Supposedly, Essexville lies on the coast of Massachusetts between Boston and Salem. In reality, there is no town with that name in the state, although there is an Essex, which is located eleven miles northeast of Salem and does not meet the ocean.
The town clock shows that it is 12 o'clock noon, or "the witching hour", creating a nice touch of added spookiness when Jaime arrives at the haunted mansion. Also, the camera uses a diffusing-light filter, creating an eerie "etherial glow" for the footage of the haunted mansion events.
The attacking log has a long snout-like leading end and two protruding eye-humps; it is intended to look like a dangerous swamp/river reptile, either an alligator or crocodile.