It's Baaa-aack
Haunt on Sean Drive to draw thousands
By Nicholas Petruncio
Journal Reporter

South Abington TWP-

     Halloweens for Matt Burne climaxed typically with a visit to Dr. Bush's haunted house on Noble Road. "He used to have a haunt back in the '70's. Everyone would go trick or treating and then go over his house. I remember as a little child that it was bigger than life", said Burne, now 34 and an adult businessman.
     To say Dr. Bush's tradition left an impression on Burne would be an unfortunate understatement. Dr. Bush, as Burne can only remember him by, provided the inspiration for Burne and about 20 of his friends to host a haunt at Burne's house on Sean Drive. "In his honor, in the mad scientist room, I named my scientist Dr. Bush," Burne said.
     The haunt is free, but is by no means an amatuerish show. Burne's friends are professional actors, carpenters, electricians and contractors. Construction and planning of the sets and props in his house take months. "It's probably more of a vice than a holiday. I probably take it way too far, but you know what, the way I look at it, somebody has to," Burne said.
     "He's a fanatic," said Burne's girlfriend, Stephanie Roverts. "He loves it. He's got fliers all over town, Scranton, Dunmore, Greenridge."
     Burne's prized illusion this year is a machine that appears to change a person into someone or something else. Like any good illusionist, Burne does not want to give away the secret of how the machine, called the Transformatron, works. "It is a Disney-quality, state of the art prop that allows us to do amazing transformations," he said. The machine was built in three months, one month of actual construction and the rest went into planning and research.
     Last year between 1500 and 1800 visitors came to Burne's house which is steeped in legend Burne conjured while surfing the internet. he learned of a real woman named Mary Beemer, who lived in the Abingtons and died in the early 19th century. That's where the truth of the tale stops and story tellling in the Halloween spirit begins. It is said that Beemer rode into the woods on horeback one night and only her horse returned. It is surmised that Beemer crossed the path of an old witch, who cursed her to haunt the woods forever. Beemer also haunts the land where her home once stood. That's where Burne's house stands.
     "I'm a big kid at heart, and everyone can be a kid on Halloween. I'm an eccentric person, and Halloween gives people the chance to see new and different things." In Burne's house some of those things in addition to his Transformatron include a bottomless pit, a witch's cauldron and an electric chair. At each station in his house, visitors receive candy.
     He estimates he will go through thousands of dollars worth of candy. Also there will be hot dogs and other refreshments for people waiting in line. Both the candy and food will be donated, but Burne pays for all of the displays himself. "I probably spend more than I should, but everyone has a vice, and this is mine." Burne says he and his friends do this for the kids because they want Halloween to be as special for the kids as it was for them.
     Also, the 20- and 30-somethings have no children of their own yet, so it gives them a chance to interact with children from the neighborhood and surrounding area.
      Burne would like to thank his friends for helping with his haunt, and "most of all I'd like to thank my neighbors for being very patient and supportive, and its such a great neighborhood to do this in, and I couldn't do it without their support and understanding for my, what would you call it, my obsession," Burne said. Burne's obsession begins at dusk on Halloweeen night with the ride of the Headless Horseman. "X's" on the map indicate good veiwing locations. After dark, The Haunt on Sean Drive will begin.