by Robert Gillis
Published in the Foxboro Reporter 10/2003


For ten years I have been proud to count myself among the membership of the Foxboro Jaycees, and for the eleventh year I am taking part in our haunted house. To say I’m obsessed is a bit of an understatement; I started the graphics for the web site in February, it’s all I’ve thought about for the last month, and even my mother says I’m “weirder than usual” this time of year.

The Foxboro Jaycees Haunted House is Foxboro's ORIGINAL Haunted House. We are a live-action 25-minute show with more than 50 actors, ghosts and ghouls. A most professional all-volunteer show in our 15th year in 2003. All Volunteer. All proceeds go back to the community. 100% of our profits directly benefit the community. We WILL scare you, make you laugh, and give you a great show, but... our haunt is VERY scary and intense, and not recommended for kids under 10.

Now, on to your questions. Yes, you in the front row there.

Q. Who are you?

A. We’re the Foxboro Jaycees. Don’t you read history?

Q. Why do the Jaycees have a haunted house every October?

A. Our Haunted House is our largest fund-raiser of the year. As a not-for-profit community service organization, the Jaycees must raise the money necessary to fund all our projects. By visiting the Jaycee Haunted House, you help us make possible our multitude of community services, as well as scholarships, donations, and far more.

Q. Projects? Like what?

A. Well, the Haunted House, as well as our Founder’s Day concession/glow stick sales, Christmas tree sales, and so on, funds everything we do for the community such as the Serve food co-op, free summer concerts on the common, Senior Appreciation Day, National Family Night Out, sand for seniors, CYO basketball clinic, New Year's first baby awards, Easter egg hunt, pancake breakfast to benefit Foxboro Youth Basketball, Founders Day activities, blood drives, teddy bear delivery to traumatized children, moving senior citizens in need of assistance, mothers / fathers day activities, as well as Christmas activities such as tree sales, Santa on the common, and refurbishing and setting up the nativity set, as well as nearly 100 other community development, individual development and membership projects.

Q. Is the Jaycee Haunted House Scary?

A. It is very scary, hence the designation, “HAUNTED” house. It’s also a lot of fun. It is definitely too intense for kids under 10.

Q. The haunted house sounds like a lot of work.

A. That’s more of an observation rather than a question, but yes, it’s a huge endeavor involving over two months work. It all starts with the chairmen; this year we are fortunate to have David Fisler and Paul Lanza, two long-time Jaycees who have been closely involved in all aspects of most of our previous haunted houses. They and their committee coordinate every aspect of our haunted house: finances and budget, writing a script, supervising construction, obtaining the proper permits, finding and purchasing needed construction supplies and props, makeup, cleaning, painting, publicity, graphics, web design, manpower, concessions, landscaping, plumbing, electrical, ticket sales, and about a zillion other logistic concerns. Each committee member is responsible for a specific area of our haunt, and several of these areas (for example, publicity) require sub-committees to get all the work done!

Q. I see you guys at the camp in August. Do you really have to start so early?

A. Yes! We clean. We landscape. We have committee meetings. We began planning the scares for each cabin and walk by. We begin sawing. Hammering. Raking. Wiring. Cleaning. Painting. Refurbishing. We spend the summer creating our illusions. The script is written. Costumes are assembled and purchased. Concessions are readied. Speakers are wired. The atomic pile is recharged. Entire cabins are restructured. Hundreds of gallons of paint and dozens of panels of sheet rock, and countless stacks of lumber are used in construction. We dig out our props and begin incorporating them into our sets. We hide the bodies where they will never be found. We make new props. The electrical wiring needs are implemented. We rehearse. We advertise. We consume a lot of potato chips and soda... Must… sleep… now

Q. You’ve been doing this how long?

A. The Jaycees Haunted House started in October 1989, the same month as the meteor shower over Smallville, Kansas.

Q. Do use strobe lights in your haunt?

A. Yes -- beware that we use strobe lights and fog machines in our Haunt. Our research has proven that only 1 in 9 people will go insane and burst into flames when exposed to these lights, so the odds are in your favor!

Q. What's the Jaycee's phone number?

A. The number is (508) 543-0712.

Q. How much is parking?

A. Our parking is free. Isn't that nice of us? We thought it was really nice of us.

Q. Do the Jaycees have a web site?

A. Indeed! www.foxborojaycees.org

Q. Anything else?

A. Yeah. I’ve guided and helped out for many years and now I’m constructing a room. But my contributions are nothing compared to the amazing talents who have chaired our haunted house over the years. Over the years we have had many exciting themes and applaud these talented individuals who made the supreme sacrifice and acted in the Herculean capacity of chairman of the Haunted House: 1989 - Allen and Washburn; 1990 - Chris Ianello (Foxboro) and John Myers (Mansfield); 1991 - Tami Comeau (Foxboro) and John Myers (Mansfield); 1992 - Tom Sawran; 1993 - Dave Brown - Old England; 1994 - Mark Emery - Haunted Hollywood; 1995 - Beth Maddestra - The Haunted Mansion; 1996 - Joe Catalano - The Haunted Museum; 1997 - Pete Sorrow - The Haunted University; 1998 - Pauline Brown - The Haunted Village; 1999 - Lynda Walsh - Camp Fright ; 2000 - Fred Badger - Frontier Fright; 2001 - Tom Whiffen - Haunted Time Travel; 2002 - Derek House & Kathy Brady - Nightmares on Oak Street; 2003 - David Fisler and Paul Lanza

Q. Hey, you didn’t mention what this year’s theme is!

A. That’s right! You need to come see us to find out.

Q. Well, I have to go buy tickets to the Jaycee haunt. Anything else before I go?

A. One more thing. I’ve said it many times but it bears repeating: My first encounter with the Jaycees 10 years ago was at the Haunted House – a decade later, I am proud to be counted among the membership of an organization that continues to do so much for Foxboro. Come see the Foxboro Jaycees haunted house this month. You won’t spend a lot of money and you’ll benefit your community, and the organization that daily exemplifies its creed that, “…service to humanity is the best work of life”