Haunted Palouse helps support community

PALOUSE, Wash. – When the small town of Palouse in southeastern Washington hosted its first Haunted Palouse in October 2002, the event drew about 500 people and raised a little more than $3,000.

“We thought 500 was awesome,” Haunted Palouse organizer Annie Pillers said. “We thought we had hit the jackpot.”

Since 2002, the event has only grown. Last year about 3,400 people visited Palouse over four nights, raising more than $30,000. In its seven years, Haunted Palouse has raised a total of approximately $121,700.

“When we first started, we had (stretches of) 45 minutes with no one here,” Pillers said. “Now, you can hardly take a potty break.”

This is the eighth year for Haunted Palouse, and the event will run Oct. 23, 24, 30 and 31 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $15.

The event began as a way to save the Roy M. Chatters Newspaper and Printing Museum on Main Street.

When Palouse flooded in 1996, there was damage to a lot of the buildings, but especially to the museum because of its wooden floors, Pillers said. The floors fell apart, forcing the museum to close.

Several years later, members of the town were trying to brainstorm fundraising ideas so the museum could re-open. Two town-newcomers went to a Chamber of Commerce meeting and suggested a haunted house.

“We didn’t know we couldn’t do it, so we did it,” Pillers said.

The museum, which now hosts one of the events’ haunted houses, is usually closed on the last Saturday of September, and then building begins, Pillers said. The museum was designed around the haunted house because a lot of the equipment is too big to move. Depending on the calendar year, there are at least two weekends to build, and the event lasts four or five nights.

“It takes a lot of man power,” Pillers said. “Easily 50 people in a night, probably more.”

As the event grew over the years, so did its number of beneficiaries. The Palouse Arts Council became involved soon after the council formed in 2004, and it now runs a second haunted house.

Some of the money raised is helping to fund the construction of a new community center and to buy playground equipment for Palouse City Hayton Green Park. The Chamber of Commerce is the official sponsor of the event and also receives a portion of the proceeds.

A new participant, the Palouse Lions Club, will be involved for the first time this year as well. The club will run a new event at Haunted Palouse – a Haunted Hay Ride.

“No one ever comes and says we need some money,” Pillers said. “They come and say, ‘we’re willing to work really hard. Can we be a beneficiary?’ It’s real community spirit.”

The Arts Council became involved as a way to raise money to operate the old Palouse Grange Hall. Most of its portion of Haunted Palouse proceeds is used for maintenance and improvements to the building and also for some events, said Kaye McGehee, Arts Council co-chairwoman for Haunted Palouse.

“Almost everyone in town comes together and contributes something to (Haunted Palouse),” she said.

As the event sponsor, the Chamber of Commerce promotes and is responsible for most of the Haunted Palouse’s planning, said Mike Milano, Palouse city councilman and chamber member.

“The city is involved to support that in any way we can,” he said.

The city makes sure there are an adequate number of police officers on duty, provides space for some of the events, and also provides for other needs like extra garbage cans, Pillers said.

Janet Barstow, treasurer of the chamber and also the museum, said she thinks the event helps put Palouse on the map.

“We talk to the guests while they wait in line,” she said. “It’s surprising how many say they didn’t even realize there is actually a town called Palouse.”

Barstow said the event will continue as long as people are willing to come.

“We would not do this if it wasn’t fun,” Pillers said. “It’s a hoot. We have a blast. We love it.”


Sources:
Annie Pillers (in person interview) – (509) 595-1129
Kaye McGehee – (509) 878-1980
Mike Milano – (509) 595-0664
Janet Barstow – (509) 878-1742

Outline:

Lede – People and money
History of Haunted Palouse (how started)
How the event works
Who benefits from Haunted Palouse and how (where money goes)
The role of the Chamber
Why the town does it