By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-31 15:47:24 | Updated at 2024-11-06 20:43:42
6 days ago
One resident's Halloween decorations in Wake Forest, North Carolina has raised concerns among some furious locals.
The issue centers on a prop decoration outside a home on North Main Street, depicting a mummy-like figure wrapped in a bag, chained, and hung upside down by its feet from a rope.
After receiving complaints from residents calling the display 'offensive' and 'too extreme for Halloween,' the Town of Wake Forest intervened.
'Whether it's by your neck or your feet, it's still offensive,' one resident said. Others agreed, with one telling WRAL that the display was 'over the top.'
However, the homeowner, Scott Leaver, disagreed - saying that the decoration has been part of his Halloween setup for the past three years, claiming people line up for photos in the yard each fall season.
A resident's Halloween tradition in Wake Forest, North Carolina is raising concerns among some residents, with one home's decoration sparking outrage
The issue centers on a prop decoration outside Scott Leaver's (pictured) home on North Main Street, depicting a mummy-like figure wrapped in a bag, chained, and hung upside down by its feet from a rope
A statement from the town of Wake Forest to CBS 17 read: 'On Monday, Oct. 28, we received complaints about an offensive Halloween decoration suspended from a tree in front of a residence.
'Town staff investigated and determined that the homeowner hung the decoration, not from a tree on his private property, but from a street tree on town property.
'Since the decoration was on public property, Wake Forest staff informed the homeowner he had until 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, to remove the decoration or the town would.
'Whether it's by your neck or your feet, it's still offensive,' one resident said, while another called the decoration 'over the top'
'After initially indicating that he would remove the decoration and relocate it to his property, the homeowner later responded that he was unable to remove the decoration by the 3 p.m. deadline. As a result, town staff removed it and left it on his porch.'
Despite the removal, Leaver re-hung the decoration on a tree within his property boundary, sharing that his inspiration came from an album cover.
'The inspiration came from a band called Sonia Dada,' Leaver told CBS17. 'The cover of their album, 'A Day At The Beach', shows a Houdini competitor thrown off of a bridge into the lake.'
'This is basically a mummy in plastic chains and a painting tarp,' he told WRAL News.
As a resident of Wake Forest's historic district since 2013, Leaver stated he was disappointed by the reaction but planned to continue his annual Halloween display, which attracts thousands of trick-or-treaters.
Despite the town removing the decor, Leaver re-hung the decoration on a tree within his property boundary, sharing that his inspiration came from an album cover
The inspiration for the decoration came from a band called Sonia Dada, as Leaver explained that the cover of their album, 'A Day At The Beach', shows a Houdini competitor thrown off of a bridge into the lake
While the homeowner is still planning to celebrate Halloween, he released a statement to WRAL News, apologizing for the harm his decoration caused.
'As residents of the Wake Forest historic district since 2013, and participating in Halloween every year since then, we were disappointed to learn our decorations offended someone.'
According to the town, the case is closed, with a reminder that residents are asked to keep decorations on private property.
