Written by Amber Skinner | 15 October 2009

In 1979, Ruth Weeks of South Harpswell began reading a 12-page Halloween story and 30 years later she is still at it.
It all started when she was working as the librarian at Williams-Cone School in Topsham and had ordered some new books for the library, Weeks said. When one of them, A Haunted House by Jan Pienkowski, turned out to be a pop-up book, she decided to to set it aside for fear its delicate pages would be quickly torn apart by the students. Instead of lending the book, she explained, she began reading it aloud "to every class, every year" each Halloween season.
"The kids just loved (the book)," Weeks said. "It's a silly little thing, but it's unusually well done." In fact, A Haunted House was awarded the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal in 1979, which is given for distinguished illustration in a book for children. In 2005, a deluxe edition was released in honor of its 25th anniversary.
Weeks, who has lived in Harpswell for the past 50 years and summered here before then, retired from the library in 1998. But she has continued the tradition of reading A Haunted House every Halloween "to any children in the area" for the past 11 years, she said.
In the past, Weeks has welcomed upward of 40 children to her home to delight in the spooky paper artwork that makes A Haunted House so special. When she runs into former students, "no matter how old they are, they ask about the book. No one ever asks about the card catalog," Weeks lamented, jokingly.
The 77-year-old is continuing the tradition this Halloween: Saturday, October 31. Weeks plans to be ready to begin reading "as soon as it starts to get dark." She'll read the story to small groups, so that everyone can see the pictures; and she'll read the book as many times as needed so that all her visitors get to hear it.
"Anyone who comes is welcome," she said. Her home is located at 1965 Harpswell Neck Road, South Harpswell. The pumpkin lights will confirm you've arrived at the right house.
"Sometimes even high school kids want to hear (A Haunted House) one more time," Weeks said. "I find that to be a real compliment."