October 30, 1980, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
Let's end this Halloween-themed week while featuring the smallest of revelers, the ones to whom Halloween likely means the most. And while this pandemic is stalling usual efforts to have a great time, let's hope the ingenuity of some of the parents out there can at least salvage some of the Halloween experience while not putting anyone in unnecessary peril. Happy Halloween, everybody!
October 29, 1890, Oshkosh Northwestern
Halloween was even a thing back in the 1890's, though this article raised several questions in my mind. First of all, what was the local grocer going to do with the beans? Shoot them at offending trick or treaters? And what is a Hibernian? Turns out the Ancient Order of Hibernians was (and still, is) an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be male, Catholic, and either born in Ireland or of Irish descent. And was the devil himself going to make an appearance at their event? And what about these "tick-tacks" that are to be employed? No, it's not the familiar breath mint we now find at checkout counters, but as best as I could find, it was a noisemaker employed to rattle windows and create a scare for the average homeowner. The article below from a Le Roy, Kansas newspaper (some forty years later, mind you) explains the idea in much detail and it looks rather complicated. Needless to say, Halloween promised to be quite the event in 1890. Sadly though, a snow storm hit the area and curtailed activities sooner than desired.
November 4, 2004, Twin City News-Record
Not so historical, but yet relevant to our Halloween-themed week is this relatively recent (by blog standards) costume parade outside Jefferson Elementary. Participants cross the intersection of Second and Ice Streets, showcasing their carefully designed outfits for this, one of the most important holidays to kids nationwide.
November 13, 1965, Appleton Post-Crescent
Menasha kids prove it isn't just about them as they collect funds during normal trick or treating for a good cause. I remember these containers very well and the whole effort beginning when I was in my prime Halloween years in the 1960's. Undoubtedly, I'm sure many of my contemporaries recall it, too.
October 31, 1903, Oshkosh Northwestern
This week is Halloween, one of the blog's favorite holidays, so it's no wonder that yours truly is obsessed with covering it properly. Today, we go back 117 years when young ladies could predict the identity of their future husbands via varying lengths of candles. I see this as a party game, a Halloween version of "Mystery Date" for young girls with as much seriousness as conjuring up the spirit of "Bloody Mary" in a mirror. But of course, this was a different time when marriage had a different importance than today. Back then, that was, in most circles, what young women were expected to aspire to, as suitable occupations for women were limited and freedoms were curtailed. Today, women can be anything, not just secretaries, telephone operators, teachers, nuns, or nurses (and some of those occupations weren't open to women in 1903 either). So, fun as it might be, there had to be some undercurrent of legitimacy and urgency in the backs of some of those young minds. Too much seriousness for a Halloween posting on a Monday...leave it to me!
October 12, 1982, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
Not sure how much legitimacy was involved in getting this job done, versus providing a cute photo op for the Northwestern photographer, but hey, we'll take it on a Friday after a long week here at the blog. We've seen cute kids before, but little Billy in the lower photo puts an extra emphasis on bringing a smile to our faces. Let's have a great weekend!
October 18, 1982, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern
As the caption writer says, only a few short months away and it'll be a different, harsher environment. But in the meantime, enjoy the autumn for what it is, brisk temperatures, changing colors, and a snap in the air that reminds us to enjoy each day as it comes. Fall was always my favorite season and until I moved to the south, I could always count on it to spark good memories of autumns past. I'm sure it is the same with you.