There's nothing scary about Frankenstein, Mo.

FRANKENSTEIN, Mo. -- For a town named so ominously and timely for mid-October, the scene is rather bucolic and not the least bit scary: leaves of bright orange and red flutter in the sunlight along a winding road leading to this small German Catholic community.

Just past the town marker on the right, a church tower rises from behind the trees. Neat rows of older homes come into view along the half-mile highway to Frankenstein, a speck of a town 20 miles east of Jefferson City.

Even with Halloween just around the corner, decorations are sparse, save for a lonely Frankenstein monster windsock snapping in the breeze.

The pastoral scene bears almost no resemblance to Mary Shelley's 1818 Gothic horror tale about Frankenstein's monster, let alone Hollywood's retellings.

It's little wonder, then, that aside from politely answering questions from curious visitors, most of the 40 or so residents of Frankenstein don't give much thought to the town's name.

"There aren't any monsters here," said Helen Keilholz, who has lived all of her 71 years in Frankenstein. "A lot of people are curious about the town. I tell them that this community sticks together and stays together. It's one big family."

Source of name unclear

According to the United States Geological Survey, only two locations in the United States share a name with Frankenstein's beast: here, and Frankenstein Cliff in north-central New Hampshire.

Stories differ about how the town got its name. A priest is said to have named the site in the late 19th century, but the inspiration remains unclear.

Our Lady of Help Church dominates the town which has no store, gas station or post office. Shopping? Drive your car eight miles east to Linn.

Students at St. Mary's Catholic School said living in a city named after a famous monster isn't bad, but it really doesn't make Halloween more special than any other holiday.

"This is just like a normal town. It's just when you go somewhere else, people don't know it is," said 12-year-old Brian Stiefermann. And Tina Rothove, 14, said many trick-or-treaters come to Frankenstein simply to get in the spirit.

"I think more people come down here because of the Frankenstein thing because they associate it with Halloween," Rothove said.

Principal Marsha Stegeman said she's accustomed to the looks she gets from people when she proudly identifies her hometown.

"When I tell people that I teach in Frankenstein, I do get some odd looks from people because they associate it with the monster but it's definitely from our German heritage," she said.

So, no mad scientists reanimating body parts from the dead? No enraged posse, carrying torches to find and burn the beast?

Townspeople aren't budging: "Usually, around here," says Stegeman, "it's pretty calm."

The most excitement in recent years came in 1999, when skydivers dressed as Frankenstein jumped into the local ballpark as part of a promotion for the re-release of the movie "Young Frankenstein."

Wilma Glavin, 77, laughs when she's asked what people might think when they drive into Frankenstein.

"We're not monsters," she said. "We're rather sociable."

Well, there's always Frank-enstein Cliff in New Hampshire.