Victoria Mansion kicks off Halloween season in Portland with ‘Bizarre Bazaar’
PORTLAND, Maine — On a crisp October afternoon, the Victoria Mansion threw open its doors not for ghosts, but for ghouls, fortunes, and forgotten Victorians customs.
The historic house, a National Historic Landmark dating to the mid-1800s, hosted "A Bizarre Victorian Bazaar: An Exhibition of Oddities and the Obscure" on Saturday, drawing curious visitors eager to step into a lesser-known corner of Victorian culture — one steeped in mysticism, mourning, and morbid fascination.
While the mansion itself is not considered haunted, according to Stacia Hanscom, the site’s director of education and public programs, the event leaned fully into the Halloween season's spirit of exploration.
“It’s about looking at the oddities and the things we think are strange today, but that the Victorians believed in and tried,” Hanscom said. “They were experimenting.”
The grounds buzzed with activity throughout the day. A costumed juggler wandered the lawn, demonstrating tricks with spinning pins, while visitors queued under a canopy tent for tarot readings and palmistry. Inside, a mummy was displayed for viewing, echoing the macabre curiosities that once captivated Victorian audiences.
Bunny Rose, a tarot card reader from Gorham, sat at her station shuffling decks and interpreting symbols for visitors. She explained that the Victorian era saw a surge in interest in spiritualism, partly driven by loss during the Civil War and a broader cultural shift toward reconciling faith with scientific discovery.
“The Victorians used tarot and other forms of divination to explore these big questions,” Rose said. “It was both personal and philosophical for them.”
Nearby, Kaye McDevitt of Scarborough showcased her personal collection of Victorian-era jewelry — intricate pieces often incorporating hair from loved ones. “I love to imagine who might have worn it,” she said, holding up a delicate locket. Her collection, which began 45 years ago after a trip to London, offered a tangible link to a time when mourning customs shaped everyday adornment.
Anatole Brown, representing the Dyer Library and Saco Museum, curated a “cabinet of curiosities” filled with keys, miniature mirrors, shells, tiny shoes, and other small treasures. Among the displays were more somber items — including a corvid skull, which Brown noted carried strong associations with occult practices.
“That kind of thing definitely played into Victorian beliefs,” he said. “Death wasn’t hidden away like it is today.”
For Andrew Harris of Harrison, participating in the bazaar meant stepping into multiple roles. Best known locally for portraying Charles Dickens, Harris spent the afternoon folding paper “fire lighters,” instructing guests in juggling, and reading aloud from Penny Dreadfuls — sensational serial stories popular among working-class Britons. As he brought a passage to life from the perspective of a recently buried man, his voice shifted dramatically, drawing a crowd.
“Since many Victorians were illiterate, people would read these stories out loud on the street for pennies,” Harris explained. “If he was a good reader, he could make a living at it.”
Not all the offerings leaned into darkness. Sullivan House Bakery provided Victorian-inspired treats, including a classic Victoria sponge cake, while costume historian Anna Halloran gave presentations on period fashion.
Nancy Noble of Portland, fresh from an oracle card reading, said the experience left her feeling optimistic. Retired just four months prior, she was navigating a major life transition and appreciated the gentle guidance the cards offered.
“I liked that it wasn’t like, ‘here’s a death card,’” she laughed. “Just good things ahead.”
Events like the Victorian Bazaar serve not only as seasonal entertainment but also as educational glimpses into how past generations grappled with mortality, mystery, and meaning. Whether through séances, séances, or simple storytelling, the day reminded attendees that beneath the corsets and top hats lay people not so different from ourselves — searching for answers in whatever way they could.
