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Hauntingly, boo-ti-ful displays

Area residents show off this year’s annual Halloween displays

By JULIE STENGER 10 min read

STEUBENVILLE -- Stevie Montgomery never really bothered to decorate for Halloween. Sure, she would set out a few pumpkins or holiday-themed items in moderation. But never anything extravagant.

Living out on county Road 28, there wasn't many passersby to even take notice. So, she never felt the need to adorn her home with holiday-themed decor.

Then, in 2021, she and her husband, Brandon, moved to Brockton Road. More neighbors. More traffic. More of a reason to make her home welcoming and entertaining. The few pumpkins and handful of decorations were now a thing of the past. Things were about to change ...dramatically.

Montgomery explained how last year she began setting out a few more holiday-themed pieces than in years past. But to see the couple's home today, one would think she has been collecting and carefully preparing for Halloween for decades

It began in May when she received a skeleton as a gift from her husband, for her birthday. She had been talking about wanting a 12-foot skeleton for more than a year, but there was never any in stock. When she finally received what she had been waiting for, she dubbed him, Capt. Jack Marrow. By June, the decorating had begun.

While others were frequenting the swimming pool and having barbecues, Montgomery was in the process of preparing her home for the autumn occasion. Throughout the summer months, her love for the holiday had prompted her to visit and revisit the Home Depot, which, like many businesses, already had their Halloween decorations on the shelves.

The nurse practitioner at WellBe Senior Care even joined a Halloween-themed Facebook group where she was able to get information on decor release dates. She had been wanting to purchase the 12-foot- high animatronic creatures which have become extremely popular this year.

Even though the calendar showed it to be mid-June, it was as if the date resembled that of Black Friday. Only there were no sales and the items were going to be quite costly.

Montgomery woke at 4 a.m., traveled to what was quickly becoming her two new favorite words, Home Depot, and purchased the animatronic creatures, or as her husband refers to them, "action figures." After all, Capt.. Jack Marrow needed some friends, she said.

Although she began the decorating process in June, a lot of the work was done throughout August. She said she and her husband were out in the heat and sweating while putting up their newly-acquired purchases. Something usually not heard of in this area.

Everything displayed in the Montgomery's yard was purchased this year, including a talking witch and scarecrow, and a light-up pumpkin head and skeleton.

Although she would have liked to have waited until the beginning of September to start her decorating, she exclaimed the duo started early in order to have more time to enjoy the finished product.

In regards to her yard, especially the animatronics, Montgomery said, "I think they are just so fun and bring so much happiness to people. And that makes me happy." She added she has a 9-year-old stepson and niece, and they truly enjoy this end result, as well.

"I love that people are stopping and enjoying it as much as me," she continued. "I see about five or six cars stop by and look at it every day. People have stopped and taken pictures, too."

She stated children who live down the street from her ask their mom to drive them past the house so they can look at what could be called the "12-foot theme." The children make sure they get to be driven down the front and the back so they can see it all.

"I just love Halloween. It has always been one of my favorites. I really love the season. When I was little, everything was always decorated for the holiday. And then it faded away," she said.

But the holiday will not be fading away any time soon. Not anymore. Montgomery said she plans to add more decorations next year and every year after that. She will buy additional items a little at a time being as how they can be quite expensive for some of the pieces, especially the animatronics.

So why will she continue to add to her display and keep making it larger and larger with each passing year? It is for the children. It is for the adults. It is simply for the community itself. Because every once in a while, people need to smile. And if she is able to be a contributing factor to the happiness others, she will continue this new tradition which she absolutely loves.

Montgomery plans to give out candy and distribute the treat bags she has made up for trick-or-treaters. She will dress as Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians. She already has one Dalmatian as a pet. The other two dogs in the family are Great Danes. However, this Halloween, they, too, are going to be Dalmatians, as she has already purchased the outfits.

The Montgomery's evening will conclude with a small, block party get-together. Neighbors who have all become good friends will gather with the couple and enjoy each other's company with food, music and laughter.

Montgomery plans to begin taking down her display next weekend. She exclaimed it will probably take at least a week to get everything properly stored and put away. She can then begin to prepare for Christmas.

"I like to enjoy the holidays for as long as possible," she concluded. This is one of the reasons why she begins so early. As is the case for most people, by the time they have all of their decorations up, there isn't much time left to enjoy the celebrated occasion because it is quickly over and society moves on to its next holiday.

