By HaLeigh Abbott
Contributing Writer

When a fall chill takes the air and the leaves begin to change, the Middletown Historical Society will have a fun and educational way to embrace spooky-season. For the first time this year, the Mourning, Mischief and Mayhem Scavenger Hunt will be available for those seeking a new spin on walking tours. The family-friendly tour can be completed at the user’s pace, though a cash prize will be available for the first team to complete the hunt.

The idea for the scavenger hunt originated in a survey of Middletown residents who wished to see more interactive and exciting ways to learn about the town’s history. While walking tours are available through the historical society year-round, the program volunteers developed the scavenger hunt to appeal to guests looking for more. An interactive app that can be used on smartphones will guide users from point to point in Middletown and surrounding areas, prompting different challenges at each location. Participants can expect to search for the oldest cemetery in town, or take pictures in front of The Everett Theatre. This first stage in Middletown opened in 1863, and was originally known as the “Town Hall and Opera House.” It thrived as a performing arts and cultural center until falling in a fire in 1918 and again after reopening in 1922. The Everett was also featured in the movie “Dead Poet’s Society” in 1989, along with the nearby St. Andrew’s School. Ghost stories from The Everett abound, so be sure to check those selfies for any unplanned photo-bombers!

The historical timespan for the scavenger hunt covers the mid-victorian era through the 1950s. Traditional Halloween decorations from Berkman’s Store will be displayed, which are only usually seen during the annual Main Street Trick-or-Treat program. Berkman's Store opened in 1896 by Joseph Berkman, who immigrated to Middletown from Poland and met his wife Anna Waronker. Joseph Berkman Variety Department Store opened southeast of the intersection of Broad and Main streets. Local advertisements for Berkman’s store could be seen all over town, including on the Everett Theatre’s big screen. The Berkman family, including their two sons, were integral parts of Middletown's community, and they were involved with the Rotary Club and the Volunteer Hose Company.

Participants will also learn of the mourning rituals during the Victorian Era, including superstitious customs such as draping bombazine fabric (a thick, wool fabric that reduces reflection) over household mirrors, preventing the deceased’s soul from getting trapped in the mirror. Other theories behind this custom include reducing distraction for mourners by focusing on the deceased, rather than their own reflection, or preventing evil spirits that attach themselves to reflections after a death.

Abby Harting from the Middletown Historical Society explained that the goal of the scavenger hunt is to teach the history of Middletown rather than scare participants. “We have so much in common with people who lived 200 years ago and we all have the same needs—food, shelter, employment,” she said. “We’re really not that different and it’s important to remember our history.” 

While downtown storefronts have changed and customs have evolved, revisiting the rich, long history of Middletown links the present with the past. Incorporated in 1861, Middletown was originally a tavern-stop town for travelers moving through the old cart road extending across the peninsula between Appoquinimink Creek in Odessa and Bohemia Landing on the eastern branch of the Bohemia River in Maryland—thus, the name “Middletown.” Among the oldest buildings in town is the Middletown Academy, erected in 1826. This was the former town hall on North Broad Street. It now houses the Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce and the Middletown Historical Society.

The Middletown Mourning, Mischief, and Mayhem Tour will be available in late October for a small fee, which benefits the Middletown Historical Society. Keep up to date with news by following the social media accounts on FaceBook (Middletown Historical Society) and Instagram (@middletowndehistory), or visit their website at https://www.middletowndehistory.com.