This blog post contains excerpts from As I Remember, a compilation of oral histories from Scott County’s senior citizens in the 1980s. The following are the memories of Leo Michael of Jordan and Lucille Grafenstalte Hirscher of Shakopee. We have also included some historic Halloween photos!
Halloween
In school days of long ago, one Halloween Day came around when the boys were aching for some excitement and decided to go out for the evening and celebrate as best we could. After school, we practiced football until dark, and then Halloween took over.
We walked down to the brewery and there we saw a wagon near an open well. We removed the top of the well and dismantled the wagon into small sections and dropped them into the well. Then we replaced the cover of the well and left for other fun and excitement.
Soon we came upon an outhouse, sitting there so quietly in the darkness. Just as four of us boys gave a good push to tip it over, we heard a voice saying, “Take it easy there, boys!”
Hearing that, we very gently set it back. As we walked away, I said, “Guess it is the wrong time…we will inconvenience a lot of people doing this at this time.”
So, we walked back into town. Some of us went to the Halloween dance and others went home.
-Leo Michael, Jordan
Children wearing witch hats standing around a Halloween pumpkin display between 1965 and 1970. SCHS Collections.
Small Town, U.S.A.
I’ll never forget my meeting with the devil! My mother had taken me to a masquerade dance to see the costumes. We were sitting watching the dancers when the devil came up and spoke to me.
He really was my idea of the devil. All dressed in red, complete with his horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. I was so frightened!
I didn’t realize until long after that the devil was our grocer.
-Lucille Grafenstalte Hirscher, Shakopee
Photo of a group of Shakopee girls dressed up for Halloween. The seated girl is Sue Berg and she is dressed as a witch. The girl standing at the center back is Mabel Berg and she is dressed as a ghost. The girl on the facing left side is Mayme Ryan and she is dressed as a bride. The girl at the facing right side is Mary Scherkenbach and she is dressed as a ghost. 1910, SCHS Collections.