHOWERS AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVE, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY AS WE -- ON "CONNECTING POINT."

¶ ¶ >>> GOOD EVENING.

AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THE FAMED STOCK BRIDGE ESTATE KNOWN AS NOMKEG HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A HALLOWEEN OASIS.

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, THE TRUSSESES OF -- TRUSTEE OF RESERVATIONS DECORATE WITH FLOWERS, LIGHTS, AND OVER A THOUSAND CARVED PUMPKINS TO GIVE THE -- >> IT'S EARLY AFTERNOON ON THE EIGHT-ACRE PROPERTY IN MASSACHUSETTS, KNOWN AS NONKEG.

OR SOME HANGING CARVE JACK O'LANTERNS GENTLY BLOWING IN THE BREEZE, ALL IS QUIET.

BUT EVEN FOR NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE LIVED CLOSE BY FOR DECADES, THE SCENERY IS STILL SOMETHING TO BEHOLD.

>> IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

FOR A FRENCH PERSON, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE MAG ANYCENT CASTLE -- MAGNIFICENT CASTLES BUT WE DON'T HAVE SUCH SPACE.

IT'S AMAZING.

>> IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR THAT SILENT SER REN TENT -- SERENITY TO BE BROKEN BY ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

THIS IS THE THIRD ANNUAL PUMPKIN SHOW, THIS YEAR FEATURING OVER 1500 HAND-CARVES PUMPKINS.

WHILE -- WHILE IT MAY BE A BIG DRAW FOR THE LITTLE ONES, I SUSPECT IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF ARM-TWISTING TO GET THE ADULTS TO COME OUT THIS WAY.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL.

THEY HAVE PUMPKINS AND CHRYSANTHEMUMES, ALL FARCE COLORS.

IT'S GORGEOUS.

AND THEY'RE ALL THROUGH THE GROUNDS AND THEY HAVE EXTRAORDINARY LIGHTING.

>> ANY FIRST TREK WAS DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS.

SO I HAD A LITTLE TIME TO SOAK IN THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THIS DISPLAY BEFORE THEY TURNED ON THAT EXTRAORDINARY LIGHTING.

WHAT I PLIEK IS THE OBVIOUS HALLOWEEN SPIRIT HERE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A REAL FALL VIBE AND THERE'S DEFINITELY AN OLD NEW ENGLAND FEEL TO THIS PLACE.

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY TICKETS SOLD OUT SO QUICKLY.

>> THE TRANSFORMATION FROM THE NEW ENGLAND AUTUMN WALK THROUGH THE WOODS TO THE COOLEST TRICK-OR-TREATING TRAIL EVER BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE.

THAT ONE-TIME KETTLE BLOWING OF BUBBLES EARLIER IN THE DAY HAS SUDDENLY TURNED INTO SOMETHING REBLEM BRING -- RESEMBLING A VOLCANO BY NIGHT.

THE CHINESE GARDEN BY DAY BECOMES A GOTHIC PLAYGROUND.

AND NONE OF THIS IS BY ACCIDENT.

>> IT'S KIND OF TWO DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES HERE.

WE HAVE OUR DAYTIME EXPERIENCE WHICH WE HAVE A LOT MORE YOUNGER FAMILIES COMING TO, SO THEY CAN SEE IT IN THE DAY, GET THEY'RE KIDS HOME, IN BED -- THE SUN GOES DOWN.

SO WE TRY TO DECORATE THAT WITH A LOT OF HORTICULTURE, FALL DECORATION, PUMPKINS, GOURDS.

AND THEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT AND YOU CAN'T SEE AS MUCH OF THAT, BUT YOU REALLY GET TO -- ENJOY THE ELEMENT OF THE LIGHTS THAT WE HANG AROUND THE PROPERTY AS WELL.

>> FROM ACROSS THE FARMLAND, WE CAN SEE CARS LINING UP TO TURN DOWN THE LONG DRIVEWAY TO FIVE PROSPECT HILL ROAD.

THE ERSTWHILE PROPERTY HAS NOW BECOME SOMETHING OF A DESTINATION SPOT FOR VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR.

