Marshall Rolls Out the Red Carpet for #HouseWithAClock

Kalea Hall writes in the Battle Creek Enquirer (Sept. 21) about the festivities taking place at the 146-year-old Cronin Mansion in Marshall:

The doors at 407 N. Madison St. opened up Friday evening for guests to experience the magic of the house that inspired John Bellairs' book, "The House With a Clock in Its Walls." Clocks filled the house for Friday's red carpet gala event to celebrate the movie premiere of Bellairs' book this weekend.

The former Cronin house is believed to be the house at 100 High St. in John Bellairs’ Lewis Barnavelt book series. It's the house where an evil warlock has hidden a clock that could bring on the end of the world. Ten-year-old orphan Lewis Barnavelt (played by Owen Vaccaro), his warlock Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) and Jonathan's nice witch neighbor Mrs. Zimmermann (Cate Blanchett) must find the clock and stop it.

The house was the center of attention at the Friday night event with 260 guests. Mrs. Zimmermann, dressed in purple as she always is, awaited guests as they walked up the red carpet and had their pictures taken.

Lucy and Martin Overhiser, Marshall locals, came dressed to the nines for the real red carpet experience. Martin wore his tuxedo and Lucy wore a formal white and black dress. “We love the story and love all the Bellairs' stories and we love the fact that he brought Marshall alive through his stories,” Martin said. After getting their picture taken, the Overhisers were able to tour the house before heading to the backyard for a party filled with clocks and magic.

In attendance at Friday night's event was a real star in the movie. Ten-year-old Alex Mathis — the honorary grandson of Priscilla Bellairs, John Bellairs' former wife — was an extra in the movie. Alex went to the movie set and Jack Black, he says, suggested he be in the movie. "People tend to listen to Jack Black," Alex said. He appears at the end of the movie right before the credits.