A variety of frights, lights and sights

Phi Kap annual Haunted House raises money for charity

By Kyle Webster

Posted on Oct. 30, 2003, at 12:00 a.m.

For the eighth year in a row, the brothers of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity are making every effort possible to scare the hell out of the University of Maine and surrounding communities. Their annual haunted house, which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, is scheduled to be held tomorrow from 7 p.m. untill 11 p.m.

The tour of the house begins at the front door and winds through the attic, into the basement and eventually ends up outside. Patrons will be brought through various scenes, including a graveyard, past a variety of strobe and black lights, and past a plethora of other frightening objects.

“We really want to scare people,” said Ryan Lane, the fraternities philanthropy chair.

One aspect of the house’s history the brothers capitalize on is a ghost story surrounding a death that occurred during the construction of the house. Joe Goss, a brother, died in 1901 and it is rumored that he was buried under the front door.

He is said to roam the halls of the house and a tombstone for him appears in the graveyard.

Most of the decorations and props were donated by local businesses, according Lane. Spencer’s Gifts, K-Mart, Toys R Us and several other businesses chipped in to assist in making the event a success.

B 97.1 FM do doing a live remote broadcast, as it has in the past.

All proceeds will go to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which is Phi Kap’s national philanthropy.

Last year the fraternity raised roughly $2,200 – the most they’ve raised to date. Their goal this year is to beat that number.

“Our goal each year is to do better than we did the year before,” Lane said.

Admission to the house is $3 per person.

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