The Chronicles Of Grant County
Halloween
2025
The South Portico of The White House at Halloween during 2014. (The photograph was produced by Pete Souza and provided courtesy of The White House, October 31, 2014.)
Today is Halloween.
Looking back at how Halloween was celebrated in Deming in the 1890s provides a perspective on how the holiday was observed in Grant County.
(Recall that Deming was still part of Grant County at that time; Luna County did not yet exist as a separate governmental entity.)
Children did not go door-to-door seeking candy and other treats. There weren't Halloween parades in the community at that time. The holiday's name was spelled several different ways.
Most interestingly, the term "the small boy" was utilized to detail mischief undertaken on Halloween by males.
A few examples of news articles from the 1890s:
On November 7, 1891, the Deming Headlight reported that "Halloween was duly celebrated in Deming last Saturday evening. A dance at the Opera House, and very delightful Halloween parties given to young friends of Miss Mary Lockhart, and to the more mature friends of Mrs. Max Chapman. 'The boys' were comparatively moderate in the wrecking of gates and like outfixtures."
Two years later, the Deming Headlight included "Witches and Ghosts" as the headline of a news article about Halloween on the front page of the newspaper on November 4, 1893. The subtitle was "They Were Present at the Hallow'een Party Given Tuesday Evening – A Good Time Had."
"That was a ghastly crowd which gathered together at the residence of Col. P. R. Smith last Tuesday, the occasion being a Hallow'een party given by Miss Dessie Kendrick," according to the news article. "The ladies were in fancy dress costume, representing witches, ghosts, goblins, and all kinds of fanciful features. The gentlemen were in conventional dress."
"The scene was a pretty one and when the company began the usual Hallow'een tests, the fun begun and continued until after midnight," the news article continued. "The evening was made even more enjoyable by a short literary and musical program consisting of recitations...a piano solo...and a song..."
In the same edition of the Deming Headlight – and also on the front page – was a news article with the headline of "Observed Hallow'een" and a subtitle of "The Small Boy Out in Full Force and Minor Mischiefs Committed."
"The small boy observed last Tuesday evening in regulation style," the news article stated. "Gates were taken from their accustomed places, wagons removed, signs carried off, and in fact every kind of mischief that could be thought of carried into execution."
"Several property owners spent the greater portion of Wednesday morning placing their possessions in proper order," the news article continued. "It was a great night for the small boy and no mistake."
On October 25, 1895, The Deming Headlight reported that "Hallow'een will be properly observed in Deming next Thursday by the small boy and appropriate social entertainments."
After Halloween that year, The Deming Headlight on November 1, 1895, noted that "The young people of Deming evidently intend to enjoy themselves during the fall and winter months. A hay-rack ride was indulged in last night, as a proper observance of Hallowe'en. Hay-rack ride and picnic both in one week and yet the leaders of society say there are more entertainments of a similar character to follow. The young ladies say they had rather walk than ride – when they have to."
The Deming Headlight included a news article on October 22, 1897, that stated that "Halloween comes on Sunday, the 31st of this month. Put an extra nail in dat sign-board and bar down dat ar front gate, or you lose 'em!"
On November 5, 1897, The Deming Headlight reported that "Hallowe'en came and went; so did the good janitor's wheelbarrow. I hope the wheelbarrow will return sooner, though I cannot speak with certainty, not being a prophet. High-rollers go away suddenly and often return so, but what low-rollers do is an unknown quantity. I'll ask a senior to solve the problem: A wheelbarrow, a low-roller, goes away 1 Hallowe'en; how long will it remain?"
In another news article in the same edition of The Deming Headlight, the newspaper stated that "Hallowe'en was observed in the usual manner by the Deming small boy, and numerous act[s] of mischief were apparent Sunday morning."
May your celebration of Halloween (or Hallow'een or Hallowe'en) today be filled with joy and wonder.
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© 2025 Richard McDonough
