By Ida Chipman Correspondent
BOURBON — Halloween has always been a big day in Dena Eby Wattenbarger’s life.
After all, it’s her birthday!  And in her case, Halloween is all year long!
Dena, a Bourbon girl, attended Triton High School in the early 70’s.
The funny thing is that she never got into dressing up for the holiday. Dena collects “things.”

    And there are plenty of them.  She started nine years ago with her first piece, a Halloween barn.        
She now has a dozen Dept. 56 Hallmark Ceramic Halloween houses.  “Some make noises, shriek and moan.  Peals of  thunder and bolts of lightning cackle, others just sit there and look spooky,” she said.
Among her prize collections are a candy shop, a windmill, a motel and her favorite, a train depot that sells tickets to a place called Dead End.
Several are displayed in a lighted three-shelf Men-nonite-made oak cabinet.
Husband Larry complained that if she would take up something simple like Groundhog Day there wouldn’t be so much stuff to buy.
And, believe it or not, there is a lot to buy; everything from cookie jars to figurines. Bears are everywhere. Dena has more than 37 dressed-up Boyd’s Bears, plus dozens of Beanie Babies in costumes, noise-makers, and hundreds of  Halloween postcards from all over the world.  
For the kitchen there are salt and pepper shakers, china serving pieces, dessert plates and place mats.
Her 117 postcards are neatly arranged in scrapbooks, making an attractive coffee table display.
“I get them on e-bay,” she said, “and at auctions.”
Larry is an auctioneer with Daryl Ball and Ball Auction Co. and keeps his eyes open for Halloween articles. He also is a Triton Jr. High social studies teacher and Dena works part-time at Subway in Bourbon.
Dena said there are specialty stores full of Hal-loween collectibles and when she sees something new, like most collectors, “ I just have to have it.”
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said, “and I am always on the lookout for novel and unique stuff to add to my stash.
“Happy Halloween ev-erybody!”