Halloween celebrations of yesteryear in Bradford involved masquerade parties, dances, legends and hijinx.
At the turn of the 20th century, a festive Halloween was celebrated at The Country Club with a “phantom party.” The guests were taken on a festive trolley car to enjoy a happy Halloween of 1900.
Mischief was afoot as well, with this story of Halloween hijinx appearing in The Era: “The usual mischievous All Halloween pranks were indulged in by small boys about town last evening. Heads of demons cut out of pumpkins and illuminated with candles were flashed upon unwary pedestrians from dark corners of side streets. Porch chairs and settees were carried off and distributed around and many ‘ticktacks’ were placed on windows. No serious mischief was reported to the police.”
On Nov. 1, 1910, reports of the activities of All Hallows Eve showed a mix of celebrations and legends.
“The Knights and Ladies of the Golden Rule of the Church of the Eternal Hope entertained with a Halloween party at the YMCA building last evening. The members of various young people’s societies of the city were the honored guests,” the story recounted. “The decorations of the large auditorium were of Halloween style, black cats, witches, corn stalks, jack-o-lanterns being prominent in the designs. There were several fortune tellers also present to add to the merriment of the occasion.”
Tales of mischief managed were shared as well.
“Aside from the soaping of windows and other mischievous acts by the young people, there was no serious damage done last night on account of Halloween. The police received comparatively few complaints. About midnight it was reported to police that a resident of East Bradford had shot at some boys who were trying to carry off the gate to his front fence, but the officers were unable to find where anyone had been injured. Chief Murray took the precaution to have special officers to patrol the outskirts of the city as well as the business section.”
And The Era pointed out the fruitlessness of young maidens following superstition to try to identify future prospects for matrimonial bliss.
“Those young ladies who walked downstairs backward last night at the witching hour to ascertain who were to be their respective husbands and those who looked into mirrors for the same purpose, found that the information thus obtained was of the ‘All Hollow’ sort. There was no substance to it.”
Little compared, however, to the report of the Halloween party undertaken in the City of Bradford in 1919. The first Halloween after the victory in World War I was an impressive undertaking, with a parade like no other.
The Era was effusive with praise for the event.
“Notwithstanding an all day rain which washed clean the face of the proud little city, the Carnival of Venice, the Veiled Prophets of St. Louis the Mardi Gras of New Orleans — aye even the Mighty Watson shows of this city, never had anything on the gorgeous, glowing, glorified spectacle presented last evening in the pagaented Petrofest of beautified Bradford.
“This Halloween revel was the edulcorated essence of ecstasy poured upon the buoyant spirit of palpitant youth — a ravishment of the senses through a continuous concord of sweet sounds, an eye-filling panorama of beauty shot through with rainbow tints, and an intoxication of pleasure free from ‘the morning after’ sensations of regret,” the story read.
“A wild welter of color, a dizzying, dazzling conflagration of coruscating illumination sending brilliant lances of light into the crescendoing heavens and hurling back the hovering murk of night; a pandemonium of pageantry, a realistic riot of revelry, a sumptuous, superlative exemplification of the spirit of innocent mirth — such was the virile picture presented by the merry maskers, the decorative floats, the bunting-swathed buildings, the gaily caparisoned bands and the illuminations of an evening, the memory of which will linger like the incense of a pleasant dream.
“Conceived in the essence of merriment and consummate in the eagerness of enthusiasm, the carnival was a complete and conspicuous success, reflecting credit upon its hard-working promoters and deepening the grain in the laurels of Bradford’s renowned.”
After four paragraphs of build-up, The Era began to describe the parade itself.
“Through streets so choked with happy humanity that passage was difficult, the parade moved in six divisions with but little formality. From an artistic viewpoint it was perhaps the most imposing that has been seen in this city, the floats showing thought, taste and a disregard of expense characteristic of the community. The swirling fringe of maskers, moving in irregular formation or none at all, heightened the general effect and removed the last element of stiff formality from the occasion. Flaming pennoss and gaudy banners above and on either hand tugged at their lashings in wild and eager delight, while solemn, glowing bulbs of yellow light peered through the maze, ox-eyed and wondering.”
Of course, the weather was uncooperative, but the spirit of Bradford’s residents prevailed.
“Rain fell at frequent and protracted intervals during the day and early evening with such earnestness as to suggest that a parched and perishing earth lay gasping for moisture. But as the hours wore on conditions improved materially and a high temperature relieved to some extent the discomfort of damp feet and garments,” the story described.
“The spectacle was one of the largest and most artistic of many fine parades staged in Bradford and won many expressions of enthusiastic approval from the dense throngs that lined the streets craning necks in an effort to secure an adequate view of the various features.
“The procession was so long as to nearly fill the line of march and there seemed to be a danger that the head would encroach upon the tail before the march was completed. Bands were so numerous that a curious medley of music was noticeable at times but in the general confusion of noises this effect was not prominent.
“The Silk Hose Company with Mrs. S.G. Coffin driving the steamer and the members attired in natty red and white costumes repeated the artistic triumph won on a previous occasion and earned many favorable comments.
“Among the mother notable features of the parade were the Mighty Watson and clown bands, the Uncle Tom’s Cabin float with Mrs. Frank Kieff as Little Eva, prohibition float for mourners, the water wagon, business and industrial floats of Joseph Marks, George A. Bodine Company, Swift & Company, Moose lodge, Odd Fellow, A.P. McConnell, Cohen’s grocery, Kreinson’s furniture store, Oil Well Supply Co, the garbage incinerator, Odd Fellows on pasteboard horses, the Indiand band and Red Men in costume, a large number of beautifully decorated autos and other features which defy description or enumeration.”
What a spectacle it must have been.
