Farmers Weekly Review

By Sandy Vasko

I know it’s early to be talking about this subject, but if the store shelves are any indication, folks are already preparing for the most fun holiday of the year.

Old or young, we can all participate. Whatever way you choose to celebrate — trick-or-treating, partying, watching scary movies on TV, or simply handing out candy — just have fun with it.

I hope you receive a cabbage from your true love. What? What? Why would anyone give anyone else a cabbage? Well, I felt that way too – until I started researching Halloween in Will County.

Unfortunately, most early newspapers in this county must have thought of Halloween as children’s play, because I can find no references to it at all in Joliet papers, or any other town except Wilmington.

The earliest reference I can find to Halloween is on Nov. 7, 1879, in the Wilmington Advocate: “Last Friday night was All Hallow Eve. Quite a number of pranks about town were indulged in, savoring of mischief generally, in which cabbage stumps figured largely.”

I was mystified! Cabbage stumps? First, what in the world is a cabbage stump?

The following year had this entry: “All Halloween was observed on last Saturday night in this place. It did not end in innocent mischief in all cases, it seems. We learn that several windows and one lamp were smashed, and several gates were unhinged. Cabbage heads were freely distributed, and ‘tis said that both girls and boys took part in the fun. Well, it only comes once a year.”

Again, with the cabbage! This time it was the heads of cabbages.

1882’s Halloween had this description: “Tuesday night was All Halloween, and the demand for cabbage stumps was especially lively. Many a front porch and door yard were found to be ornamented with these suggestive bouquets on Wednesday morning, while merry boys and girls quietly laughed in their sleeves at the general results.”

Stumps again!

I needed to research this, and I found some interesting things. It seems that a cabbage stump is just that, the main root or stump of the cabbage plant. When pulled out of the ground whole, the plant sort of looks like a human. We even refer to it as a “head” of cabbage. Cabbage is a fall plant, and is about ready at Halloween time, and it used to be harvested, stump and all so it would keep better.

I’m not sure how the cabbages and pranksters got together, but I did find an old postcard with the words “Good luck for Halloween” showing blindfolded ladies wandering around in a cabbage field pulling up the plants. A man is urging them on. The costumes seem to be 1700s, but I doubt the card is that old.

Another post card shows animated cabbage plants with the words, “O. is my true love tall and grand? O, is my sweetheart bonny?” and the word “Halloween” on the front.

From this I gather that in the mid-1800s, adults and children alike would decorate the home of their sweetheart or someone they liked with cabbage plants. And, at one time parties may even have been held in cabbage fields.

I tried looking forward in time to find any more references to cabbages on Halloween in Wilmington, but there were none. By the turn of the century, people were too sophisticated to mess with cabbages. Parties in the home were the thing for adults.

Unfortunately, because of lack of newspapers, the next entry I have is from 1905: “That Hallowe’en was appropriately observed in this city there was no doubt on Wednesday morning. Our sportive youths accomplished wonders in the line of street decorations. All available vehicles, signs, gates, etc., were impressed in the service of the grotesque artists. It is gratifying to note that pranks played were not destructive to property.”

And the following year, 1906: “Notice. Will the young people who on last Halloween night carried away porch chairs from the residence of A. S. Hadsall please return same; or the person or persons who received them unexpectedly, please notify the above owner.”

Stealing yard furniture seemed to be the thing for kids as in this 1908 ad: “Notice – I have in my possession at the City Hall a settee which was found on the street the morning after Halloween. Owner can have same by calling and paying for this notice. T. Bond City Marshal.”

By 1909, it seems that things had gotten out of hand: “Halloween was duly celebrated by the young element Saturday night. Out buildings in various parts of the city were removed from their foundations and wagons, etc., were scattered about the streets. During the evening a wagon tongue was accidentally driven through one of the plate glass windows in Miller & Co.’s grocery store.”

Finally, Wilmington folks thought enough was enough. In 1911, the Board of Aldermen passed the following: “Whereas, the practice of indulging in Halloween pranks has become an intolerable nuisance in the City of Wilmington, and in the past has caused great annoyance and has resulted in much damage being done to the property of our citizens.

“Therefore, I, D. E. O’Heron, Mayor of said city, do hereby proclaim that such customary practice will be no longer tolerated in this city, and that any person or persons found loitering about the streets or alleys in groups on Halloween night will be arrested and punished to the fullest extent of the law. Parents are urged to see that their children are at their homes on that evening, and thus avoid the liability of their arrest and punishment.”

I’d like to say there was no more shenanigans on Halloween in Wilmington, but I can’t. From 1921: “Hallowe’en was observed in this city there was no doubt on Tuesday morning. Our sporting youths (many with whiskers) accomplished wonders in the line of street decorations. Vehicles, rolls of wire, etc., were impressed in the service of the grotesque artists, and in several cases art of a high order, a buggy on the top of Brophy’s barn, was noticeable.

“Fun is fine, but when property is damaged by tipping over outhouses and running wagons into the creek, is going too far.”

Sandy Vasko is Director of the Will County Historical Museum & Research Center and President of the Will County Historical Society.