Halloween in Rockford circa 1957

Booo! Ah yes, memories of Halloween in Rockford.....where to start? Costumes were always homemade and a bit cheesy as we got older. Being a "Bum" was a popular outfit....old, torn clothes, cork-blackened face, and an old broom handle over the shoulder with a bag on the end. A "ghost" was another easy costume...sheet over head with holes cut for eyes...voila! Soldiers and sailors were also popular since everyone's dad had an old uniform...a bit baggy, but who cared?

In those days we didn't have any fancy-schmancy bags or pails for our loot, just sturdy paper grocery bags. We'd put our name on it just in case.....but we never really had to worry as it was never out of sight. RJ and I would be running from house to house....no walking, not time....we were on a mission to collect the most candy we could in the 3-4 hours allotted. Heck, we would still be trick or treating at midnight if we could. In addition to the usual candy bars, we'd get the occasional popcorn ball, apple or orange (yuk!), or homemade cookie. No one worried about peanut allergies, razor blades or poisoned food, and we never heard of anyone having problems like that. The candy would last for days....neigh, weeks if properly rationed and if mom didn't raid it while we were at school.....hmmm

As we got older, we did less treating and more "tricking".....soaping car windows, throwing eggs at houses, and my personal favorite: the bag of dog poop on the porch, then lit on fire, ring the doorbell, and run like hell! Beautifully creative and it always worked like a charm!

Ahhhh, today's kids don't know what they missed......