Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
MARBLEHEAD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — One house in Marblehead always goes all out for Halloween, but the decorations are far from the usual skeletons and jack-o'-lanterns.
This year, Tom Saltsman has turned his garage into a giant hermit crab.
“I feel like I am in a movie, it’s amazing. He does a great job,” said Paula, a local resident that always comes to see what’s Saltsman’s created.
Saltsman, an architect, has been making show-stopping creations each Halloween for more than a decade. Sitting inside his garage are pieces from years past, including eyes from a giant gorilla, a snake head and a prow of a pirate ship.
This year, a 12-foot tall seashell envelops his garage, with crab claws peeking out, all surrounded by barnacles. That’s not all — the crab also moves.
“I really wanted to bring this one to life,” Saltsman said. “It comes out of its shell, it has many moving features of its face, the claws open and close and it’s motorized on one hand but it’s also a puppet.”
Saltsman’s creations have made him, or more likely his house, somewhat of a local celebrity.
“It’s kind of like a hallmark, I think, for the community,” said Saltsman’s neighbor Melissa Clucas.
The projects appear to be quite an undertaking, but Saltsman said he’s in it for the love of it.
“It’s a fun exploration of craft and ideas and bringing those ideas to life, and I’m lucky that I can be able to do that,” Saltsman said.
WBZ’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.