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Blanchester Area Historical Society
1907. The Morning After Halloween. Blanchester.
1907. The Morning After Halloween. Blanchester.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century young boys traditionally played pranks on Halloween eve. This involved things such as removing fence gates and moving farm equipment and signs to places they don't belong such as the middle of town. Most of this was innocent fun but it did sometimes get destructive.
In this photo it looks like the boys raided the local lumberyard of a good deal of fencing and relocated the local barber's pole. It also appears that the crossing guard station from the train crossing has been moved a few blocks away.
Here are some accounts from local villages in The Journal-Republican.
In this photo it looks like the boys raided the local lumberyard of a good deal of fencing and relocated the local barber's pole. It also appears that the crossing guard station from the train crossing has been moved a few blocks away.
Here are some accounts from local villages in The Journal-Republican.
Ogden.
"Some persons cut some high shines on Halloween, turning over and destroying little houses and pulling the rope off the flag pole at the school-house. They took the taps off of Tom Winfield's carriage, run A. Osborn's buggy out in a corn-field. They seemed to enjoy the sport so much that they took the taps off of John McFadden's wagon Tuesday night."
The Journal-Republican, November 09, 1892.
"Some persons cut some high shines on Halloween, turning over and destroying little houses and pulling the rope off the flag pole at the school-house. They took the taps off of Tom Winfield's carriage, run A. Osborn's buggy out in a corn-field. They seemed to enjoy the sport so much that they took the taps off of John McFadden's wagon Tuesday night."
The Journal-Republican, November 09, 1892.
Centerville.
"Halloween came Monday night, and the way he tore things up was a sight. We do hope this custom will soon be a thing of the past. Several shots were fired, but nobody hurt."
The Journal-Republican, November 09, 1892.
"Halloween came Monday night, and the way he tore things up was a sight. We do hope this custom will soon be a thing of the past. Several shots were fired, but nobody hurt."
The Journal-Republican, November 09, 1892.
Mt. Vernon.
"Last Monday night was Halloween, and wagons, buggies, gates and cabbage were missing the next morning , but no damage was done."
The Journal-Republican, November 09, 1892.
The Journal-Republican, November 09, 1892.
North Fairview."The number of halloween pranks played in this section failed to come up with former years. What was the matter, boys?"
The Journal-Republican, November 09, 1892.
The Journal-Republican, November 09, 1892.
Clarksville.
"Halloween was more than usually observed here. Of course the usual number of pranks were played. Signs were changed, wagons dismembered and placed in various positions, vehicles were left on the sidewalks in front of the stores. In fact, everything that was loose was appropriated by the boys and changed to some place where the owner would have difficulty in regaining it. We are glad that Halloween on comes once a year."
The Journal-Republican, November 05, 1890.
"Halloween was more than usually observed here. Of course the usual number of pranks were played. Signs were changed, wagons dismembered and placed in various positions, vehicles were left on the sidewalks in front of the stores. In fact, everything that was loose was appropriated by the boys and changed to some place where the owner would have difficulty in regaining it. We are glad that Halloween on comes once a year."
The Journal-Republican, November 05, 1890.
Wilmington College.
"Who said Miss Hallowe'en didn't visit the College Grounds Saturday night? She borrowed our gates and hung some outside benches up in the trees to dry."
The Journal-Republican, November 03, 1886.
"Who said Miss Hallowe'en didn't visit the College Grounds Saturday night? She borrowed our gates and hung some outside benches up in the trees to dry."
The Journal-Republican, November 03, 1886.
Wilmington.
"Hallowe'en next Saturday night. Things moveable should be made immovable, for the witches are generally at work that night."
The Journal-Republican, October 28, 1891.
"Hallowe'en next Saturday night. Things moveable should be made immovable, for the witches are generally at work that night."
The Journal-Republican, October 28, 1891.
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