FOR SEVERAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, IT TURNS ITSELF INTO A SORT OF HALLOWEEN WONDERLAND.

AND THAT'S THANKS IN NO SMALL PART TO THE TIRELESS EFFORTS PUT FORTH BY THE TRUSTEES.

>> EVERY YEAR WE TRY TO MAKE IT BIGGER, BETTER, MAKE IT FEEL FRESH AND NEW FOR THE PEOPLE RETURNING.

IF YOU'RE COMING HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE CAN'T YOU TO TAKE AWAY.

AND THIS IS A PLACE YOU CAN COME FOR FUN, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER WHAT THE SEASON!

¶ ¶ >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND THIS ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

WITH THE CELEBRATION OF HALLOWEEN THIS WEEKEND, WE TURN TO TALES OF THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT.

STORIES OF THE STIEWRP NATURAL, THE MYSTERIOUS, AND THE UNEXPLAINED.

AND WITH SO MUCH HISTORY IN OUR AREA, THERE ARE MANY PLACES WITH DARK PATHS AND SCARY STORIES ATTACHED TO THEM.

ONE SUCH PLACE IS OLD NEW GATE PRISON IN EAST GRANBY, CONNECTICUT.

AND WE EXPLORE SOME OF THE HISTORY AND RUMORED SUPERNATURAL HAPPENINGS THERE IN THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE.

>> DAVID HUMPHRIES, AND WILLIAM CRAWFORD THOUGHT THEY HAD FOUND THEIR WAY OUT.

ONLY IN THEIR CASE THE TUNNEL COLLAPSED ON THEM AND AS THE PRS KEEPER SAID AT THE TIME -- PRISON KEEPER SAID AT THE TIME, NO ONE KNEW THEN AND NO ONE KNOWS TODAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE STILL THERE.

>> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE AS WELL AS MORE STORIES CELEBRATING THE HALLOWEEN SEASON AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> DIA DELOS MUTEROS OR DAY OF THE DEAD IS A HOLIDAY THAT ORIGINATED SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS AGO IN WHAT IS NOW MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

IT IS CELEBRATED THE DAY AFTER HALLOWEEN.

ONE OF THE TWA ADDITIONS INVOLVE THE -- TRADITIONS INVOLVING -- IN HORN, TWO LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE ORGANIZED ALTARS THAT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM OCTOBER 30TH TO NOVEMBER 3RD.

THIS YEAR MARKS THE THIRD ANNUAL HOLYOKE O FRIENDA.

I SPOKE TO ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOLIDAY AND WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO ORGANIZE THESE COMMUNITY ALTARS.

>> PRIMARILY IT'S A HOLIDAY THAT ORIGINATED IN SOUTHERN MEXICO AMONGST PARTICULAR INDIGENOUS GROUPS THERE.

IT WAS A VERY LOCAL HOLIDAY.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY MULTIPLE DAYS.

IT'S DIAZ.

USUALLY BEGINS ON THE MIDNIGHT OF THE 28TH, WITH THE DAY OF THE LITTLE ANGELS.

IT'S FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES.

AND IT MOVES INTO ALL SOULS DAY AND PROPER.

>> ONE OF THE PIVOTAL TRADITION OF THE HOLIDAY IS THE O FRIENDDA IS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ENTAILS.

>> TRANSLATED MEANS OFFERING.

AND YOU KNOW, -- PUTTING UP TO YOUR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE PASSED ON N. A VERY LITERALLY SENSE, IT'S THE RETURN OF YOUR LOVED ONE'S SPIRITS BACK TO THE EARTHLY REALM.

THEY COME AND VISIT YOU AND THEY COME INTO YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND COMMUNE WITH YOU.

THE OFFERING IS TO THEM.

IT IS TO YOUR LOVED ONES.

IT IS NORMALLY THREE LEVELS.

IT STARTS WITH THE BASE LEVEL, WHICH IS SUSSTE NANCE, BECAUSE -- SUSTENANCE, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THERE'S NO FOOD OR WATER.

