Where the idea and prizes came for the biggest giveaway we've EVER had. You'll also see here where the first place that the famous 'Halloween,' movie was envisioned. Plus a view from the spooky night time Centennial Tennis Courts which few ever get to see. All that wrapped around a picture essay on the subjects.

This house sits at 130 Walnut and only a block away from the tennis courts.  The house was built in 1863 and would be described as 'Capenter Gothic.' This also is the house of the only baby-sitter that I ever knew growing up and where mom would take me to be watched  when needed, but most important behind these doors lies the prize box. 
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if you look closely you can see a picture of the ghost in one of these pictures

Virginia, on the left was my babysitter's daughter and my friend dave on the right is a book seller, who I sometimes help with his business, who is seen here holding his book purchase from the house.  I was asked by Virginia and her sister Louise and brother Carl to help with the packing and moving of the this grand old home. It is amazing how much a family can accumulate after living in a house for 60 + years, and a lot of it was kept on the 4th floor.  It was a lot of hard work but considering this was the home of the only babysitter I ever knew or had, and that I had spent much time here between the ages of 1 and 13, well it was the least I could do. 

I would finish my morning tennis instruction and then, less than a block away from where the Centennial Tennis Courts are, sits their once family house, which we were preparing to be sold.  I spent each weekday afternoon for the past month or so, moving and packing 61 years of Chateau Nittienger's belongings.   I found the huge prizes you see in the picture bellow, which the flying monkey was one of many, in a box on the 4th floor.  I instantly thought the kids would get a kick out of these toys of the 60's and 70's, so I asked Virginia if I could have them to give out as prizes.  I told her you loved the first prize we gave out and she was thrilled.

On the search where I discovered these huge prizes, I also learned  a bit of Haddonfield history.  An old HMHS friend of Virginia's showed up to support her friend during this tough time.   This friend was thumbing through our town calendar, see below, and saw this write-up on  Debra Hill, she then explained to me that Mrs. Hill grew up right around the corner from here, at 126 Center St. Here is a picture of that house, actually four pictures of it, arranged below.

With the help of photoshop, with overall inspiration from Andy Warhol, I brought this house out of the shadows community folklore and present it to you here.   I had heard there is actually a friendly ghost who still lives
there.  


                                                                   

                                                                                 

Now remember the friendly ghost I just mentioned, well this is a little tool once given to me by a coach to help remind me of something I needed to work on or be mindful too during match play.  He 'd say something crazy, which wouldn't allow me to forget it and might also get me to loosen up if I got too frustrated.  I tried one the other day, when I told Isabella that I am prone to mistakes.  To remind her and Carolyn that our group lesson was a place where mistakes were a good thing so to speak.  You are now going to get this tool and maybe it'll help you remember to bend your knees going forward.  When you see that ghost in the future, you must bend your knees and hide behind a bush. If the Ghost sees you he'll come back many times in the future to say, "BOO!"  This picture you see below, contains something very important about topspin and how that relates to bending of the knees.  I want parents and kids to read to further understand why it is so important to bending of your knees when striking a tennis ball.