Chimes announce Circleville Pumpkin Show start

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Just after dawn broke, and even as the crowd on the city streets was already staking out spots to watch the giant-pumpkin weigh-in, 80-year-old Don Metzler climbed the Pickaway County Courthouse steps alone, a special key tucked in his pocket. He rode the public elevator up two flights and then boarded a second one, this one smaller and more rickety. To get it to take him where he needed to go, he used his secret key.