SO THERE'S A BOWL OF WATER.

THE NEXT LEVEL WOULD BE THE THINGS THEY ENJOYED ABOUT THE WORLD.

TOYS, THERE'S USUALLY A LITTLE BIT OF BOOZE, SOME TOBACCO!

ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD ENJOY AND THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO SEE.

AND THEN ON THE TOP LEVEL IS THEIR PHOTOGRAPH TO REMIND THEM THAT WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THEM SO THEY CAN FIND THEIR WAY.

SO IT'S A WAY TO HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE COME BACK AND BE A PART OF THEM.

YOU REMEMBER THE THINGS THAT THEY LOVED AND THE THINGS THAT THEY MAYBE DIDN'T LOVE.

AND YOU REMEMBER ALL OF THEM AS A PERSON AND TO BE WITH THEM FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

>> THIS IS THE THIRD -- TECHNOLOGICALLY THE THIRD ANNUAL -- TECHNICALLY THE THIRD AND THE FIRST ANNUAL HAPPENING IN EAST HAMPTON.

HOW ARE THEY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC?

>> THE HOLYOKE COMMUNITY IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.

IT IS LOCATED AT THE BECAUSESTEIN BUILDING.

-- BAUSSTEIN BUILDING.

YOU'LL FIND IT DECORATED AND SET UP.

SO 24 HOURS A DAY THROUGH NOVEMBER 3RD.

FOR THE EAST HAMPTON -- HAMPTON, IT WILL BE OPEN FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 5-:00 P.M., REALLY -- 5:00 P.M.

STARTING TOMORROW THROUGH NOVEMBER 3RD.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO COME TO THE EAST FORKS BUILDING AT 116 PLEASANT STREET IN SUITE 244.

>> LOOKING THROUGH ALL OF THE PICTURES FROM LAST YEAR AND EVERYBODY JUST SUBMITTING THE PHOTOS OF THEIR LOVE ONE THAT IS THEY HAVE LOST AND THE OFFERINGS -- ONES THAT THEY HAVE LOSS AND THE OFFERINGS, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL AS A CHICANO STARTING TO CELEBRATE LATER ON, BUT HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER AND BE ABLE TO OFFER THEM A SPACE FOR THAT REMEMBRANCE AND LIFE?

>> IT HONESTLY IS THE MOST FULFILLING THING AS A COMMUNITY ARTS AND ENGAGEMENT I THINK I'VE EVER DONE.

IT REALLY TRULY -- YOU KNOW, I CAN'T BEGIN TO DESCRIBE HOW MEANINGFUL IT IS.

THERE WAS ONE INDIVIDUAL IN PLAYER.

THEY HAD -- IN PARTICULAR.

THEY HAD SHARED A PHOTO LAST YEAR OF HAIR CHILD WHO PASS -- THEIR CHILD WHO PASSED AWAY AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHOSE CHILD IT WAS.

SO I COME FROM -- THERE WERE SEVEN GOMEZ WOMEN THAT MY GRANDMOTHERS.

THERE WERE 7 OF THEM.

SO I JUST KIND OF PUT THIS CHILD WITH MY PEOPLE, BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, HEY, YOU GUYS LIKE BABIES, LOOK AFTER HER.

AND I WAS TELLING -- I WAS TELLING THIS INDIVIDUAL AS I WAS WALKING THEM ABOUT THIS CHILD AND ABOUT YOU KNOW, HOW I DIDN'T KNOW WHOSE PEOPLE IT WAS.

SO I PUT THEM WITH MY PEOPLE AND THE YOUNG WOMAN I WAS WITH BROKE DOWN CRYING.

BECAUSE IT WAS HERS.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT -- ABOUT HOW -- NO ONE IS REALLY GONE AND HOW WE'RE ALL KIND OF CONNECTED AND IT WAS -- IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL MOMENTS OF MY ARTISTIC LIFE.

AND YOU KNOW, I WILL DO THIS FOREVER AS LONG AS I POSSIBLY CAN JUST BASED ON THE JOY THAT ONE MOMENT BROUGHT.

