The culprit has remained unidentified for years, yet every fall the unknown prankster strikes again. On the morning of Weds., Oct. 27, the exhibitionist displayed their work for all to see. Yes, folks, the pumpkins are back.
Every year, the clock tower at Rounds Hall is crowned with two pumpkins. They’re certainly small and discrete enough to pass by unnoticed, but at first glimpse they’re sure to stir up a nostalgic sense of enchantment. For some, the pumpkins are a simple and congenial Plymouth tradition, while for others the pumpkins serve as a Halloween blessing. It’s safe to say that nothing quite embellishes the spirit of late autumn and Halloween for PSU students in the same fashion as the legendary pumpkins.
A temptation to catch the midnight pumpkineer is shared by all who spot the gourds year after year. There’s always been a considerable deal of speculation as to who is to be credited with this reoccurring act of audacity. Some attribute the Outdoor Club while others maintain that it is the work of a quiet Plymouth resident. Still others cling to the notion of the culprit remaining unidentified. The novelty is in the mystery itself.
The tradition was suspended previously due to construction on Rounds Hall; work crews and heavy machinery littered Rounds instead. Some of the magic was lost when the building was bare as the rest of the Halloween festivities carried on.
But fear not, for as of Weds. morning, the ritual has proven itself to be time and construction withstanding. For students, alumni, and faculty alike, there is comfort in the assurance that the tradition shall endure, perhaps long after their time at Plymouth has been spent.