From the November 4, 1949 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:

Quiet and harmless for the most part, was the police report on Halloween, on the morning after, which saw plenty of windows marked up with soap, but few with wax, due to previous warnings, and very little property damage. Some of the bigger boys played rough with a couple of fences in Vineyard Haven, and a few street signs in that town and at Eastville. Similar work went on in Edgartown also. Restitution for the damage will probably be required when the perpetrators are apprehended, which is a development perhaps already fulfilled.

The smaller children had a glorious time in Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven and Edgartown. Starting at an early hour, costumed and masked with unusual care and taste, groups roamed the streets, ringing doorbells and knocking, to make the traditional demand of “trick or treat”. Judging from the collections which some of these jovial banditti exhibited, the householders were well and amply prepared, for the large paper sacks carried by the majority, were heavily laden, the supply lasting well in the following day.

The youngest Halloween witch known to have been riding her broom on the witching night, was Susan Young of Vineyard Haven, who patrolled on her first Halloween in her father’s arms. Seven months old, but gaily costumed, and delighted with the exploit. Her father, Edric Young, took justifiable pride in exhibiting his daughter in the crowd of merrymakers.

Chief Alfred Ferreira of Oak Bluffs reported damage at the property of Hiram Leshin of Atlantic avenue, where two gates had been tampered with, one lifted off its hinges and the other smashed. Several large road signs, including the sign in front of the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, had been knocked over.

As most of the damage is tied up with an automobile and apparently committed after midnight, Chief Ferreira thinks it is the work of people older than children.

Damage resulting from juvenile high jinks at Edgartown was soon uncovered by Chief Sidney R. Thaxter and his special crew. Aside from the usual decoration of shop windows, participated in by girls as well as boys, two cooking-gas tanks at the Chester E. Pease house at the corner of North Water street and Simpson’s Lane, were ripped away from their usual location at the side of the house. Four youngsters, implicated here, were apprehended, their mischief reported to parents, and restitution promised, the case being closed up without court action.

Several traffic signs and a tripod on the grounds of the Dukes County Historical Society house were upset by three youngsters who were overtaken and warned to fix things up before going to school the next morning. The chief was assisted by Night Officer Marshall Geddis, and Officers Joseph A. Benefit Jr., Fred H. Worden, Wallace Darnley and William P. Silva.

On Monday afternoon a Community Horrible Parade was held in Oak Bluffs with approximately 150 children in costumes, which were attractive and cleverly put together. The parade, which was sponsored by the 4-H club members, with the Song Bird Club in charge of planning, decorations, invitations, under the leadership of Mrs. John B. Coutinho and Mrs. John A. Sylvia, commenced at Odd Fellows Hall. The route went from Odd Fellows Hall, through Grove avenue, Ocean avenue, Circuit avenue, and back to the hall again.

Prizes of money for the best costume were donated by the Oak Bluffs Better Business Bureau. The judges were Mrs. Nathan Gillette, home demonstration agent, Mrs. J. A. Sylvia, Miss Patricia Kiley and Miss Eulalie Morris, who were assisted by Mrs. William J. Thomas, Mrs. Roger Surprenant, and Mrs. Cooper Gilkes Jr. Refreshments were in charge of the Young Mothers’ Club, the Homemakers, Miss Nellie Truman and Mrs. Francis Medeiros.

Music for the parade was provided by Edward Luttrop of the Island Technical Service. The parade was led by Chief of Police Alfred D. Ferreira, and Cooper A. Gilkes, scoutmaster. Scouts who assisted were William Heathman and Sidney J. Gordon Jr. In the parade representing 4-H were, Uncle Sam, David Healy, and Old Witch, Patsy Gibbons, and Sylvia Coutinho, Patricia Catlow, Geraldine Lewis, Marilyn Willoughby, Ida Goodwin, and members if the 4-H Song Birds Club as guides. The scout guides were Thomas Healy, Larry Munro and Ronald Klein. Other scouts assisting with the refreshments and cleanup were John Morris and Robert Bernard.

As the parade passed by Darling’s Popcorn Store, apples were given by Mr. and Mrs. Irving Kligler and bags of candy by Harris A. Carr. Mr. and Mrs. William E. Gibbons also passed out candy as the marchers passed the dry cleaning plant.

The prizes were awarded as follows: prettiest, first Judith Catlow, second Anne Thomas, and third Virginia Coutinho; funniest, first, Michael Downs, second Carol Combra, and third Roger Saunders; most horrible, first Robert Healy, second Dennis Suprenant, and third Robert Maciel.

Compiled by Hilary Wallcox

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