>> NOW, YOU TOUCHED ON BRIEFLY ABOUT THE COMMERCIALIZATION.

>> YES.

>> OF THE HOLIDAY AND THAT APPROPRIATION.

THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN APPRECIATION AND APPROPRIATION.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE BROADER COMMUNITY TAKES AWAY FROM THESE?

>> I REALLY TRULY HOPE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS TO SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THIS IS A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.

THIS IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

TO OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THIS IS A POLITICAL ACTION AND TO YET OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THIS IS A DEEPLY IMPORTANT CULTURAL ACTION THAT THEY ARE TAKING, MAYBE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THAT AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T AN ESTHETIC.

THIS ISN'T A LOOK THAT'S BEING PUT ON.

THIS IS A PRACTICE THAT HAS A HISTORY DATING BACK TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

AND THAT WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE WELCOME TO ENGAGE.

WE'RE INVITING YOU IN BUT BE RESPECTFUL.

THIS AT ANY TIME AN ALTERNATIVE TO HALLOWEEN.

THIS IS A HOLIDAY IN AND OF ITSELF THAT'S CELEBRATED BY MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT'S ALSO A JOYOUS EXPERIENCE.

HAVE SOME JOY.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN!

LIKE YOU KNOW, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S A DIFFERENT LOOK AT -- AT DEATH.

BUT YOU KNOW, I SAY TO EVERYONE JUST REMEMBER THAT CULTURE IS NEVER AN ESTHETIC.

IT'S NEVER A COSTUME TO BE WORN.

IT IS SOMETHING TO BE ENGAGED WITH AND LEARN FROM.

¶ ¶ >>> FOR SOME, A WALK-THROUGH A CEMETERY SURROUNDED BY THE DEAD MIGHT SEEM CREEPY AND SCARY.

BUT FOR OTHERS, IT MAY BE A PEACEFUL AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

WHATEVER THE REASON, SUMMITRIES AND BURYING GROUNDS NATURALLY TAKE ON AN INCREASED INTEREST AS HALLOWEEN APPROACHES.

A VISIT TO ONE CANNOT ONLY HELP YOU GET IN THE MOOD FOR GHOSTS AND GOBLINS BUT CAN PROVIDE A GREAT DEAL OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION.

IN AN HONOR OF THE SPOOKY SEASON, PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED TWO OF THE OLDEST FINAL RESTING PLACES IN THE AREA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND MYSTERY OF THESE SPECIAL PLACES.

>> HALLOWEEN IS A TIME WHEN WE SORT OF DARE OURSELVES TO THINK ABOUT DEATH.

WE DARE OURSELVES TO -- TO THINK ABOUT THE MECHANISMS OF DEATH.

THE MEANING OF DEATH.

>> IT WAS DIFFERENT BACK THEN.

SO THE ENGLISH SETTLERS WERE PURITANS AND THEY BELIEVED IN PREDESTINATION.

SO WHEN YOU'RE DEAD, YOU'RE DEAD.

YOUR BODY IS JUST A HUSK T. BURYING GROUND IS LOCATED AT THE END OF ALBANY ROAD IN THE VILLAGE OF OLD DEERFIELD.

PLACES OF -- TO BURY THE DEAD WERE CALLED BURYING YARDS, BURYING GROUNDS, BURYING PLACES.

THE WORD CEMETERY COMES INTO USE IN THE 19TH CENTURY BECAUSE IT MEANS A PLACE OF SLEEPING OR REST.

PURITANS DIDN'T HAVE THAT BELIEF IN THE 18TH CENTURY.

GRAVE MARKERS RANGE IN DATE FROM THE LATE 1600S TO THE EARLY 1800s AND THEY CHANGE OVERTIME.

THE EARLIEST GRAVES WERE PROBABLY MARKED WITH FIELD STONES OR WOODEN MARKERS.

AND THOSE HAVE SINCE ALL WHITHERRED AWAY.

AND THERE ARE ABOUT 266 STONES, 265 STONES THAT ARE REMAINING IN THE BURYING GROUND.

