The Haunt-Off on Hollowbrook Drive

Every October, the residents of Hollowbrook Drive (off Coldwater Road) hold their beloved annual Halloween Decorating Contest , a neighborhood tradition older than most of the porch railings. For three years straight, one man (let’s call him Terry “The Terror” Gossman) has taken home the plastic pumpkin trophy with his showstopping displays: animatronic zombies, fog machines, and a sound system that rattles the mums.

 

This year, though, the street seemed ready to dethrone him. By early October, multiple families put up elaborate displays...think synchronized lights, DIY gravestones, even a life-sized Beetlejuice. But Terry stayed quiet. No cobwebs. No pumpkins. Not even a spider. Word spread: “Is Terry finally sitting this one out?”

 

Nope. He was sandbagging.

 

Last weekend, under cover of darkness (and with the help of two nephews home from Purdue), Terry flipped the switch on what he calls “The Battle of Bone Hill.” Picture this: a full-blown Civil War diorama starring skeletal Union and Confederate soldiers locked in eternal battle across his front lawn. Cannons light up with orange LEDs timed to the sound of booming explosions. Smoke machines roll out mist that drifts over the yard. Rifles flash with bursts of synchronized light. One 12-foot skeleton dressed as a general waves a saber toward the porch.

 

The audio track features a dramatic narrator, old-time fife-and-drum music, and the occasional bone-chilling moan for theatrical effect. The whole thing lasts about six minutes and then loops, like a spooky historical reenactment run by a ghostly Ken Burns.

 

Neighbors are torn between admiration and exasperation. “It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on a lawn,” said one Hollowbrook resident, “but also… maybe too incredible?” Another called it “a little much for a Tuesday night.” The HOA president, caught between enthusiasm and anxiety, sent a group email reminding everyone that “open flames and simulated artillery fire must comply with city code.”

 

Meanwhile, Terry’s front yard has turned into a local attraction. Cars crawl by every night to watch the battle unfold. Kids love it, dogs hate it, and one neighbor reportedly called Code Enforcement just to “see if Civil War pyrotechnics fall under seasonal décor.”

 

As of this week, it’s clear that “The Terror” is on track to snag his fourth consecutive victory, though some residents are threatening to boycott the vote unless new rules are introduced...like a “no historical recreations” clause or a spending cap on fog machines.

 

Whether Terry’s creation is an act of neighborhood pride or seasonal domination depends on who you ask. One thing’s certain: the Battle of Bone Hill will go down in Fort Wayne suburban lore as the year Halloween met history class.

 

So what do you think, Summit City?
Is Terry simply celebrating Halloween with unmatched creativity or has his competitive streak turned Hollowbrook Drive into a suburban battlefield? Would you crown him again, or finally call for a ceasefire?