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A Hallowed Tradition at Luzerne County Halloweentown House

For almost 50 years, one house in West Pittston has been carrying on the Halloween tradition, preceding Halloweentown by decades.

WEST PITTSTON, Pa. — Although Halloweentown has only been around for a couple of years, for one house on Delaware Avenue, Halloween has been a hallowed tradition. 

"My grandma's been doing it for 46 years, which is a long time, and each year it just gets even better," said Shawna Pugliese from West Pittston. 

“She always loved Halloween. It’s her favorite holiday; she's the queen of Halloween," said Shawn of West Pittston.

But even before the Pugliesis moved in, the house was already a Halloween horror.

"The house, they started building it in 1898, it was finished in 1902. They were building the fourth story, and then they say that one of the workers fell off the roof, and he's still here fixing stuff, that's the rumor," said Shawn.

Because of this rumor, the house became the town's haunt. Elaine Pugliese just decided to decorate it.

"I've been coming here for maybe 12 years already; I definitely think it's an amazing thing. It just brings joy to a lot of people. It's a Halloween spirit," said Mya Calleran of West Pittston.


But since Halloweentown three years ago, the house hasn't been what Elaine hoped.

"She loved to do it just for the kids, to hear them tell a joke, sing a song, but it's getting a little too busy for that right now. I don't know about this whole Halloweentown," said Shawn.

"I mean, it's good and bad for people to come and see everything, but it's just so much people, it gets hard, so crowded," added Shawna.

Although it isn't what Elaine hoped, the tradition she started is now shared by thousands.

“I like the energy. I love that everybody is excited about trick or treating because for years it looked like it was going away, but now it looks like everybody is looking for that small-town trick-or-treat feeling," said Shawn.

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