Halloween has come and gone but as it has in past years the annual Trick or Treat Night popular in all villages and towns continued its popularity in Cardington.

Trick or Treat night took place Saturday night and although all village streets were traveled, South Marion and East Main seemed to have the most visitors. Mills and Carolyn Poorman, South Marion Street, reported they made their customary popcorn balls, this year totaling 300 which they distribute to adults only They also distributed candy to over 800 visitors, a number corroborated by other South Marion Street residents.

Prior to the trick or treat hours, the Cardington-Lincoln High School Marching Band, directed by John Brehm, played and later led the costumed contest participants to the park where they were judged.

Looking back in past years, I found that Halloween was observed in a big way.

According to an October 30, 1915 Cardington Independent, a Halloween celebration took place Saturday afternoon and evening when there were band concerts, a stock sale, a husking bee, and a greased pig contest, a masquerade parade, cash gifts, and more. “A real old fashion Halloween like Cardington had when Dad was a boy,” quotes the paper.

In October, 1925, a masquerade party was held at the home of Idella Ault south of town. Enjoying the party and box social were Mr. and Mrs. Hartley Kirkpatrick and daughters Ruth and Doris, Mrs. Sada Click, Ada and Jacob Click, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ault, Edward Haughan, Delazon Sparks, Mabel Schorr, Wilbur Schorr, Franklin, Virgil, Cloise, Alfreda, Geneva, Lewis and Idella Ault and Grace Busler.

Top winner in October, 1955 contest was Betty Levings, as Miss Cardington Dump. Second place winner was Danny Snyder. Other winners were Donald Dean and Bill Long, as cowboys, Susan Wargowsky, Georgia Arnold and Phyllis Levings. Winning as witches were Lucille McElroy, Hazel Hall and bride and groom winners were Sonny McDaniel, Cathy Bowman, Mary Waterer, Darlene Carsner, Virgil Hull, Anna Coleman, Bill Bensley and Alvin Holt; ghost winners were Shirley McElroy and Stephen Kreis; Hoboes:Gary Gandee and Bill Disterdick; and Clowns: Robert McElroy and RobertBreece. Other winners were Philip Fox, Ted Weise, Clara Caldwell and Cheryl Wells. The youngest masked couple winners were Debbie Brown and Pamela Smith and Stephen and Allen Winchell. Participants in this Halloween party, sponsored by Post 97 of the American Legion and the Cardington Business- man’s Association, numbered 125. There was free street dancing on South Marion Street after the judging with music by the YZ Combo Winners in the October, 1985 parade sponsored y the Cardington Community Festival, were Angela Perkins, prettiest, as an Indian Maiden; Jim Groom, ugliest, as Captain Hook; and Melissa Chillcoat, most original. In the 13-17 age group, winners were Betty Dougherty, prettiest; Richard Denton, ugliest and Bryan Tucker, most original.

Evelyn Long is a correspondent with the Morrow County Sentinel and can be reached at [email protected].

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Reflections

By Evelyn Long

for the Morrow County Sentinel