With tens of thousands of dollars still needed for renovations the caretakers of Tickletown in Humphrey, New York will host a series of haunted house fundraising events this October to help with renovation costs. The building, which looks abandoned, seems to leer at passersby as people travel county road 18 between Salamanca and Franklinville or Olean and Ellicottville. Tickletown's location (just off County Rd. 18) and current state make it the perfect site for a public fundraising event.
The up-and-coming community center was built in 1865, according to official documents, and for nearly 100 years it operated as the post office and general store where people would buy convenience items. It also acted as a social spot where old timers gathered around a pot belly stove to swap stories. According to one of the locals, children in the area used to gather and buy candy from the the old man, who would ultimately tickle them and send them giggling home. This is one origin story of the name Tickletown.
Another story from service member and former Humphrey resident, Michael Timme, people would have such good times at the store, when they would walk home they would laugh their way down the road. They were tickled! But ultimately former owner and originator of the contest to Win Tickletown, Lois Hilton, the name was chosen by her from local history of a group that won an election up the road, which tickled them.
Regardless of the origins, people have very different reactions to the name Tickletown. However, one of the stipulations of the contest to win the general-store-tuened-
While some people think the name is cute, others associate it with a gentlemen's club. Still others have said that tickling is torture. But the current caretakes, Joe and Fi, as they are known in the community, are working towards building a safe space where people can have fun, learn, and engage the world at many levels. So, whether you think tickling is innocent or creepy, the name will stick with the building. However, given the current state, if repairs are delayed Tickletown will slowly be reclaimed by nature. That's why the four Fridays and Saturdays in October with the help of volunteers and sponsors Joe and Fi decided to embrace the creepiness of all that tickletown has to offer and run a month long series of haunted houses to build community awareness, establish contacts with local businesses, and bring people to the unique location to scare them into action.
For more information contact tickletown@gmail.com, call 716 362 0142. Or find us online by searching "tickletown" to find out more about the event and/or purchase tickets in advance. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 13.
