With Halloween two days away, I hit the newspaper archives and dug up a few stories of Halloween mischief from the past.
1893 Ringing Doorbells
Yes, even in 1893 ding-dong-ditch was a thing, and it annoyed the snot out of homeowners across the United States. Cabbages were thrown at doors and windows were pelted with dried beans.
But this little bit of mischief is nothing compared to the other stunts pulled on Halloween night. [Source]
1894 Moving Wagons
Moving people’s wagons to new locations was a very popular Halloween prank in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In a report out of St. Charles, Iowa, 1894, it was said that a group of boys snuck into John Wise’s shed and began pulling out his wagon. Wise heard the noise, grabbed his pistol, stepped out, and hollered at them to stop. The boys took off in fright and Wise shot his pistol, hitting and mortally wounding the 15-year-old son of a Reverend. Wise was arrested. [Source]
1899 Washington State Mischief
Halloween 1899 in Friday Harbor, Washington was apparently a wild ride. A newspaper reported:
“Yesterday morning there were many evidences of a high old time had by several boys of the town, who are always ready for all kinds of mischief on Halloween. Several gates were taken off, Charley Graham’s bicycle was hoisted to the top of the court house flagstaff and tied there, and unfortunately the flag halyards broke near the wheel and left it suspended there without any means of lowering it. Two of the wheels of Ross’ wagon were tied to the masthead of the yacht Klondike, anchored in the bay, and there were many other evidences about town of a wild night.” [Source]
1909 Long Beach Pranks
1909 was a heck of a year for Halloween pranks in Long Beach, California. According to one article, a group of boys had hauled a buggy onto the street car tracks. Shortly afterwards, a street car crashed into the buggy and a passenger was cut up and his coat shredded by the broken glass. The motorman was fortunately uninjured.
But that was not all the boys did that night. They also hauled a large wheel onto the front porch of a local barber. When the man returned home that night, he attempted to move the large wheel by himself. Misjudging the weight of the wheel, it fell on him, cutting and bruising one of his legs and crushing his right hand. [Source]
1922 Dumping Ashes
In 1922, Indianapolis, Halloween tricks fell on the night before ash collection. Everyone had placed their containers of wood ash along the streets and sure enough the holiday pranksters took full advantage of the scene.
One reporter wrote:
“This morning it looked as if an earthquake had picked the section up by the back and given it a good shaking. Ashes, ashes everywhere, but not an ash in a can or basket. All over the curbs, yards, streets and alleys they were scattered.
“There was nothing for the householders to do but get out with shovel and broom and put the ashes back in the containers, provided the boys had not kicked them two or three blocks down the street.” [Source]
1922 Moving Cars
Just like with wagons, young boys would sneak off with people’s automobiles, take them for a joyride, and then leave the car blocks away from the owner’s home.
A car prank was reported in Great Falls, Montana in 1922. An article states:
“Mrs. Gerber reported to the police that her automobile had been stolen from the curb at 3rd Ave. North and 15th Street. The car was located a few minutes later by the police when a bunch of boys were discovered attempting to load a tombstone on the running board of the car. One youth was captured, who said he was only a lookout and didn’t know the names of any of the other boys. He was sent home by the police. The boys driving the car eluded the police and abandoned the car a few minutes later.” [Source]
1953 Corn Shock Fun
In a bit of pre-Halloween fun, a group of teenage boys and girls went out into the night and toppled 80 corn shocks.
The farmer filed a complaint against the teens and the court made them restock the shocks, but the punishment sort of backfired. The farmer said, “The kids had more fun putting the corn up than they had knocking it over. It was a regular party – the boys chasing the girls with mice they found in the field. Lots of high spirits.” The teens had the shocks rebuilt in an hour and 20 minutes.
