This is my first Halloween party, and I really want people to get excited about coming, but I need help with the story to make it come together.

I live in an old, small house. I thought of the idea of hanging old 19th-century child portraits and family photos all along my walls. The yellowing black and white photos and non-smiling children can be pretty creepy. The house will be “abandoned” and supposedly haunted because of the family that died while living there a hundred years ago. It’s stone on the outside so I’m putting up stonewall coverings on the inside. I’m covering the furniture with old sheets and there will be many spider webs and brass candles. One of my rooms is going to be the “potion room” where the father of the 19th century family was a scientist (I’m going to have a “potions” contest).

How can I create a story for this family that is haunting the house? I need to be able to write it eloquently for my invitations. Thank you for any input!