This report of an interesting Halloween party comes from the Lykens Standard, November 11, 1904:
A number of gay, happy and frolicsome friends gathered at the home of Miss Mary Shreffler on Hallowe’en, from which place they left in a hay wagon for the hospitable home of Michael Uhler in Lykens Valley, where everything had been previously arranged for their enjoyment. Mr. Uhler kindly gave them the use of an unoccupied house adjoining his residence, and the bright illumination produced by Jack-o’lanterns, the merry crowd bobbed for apples, told fortunes and played all kinds of games synonymous of ye witches. The ladies’ parade to the attic at midnight with a solitary candle to light the way, and peep in the mirror to behold their future husband looking over their shoulders, was quite amusing, and one – but we are not at liberty to enlighten you in advance – time will reveal all, however. Then came the gents’ turn. There were placed 12 candles in a row, which, if extinguished with one expulsion of breath, meant the marriage within the year of the extinguisher, and as many as remained burning meant as many years more to wait. Oh! how the boys did puff – and some blew them out, too. Time will also reveal these fortunate ones to you. After participating in numerous weird games pertaining to Hallowe’en the merry crowd entered the dining-room, where a most unique Hallowe’en table was spread. The centre piece consisted of a miniature tree upheld in a pumpkin vase, to which was attached golden ribbons leading to each individual plate. At the end of each ribbon was tied a Hallowe’en favor consisting of brownies with pumpkin heads filled with candies. The menu consisted of peanut and ham sandwiches, olives, pickles, home-made candies, wafers, cakes, fruit, coffee and glorious cider.
After bidding farewell to their hospitable friend, there was a rush for the hay wagon. Heaven did not seem further away to some of the party than the top of that wagon, but they all managed to gain it and after being comfortably seated journeyed homeward , arriving in Lykens just as the first mine whistle sounded at the approach of dawn. They were the means of awakening several families in time for work who otherwise would have longer remained in the land of nod.
The following composed the party: Mary Schneider; Katherine Schneider; Alois Schneider; Marion E. Coles; Mayme Radel; Bertha Kindler; Carrie Bogar; Cora Keiser; Edyth Seal; Minnie Rettinger; Annie Uhler; Mary Uhler; Ed Brown; William Weineck; William Ludes; Harold Weidel; George Smith; Lewis Saltzer; Stuart Romberger.
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Obtained from Newspapers.com.
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