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Every October, a neighborhood of skeletons come out to play along a strip of Sperl Street in West St. Paul. Each day they can be seen doing something new, from setting up Halloween decorations to tailgating.
How it started: Nancy and Richard Michaelsen launched the trend in 2020. Nancy Michaelsen said the skeletons began as a way to fight boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Team effort: Now neighbors on Sperl Street between Arion and Bernard have started setting up skeleton scenes of their own.
- “I think the involvement is awesome,” said Nancy Michaelsen. “We’ve been able to team up to build bigger scenes, like the marathon race across the block.”
Backstory: Each skeleton has its own name and story, but most are just visiting for the season. It started with Timothy in 2020, a Louisianian who angered the wrong people and was cursed to be made of bones. Since then, the family has only expanded.
Favorites: Some of Michaelsen’s favorite scenes include a wrestling match (which one of the skeletons, Darell, still has injuries from) and a skiing adventure.
What’s next: Michaelsen is excited to crack out the winter scenes again once the snow comes.
Oct. 27, 2023 Update: For more skeleton fun, MPR has a story on 12-foot skeletons, including comments from West St. Paul City Council Member Lisa Eng-Sarne about her 12-foot skeleton:
“As I get older, I see other adults not as willing to participate in the magic of Halloween. I love to connect with my neighbors and other people in the community and I think Halloween is just a beautiful example of that, especially where I live.”
Lisa Eng-Sarne
2023 Sperl Skeletons
2022 Sperl Skeletons
2021 Sperl Skeletons
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