The spell-binding work that goes into Milwaukee's A&J's Halloween House
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee-area is home to many exceptional 'home haunts,' elaborate Halloween displays set out on homeowners' lawns for the community to enjoy. The most famous has got to be A&J's Halloween House at 2943 S. Clement Avenue in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood.
This year, owners Andy Reid and Jamie Beauchamp-Reid gave CBS 58 Morning News anchor Mike Curkov an exclusive, inside look at how it all comes together.
In early September, CBS 58 cameras join Andy and Jamie in their garage, in an alley off Idaho Street.
"Just some pieces to finish off the outside." said Andy, cutting some trim for part of a train car.
"Putting the basecoat down on this prop piece." Jamie said as he paints a large, house-shaped object. "It will mimic mortar from stone or brick."
Our video shows the different props and building pieces in different stages inside the garage. At the time, there was a little less than a month left before their target completion date of October 1st.
A couple weeks later, we join the duo again, now with another helper as they hoist a train car into place. And then the magic of A&J's Halloween House begins to apparate across the three lawns it fills with amazing details.
With one last swish, flick, and maybe a 'wingardium leviosa.' It's ready.
Harry Potter.
"This is definitely the biggest one we've ever done," Andy said on October 5th, the Monday after their first weekend. "And I keep saying this is the biggest one we'll ever do."
As it always happens, they say, families start showing up. Right before dinner. Right after dinner. And all evening long.
There's so much to see.
"The pumpkins..."
"We think it's awesome."
"And the dragons..."
"The cart with the luggage going through the wall."
"We live very close by. We walk by every day and watch them build it."
"It took a long time. It was basically a second job." said Andy.
Because before the Grand Hall of Hogwart's or Diagon Alley or Platform 9 3/4 comes to life, it starts with a tape measure and some graph paper.
"Every year we start out with measuring the yard." Andy said. "So that I knew what sizes to build all the different props.
Andy and Jamie showed us the initial drawings for their ideas. A lot of it matching very closely with the final product.
"Alright, so this is a little bit closer up of the grand hall. Hanging candles, all the typical stuff, the sorting hat will be in this scene as well." described Andy.
For the last ten years or so, A&J's Halloween House has been a fundraiser for Pathfinders in Milwaukee. To date, they've raised more than six figures for at-risk youth in the area. That's part of their 'why.'
"It goes back to when I was growing up," Andy said. "My mom was always really good about decorating for the holidays and she always made it special for all of us.
"I just like the reaction from the public." Jamie said. "It's always good interaction. It's positive for the community. And everybody looks forward to it."
The decorations are free for you to see anytime through October. But we kept a couple of things out of the video to be a surprise, not the least of which is the theatrical lighting once it gets dark. Lights go on each night at about 5:00 PM and turn off between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM.