By J.J. Lamb
This year, every Vail school will have their own Halloween celebration and families will have fun dressing up and going Trick-or-Treating door-to-door or at Trunk or Treats. That got me thinking: How did earlier generations celebrate Halloween in Vail’s schools?
This Place Matters. Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick visits the 1908 Old Vail Store & P.O. and VPS volunteers. Courtesy Rick Bass
Jack-o-lanterns made of desert gourds blinked in the corners of the Vail schoolhouse. The two-room schoolhouse was decorated with paper cutouts of black cats, owls, witches, and pumpkins. Brothers Arthur, Norman, and Robert Wagner, who lived in their family’s adobe home between the railroad tracks, provided music, playing the violin, guitar, and mandolin. A radio filled in when the boys took a break. Donuts and apples were served.
The 1934 Vail School Halloween party was hosted by the girls in the Vail Villager 4-H Club and the boys Shop Club. Teachers Esta and Lottie Trotter had entertained students earlier during the afternoon class with games, candy, and apples, and by making paper masks. But the evening’s festivities were the main event bringing out families and students all decked out in costume. Fern and Erlene came as a little Russian boy and girl, Luisa Ruiz and Aurora Terraza were clowns, and Lupe Perez dressed as a dancing girl. Eula Figueroa and Donald King won the best costume prizes. They had made themselves complete suits out of “gunny sacks.” They called themselves the “Spirit of the Depression!”
1938 Halloween festivities were held at nearby Colossal Cave. After a trip through the cave, the Vail school Halloween wiener roast celebration was held in the picnic area south of the cave. The picnic area had been recently completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Teachers Esta and Lottie Trotter had Vail Postmistress Mary Jane Warner along as a chaperone. A great time was had by all.
Building shared experiences and memories for our children and our community, is nothing new in Vail — it’s who we are. Happy Halloween! And, no pushing over out-houses!
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Vail Preservation Society was honored to have Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick visit Vail’s 1908 Old Vail Store & Post Office on September 14th. We are delighted that our Representative is interested in Vail’s unique, historic places. VPS will be keeping her up to date about historic preservation and how it serves the Vail community.
