Wes Craven Worked in Potsdam, New York

Did you know Wes Craven not only worked in Potsdam, but used a home in upstate New York as the inspiration for his infamous film 'A Nightmare on Elm Street?'

Craven was a humanities professor at Clarkson University in Potsdam, where his students created a film, 'Pandora's Expermentia' in 1968, spoofing horror movies. The scenes were filmed at 18 Elm Street where strange occurrences were taking place in their fraternity's house. Although the home wasn't featured in the infamous film, it was the house that started the 'Nightmare' movies. To honor his inspiration, the town in the movie was named Madstop; Potsdam spelled backwards.

Our sympathies to the family of Wes Craven, former Clarkson prof who shot one of his 1st films on Potsdam's Elm St. pic.twitter.com/VQef1vNkLp
— Clarkson University (@ClarksonUniv) August 31, 2015

Before becoming a frat house, the home was a funeral parlor. It was put up for sale in 2010 and despite trying to save the house, it was torn down in November of that same year.

Craven went on to direct a number of successful films including 'The People Under the Stairs,' 'The Hills Have Eyes,' 'Twilight Zone' for television and 'Scream,' that he even appeared in.

Craven died at the age of 76 after suffering from brain cancer.