One night as my friends and I walked home from a movie theater I saw a house. It was a huge yellow house that I thought was the most wonderful thing. We were talking about the houses on the street and I was pointing this one out. My two friends didn't care for it but I was so flipped over it. I told my girlfriend I was going to write a story about that house. She liked to write too so for the next few weeks we got together and we both would work on our own stories. She knew I was writing about this house and I would read some of it to her and she would encourage me to continue.
Then one day things changed. Our group of friends were buzzing about "some house". I was like which house? What color was it? Not the old house?
I asked one of the guys to show me the newspaper article. I was shocked and very creeped out. There was my house ! The one I was writing about, the one I loved. It had been destroyed and it was a mess. I had to see it because everyone said it was going to be destroyed. I made my girlfriend come with me and we stayed across the street. I was to scared to go closer to it.
Well that old house was destroyed. New townhouses replaced it, since the property was very large.
My story went into a pile of stuff to save with the newspaper clipping. I was to scared to ever think about finishing it. I felt like I couldn't.
I recently found the eight pages with my 16 year old scribbles and the newspaper clipping. I thought someone would get a kick out of this story. I've retyped the article from the paper and I used the digi camera to take a picture of the house in the clipping, since the scanner wasn't working. Here they are with my story first. I'm sorry it just drops off but that is were I ended when I saw what happened.
Let me know what you think.
Mr. Reeds was an unusual old man in his late fifties. He lived in creepy old house on Elm Street. He had a large fence running along his property. There was weeds and dead bushes on his front lawn. The old house needed a new coat of paint or two. Mr. Reeds retired to loneliness after the death of his wife Abigail. Yes, good old Abby, she was the one who kept the house in shape before she became ill. It's said that she died right in that house next to her husband. It's also said that Mr. Reeds himself buried his wife in the backyard. But ill this living day no one is sure of the truth.
Well, there Mr. Reeds lived in his old house, alone. Never leaving it at all. He ordered all his food to be delivered. The children who lived in that area said the house was haunted, even with poor Mr. Reeds living in it.
Seven years past and Mr. Reeds died. On May 6th 1958 Mr. Reeds went to his room, knowing it would end soon. "My Darling Abigail you never left our house and now together we never will part from it." With his last words George died. The city officials were called after the market had not received a call from Mr. Reeds. The city officers went to the house not knowing what to find. When they reached the Master bedroom they finally saw him. Mr. Reeds was on the floor, holding his wife's dress as he lay chained to a dresser which was built in the wall. The house was bordered up and given to a Real Estate salesman. The salesman was glad to get such a beautiful house. He knew he would sell it. It only needed a new coat of paint. Little did the salesman know was that he wouldn't sell it to a couple until twenty years later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Linda and Michael Hayes were a cute couple both with jet black hair and brown hushpuppy eyes. They could pass for brother and sister. They had been married nearly a month and wanted a house of their own. Michael loved Linda's mother but, he couldn't take her twenty-four hours a day. So here they sat in Bob Jordan's office looking at pictures of houses. "Well, do you see anything you like?" asked Bob. Michael looked to Linda and asked "Bob how much is this one?" Bob looked over, "Let me take a look at that one."
Linda replied, "Michael, I want this house."
Michael stared at the house, it needed a lot of work but it was beautiful. Bob Jordan took the picture and glared at them. "Oh you mean the old house on Elm. Price is right, very low. No one has lived in it for twenty years."
"Michael please let's go see it please" urged Linda. Michael nodded and asked "Bob when can we see it?" "Right now if you want. Come on let's go, I'll drive you over there" as Bob reached for his keys.
As the car pulled up in front of the house Linda thought to herself that the house was really worse looking then in the picture. They got out of the car and looked at each other. They followed Bob Jordan to the gate which he unlocked. They walked up to the porch. Bob unlocked the front door and let them in. The house was filled with dust and the little furniture that was there was covered with plastic sheets. Bob showed them the whole house. In all there was seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, a living room, dining room kitchen, a study, a library, music room and the basement which wasn't in any sort of good condition. As they left the house Michael spoke first "I have to admit it really is a beauty."
"Oh Michael, Does that mean we're going to buy it?" Linda smiled. "Of Course!" he said as he gives her a small hug. "Well, then Mr. Jordan back to your offices to sign all the papers."
