Hammond Castle

Old Salem's October tourists
Keep missing out. Why? Those purists
Seek only Salem's staid witchlore and
Thankfully, never look next door.

Witches are frightening, I suppose.
But after seeing Gloucester, one knows
Autumn has scares galore to sample
Unlike Salem. An example:

Hammond Castle's haunted house
Every weekend draws the crowds.
Salem? Humbug! The locals know
Hammond's the better place to go.

The medieval atmosphere
Says doom to ye who enter here.
A swimming pool, salty and dank
Holds a floating body turning rank.

Salem's costume palaver pales
Besides Hammond's keening wails.
Visitors think Salem's spooky;
We know it's contrived and kooky.

A gauntleted hand's sudden reach
Induces panic and you screech.
An ancient knight's vengeful ghost
Is abandoning his post.

Fresh horrors lurk. In every room
Are Gruesome figures, but no broom,
Or cape, or hat, or magic wand.
You're not a tourist; they've been conned.

Eccentric Hammond, protege
Of Edison, in his day,
Built this castle, this museum,
To fulfill his living dream.

Salem's famous; Hammond unknown.
We museum patrons stand alone,
And obscure; still we remember
Especially post-September.