Celebrating Halloween in Yarmouth

I grew up across the street from a cemetery. I played there, climbing and hanging on the wrought iron fence that surrounded it.  In the daylight there was no problem, but sometimes, perhaps sitting on the front porch at night gazing across the road into the graveyard, my imagination wandered. 

Over the 50 year span my family spent in our Bass River (Lower Village) home, we experienced several ghostly encounters. A door that separated our front den from the "big" living room would open and close on its own. Witnesses were most often dumbfounded, but once and a while a brave soul would invite the invisible to "come on in." Cats, especially sensitive, would jump from a deep sleep to wide-eyed frantic scampering in the opposite direction.  One night sitting in the den with my father, the loud sound of clanking glasses rang out from the kitchen. No one else was home. Our eyes met for a moment, and he said to me, "it's one armed Jim Baker making a toast." (See my upcoming post on James Baker and more on this neighborhood.)

Halloween in my Bass River neighborhood was dark and eerie.  Windows of the houses that lined River Street were vacant and foreboding, often lit only by a small porch light and a grinning jack o'lantern daring trick or treaters to approach. There was also that one house, forever empty, cobwebs and ripped curtains visible from the decrepit porch, which proved even more terrifying on All Hallows' Eve. My sister and I ran by it screaming and clutching our bags of candy.  Adding to the atmosphere, was the house adjacent to this haunted cottage from which we were offered candy by an old haggard witch (the best witch mask I have ever seen). In other words, perfect for a memorable Halloween in 1960's Yarmouth. 

As I discussed in an earlier blog, Yarmouth citizens have always been especially involved and active in community groups, and Halloween was no exception.  Local newspaper columns advertised and reported on parties and social club events held across all villages.  Even my grandfather, Vernon Morgan, must have had a love of Halloween, as it appears in 1920, he and Henry Usher, Jr., the blacksmith's son, hosted dueling parties in Yarmouthport.  Holiday parties were held at the Owl Club, Bass River Social Club, Lyceum Hall, the Rod and Gun Club, churches, schools, and private homes from south to north, east and west.

During my own 1960's childhood, I can recall the great gatherings that took place at the Yarmouth Plaza.  This plaza was a popular spot for homecoming rallies, fire department exhibits, penny candy, and for Halloween costumes at Robinson's Five and Dime.  The plaza hosted a window painting contest for the younger children at the holiday. According to ads for Gracie's in Yarmouthport and the Barefoot Trader in West Yarmouth, looks like the north and west side kids were up to the same thing!

It seems that the town tried to find ways for kids to be kept entertained on Halloween, i.e., the popular trick or treating for UNICEF (something which I wholeheartedly participated in) and its related gatherings and other sponsored events. In 1956 a Halloween movie night was held at the Yarmouth Drive-In which ended up being a tremendously popular event with over 800 cars counted (600 cars turned away) and 1,500 free ice cream cones given away.  But still a shared experience across villages was some troublesome shenanigans.  In 1957, South Yarmouth citizens were reporting, complaining about, and holding town meetings for months after the unfortunate Halloween night experienced that year.  And before the reader makes any judgments as to differences in villages, etc., complaints were to be recorded in Yarmouthport and West Yarmouth for the next few years.  

I still love Halloween, but, it's changed since I was a kid.  Costumes and decorations have gotten much more lavish and violent.  For me the height of the holiday was during the 1960's when I was out running through the dark streets of Bass River sweating in the plastic mask bought at Robinson's in a little cardboard box.  And after all, 1966 was the year that The Ghost and Mr. Chicken was released, as well as the first broadcast of It's A Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!