GETTING THE GOBLINS READY; HAUNTED HOUSE TO BE HELD AT HERITAGE JUNCTION SITE.

Byline: Mary Schubert Daily News Staff Writer

According to local lore, ghosts inhabit some of the Santa Clarita Valley's oldest buildings, but any spooky incidents this week at Heritage Junction's haunted house fund-raiser will be strictly man-made.

Or will they?

Will Martha, a mysterious woman in blue said to be the phantom matriarch of the Newhall Ranch House, or her young son Timmy make an appearance? Will Rory McGregor, a mustachioed cowpoke who, legend has it, was shot to death in the Castaic range wars, be there in spirit? Or will town namesake Henry Mayo Newhall, original owner of the two-story wood-frame home, be on hand for the Halloween-themed event?

For the $5 admission, organizers from the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society and Friends of William S. Hart Park and Museum aren't promising anything except the scary atmosphere they've created with glow-in-the-dark paints, black lights, dry ice, fake blood and creepy sound effects.

The event, Haunted Trail III, will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the old Saugus train depot and Newhall Ranch House, centerpieces of Heritage Junction next to Hart Park at 24151 N. San Fernando Road. As for Saturday - Halloween - apparently the resident apparitions want the place all to themselves that night.

Bill Crowl, Friends of Hart Park president, said the haunted house's decor was inspired by some of the valley's rich history. ``We've embellished upon the legends,'' he said.

Visitors first will stop at the old wooden train depot. ``That's where they'll get their introduction from a talking skull . . . sitting in a vat of green slime,'' said Crowl, a Valencia resident and retired chemical engineer for Texaco.

The S.O.S. distress signal will be tapping on a telegraph in the train station, where a skeleton is the only crewman on duty as a steam locomotive screeching to a halt blares over the loudspeakers.

After visitors follow the dirt path from the depot to the ranch house, they'll encounter the bony remains of a gap-toothed Placerita Canyon gold panner, with a ``Eureka!'' expression on his, uh, skull over the nuggets in his tin. In an adjoining room, an unfortunate soul with a meat cleaver wedged in his head reclines in an open, cobweb-covered coffin as mourners hold his funeral.

The historical society has been restoring the ranch house for several years, and proceeds from the Halloween event will be split between that group and Friends of Hart Park for their various projects.

The Friends group tends to the hilltop mansion that the silent movie cowboy left to Los Angeles County. Crowl said there seems to be a spirit presence there, too. Hart died in a Los Angeles hospital 50 years ago, but his body was returned to the mansion for his wake, complete with western ballads.

Visitors to the Hart Mansion - not included in this week's Halloween event - sometimes report unexplained phenomena. ``There have been sightings. I've had people tell me they see a woman sitting on the couch,'' Crowl said. ``She has a very commanding attitude, like she's the mistress of the house.'' An elderly park docent who knew Hart speculates the apparition is that of a neighboring rancher from that era, he added.

Haunted Trail III is designed for adults and youngsters 6 and older. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available at the gate. For information, call [phone] or 254-4584.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Volunteer Dick Meier of Friends of Hart Park puts finishing touches on some of the ``residents'' of Heritage Junction's haunted house.

(2--Color) Bill Crowl readies a skeleton for visitors.

(3) The Newhall Ranch House is being decorated for Haunted Trail III.

Myung J. Chun/Daily News