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Young master of the macabre hones his craft in Hometown

A night visit to Oxford Manor in haunted Hometown will put chills up your spine.

You’ll encounter motion-activated ghouls that move and speak.

Some emit misty fog. And look out! Others seem to follow you.

Their eyes light up and they stare.

Maybe they want to do the Monster Mash.

One dares you to give him a hug. But best to stay away.

The amazing display at 8 Oxford St. is the genius of Michael Wink, a 23-year-old master of the macabre.

Wink, a Turkey Hill employee, grew up fascinated by the mystique of All Hallow’s Eve.

“I used to have Halloween parties years ago,” he says.

Wink began decorating the family’s front yard on a smaller scale about a decade ago.

“But this is my third year of this magnitude,” he says.

Wink has amassed a collection of more than 55 exotic, animatronic characters that help to define his taste and imagination.

That’s too many for the yard. So he carefully selects which ones to showcase.

One ghoul in particular, Clowning Around, is very rare.

“Only 700 were made,” Wink says.

He was lucky to locate one and buy it at a deal.

One section of the yard is devoted to a creepy clown and jester theme.

“Some people are scared of clowns,” Wink says.

Another section highlights freaky, blood-tingling circus characters.

A third is devoted to a traditional but spooky pumpkin experience.

With support from parents Arthur and Christine, along with companion Kaylee Schmoyer of Palmerton, the end result is a presentation drawing October visitors from near and far.

And while the project takes many weeks of planning and execution, Wink says the look of awe from spectators makes it all worthwhile.

“I do it for the people, their enjoyment, to get their reactions,” he says.

This year, Schmoyer helped with lighting effects. She admires Wink for his dedication.

“I’ve never met anyone with such an obsession,” Schmoyer says. “I think this is so cool.”

Visitors rave about the eerie atmosphere, enhanced by a 40-watt fog machine.

“I felt that in my soul when I stood there. So lifelike, after a few minutes I had to walk away,” says Ann Dee Morris, Tamaqua.

“So awesome and a lot of work! It is a must see,” says Sue Bittner, Rush Township.

Wink even learned how to service and fix the characters. That’s important since many are mechanical.

“I developed a trade. There was one guy who had some and thought they were junk. He was going to throw them out.”

Wink advises such folks to contact him at oxfordmanor2023@gmail.com.

The display is visible daily from 5-9 p.m. and will remain up until the first week in November.

All are welcome to see it … if you dare.

Michael Wink completes setting up the final animatronic character in time for opening night of Oxford Manor at 8 Oxford St. in Hometown.
Oxford Manor in Hometown attracts visitors from far and wide every October.
Pumpkins come to life at Oxford Manor in Hometown, a creation by resident Michael Wink, 23. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Some folks are afraid of clowns and jesters, a fact capitalized on to make Oxford Manor especially chilling.
Ghoulish characters amid effects of a fog machine create a frightening aura at Hometown’s Oxford Manor.
The dramatic display at 8 Oxford St. in Hometown will be featured until the first week in November. DONALD R. SERFASS/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
The Carnie of Souls at Hometown’s Oxford Manor pays tribute to the rich but eerie heritage of circus and carnival sideshows.