Again Merry Meet, Dark Greetings, Welcome!
I thought I would take a moment to properly introduce myself to you. I am known as Dr. Amon Dradorius, but my name that I was born with is Bobby Gammons. I call my witch tradition Halloween Witchcraft.
Being a solitary witch/wizard in the mountains of Virginia way back in the late sixties/early seventies with access to very few books on witchcraft, most of which were either written as fairy tales or else very negatively(being polite)I had to rely on my instincts for most of what I know .
Halloween was the one time when I could feel "comfortable", not having to "hide" my thoughts on witches or the occult at this time. Halloween was the one time when discussions of witches with others seemed somewhat accepted in my area. I had always felt that I was a witch as early as when I was six years old, I did not dedicate myself as a witch until I was 13 years old in 1974, on Halloween Night. My father worked in a texttile mill and had brought home some old brooms. I took the brooms, made a circle out of them, erected a crude altar and under the light of the moon I dedicated myself and life to being a witch, which to me somehow meant finding knowledge about true witches and all that pertained to it. I also had/have a fascination with the old classic monsters of the movies, which were also played at Halloween time, so at that time I also vowed to learn, preserve and protect the artifacts that I had already begun to collect.
Today I have been good to my vow and dedication, I have been collecting monsters and Halloween since I was six years old back in 1967, our home is a mix of Munsters, Addams Family and a Witches Cottage.
In my quest for knowledge I have discovered or come to the conclusion that Halloween, like America, is a mix or melting cauldron for many and diverse cultures and traditions. Witchcraft also is a melting cauldron for many magickal cultures throughout the ages. So it only seemed quite "nautural" or should I say "supernatural" that the two be as one.
IN 1988 two momentous things happened in my life, one was the birth of my daughter, Kathleen, the other was the opening of our home Gargoyle Manor to the public as a Museum and Gift Shoppe. Later down the road and many personal and business changes My new wife Melissa and I handfasted on Halloween night 2003. Our new store now called Gothic Charms-the Magick Store was transferred from the house and into a new building just outside the house/museum showcasing our fine brands of magickal candles , books, and other spell supplies as well as unique and new Halloween products that can be bought either from the store or online. We do tours of our home by appointments as well as host birthday parties and special events. Our Home/Museum is exactly that , we live a very Halloween lifestyle all year long. We are not a fun house, or spook show as well we are not the type of museum where things are put behind glass in just one part of the building. Our museum is a working, integral part of my families lives in each and every room . That is the big difference between our museum and others , it "is" our "home" and we are "The Gammonster Family"