~~~~~
As Linda packed their clothes her mother came to the room. "Oh Linda I'm so glad you finally found a house for yourselves. But, goodness child what are you going to do with seven bedrooms"? "Oh Mom I didn't even think of that. I figured We'll have a few kids and the rest will be guest rooms." "Yes, dear, of course."
After living in the house for a month and putting a hell of a lot of work into it. Linda thought it looked pretty fancy and wanted all her friends to see it.
"Michael let's give a party so our friends can see our house." "When darling"? he asked. "Well, maybe a Friday night or how about a make a weekend sleepover out of it. oh please Michael we have the room."
"Linda that sounds a bit to much. But it also sounds fun. Alright."
"Michael you make me so happy. Now who should we invite?" He smiled "Why don't you invite the old gang. It'll be a blast!" "Great, I'm going to start right away"
It was Thursday night already. Everyone invited had accepted the invitation. They were to come tomorrow right after work. Just in time for dinner. Michael's car had just pulled up. Linda had been worried sick since he was late getting home. He came through the door in a joyful mood, "Darling I'm home."
"Michael where have you been?" She asked him.
"I went to city hall to check out the story on this house. I figured we can tell our guests all about the house." He told her. "What did you find out about it?"
"Well, the house was built in the late 1920's by a Mr. George Reeds, he was one of nine children. He built the house for his wife Abigail Reeds, her maiden name was Winestein. They had no children. I found out she died in the house next to him in bed. The birth register said she was born a twin. She and her sister Adeline were born to a Mr. & Mr.s Harry Winestein. It was written that Mrs. Winestein ran off with another man and took Adeline with her and left Abigail with Harry. Mr. Reeds also died in the house. He had chained himself to the dresser in their bedroom. He was holding his wife's dress when he was found. Abigail always kept the house in perfect condition. They had two dogs, three cats and five birds. They also owned the local pet shop. They both loved animals dearly. Adeline Beck, maiden name Winestein visited the Reeds only once. Just before Abigail had died, She never said good-bye to anyone and she just disappeared." He finished reading from the paper he was holding.
"Wow Michael that's fantastic. I can't wait to tell them that story. Come on let's get to bed we have a long day ahead of us."
Friday was finally here. They had invited five couples for the weekend. Marie and Anthony Manada, a cute couple who have been married for a year. Marie has blonde hair and sky blue eyes, and Anthony is total opposite. He has black hair and dark brown eyes.
Ellen and Paul Harper, both had brown eyes and light brown hair. They were the oldest of the group and have been married a little over two years.
Anne Rivers and Frank Bernardo the most successful couple out of them all. Anne is a tall strawberry blonde model who has had her picture on almost every magazine. Frank is a vice president of a bank. They are engaged to be married in the next couple of months.
Pat and Seth Barnes both with auburn hair and brown eyes. Seth is an insurance salesman and Pat is his secretary. They have been married for ten months. They are the only one's out of all the couple's who have children. Actually Pat is still pregnant. She's in her fifth month.
Joan and Joey Lindley are the youngest of all of them. They have been married for only two months. It was five o'clock and Michael wasn't home yet. Linda was checking all the bedrooms making sure everything was perfect. For some reason Linda decided to check the extra bedroom. It was locked. That was weird It wasn't locked last night.
Dismayed New Dorp residents are puzzled about why a once beautiful house in the area was vandalized
last week. The home, at 178 Ross Ave., was described as among the most attractive in the neighborhood. But last week it became an eyesore.
The shutters on the house were nailed down and crosses, the number 13 and words "Keep Out" were painted on the outside walls. In addition, the porch was ripped apart, a swimming pool was destroyed and window frames, doors and a water heater were thrown on the lawn.
"One day the house was really nice,and the next it was a mess," said one neighbor, who asked not to be identified. "Why? That's what we are trying to figure out." Her chagrin was echoed by other neighbors, some of whom were indignant about seeing the house destroyed. Seeing what has happened is "like watching someone take a beautiful oil painting and ripping it before your eyes," said another neighbor, who also requested anonymity.
Neighbors say a man named John Sciortino is living in the house. Sciortino moved to the house some time ago to take care of two elderly women, neighbors said. One of the women died about four years ago, and the other, identified as Dorothy Van Vlack, died in April of 1981, according to neighbors. The occupant, who lives behind an eight-foot iron fence, refused to talk with reporters.