"As an adult, unless you have kids, you have to keep trying to get people to smile," she said. "That is my goal. To just have fun and help others to have fun, too."

Weirton resident Sam Krzys is quite familiar with the Halloween holiday.

Krzys, who resides on Bell Boulevard, has been decorating his home for approximately 15 years.

What sets him apart from others and ensures his display is not only creative, but unique, is the fact that he makes approximately 80 percent of his decorations by hand.

His displays are so ingenious and exclusive, they draw in hundreds of people each year.

Krzys explained last year, there were more than 600 visitors who stopped by his home to marvel at the various concepts he has spaced throughout his property.

From an actual coffin, to a man being electrocuted, to chemical guys who glow green, Krzys has to perform maintenance to his displays annually, as many of the pieces are quite old. He enjoys it though.

The Weirton police officer is a father of a 2-year-old, and enjoys the holiday just as much.

His Halloween decorations are not just a display.

They are more of a performance in which to entertain, and includes music, lights, fog and this year, real 5-ft. Flames.

Those hearing about the Bell Boulevard home come from miles to behold the homemade creations.

Krzys lived on Arena Drive prior to moving five years ago. That first year after he and his wife, Melissa, relocated, everyone who wanted to see the latest year's display was disappointed to learn the couple was no longer there. But word of mouth travels fast, and soon, it was back to Halloween as usual.

What's more, as the number of spectators continues to grow every year, according to Krzys.

" I add a little each year," he said. "This year I added three new things but I am running out of room." He laughed when stating he may have to "invade the neighbor's yard" next year.

This year, he will be doing something he has never done before. A QR code box has been added to his fencepost where spectators can make a donation toward the Comfort House Child Advocacy Center. Donations can be made directly to the nonprofit CHANGE Inc. agency, as well.

Why?

He explained there have been multiple times where visitors have wanted to give him money because he invests so much of his time and money on the resources involved in creating the annual displays. However, he will never accept a dime from anyone, because as he explains, he doesn't do this for glory or recognition. It isn't about making a profit. He exclaimed if he wanted to profit from doing displays, he would open a haunted house, which is where he gets some of his display ideas.

Krzys said he simply loves the holiday and being able to witness the enjoyment in others as they watch his light and fog show, is worth more than money.

It is about making others happy.

"This has really evolved into something huge," he said.

Krzys commented he wants to help as much as he can and give back to those in need. Comfort House is his ideal choice because in his line of work, he has spent 10 years dealing with juveniles who have been neglected or abused.

Cheryl Robertson of Toronto absolutely adores Disney. Each year she decorates her home using a Disney theme. This year, she decided on using Mickey Mouse as her inspiration. She explained she purchased two large inflatables for her yard. However, they did not have any Minnie Mouse inflatables. So, Robertson decided to create her own Minnie by making a large bow and adding it onto a Mickey. Problem solved. She now has the famous couple lining each side of her Federal Street walkway.

Robertson explained she is a big-time decorator and loves being able to change up her home's appearance for each holiday and every season.

"I am a big Disney fanatic and most of my holidays are centered around Mickey Mouse," she said.

She stated it takes her approximately two or three days to complete her decorating. Her display this year includes rope lights candy corn inflatables sitting on a bench, LED colored lights and decorative garland around the doorway. Most of her purchases come from At Home in Robinson.

She says she absolutely loves that store and does not walk out of there without purchasing a shopping cart full of items.

"I do it for the kids," she explained. She loves when trick-or-treaters want to stand in front of the inflatable's and have their photo taken. She stated cars will drive past and yell out the window, letting her know her home looks wonderful.

"It is so cool," she said. "I love it."

She said all of the decorating she does to her home is for the sake of others. In knowing they are sharing in an enjoyment that cannot be bought, but rather felt, means a lot.

"It's for the children," she concluded.

Robertson said she begins putting up her themed-decor at the start of October. The day after Halloween, she will take down the candy corn and autumn-colored features and begin setting up her Christmas collection. Perhaps, Disney? She noted she purchased large inflatables depicting a sleigh, along with Santa and his reindeer.

"I've been decorating for a very long time," she concluded. "Every holiday I decorate, and like to change up the theme. I'm just a kid at heart."

But then again, aren't we all? Happy Halloween!

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