Halloween in Euclid in the 1940's does not seem as popular as it is today. I looked through the old Euclid News Journals and could find only a couple of events. I am sure that kids did trick or treat but it was never mentioned in the newspaper throughout the 1940's. These two events, above, were from 1942.
The first mention of Halloween and kids appears in 1954. All of a sudden numerous events started. There was parties for kids in the Sherwood Forest area around Beverly Hills in Euclid. The Coalition Club had a Halloween Party. The Chief of Police also had a message about keeping the kids safe during Halloween.
In 1955 Kresge's started to advertise Halloween candy and costumes. In 1955 you could get 5 Baby Ruth candy bars for 10 cents and 1/2 pound of M&M's for 35 cents. Costumes were $1.98. They were basic costumes such as a witch or gypsy. There was 18 different types to choose from.
Throughout the 1960's kids would trick or treat without incident but in 1972, people claimed that razor blades, staples and pins were placed in the candy. There were 3 total incidents. One of the incidents occurred between East 260th and Forestview. In the incident, two girls claimed that razor blades were found outside of the candy wrapper of a Chocolate bar.
The City of Euclid limited the time you could trick treat starting in 1973 and lasting through 1975. Mayor Harry Knuth talked about the 3 incidents that occurred in 1972 that claimed to have razor blades in the candy. The time was limited to between 6 to 8 PM and one year between 6:30 and 8:30 PM on Halloween. When I started to trick or treat around age 5 in 1978, there was no time limit. I remember older kids would be trick or treating until 10 or 11 PM. When I went to Noble in the late 1970's and early 1980's, we would dress up during school in our costumes and had a parade around the school. We would also have cake, ice cream and candy at the end of school. It was a fun time.
In 1985 trick or treating was again limited from 6-8 PM. This lasted until 1988. It seems like trick or treating went back to "no time limit" until the mid to late 1990's. Since then there has been a time limit every year. It is usually from 6-8 PM.
Kids could either trick or treat in their neighborhood or go to events such as the one at Euclid Square Mall. This advertisement is from 1998.
In the last few years, the City of Euclid has also had events for kids including Howl at the Hall, a Halloween party and Cocoa with a Cop.
Had halloween bonfires in the late 50s near the new (then) Glenbrook pool. Free donuts and cider. Who sponsored it?
ReplyDeleteKresge's became Furniture Land and then the East Side Irish-American Club.
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