It was a unique trunk-or-treat setup at Penn Forest’s Halloween event Sunday at the park. Rich Melhuish had purchased a hearse in 1971 and has been decorating it for the past 25 years.

In the back is a casket that has a stereo built into it.

Melhuish has a banner from the band Tartan Terrors, which is hung in the back while he plays their bagpipe music and displays plenty of skeletons.

It was at a Tartan Terrors show at Mauch Chunk Opera House that Melhuish proposed to his wife, Susie Wilson, in 2019.

Melhuish, dressed as an undertaker said, “I’ve been adding to the hearse display every year.”

Park Committee member Tammy Meckes explained: “The turnout was poor two years ago. We didn’t hold the event last year. The community told us they were missing it so we brought it back and added prizes of gift cards from local businesses for the best decorated cars.

“We like to do things as a township and give back to the community. Everything the park committee does is free, which is especially helpful in this economy.”

“The Witch is In” was the theme of Dawn Wolf’s decorated car.

Wolf recently moved to the area and this is her first Halloween here, enjoying it with her sons, 11-year-old Destin and 14-year-old Dakota. Destin said he chose his pumpkin head costume because “it’s from the game Fortnite. I’m really good at it. I love to play with my friends and I love pumpkins.”

Kaysha Mazur wore a cowgirl costume with a cowboy hat and cow print rodeo gear. Along with Cory Meckes, their truck was full of hay and skeletons dressed in flannels. They had used it along with a tractor for the Jim Thorpe parade, and said it took about two hours to put together.

Kids had fun decorating pumpkins as well as enjoying all of the candy. The Penn Forest Fire Company No. 1 manned the snack stand, offering hot dogs and drinks.

Everyone got in on the fun as Park Committee chair Holly Rivera was dressed as Tigger and committee member Shannon Meckes dressed as Pooh. Hot chocolate, hot cider and candy were given out by the committee. There was plenty of candy, costumes and camaraderie.