The next meeting of the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society will be Tuesday, November 11th at 7 PM. Katrina Sotomayor, Correspondent Docent for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Museum and a member of the Peoria NSDAR chapter, will present “Dining in Early America.”  The program explores five of the museum’s state period rooms, highlighting dining traditions from 1775 through the mid 1800’s. Meetings are free and open to the public. 

All history is local until it is woven together with other stories to become part of the National fabric and there is no aspect of National history that doesn’t touch Tazewell County, including Halloween pranks. 

Halloween mischief is nothing new. The 1904 Emden News had this to say about local hijinks:
“Halloween is past and the wreckage is partly cleared away. No serious damage was done here, but some of the small buildings looked like a cyclone had struck them. Some wagons and buggies were left in bad shape to run as the high wheels were in front. Some of the boys went out on horseback but came home on foot, but their horses were well cared for in a neighbor’s barn. It seems to be lots of fun to play these pranks on the other fellow, but when the rune turns it hurts.”

Another item in the same paper read:  “Halloween has passed and the usual round of adventures were busy. Horses and buggies, whips and lap robes were conspicuous for their absence for a time, but now, all is righted and the world moves on just as nothing had happened of an unusual occurrence. Val Gilchrist’s horse was stored away in the coal shed of the church, Ross Quisenberry’s steed was found in the barn at Philip Coffman’s, and lap robes were found suspended from the limbs of forest trees. It was rather a gratuitous distribution of property, but the proper owners are now in possession, and the knowing ones smile but say nothing.”

The 1938 Pantagraph took a more scolding tone leading up to that year’s Halloween:
We see evidence here and there that boys are no less boys in this year of 1938 than they have ever been.

The evidence thus far runs strongly to traffic barricades across the wrong streets, porch swings blocking intersections, and soap spread over display windows.

There is nothing unusual in all his. But we do wonder if perhaps parents are changing a bit. 

In our time, the celebration of Halloween was limited to Halloween eve, with perhaps a slight overproduction of ideas carrying to the rest of the night. If memory serves, we encountered some rather rigid parental views on the subject of confining the spirit of Halloween to Halloween and not allowing it to fill the nights from Labor day to Christmas.

Gate hanging is almost extinct. Outhouse tipping has been thwarted by union plumbing. Tick-tacking is among the dying arts. A jack-o-lantern, in this day of radio horror tales for children, would frighten nobody. We can’t do anything about gates, outhouses, tick-tacking, or jack-o-lanterns. But we can revive the old-time parental control of Halloween. Let’s revive it before Halloween degenerates into six weeks of chasing boys down back alleys, six weeks of calling policemen, and six weeks of hunting for garbage cans. Halloween is too fine an institution to break up that way.

We favor Halloween as a one-night stand.”

The 1955 Columbia Star also references old-time fun:
“If you have ever participated in a hazardous Halloween activity such as privy-tipping, you will be familiar with the times of which we write—the decades before and after the First World War.

It was understood by everyone, young and old, that anything left loose around the yard on the falling of dusk on Oct. 31 would probably have found a new resting place before midnight. 

Gates and porch swings came down prior to the deadline and went into winter quarters, or else.

Things were all snugged down, but ways and means were discovered. We have seen a spring wagon materialize on top of the schoolhouse bell tower, and we have heard a tied-down mill whistle make the night hideous.

It was not ‘trick or treat’ in those days. It was “Get your stuff under cover.”

Windows were soaped, but not ruined by wax. Young fry went ghosting around the neighborhood and used “tick-tacks” to rattle the big bay windows toting jack-o-laterns, too.

In the more hazardous exploits, there were two things to watch for—the irate householder and the town marshal. But the likelihood of catching a good whacking or a night in the jug just provided the necessary spice of danger.

“Tipping” operations offered a third peril, one even more to be avoided than the other two. It was absolutely essential that the young hellion keep his footing and stay above ground.

It was for one night only, and so far as we can recall, there was no destruction of property, at least by intention. Of course, recovering and righting various items often presented a problem. 

Almost everyone seemed to get a kick out of the proceedings, even the victims, boisterous as things were.

Today’s Halloween customs are, for the most part, a bit more orderly but no doubt every bit as enjoyable. When the tots masquerade from door to door “trick or treating,” at least the loot they pick up in their paper sacks is edible, and certainly their activities are no longer confined to Halloween.

Different times, different entertainment. In line with other improvements, a way has been found to get a bigger return for less effort.”

Sources describe Tick Tacks as made with an empty spool with notches cut into it, a nail and some string. It was said to have made a horrible noise when pulled across glass, like a machine gun. Navy beans were also thrown on porches and against windows, also to make a startling sound. That was the device that led to a horrible local tragedy in 1925:

FATAL QUARREL FOLLOWS PRANK
Tazewell Miner Shoots Another Who Objected to Halloween Play.

“Pekin, Nov. 2—(Special)—Dario Ronconi, 27, was shot and killed Sunday night about 6 o’clock by Frank Gianessi, 40, during a quarrel over an alleged Halloween prank played by Jeanette, 18-year-old daughter of Gianessi. The story is that Jeanetta, with other girls of the mining colony, were throwing beans at the doors of the neighbors. It is further alleged to have started a quarrel over the prank.”

The incident took place at Groveland Mine No. 2 and the articles indicate that Gianessi was exonerated as he acted in fear of his life during the fight and didn’t intend to kill Ronconi.

Ronconi had an 11-month-old child and he probably didn’t appreciate the noise startling the child into crying, especially after a long day in the mine.

We pray there was no violence this Halloween night since in these times children mostly attend “Trunk or Treat” events or parties.

The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society is an award-winning 501c3, all volunteer organization that has been in continuous service to our members and the public for 47 years. TCGHS operates an archive, library and research facility at 719 N. 11th St., Pekin. Visit our website at www.tcghs.org to learn more about us. If you have any point of interest that you would like to know more about, stop in at TCGHS or drop us a line.