Every Day is Halloween

There is one Halloween night that I would like to relive forever. For more about that night, check out the “New Jersey Jesus” story.

American cinema, television and culture has begun a new fascination with eternity. This could be in response to the societal shift away from classical civic virtue, and towards progressive modernism. Sexuality, lust, and envy are sins born from mankind.

Weather they want to admit it to themselves or not, the people that have embraced this collective fall from grace have started to get older, and as their own mortality becomes more apparent, the question of forever can no longer be ignored.

Books, film and television sometimes depict horrible scenarios. Most of the time, something like that has actually happened, and truth is often stranger than fiction.

I cannot verify either way on this story, but it is plausible. No concrete connection to the Jersey Devil.

In the 1960’s in Mount Holly, New Jersey, there was small electrical supply company called Dunes Company. Their biggest customer was Public Service Electric and Gas Company, which ran the power grid throughout the middle of the state. Dunes Company was structured like most bulk companies. There was a sales office in the center of town, with a warehouse in an adjacent building.

There were 7 individuals who worked in the sales building; the owner James Dunes, his secretary, the office accountant, two male salesman, and two female salesman.

The manager for the warehouse was a guy named Ken. Ken was the main go-between for the sales office and warehouse.

Jim Dunes began diversifying his business practices. Steel and textiles were a fruitful commodity. Jim spent less and less time in the office. When the cat’s away, the mice will play.

Because of the Dunes name and the company’s meticulous accountant, Dunes Company ran efficiently, but the employees started to descended into devious activities. The salesmen began partying and using drugs during work hours. The employees became marred with scandals as mild fraternization between the male and female employees turned into full-blown infidelities. Ken the warehouse manager was always treated well by Mr. Dunes, but the salesmen and secretary were awful to him. He would be blamed for everything and berated whenever any problems came up.

Mr. Dunes decided to have a Halloween party. He had been busy with other ventures and wanted to show some appreciation for his first successful company. They started the party in the afternoon on October 31, 1969. Mr. Dunes came dressed as Abraham Lincoln, the male salesmen came dressed as a police officer and a fighter pilot and the accountant dressed as Julius Caesar. Mr. Dunes' secretary came dressed as a fairy, one saleswoman dressed as a nurse, the other dressed as Cleopatra.

Mr. Dunes was blissfully unaware of the office’s antics and was getting ready to thank everyone for putting in such a great effort with their costumes. He saw Ken walk in the office in his usual work uniform. He had put on devil horns. Mr. Dunes greeted Ken, not knowing that he was carrying a revolver behind his back.

Before anyone could say anything, Ken shot Mr. Dunes' secretary in the head with the revolver. The office screamed and began to panic. One male salesman tried to disarm Ken and was met with a knife through his jugular. Ken then immediately shot the other salesman, then both saleswomen.

Mr. Dunes stood there in disbelief not knowing what was happening. Lastly, Ken walked into the accountant’s office and shot him in the head.

Mr. Dune stood at his desk as Ken emerged from the office.

Ken walked up to Mr. Dunes, and handed him an envelope. He loaded one bullet into the empty revolver. He looked Mr. Dunes in the eye, and shot himself in the head.

The envelope contained evidence of all the wrong-doings of the workers in his office. The accountant was apparently importing drugs as a side business. Many of the employees stole from the company.

There was a note from Ken asking for forgiveness for his killings and suicide. He exclaimed he felt compelled to rid the earth of the wickedness that had taken over the Dunes Company office.

Mr. Dunes quietly sold off the company and vacated the office. The Warehouse was torn down, but the building that the office was in was named a landmark.

Have you ever seen one of those stores or restaurants that is always changing owners? Always becoming a something new? The Dunes Company office went through 34 new companies, all of who spent less than a year. According to employees and occupants, they had seen the ghosts of the office workers on numerous occasions. They would see ghosts dressed as a police officer and military man dancing with the ghost of a nurse and a woman dressed as Cleopatra. People that would walk into the old accountants' office, often saw a person sitting with his head down on the desk. The person would disappear when you entered the room. Almost every company complained of a “rogue maintenance-man with horns” who would wonder the hallways of the building.

Apparently the poor souls have been doomed to re-live their judgment day for eternity.

Here’s to tomorrow!