Pranks and Parties
Halloween Isn't What It Used To Be in Jefferson County
Halloween and all its sweet festivity is quite a different event from what it was more than 100 years ago. Based on a skimming of county newspapers back to 1879, Halloween brought some startlingly extreme “tricks,” among them the annual overturning of sidewalks (must have been during boardwalk days). Eventually, some towns put the constables on overtime to help prevent the mayhem. And wise residents started offering parties and other celebrations to keep potential vandals from doing damage in the name of Halloween.
From the Valley Falls New Era, Nov. 8, 1879
Hallowe'en was observed in Valley Falls, as was observed by R.H. Crosby, L.D. White, and many other citizens. The hoodlums were very energetic. Gates, signs, lager beer kegs and almost everything movable was on the go. A very material change in the location of business firms was noticed the next morning. The Valley Falls Bank of Deposit was transmogrified into a Broadway saloon, and L.D. White's C.O.D. Grocery store was also made a beer shop. But Hallowe'en, like all other annual events only comes once a year, and All Saints are willing to stand the celebration.
From the Valley Falls New Era, Nov. 13, 1880
Last Tuesday morning some of the citizens were unpleasantly made aware that the night previous was Hallowe’en by the missing gates and upturned sidewalks.
From the Valley Falls New Era, Nov. 4, 1882
Last Tuesday night was “Hallowe’en” and the boys about town were up to their usual pranks. M. Weybright’s pump wagon was taken from his lot, drawn to the school house grounds and left on the northeast stile. They also took Mel Legler’s spring wagon and placed it on the stile in front of the school house. A fine $4 whip was lost out of Mr. Legler’s buggy, and the boys ought to hunt it up or pay for it.
From the Oskaloosa Independent, Nov. 7, 1885
Four young ladies, bent on a Hallowe’en prank, perpetrated a sad joke on the editor of the S______, but there! We shan’t tell you who was the victim, and you needn’t ask us. Two of the girls dressed up in the clothing of the father of one of them, and the four started out after ordinary bed-time as a wedding party intent upon finding the probate judge. Calling at the residence of the party above hinted at, the “boys” went in and rapped and the gentleman soon appeared, in the scant and ghostly attire which is quite proper as sleeping habiliments but not considered just the thing for public occasions. He began talking to the “young men” but, catching sight of the girls beyond, darted back behind the friendly shelter of a door while he hastily gave direction to the judge’s house. The gay deceivers were nearly choking with laughter, but managed to express their thanks as they departed, and the victim will blush as he reads this and learns how the girls fooled him.
From the Valley Falls New Era, Nov. 8, 1890
Boyle Boilings: Halloween was duly celebrated in west Boyle.
From the Oskaloosa Independent, Nov. 7, 1891
Young rascals did themselves proud last Saturday night in overturning sidewalks, changing signs, etc., etc. A large dry goods box was hauled up on the flag pole, and was dangling 50 or more feet from the ground on Sunday morning; Wm. Bell’s wagon load of fodder was brought down town and Green Carter’s cow led from home and tied at the public square to feed on the fodder; Court. Sinnard’s family carriage was brought into town where it was found next day; the road grader, a mowing machine, a farm wagon and other vehicles were piled up at the southeast corner of the square; Jefferson St. was blockaded with wagons; horses were unhitched from carts and the latter taken off, so that the owners had to go home horse back or walk; a large dry goods box as sandwiched between a horse and cart that the animal was hitched to. The above and many other pranks were played, such as turning saddles wrong end to, rolling salt barrels upstairs, etc.
From the Farmers’ Vindicator (Valley Falls), Nov. 19, 1892
The best Hallowe’en joke yet heard of was perpetrated by a Lawrence man, who piled a load of wood on the porch of a widow who makes her living by taking in washing.
From the Oskaloosa Independent, Oct. 28, 1893
All Hallowe’en next Tuesday night. And we would like to suggest right here that the city marshal see to it that no sidewalks be torn up or destroyed or other property, public or private, damaged by reckless youths, who have carried their fun too far in former years.
From the Valley Falls New Era, Nov. 4, 1893
The boys Tuesday night, Hallowe'en eve, did not commit as much devilment as they have heretofore. A few gates were removed and dry good boxes changed locations. Paxton’s dry goods sign was placed over Gov. Young’s grocery store, and several barrels of Gov’s salt was rolled down the street.
From the Oskaloosa Independent, Nov. 4, 1893
The special police force last Tuesday night seems to have over-awed the boys, so that they did not commit the usual depredations about town, and we did not see anyone looking for a lost business sign or trying to find where that two-horse wagon “was at,” Wednesday. We notice that nearly all the cities in this region took similar action, at the request of the newspapers. A little harmless fun on hallowe’en is all right, but the destruction of property, placing obstructions in the streets, &c., is carrying the joke too far, and it is well to put a stop to it.
