By Don Bowen/Fremont Tribune

The line outside Fremont National Bank's main branch downtown stretched down East Sixth Street to Schweser's Department Store.

By 5:30 p.m. Thursday, children and parents had been going through the Haunted Bank for about half an hour. The roughly 10- to 15-minute walk through the bank's lobby, hallways and offices led people through a cemetery, marionette-like-controlled dancing skeletons, witches, a mad butcher's shop,

Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory, a vampire's lair, a room of mummies, haunted farm scarecrows and an art gallery where the works of art move.

"It's cool," said Stefanie Carnahan, 10, of Fremont. "I liked the witches."

"I like the witches, too," said her 7-year-old sister, Tiffany.

Their mother asked them a quick question.

"Was it scary?"

"A little bit," Stefanie said.

For Drew Pennington, the highlight of the Haunted Bank was a new exhibit.

"I like Frankenstein," the 7-year-old said.

Fremont National Bank marketing director Diane Mallette said the Frankenstein room was the concept of real estate lender Frank Kment, who was hired in August.

"This is his first Haunted Bank," Mallette said. "He decided to start it off in total character as Frankenstein."

But he had help.

She said Erik Borgmeyer played the part of the mad doctor who created the beast.

But the witches and Frankenstein weren't the favorite areas for all children.

"I liked the ghosts when you walk in," said Jordyn Sickels, 10. "They scared me. It's scary. It's fun."

In all 60 people -- including bank employees, spouses and children - helped create and participate in the bank's eighth haunted treat that is part of MainStreet of Fremont's annual Halloween Hysteria.

"This is truly a family event," she said. "It's just so much fun. The employees get so much enjoyment out of it."

This year, she said, more than 1,700 people went through the Haunted Bank, which was the only walk-through activity for families downtown Thursday night but not the only business participating.

Children in costumes walked along Main Street, stopping for candy at more than a dozen businesses, many of them represented by employees in costumes.

"This is fun," said Kelli Gibson of Fremont with her 5-year-old daughter, Taryn, and 2-year-old daughter, Addyson, in tow. "They get candy. It's fun for them, and they get more excited for Halloween next week. It's a good thing."

Michele Siers, who owns J's Steakhouse with her husband, Jay, said Halloween Hysteria is a good event for downtown.

"Seeing all the little kids like this," she said, dressed as an angel as she reached to touch a toddler dressed as a lamb. "They're so cute. It's reliving my childhood."

Vicki Schuler, sales and design consultant at Abe Krasne Home Furnishings, said the event is perfect for children.

"It's something safe to bring children," Schuler said. "It gets people downtown. We may get a lot here for this who don't usually get downtown and see the different shops. It's not a big selling night, but it gets people downtown so they can see what we have to offer. This is just perfect. People are smiling."

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