P a g e 3 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r HALLOWE'EN OBSERVED BY MISCHIEF MAKERS Nov. 3, 1910- There was just about the usual number of useless, crazy stunts pulled off by the youngsters of Virginia City Hallowe'en night as were pulled off in other sections of the country. The only difference is that because Virginia City is smaller there was less damage done than in other communities Anyway, there was no necessity for half of the wild stunts pulled off and there was none of the victims who enjoyed it. Just why the young folks can have unlicensed privilege to destroy other people's property one night in the year has never been explained. And this complaint is not leveled at any town in particular, and surely not against Virginia City. People who got up early enough in the morning found a wagon on the schoolhouse steps. Where it came from was unknown for a while, but finally an owner came along and claimed the rig with a considerable amount of profanity and gusto. That, was rather tame in comparison with a stunt which some of the pioneer pupils pulled off on a Hallowe'en night many years ago—it, was the first one after the present schoolhouse was built. The night was freezing cold and they secured a ladder, carried two or three buckets full of water into the cupola of the school-house, turned the bell upside down and filled it with water. Naturally it froze solid, almost, but fortunately did not expand sufficiently to crack the bell. The teacher used to ring the bell himself, never depending upon the janitor to do the work, but there was no bell rang that morning and there were few pupils on hand. Many had helped to fill that bell with water and none attended unless he heard the first bell to call him to school. Virginia City School, MT– 1919 Source: Pac 97.29-2 Montana Historical Society Photos But that is ancient history. The pranks of the other night were along mischievous lines, many of them. One fence was torn down for a number of rods just because it looked easy to tear down. At another place a gate was carried away and the owner is still looking for it. Wandering cows came into a well kept lawn during the night and tore down vines, uprooted plants and berry bushes which had required years to grow. That is only one of the instances of malicious mischief that was practiced. No one wants to accuse the mischief makers of wanting to wantonly destroy property, but there should be a line drawn between meanness and fun. The bunch out Saturday and Sunday night, or at least a part of it, did not consider that any one else in the town had any rights except their own members and their ambition was to see just how much cussedness they could kick up within the shortest possible period of time. -The Madisonian Newspaper (Virginia City, MT), Accessed via: www.montananewspapers.org
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