EAST LONGMEADOW – There might be a chill in the air when tales of horror, ghosts, and the supernatural are presented to audience members by candlelight during a benefit for the historic 19th century Norcross House at 89 Maple St.

Joan Noonan, president of the Norcross House board of directors, told Reminder Publications “New England Ghost Stories by Candlelight” will be presented on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. by professional actor and storyteller J.T. Turner, who previously played Charles Dickens during a reading of A Christmas Carol and Robert Frost, in which he preformed readings of Frost’s works, during past events at the Norcross House.

"He’s a one-man act and he impersonates these individuals,” Noonan explained. “I have watched a very short video on his website ... and I think it’s just going to be incredible. He really gets into [the personas] of these different individuals.” 

She added some of the stories that Turner plans to read include “The Fiddler of Maine,” “John and the Ghost,” “The Devil’s Footprint, and Robert Frost’s “Witch of Co’os.”

Noonan said Turner would act as multiple characters throughout these stories, including switching between character voices to simulate a conversation.

According to the Norcross House, Turner is also a professional lecturer, fight choreographer, circus ringmaster, as well as an acting and public speaking coach.

The board of directors at the Norcross House has applied for a grant from the East Longmeadow Cultural Council, which if approved, would help supplement the cost of bringing Turner to the historic house, she noted. The deadline for applying for the grant is mid-October and the council would award grants early next year.

Noonan said the Norcross House was built in 1880 by the Norcross family, who owned several sandstone quarries in town.

“That house was their summer home,” she explained. “Their primary home is a huge sandstone mansion in Worcester that is currently a rehab hospital – Fairlawn. I did get to see it fairly recently. I didn’t get to go inside, but it’s really quite magnificent with a huge carriage house.”

She added the Norcross House was set for demolition about 13 years ago. The house was previously located near the Walgreens at 54 Center Square.

“The Springfield Day Nursery purchased the house and the property,” Noonan said. “They were going to tear the house down. Some very concerned citizens here in town decided that East Longmeadow needed this house and that can’t just happen. So they saved it and initially they put their own money into the mortgage and eventually the mortgage was paid off with Community Preservation [Act] funds.”

The Norcross House will also host its annual wreath sale on Nov. 19, which would also include a craft fair.