From the Oskaloosa Independent, Nov. 3, 1894
All Hallowe'en has come and gone. The usual depredations by the small boy were not so extensive as usual here, but we hear of a good deal of fun being had by some of our young people, and old ones, too. Young men were around town blowing horns and trying to find the secret place of a party held by young ladies, and some of them finally stumbled on to it at the Jefferson House where the table was spread and the lights turned down, and one young man found, when the lights were turned up, that his partner at the festal board was a pillow dressed up to represent a damsel. The older ladies had a supper at Mrs. Brittie Huddleston’s, and their better halves were out with a search warrant, or lantern, or something, trying to find their wives. We hear that some of them went away off in the direction of the fair ground in the dark, stilly night!
Perry, Kansas, Nov. 8, 1894
No mischief of any kind was done in Perry hallowe’en that is known of. The marshal was on the look-out that evening.
From the Oskaloosa Independent Nov. 2, 1895
Hallowe’en Doings. A surprise party was gotten up on Miss Eva Davis last night and was very much enjoyed. A taffy-pulling is reported as on the program at Misses Josie and Madge Patterson’s home. A party was given last night at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Williamson in honor of Miss Josie Goodman. There was a large attendance and a general good time. A lot of boys and girls had a “ghost” parade last night in honor of Hallowe’en. They had long sheets of white wound about them, but made most too much racket for sure ghosts. A crowd of boys that was out laid a snare for them by stretching a rope across the street where they passed and then winding the rope around them. The girls were then made to tell their names or be identified anyway. Some things are “missing” this morning and we hear of wagons adorning some cornfields and signs woefully out of place, but believe there was no serious damage done. There was a little noise, yes – tootin’ horns, &c.
From the Oskaloosa Independent, Oct. 9, 1896
As to the Hallowe’en order, the marshal says he is willing that the young people shall have their harmless fun, but undue disturbance and molestation of property, obstruction of streets, or misplacing of walks will not be tolerated.
From the Denison News Nov. 5, 1897
Hallowe'en has come and gone and little damage to life or property was done.
Ozawkie, Nov. 2, 1900
For once our sidewalks lay undisturbed over Hallowe’en night. No one had the heart to dive down into the mud and fish them out just for the fun of turning them over.
From the Farmers’ Vindicator (Valley Falls), Nov. 7, 1902
Friday night was the last of October, it was also a muddy bad night, but notwithstanding this the boys who think it “fun” to perform mischievous tricks were out in force and had their tricks been of only this kind no one could have found much fault except to wonder how they could see any fun in rolling wagons away from their accustomed places, moving gates and out buildings, and otherwise laboring as they would not have done under ordinary circumstances for less than $200 a day: but that was not all. All over the business part of town the door locks were filled with plaster, in many places necessitating the breaking of windows in order to get in next morning. Alex Kerr says it cost him $15.00 to get his locks fixed and his salt back in place – and one barrel was broken open. Eli Evans and E. Summerfelt were served almost as bad. Lou Hauck hired John Chapman to guard his salt barrel pile, but the gang caught him and tied him up with rope, filled the locks with plaster and rolled away the salt. Fun is all right, but when it comes to the destruction of property, the law should step in and put a stop to such vandalism. An example or two would work no injustice and probably serve to make the following year’s pranks more nearly conform to rules of decency.
The Valley Falls New Era, Nov. 12, 1908, carried a line item in the city’s official bill payments: “O. Williams special police Hallowe’en . . . $2.00.”
From the Valley Falls New Era, Nov. 4, 1915
The Leaverton school gave a Hallowe’en party at their school house the evening of Oct. 29th. The teacher, Miss Perry, and her pupils, had prepared a good program for the evening and it was well rendered. Refreshments of lemonade and cookies were served and a pleasant social evening spent. Miss Eda Stark and Miss Bessie Chacey and their schools also gave a Hallowe’en party for the patrons of the Mt. Pleasant and Pleasant Hill schools. We have no report from this entertainment yet.
From the Valley Falls New Era, Nov. 12, 1915
The Hallowe’en pranks Saturday night were reduced to the minimum in the city. There were parties and harmless parades of children and grown ups with weird jack o’lanterns here and there, and that was all, except that some boys were caught throwing some wheel barrows in the sewer ditch on west Broadway and made to pull them out. No windows were smeared with insinuating dope nor things misplaced about town. It was well. Watchful guards were on the job throughout the city to see that nothing out of the way was pulled off. Good behavior ruled on the Delaware.
This article appeared in the October 2015 issue of "Yesteryears." https://www.jchsks.com/publications