THE OLDEST ONE IS DATED 1695.

THERE ARE MANY STORIES OF THE OLD BUILDING BEING HAUNTED IN THE VILLAGE OF OLD DEERFIELD, INCLUDING THE DEERFIELD INN.

THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE, RESIDENT GHOSTS, WHO ARE FRIENDLY IN THE INN.

THE BURYING GROUND DOESN'T HAVE SO MANY STORIES ABOUT HAINLTINGS -- HAUNTINGS, BUT RECENTLY THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING DOING AN INVESTIGATION.

SO WHO KNOWS.

¶ ¶ >> THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL SPRINGFIELD CEMETERY, WHICH WAS OPENED IN 1841.

AND AT THAT POINT IT WAS CONSIDERED WHAT THEY CALLED AS A RURAL CEMETERY, BECAUSE NONE OF THE HOUSES, NONE OF THESE BUILDING EXISTED AT THAT TIME.

WHEREAS SOME PEOPLE SEE THIS AS A PEACEFUL PARK, OTHER PEOPLE SEE THIS AS A REPOSITORY FOR THE REMAINS OF LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM ALMOST 200-YEAR SPAN.

AND -- THAT'S A TAD FRIGHTENING FOR SOME FOLKS.

THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A PLACE THAT THE -- TO KNOW THAT A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SUCCESS, IF YOU WERE BURIED HERE IN SPRINGFIELD CEMETERY.

IF YOU SERVED IN CONGRESS, REPRESENTING SPRINGFIELD, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE FROM THE 1800s YOU'RE BURIED HERE.

THE MOST PROMINENT PERSON OR THE PERSON THEY MAY HAVE HEARD OF THE MOST WOULD BE THORNTON BURGESS, THE CHILDREN'S AUTHOR AND NATURALIST.

AND HE'S BURIED HERE.

IF YOU COME UP TO THE CEMETERY, YOU COME UP THE HILL AND YOU'RE CLOSE TO PINE STREET.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS WHOLE GROUP OF STONES THAT DATE FROM 1700s AND THEY'RE PRETTY REMARKABLE, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT THEY PUT A LOT OF INFORMATION, EVEN TO THE POINT OF EXPLAIN TO THE READER NOT ONLY WHO THE PERSON WAS, BUT HOW THEY PASSED.

NOW, THEY MISSPELLED "PREACHING."

THEY FORGOT THE E. SO THEY ADDED THE E THERE.

AND I SAW -- I'M THINKING, I HOPE THEY GOT A DISCOUNT.

YOU KNOW?

THEY SCREWED UP.

BUT I UNDERSTAND TYPOS.

IF YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ANY SORT OF LOCAL HISTORY, IF YOU'RE CURIOUS ABOUT WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY CAME FROM, VISIT A CEMETERY LIKE THIS.

WALK AROUND, TAKE A LOOK.

READ SOME OF THE EPITATHS.

AND IT DOESN'T MEDICAL CENTER IF YOU'RE DOING THIS IN -- MATTER IF YOU'RE DOING THIS IN SPRING HILL OR WESTFIELD OR WHATEVER -- SPRINGFIELD, WESTFIELD, OR WHATEVER COMMUNITY THAT'S GOT SOME HISTORY.

I JUST FIND IT TO BE A FASCINATING EXERCISES.

THIS IS STILL A PLACE THAT PEOPLE COME TO WALK IN AND THEY COME TO THINK IN AND THEY COME TO -- TO JUST ENJOY A QUIET MOMENT.

IT MAY HAVE NOTHIN TO DO WITH WHO IS BURIED HERE OR THEY'RE COMING TO VISIT A PARTICULAR GRAVE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEACE THAT ACTUALLY THIS PLACE REPRESENTS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> THE SPOOKY SEASON IS UPON US AND THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUM ISHAVE A COLLECTION OF TRAW STORIES AND TALL TALES JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN.

