Harriett Sawyer 1823 1.1

Nestled in the remote landscape of Nowhere, Maine, lies one of the oldest summer camps for girls, steeped in history and local lore. Before its transformation into a camp, this site was home to a family farm, which included a graveyard. Campers have the opportunity to walk to this graveyard and pay their respects to Harriett Sawyer, a figure shrouded in mystery and history. Her grave, distinguished by a unique porcelain photograph affixed to the headstone, stands as a poignant tribute that suggests she was deeply cherished by her family, whose grief warranted such a remarkable marker.

Local legend narrates that Harriett harbored an irrational fear of rabbits. To this day, it is a tradition among campers to chant “Bunny, bunny, bunny, bunny, bunny, bunny, rabbit” as they pass the graveyard, an effort to ensure Harriett’s spirit does not follow them back to camp. This playful ritual has made Harriett an unofficial camp ghost, further solidified by both her eerie gravestone and her untimely death.

In 1971, the Blue Team penned a haunting song titled “Born in 1823” in Harriett’s honor. The song gained notoriety when Mr. Mike recorded it during Song Meet with a cassette tape recorder. A peculiar audio distortion occurred at the line “...or hear her eerie helpless cry…,” resulting in a high-pitched squeal that was not present during the live performance. This anomaly astonished all recipients of the tape that winter, reinforcing the belief that Harriett's presence lingered even during their intended tribute.

The chilling recording has now been incorporated into my latest game, “Harriett Sawyer 1823.” Alongside it are various Halloween-themed songs and spooky soundscapes that enhance the gameplay experience based on players' moods.

Special thanks are extended to Mark Harvey, Mitchell Vaillant, Rain Station, as well as the Blue and Gray Girls for their contributions to this project. May everyone have a happy Halloween!

The gameplay is straightforward: maneuver a skull to evade ghosts. If chased by ghosts, clicking the Jack O’ Lantern at the bottom of the screen grants the player five seconds to hunt them down. Harriett appreciates your visit to her grave and looks forward to welcoming you back for a longer stay.