Sheridan's First Halloween Parade

In the late 1800s to the early 1930s, before trick-or-treating such as we know it found disguised kids chanting for strangers' sugary treats, costumed urchins went door to door on Thanksgiving, begging for vittles. They called it Ragamuffin Day. Around the same time, they spelled Hallowe'en funny. What's the deal? Where did contemporary Halloween traditions come from?

In the early 1930s, Hallowe'en held many more tricks than treats: the next morning, you might find your outhouse tipped over, ash cans scattered in the streets, windows soaped, or other manner of mayhem.

A writer for the Sheridan Press called Hallowe'en "an orgy of rowdyism and destruction," leaving communities "looking as though [they] had been struck by a hurricane." Suffice to say, both townsfolk and the constabulary across the Depression-ravaged country were at wits end.

From the October 29, 1933 edition of the Sheridan Press.
Click to enlarge.

Adding to the urgency were scattered incidents in which miscreants' tricks went too far, such as a Hallowe'en in 1933 that ended with the death of a 31-year-old woman in Columbus, Montana.

Enter the Hallowe'en parade. While Anoka, Minnesota proudly claims the honor of hosting the nation's first such parade in 1920, judging from the parade's official website, it looks like the event arose more out of general sense of civic pride than the need to protect citizens and property.

Fifteen years on, Sheridan's civic pride had been accosted for several Hallowe'en nights. No outhouse or window was safe. The town of Sheridan decided enough was enough.

Starting in early October of 1935, townsfolk began planning Sheridan's first community-wide Hallowe'en party: a costume parade, stunts and contests, a grand Hallowe'en feed, a free show at the Orpheum for younger kids, and a dance at Central Middle School for older kids. The town bristled in anticipation of the ooky jamboree.

Wouldn't you know it, the forecast called for near-zero temperatures and snow. While the parade and stunts might be cancelled, determined Sheridanites would not cancel cider and doughnuts. You got it. Priorities.

From the October 18, 1935 edition of
the Sheridan Press. 

Turned out it was cold on that Thursday night in 1935, 13 degrees to be exact, but kids can be remarkably tough when the right incentive comes along. Just after 7pm, young paraders began their march at the back of city hall, proceeding west on Alger to Main until the Western Hotel, then doing a u-turn and head toward the Lotus Theater.

Kids competed in five costume categories, including historical and book characters, national costumes, western characters, clowns, and miscellaneous, consisting of cash and merchandise from local businesses. The top cash prizes were $5, $2, and $1, roughly $100, $40, and $20, in 2018 dollars, respectively.

The "weirdly-garbed procession" convened in front of the Lotus where the high school band played on the back of a big truck. The top costume prize went to a tie of two pairs, Julian Pearson and Patricia McWilliams as Ma and Seth Parker, and Joan Davis and Joyce Johnson as the Gold Dust Twins. The cash was split evenly, four ways. Other winning costumes included Little Red Riding Hood, Mickey Mouse, and a cowboy. And, indicative of the times, a fragment of that year's winners sported Native American garb, but not out of cultural sensitivity.

As the costumed participants finished their route, the action shifted to games and stunts. Competitors from third through sixth grade classes from Coffeen, Taylor, Holy Name, and Linden elementary schools raced against each other in sacks, on scooters, in a three-legged race, or deftly tried to outdo each other in an egg in a spoon (which replaced the jumbled shoe race due to the weather). Hill's, and Central's 7th and 8th graders waged a fierce competition against each other in sack races. Central and Linden seemed to take the lion's share of wins; some of the top prizes included a Boy Scout knife, a flashlight, tie clips, sweaters, silk vests, cap guns, pencils, and hose donated by local businesses--prizes that may sound dull by 21st Century standards, but to young folks growing up in the Great Depression, each prize won was probably treasured.

Reportedly, someone won a Tom Sawyer shirt but never claimed it.

Youngsters, their parents, and spectators convened at the Legion building where doughnuts--the City, Crystal, and Pollyanna bakeries and the Sheridan Bread Company provided 2000 of them--and hot cider lay in wait. You can imagine how welcome a piping mug of the stuff might be after trudging a half mile in 12-degree weather. Refreshments were followed by an apple-bobbing contest, which apparently flummoxed girls in the competition, so they, with hands behind their backs, went after hanging doughnuts instead.

To round out the fun-filled extravaganza, the high school lads and lasses danced the night away at Central while 3rd through 8th graders were treated to a free screening of Three Kids and a Queen at the Orpheum.

From the October 31, 1935 edition of the Sheridan Press.
Click to enlarge.

Sheridan's first annual Hallowe'en proved a smash hit, drawing out hundreds of youngsters who minded their manners. Outhouses and ash cans rested peacefully that night.

From the November 1, 1935 edition of
the Sheridan Press. Click to enlarge.

George W. Messick, general chairman of that year's Community Hallowe'en Party Committee, enthusiastically praised the event, "I am very grateful to all who helped make the Hallowe'en party a success"; "We received 100 per cent cooperation from every side--and it was that fine community spirit on part of both young and old that made the party successful despite the weather." The kids appreciated it as well.

Linden School students wrote a letter of thanks to the chamber of commerce:

From the November 5, 1935 edition of
the Sheridan Press. Click to enlarge.

The event gained steam in coming years. In 1936, Sheridan Hallowe'en festivities fared even better under warmer skies, drawing out thousands of townsfolk.

Winners from the 1936 parade. From the
November 1, 1936 edition of the Sheridan
Press. Click to enlarge.

One of the more collaborative costumes in 1936. From the
November 1, 1936 edition of the Sheridan
Press. Click to enlarge

Here's a picture of the 1938 parade.

From the November 1, 1938 edition of the Sheridan Press. 
Click to enlarge.

And it seems Sheridan's festivities marched on undaunted through World War II--a time which saw several parade cancellations  across the country--providing a much-needed relief from the constant anxiety war foisted on both adults and children.

From the November 1, 1944 edition of the Sheridan Press. 
Click to enlarge.

So far as we can tell, Sheridan's annual Hallowe'en parade and festivities suffered no interruption since. As you ready your kids for this year's round of Halloween merriment or are packing up your chair and candy to go watch this year's Jaycee's Halloween parade, you'll be joining in a time-honored Sheridan tradition that has spanned more than eight decades.