WITH THE FORMATION OF THE MUSEUMS DATING BACK TO THE 1800s, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF INTERESTING FACTS, WELL DOCUMENTED HISTORY, AND SOME FUN TALL TALES WITH A LITTLE EMBELLISHMENT THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.

I SPOKE WITH JENNY POWERS AT THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUM TO HEAR SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING STORIES THAT THE SPRINGFIELD QUADRANKLE HAS TO OFFER.

>> OUR VISITORS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY THESE OLD BUILDING AND BY THE GHOSTS THAT MAY INHABIT THEM.

ESPECIALLY THE MUSEUM PAUSE THE FOUNDERS ARE ACTUALLY INTERRED, KREY MATED AND INTERRED IN THE WALLS.

AND SO WE'VE SEEN -- CREMATED AND INTERRED IN THE WALLS.

WE'VE SEEN OTHER ATTRACTIONS HAVE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH SPOOKY STORIES AND WE WANTED TO GIVE IT A TRY.

WE WERE IN A UNIQUE PLACE WHERE WE COULD BLEND REALLIESER TO WITH THESE FANTASTIC STORIES WELL.

>> THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT MUSEUMS ON CAMPUS.

WHAT SOME OF THE INTERESTING FACTS THAT ACCOMPANY EACH BUILDING?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE BUILDING THAT WE HAVE ON OUR CAMPUS ISN'T CURRENTLY USED AS A MUSEUM.

BUT IT'S THE OLDEST ONE HERE.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1839.

AND THAT HOUSE BELONGED TO SOMEONE WHO WAS THE OLDEST LIVING PERSON IN SPRINGFIELD, ELIJAH BLAKE.

AND HE WAS THE FATHER OF THE SPRINGFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT.

HE WAS SO ZEALOUS ARE FIGHTING FIRES THAT WHEN ONE BROKE OUT, HE WOULD FREQUENTLY GO UP TO THE ROOF OF A NEIGHBORING HOUSE SO HE COULD SHOUT ORDERS DOWN TO THE BUCKET BRIGADE.

>> EVERYBODY LOVES A GOOD GHOST STORY, ESPECIALLY ME DURING HALLOWEEN TIME.

SHARE WITH ME SOME OF THE MORE MYSTERIOUS STORIES THAT YOU HAVE HEARD HAPPENING AT THE SPRINGFIELD QUADRANKLE.

>> -- QUADRANKLE.

>> I DO HEAR FOOTSTEPS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHEN THERE'S NO ONE THERE.

AND ALSO, I SIT RIGHT NEXT TO THE ARTS OF THE SWLAWK WORLD GALLERY -- SANTA CLAUS WORLD -- ISLAMIC WORLD GALLERY AND WHEN I'VE 100% SURE I'M ALONE IN THE BUILDING, I HAVE HEARD VOICES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR NEXT TO ME.

>> AND YOU HAVE WITNESSED SOME UNNATURAL AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS HAPPENING AT.

BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU EVEN SPENT NIGHTS THERE WITH GHOST HUNDREDERS -- HUNTERS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THOSE EXPERIENCES AND HOW WAS IT SPENDING THE NIGHT AFTER HOURS?

>> WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE GEORGE WALTER VINCENT SMITS ART MUSEUM THREE TIMES.

THE GHOST HUNTERS BRING A LOT OF DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT, SO IT TAKES A LOT JUST TO GET READY.

THEY BRING PSYCHICS WITH THEM OR PEOPLE WHO ARE SENSITIVE, AS WELL AS MOTION CAMERAS AND IMO PROS AND -- GO PRO ANDS iPADS TO DO SOMETHING -- GO PROS AND iPADS TO DETECT GOES.

THIS COUPLE LOVED THEIR SELECTION SO MUCH AND THEY -- THEIR CLERKS SO MUCH THAT I THINK IT'S THEIR PRISON WE FEEL.

IT'S BUN FUNNY TO SEE ONE OF THE GHOST DETECTORS COME ON SUDDENLY, CHANGE DIFFERENT COLORS, AND ONE OF OUR SECURITY GUARDS JUMPED HALFWAY ACROSS THE ROOM.

IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS THAT THE GHOST HUNTERS CONNECTED TO PERCEIVING GOES.

SOME OF THE THINGS -- GHOSTS.

SOME OF THE THINGS WERE INTERESTING TYPES OF SCIENCE AND SOME OF THEM WERE A LITTLE LESS BELIEVABLE TO ME.

>> AND SPEAKING ABOUT THE LITTLE LESS BELIEVABLE, WHAT ARE TALES WITHOUT A LITTLE BIT OF EMBELLISHMENT, SOME FUN EMBILLESH MINUTE, RIGHT?

AND YOU HAVE TO -- EMBELLISH MINUTE, RIGHT?

IS IT FICTION, RIGHT?

WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

SO TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THE TALL TALES THAT ARE SHARED WITHIN -- SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES AND ARE THEY EVEN TALL TALES?

>> ONE STORY THAT I LOVE WENT BACK TO THE BLAKE HOUSE.

THE STORY WAS ABOUT MR. BLAKE BEING VERY UPSET THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RASH OF BURGLARIES IN THE AREA.

AND HE HAD ALL THE CHURCHES RING THEIR BELLS ON THE SAME DAY AND BROUGHT ALL THOSE CITY PEOPLE DOWN AND ARRANGED THEM AND SAID, LISTEN, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

WE CANNOT LET THIS GO ON ANYMORE.

THESE BURG ARE -- BURGLARS ARE TERRORIZING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

HE ASSEMBLED A POSSE AND BROUGHT THEM OUT TO WHERE THEY BELIEVE THE ROBBERS WERE HIDING OUT IN A CAVE NEAR WHO WAS A CAMPGROUND AT THE TIME.

AND THE HEAD LEADER OF THE GANG CAME OUT, MR. STEVENSON, AND HE WALKED UP AND HELD A GUN TO MR. BLAKE'S HEAD AND SAID, LEAVE.

MR. BLAKE WAS UNDETERRED.

HE GRABBED THE GUN.

HE TACKLED THE MAN AND WRESTLED HIM TO THE GROUND AND THAT ONE AND ONE OTHER WERE BOTH ARRESTED, BROUGHT BACK TO SPRINGFIELD, CHARGED WITH SEVEN INDICTMENTS AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.

THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TALL TALESES.

THIS IS ACTUALLY TRUE.

I HAVE ANOTHER TALL TALE THAT IS ACTUALLY TRUE.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN AT ALL WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE KING OF SPOOKY HIMSELF, MR. VINCENT PRICE.

WELL, VINCENT PRICE ACTUALLY DONATED A 17TH CENTURY ITALIAN DRAWING TO SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS THAT'S STILL IN OUR COLLECTION.

HE WAS FRIENDS WITH A FORMER CURATOR AND DONATED A DOUBLE-SIDED RED CHALK DRAWING TO THE COLLECTIONS.

IT WORKS ON PAPER, HAVE TO REST QUITE A BIT SO IT'S NOT ON EXHIBIT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S REALLY COOL TO KNOW THAT'S THERE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT STORYTELLING THAT PEOPLE CONNECT WITH SO MUCH AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE THEY TAKE AWAY FROM THESE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUM?

>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF FUN FACTS.

LARGER NARRATIVE, THEY JUST DON'T STICK IN THE SAME WAY.

WHEN YOU BUILDING IN MORE DETAILS, IT BECOMES MORE MEMORABLE AND IT'S EASIER TO LEARN.

SO THAT'S WHY WE DO FOCUS ON TELLING A LOT OF DIFFERENT STORIES AT THE SPRINGFIELD QUADRANGLE.

THIS JUST COMTOURS PEOPLE'S IMAGINATION -- CAPTURES PEOPLE'S IMAGINATIONS.

IT BRINGS THEM ALMOST OUT OF REALITY AND INTO A WORLD OF FANTASY THAT WE CAN ENJOY WHILE LEARNING AT THE SAME TIME.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR OCTOBER 29TH, 2021.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US DEPEND NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN THIS WEEKEND!

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