Ah shoot ladies, root cellars aren't scary places at all. There is one under the house I grew up in and we played down there on really hot summer days. Originally the doorway was in the floor in a small bedroom but Dad dug an outside entrance when he remodeled the house.
There were two block sized openings to let in light and fresh air. Once our eyes adjusted to the dimness we could see pretty well down there. There was one light bulb hanging down there and the swtich was upstairs where the old doorway used to be. We never turned it on because we weren't allowed to unless Mom sent us to get something.
We played hide and seek and other games suitable for the darkness. When we wer in trouble with Mom and wanted to stay out of her way we'd hide in the cellar because she rarely thought of looking there for us. It was really comfortable down there during our hot summer days.
There were dirt shelves along the walls for canned food, a potoat bin for the potatoes which was a great hiding place when empty. Dirt floors and dampness that smelled earthy.
One of these days I'm going to talk my brother into letting me back down there.
