THOMASVILLE — Prepare for thrills, chills, horror stories and tea as Lapham-Patterson House presents its annual Halloween events “Edgar Allan Poe: Victorian Master of the Macabre” and “Haunted Tea.”

“This is our 20th year for the Poe program,” curator Cheryl Walters said. “We always read works by Poe off the floating dining room balcony the Saturday before Halloween. It’s one of our most popular programs”

People generally associate Poe with horror stories, Walters said, but he was so much more than that.

“He invented literary criticism in the magazine format — he wrote reviews of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s books — and is also considered the inventor of the detective story,” she said.

Poe’s personal life is also fascinating to people because “he led a turbulent life that is evident in his work and died in poverty,” Walters said.

“What went on in his mind is anybody’s guess. He was the first writer of popular fiction in what we call the horror genre. I think he would be interested to find his stories are so popular, since he only sold one article in his lifetime. His commercial success was the publication of his poem, ‘The Raven,’ and for generations he was known as a poet instead of an author of short stories.”

Walters said the Lapham-Patterson House is the perfect venue for a Poe event. It will be decorated in cobwebs, headstones and other Halloween-centric items.

“Come sit in the cobwebbed dark and hear some of the most thrilling and scary stories ever written,” she said.

Connie Wood, treasurer of the house’s friends group, said the Poe event is also perfect for Halloween.

“Some people come in costumes, which is fun, and people can enjoy a different slice of life, an evening with Victorian flair,” she said. “There will be refreshments in keeping with the theme and, hopefully, it will be cool enough for hot cider.”

Many people are repeat guests, including Sue White, who has attended for several years.

“I think it is a wonderful event and enjoy it every year,” she said. “Different people read, and there are different readings of Poe’s works. It’s something fun and very different.”

On the following Monday, the historic site will host its “Haunted Tea” for the second year.

“When people think of haunted houses, they tend to connect Victorian homes with supernatural events,” Walters said. “The Addams Family house, the hotel in ‘Psycho’ and the Munsters’ house were all Victorians. I wish I had a nickel for every time I’ve been asked if the Lapham-Patterson House is haunted. I’ve been here 20 years and I keep an open mind. I tell people, ‘If you see them, they are there; if you don’t, they are not.’ We invite people to come and see for themselves.”

Decorations for the Poe event will remain up for the tea. The event can hold up to 20 people.

Guests will sip tea in a dining room surrounded by “interesting and bizarre tea time items,” Walters said.

“We’ll have ghost stories, tales of old Halloweens and, of course, the museum will be open for a tour.”

Wood said reservations should be made prior to the tea and the event keeps with Victorian tradition.

“Victorians loved to have parties with themes,” she said. “This is right up their alley!”



IF YOU GO

WHAT: “Edgar Allan Poe: Victorian Master of the Macabre”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 25

WHERE: Lapham-Patterson House, 626 N. Dawson St.

ADMISSION: $8 for adults, $5 for children

INFO: 225-4004



WHAT: Haunted Tea

WHEN: 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27

ADMISSION: $20 per person

RESERVATIONS: Required; Call 225-4004