Uniforms are not required. Scouts are asked to attend in costume, and to bring a dessert to share at the meeting as well.
Our historical record goes back as far as 1936 – we have a
handout from the Scout News, and in Franklin Pratt's diary from that year we
see a reference to "spent the afternoon making an effigy for
Hallowe'en", then a few days later an entry "Took Walter Jordan and
Stinson to Forty Acres this afternoon and made arrangements for the Hallowe'en
party. The Hallowe'en party was this evening. Left the clubhouse with nearly
forty boys and food for the party. Took them to the Cedar Street entrance of
Fairmount Cemetery and then started them on a hike through the woods to Forty
Acres. All went well through the cemetery, but then about 25 boys rushed ahead
and took the wrong path. The rest of the party followed more leisurely and took
the right road to Forty Acres. Eight of us were in the final group and lost
contact with the rest and took the wrong path and ended in a swamp. Then we
retraced part of our way and finally reached Forty Acres. Then found about 25
boys were missing. We started the campfire and program. Then Walter Briggs and
I started back to hunt the missing boys. Found them on Cedar Street. They had
taken the wrong path with no idea of their destination and had spent the
evening wandering through the woods. We gave them a good scolding and then took
them home. Then we went back to Forty Acres by auto and finished up the party.
Had hot dogs, doughnuts, and cocoa. Then we flocked down the Dirty Gutter Road
to where the effigy was concealed. It was a most gruesome sight as it lay in
the bushes at the base of a high rock. Some of the party walked home through
the woods but we took all we could by auto. Arrived home at about
midnight"
Again in 1939 Franklin details the Halloween party as
follows....
"Took Stinson and several of the Scouts to Butlers Cave
this afternoon and made final arrangements for the Halloween Party this
evening. We left Uncle Louis corpse and all our paraphernalia in Dierch's barn.
Laid out a program like this: The party was to assemble at Henry Hanhisalo's
house and go into the woods. Harold Adams was to dress as a witch and tell
fortunes in the cave. Then a program of games was to follow with refreshments.
I planned to tell a spooky story at the camp fire after which the party were to
file through the woods to the old Bates Tomb. Stinson’s dragon and several
spooks were to be encountered on the path. Stinson contributed a dragon made of
canvas standing about six feet tall. The boys were supposed to enter the mouth
and pass under the boys supporting the body - a sort of "hot
oven". At six o'clock it started to
rain. The refreshments were all made and it seemed a pity to call off the
party. Finally I decided to hold the party in the Den room under the shop.
There were 36 Scouts present. There was no room to play games. I went up to
Diersch's and collected the props. Harold Adams had his fortune telling in the
pig-pen. Mrs. Rideout provided punch and Mrs. Greer doughnuts. Then I told
Edgar Allen Poe's story of the Black Cat and passed around portions of Aunt
Susie's body. Then Stinson escorted the boys to the dark end of the house
cellar where they were given a glimpse of Uncle Louie's corpse. Then came inspection
of the police station, and finally the boys passed through Stinson's dragon.
The boys said they had a good time. Anyway, it was better than calling the
party off altogether. It was near 11:30 before I reached home after taking the
boys home."
