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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2002)
Happy haunting An incomplete church now used for storage is haunted by‘strange fungoid beings’ Arwen Ungar Freelance Reporter “Remember,” Bill Smee said in a barely audible whisper. “Injury to the body is not always the worst that can happen.” Smee, who has worked on cam pus for many years, is making his way through an old, abandoned church. Rumor has it the old church, located at 1745 E. 17th Ave.,is haunted. “See that orange stuff, oozing out of the boarded-up window on the second floor?” Smee asks con spiratorially. “H.P. Lovecraft often refers to ‘strange fungoid beings’ in his writings and ‘corrupted churches’ as well,” Smee said, pointing to the orange fungus. Construction on the church be gan in the 1920s and was allegedly halted due to the Depression. The bell tower was never finished, and a section of the second floor re mains inaccessible. But, Smee says the congregation had enough mon ey to build a completely different church in another part of Eugene. Then, why was construction halt ed? Smee believes it was because spirits haunted the church. University housing acquired the church 25 years after it was aban doned and now uses for storage, al though spirits may still lurk within. “The west side of the church is very worn,” Smee says pointing to the chipping paint falling from the wall of the church “To the Egyptians, the west is the direction of death.” “Notice how it’s colder inside than out?” he asks, referring to an icy breeze that chills the air and bones as one ventures into the house. “The difference is even more pronounced in the summer. It’s called otherworldly presences.” Smee warns that the second floor is a “center of activity,” and is mosdy shunned. The floor is in a state of de Danielle Hickey Emerald The unfinished bell tower is said to be where most of the haunting activity takes place within this abandoned church. To this day the tower is inaccessible. cay and creaks with every step. Trash is piled high and the floor is spotted with bum marks. Birds flutter frantically some where overhead. “Hear that? Sometimes what we think are mere birds are really psychopomps — entities that conduct the souls of the newly de ceased to the afterlife,” Smee says. He nervously adds it is not good to expose oneself to such in fluences for too long. The haunted church doesn’t scare everyone in the neighbor hood, however. “Looks like an old building to me, it could use a new paint job though,” said Ben Strawn, who fre quents the building next door. Paul Laurei, who has lived in the neighborhood for three years, says he has had supernatural experi ences, although he doubts that any of them are because of the church that frightfully faces his home. The question remains — is the old church really haunted by spir its or just in need of renovations? Arwen Ungar is a freelance writer for the Emerald. rer: m Jeremy Forrest Emerald A vampire-like creature hides in the corn waiting to scare unsuspecting people. The maze is a hit for all ages. Corn continued from page 3B to get out.” Lone Pine Farms is located at 91909 River Road outside of June tion City. The maze is open and haunted every night from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. today through Thursday. The cost is $8 for adults and $6 for children. People can also visit the maze from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Thursday, when it’s not teeming with gremlins and goblins, and it costs $6 for adults and $4 for children. For more information, call Lone Pine Farms at 688-4389. Chelsea Duncan is a freelance writer for the Emerald. “I know what you wore last Halloween.” Nothing’s scarier than being monotonous. Just don’t think... imagine outside the box. Goodwill is costume ready. Better ingredients. Better Pizza valid The TIME you call is the PRICE you pay for a LARGE 1 TOPPING PIZZA l (i.e. Call at 6:15 and pay lust j $6.15 for your pizza)! | Mondays and Tuesdays only between 6:00 & 8:59. i Expires 12/17/02. Additional toppings extra. Available on Original or Thin crust. $1 charge on delivered orders. Sorry NO pre-orders for this special. No coupon necessary. and University Commons mm 746-PAPA (7272) 1 The Mammoth Pizza Deal I LARGE 1-Topping Pizza II order of chicken strips I & 2 liter of Coca-Cola I I only... Expires 12/17/02 Coupon required. Available in Original or Thin Crust. Not valid with any other offer or special. Limited delivery iteas. $1 charge on delivered orders. Scorpio: What are you doing this weekend? Check your PULS0
