Halloween poems printed in the October 1931 edition of The Guardian magazine. The Guardian was created and printed by the Sisters of Providence from 1916 to the late 1950s.
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST
Children aren’t the only ones who enjoy Halloween. Here are a few tales of Halloweens past from the Congregational Annals:
October 29, 1964 – … Fr. R. Albert of Norwalk, Conn. Father Bob (as he is known to us) … has made arrangements for our entertainment on Halloween night, the suspense movie, “Moon Spinners”. He and his mother are visiting their cousin, Sr. M. Scholastica.
October 26, 1970 – The “active” Sisters prepared an entertainment this evening, combining a Welcome Home to Our Mother General and Sister Assistant and a Halloween Party. The community room was decorated with Jack-o-Lanterns and witches and black cats; public figures (the Archbishop. the Mayor, Mr. Benson M.P. and Prime Minister Trudeau with his silent adhering body guard) were realistically impersonated; and games, songs and refreshments rounded out an enjoyable evening.
October 31, 1980 – The staff got into the Halloween spirit early this morning. Most fun was had by Peter Oomen and Fr. Dan Ryan who exchanged clothes and roles. In the afternoon the Sisters of Infirmary II joined the active Sisters in the dining room for a second round of celebration. The third round took place in the Community Room with all the Superiors of the Community as guests of honour at the party. Toward the end of the festivities the Sisters and girls of Alfred St. paid a “trick or treat” call.
October 30, 1986 – Because some Sisters would be away tomorrow, the Halloween party was held one day early this year. There were a good number in costume. Sr. M. Adele stole the show as a bag lady who had hidden in her grocery cart all the eats for the evening.
October 31, 1988 – The Social Committee decked out the Community Room with Halloween colours. A good number of Sisters came in costume. There was cider, popcorn and candy. And so a good time was had by all at the Halloween party. A new feature was a pumpkin carving contest. Each group had prepared an entry. Sr. Hannah Coleman took the costume prize, wheeling in a pumpkin headed man.