08 November 1, 2008 - ObserverXtra

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2 | NEWS 1 Union St., Elmira | 519.669.3072 | www.elmiragiftoutlet.com The Observer | Saturday, November 01, 2008 Limited Quantities Shop Early For Best Selection! The Store For For For Everyone Everyone Everyone On Your List! OPEN HOUSE HOURS Mon., Tues., Wed. 9:30-5:30 Thursday 9:30-9:00 Friday 9:30-5:30 Sat. 9:30 - 5:00 Sun. Closed
The Observer | Saturday, November 01, 2008 NEWS | 3 FREE DELIVERY P H A R M A C Y 10 Church St., Elmira “A lot of the stuff, making it on your own makes it a lot more special.” Yo Wang THE RIGHT SETTING Elmira’s Yo Wang has been busy for weeks turning his family’s new home – the former Bristow’s Inn on Arthur Street – into a haunted house for halloween. Home, spooky home MARC MIQUEL HELSEN In 148 years Bristow’s Inn on Arthur Street in Elmira has served as a stately home, an apartment building and, most recently, a bed-and-breakfast. Now it’s a single-family home, albeit a family with nine kids – the space is certainly welcomed. On Halloween, the heritage building, bought recently by the Wang family, adds another use to its storied history: scare factory for local trick-or-treaters. The sinister master of ceremonies? Sixteen-year-old EDSS student Yo Wang. “I remember when I was eight or nine we were like, ‘oh, we have to go to this house, it looks so scary, so, we would probably end up trick-or-treating with half an hour of going to the scarier houses,” said a reminiscent Wang, surrounded by zombies, tombstones, and jack-o-lanterns strewn across his W L W I C 519-669-8282 CATHY DIAMOND PHARMACIST photo | MARC MIQUEL hELSEN Having recently moved into the former Bristow Inn, Elmira family enters into the spirit of Halloween Arthur Street home. Intrigued by those Halloween experiences as a youngster, five years ago Wang started creating his own – to the pleasure of his neighbours. “Where we lived in Kitchener, kids came from all over the neighbourhood to come see this display,” said Wang’s mom, Jodie. For the past five years, Wang, who on Halloween night enlists the services of his siblings, family and friends, has been converting his yard into an interactive display. With all that practice, this year’s venture – which will include plenty of props, ambient music, animation, fog, floodlights and an interactive haunted house – looks to be the best so far. “It’s something that you try to grow as you go, but also it’s fun trying to make things out of nothing. A lot of the stuff, making it on your own makes it a lot more special,” said Wang, who has spent many hours adding to and improving his annual project. “Too many,” quipped his dad, David, noting that his son has already punched in anywhere from 40 to 50 hours. “As soon as it was October, he was on the go.” This year, Wang will have the added bonus of building his display on a property that, of itself, creates a special ambience. “For Halloween it’ll definitely have that haunted house look to it,” said Jodie, noting that the high, second floor balconies and windows are also part of the stage. “Having that Victorian-style house definitely enhances the mood of it.” Built in 1860, the property on which the home was built first belonged to Edward Bristow, the town’s first settler. The house was built by the following owner and in the 1960s was “chopped up” and converted into a series of small apartments. By 1989, a new owner had gutted the inside of the building and restored its “Victorian-era grandeur” converting it into a bed and breakfast, said Jodie. In 1998, the home was bought by new owners and it continued in the same vein. It wasn’t until last August, when David and Jodie Wang bought the place, that it reassumed its initial role. Having moved into the new home last summer, the Wangs are more than excited about the abode, and not just for Halloween. For a family that includes nine children ages four to 16, the large building offers ample space. It’s also close to the arena, where the kids play hockey and enjoy watching the Sugar Kings. “It’s just perfect; there’s nothing that we need to renovate … there’s nothing to fix,” said Jodie of the cherished Elmira landmark. “We feel in one way the house is ours, but in a way the house isn’t ours – in a way, the house belongs to everyone in Elmira because I do believe it’s the longest standing house. It’s really part of history.” SAMER MIKHAIL PHARMACIST /OWNER OPEN: Monday to Friday 9am-7pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Closed Sundays
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08 November 1, 2008 - ObserverXtra

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