The corn maze at Connors Farm in Danvers, Mass.

It’s Halloween time and the Quincy area has plenty to offer.  There are several haunted houses open if you are looking for a good fright.  Those looking for something more family friendly would probably feel comfortable visiting a corn maze.  It can be fun for everyone to weave through the stalks of corn and find a way to freedom. Corn mazes can be a good way to make great fall memories with the family.  For one Danvers, Mass., family a corn maze has given them a memory they would rather forget.

 

Connor’s Farm in Danvers, Mass  became the site of a police rescue mission.  The farm, which features a sprawling corn maze in the shape of the headless horsemen, was swarmed with squad cars and a k-9 unit in order to rescue a family of four.  MSNBC reports the story of a family who entered the maze, became lost, then moved to the next logical conclusion which is call 911 for help.

 

MSNBC transcribes the call:

Woman: “Hi, I just called. I’m still stuck at Connors Farms. I don’t see anybody. I am really scared. It’s really dark and we’ve got a 3-week-old baby with us.”

O'Donnell

Dispatcher: “Just relax. Calm down. Your husband is with you right?”

Woman: “Yes, but my baby?”

Dispatcher: “OK. I understand and the police officer is on the way.”

Woman: “We thought this would be fun. Instead it’s a nightmare. I don’t know what made us do this. It was daytime when we came in. And I never take my daughter out. This is the first time. Never again.”

 

The overreacting family was eventually rescued and brought to “safety.”  MSNBC also conducted an interview with the owner of the farm who said the maze generally takes about an hour to get through and they let people work through at their own pace and not rush anyone through.  The story which has garnered national attention led the farm owner to say “I have a funny feeling it’s going to be a busy season.”

 

The family’s rescue from the maze seems to have been a fairly easy procedure.  No helicopters or SWAT teams were called in from what I understand. Once on the scene, the police located the family in about a minute. The nervous family had only been 25 feet away from the exit.  I understand the family’s concern a bit because of the 3-week-old baby but one has to ask; who brings a baby that young to a corn maze anyway?  What was the other option, taking it to the ball-pit at McDonalds?  If the family had picked the ball-pit at least it would have given the authorities an opportunity to follow up on another big case. The “Hamburgler” is still at large and as of publishing time of this blog he has yet to be apprehended.

 

Do not let the experience of this Massachusetts family deter you from attending any of the fine corn mazes we have in the area. Getting lost is part of the fun. With a bit of constructive thought you and your family and friends will make it through. Calling the police while lost in a corn maze is a completely unnecessary reaction. The boys in blue need to be available to handle other Halloween related problems. There will be plenty of pumpkin smashers that need their attention so take a deep breath and find your way through those corn stalks.

 

— Jordan O’Donnell