For decades, and perhaps for centuries before Europeans came to the new world, residents of the Dutch Hill area of Altoona, PA have told stories of the disappearances of people and sightings of strange creatures every October. In recent years most of these occurrences have been centered around the 1800 block of First Avenue. Below is a poem written by a former resident of First Avenue in Altoona. We've left it anonymous to protect the privacy of this person.

"Tut, tut - tsk, tsk, don' mind the chill. 
    "Tis morsels of autumn sprinklin' the air, sweet'uns. Not cruelty, or molderin'bones. 
Just bits o'sweets, an'wonder, for you. 
    "Tut, tut - tsk, tsk, climb rickety stairs. Have some, won'you? B'en long since I've had sweet'uns ta visit."

 
    Turn, run. 

    But doughy Turkish Delights call. Jem hesitantly steps up with a crossways glance at her brother, named for a long since dead Uncle, Zeke. Salty, October-kissed tears sting his cheek. 
    Zeke - 
        goes - 
            too. 
    "Tut tut - tsk, tsk, t'ain't nothin' t'fret. Jus'warm cookies, made o'bitters, almonds, maple... an'blood." 
    Weathered steps groan. Jem! Zeke! STOP! They leave safe sidewalk toward scents of cookies, rotting leaves -- and reassuring hag smiles. 
    Jem! Zeke! Look away! The gargoyles... are they... moving? 
    Last step before - Run Home Now! - feasting. 
    Zeke imagines his Uncle and Mother, long ago children at a house where a vacant lot should be. His Uncle did something to... 

    Save HER! 

    Zeke shoves Jem hard and reaches for the plate of cookies, fingers, eyeballs, squirming wretched things. 
    She hits the sidewalk. Whump! 
    An empty lot again, 
            and Mother's running, crying, wrenching her hair. 
    Tut, tut - tsk, tsk. 
            Somewhere Zeke stuffs his mouth to stifle a scream." 

What exactly is this person talking about? Could this have been a description of a real event in the writer's life life? Could there really be a house that appears every Halloween in this area that lures victims and tries to keep them there? What about the rash of disappearances that have occurred and are documented through the years in the history of Altoona? Could they all really be connected to this mystery house that some call the Nightmare? We're not sure either, but maybe if you visit us you'll find your own answers to ...

For more information on this poem please follow this link.

And ... anyone who joins our mailing list will receive in their email the full backstory of the Nightmare in Nottingham Manor. Yep, a complete short story for free. OK - maybe not by a professional writer, but cool just the same.

"It Waits in Darkness" by Anonymous.