1939: When Halloween was more about mischief than candy in Layton

             A house's window in Layton City, decorated for a 21st Century Halloween.

BACK in 1939, Halloween night in Layton City represented less about candy and more about pranks and mischief.

“Halloween pranks, vandalism annoy County citizens” was a Nov. 3, 1939 headline in the Davis County Clipper newspaper.

Soaping and waxing windows was a common prank, along with the theft of automobile parts and the dumping of sugar beets.

In Layton, one porch of a home was badly scorched when youth tossed a signal torch upon it. The homeowner fortunately put out the fire before it set the structure ablaze.

One of the big stores in Layton posted watchmen on the night of Oct. 31 in front of its large windows to prevent vandals from waxing them. However, “Halloweeners” on horseback used lassos to incapacitate the guards while other juveniles waxed the store windows.

In Syracuse, sugar beets in a rail car bound for the Layton processing plant were dumped on the spur line by a group of boys – despite weighing tons. Sheriff’s officers apprehended the juveniles.

In Centerville, some homes were plastered with fruit and vegetables thrown by pranksters.

“Halloween is a time for pure fun,” the newspaper reported. “But when citizens everywhere have to be on guard to protect their homes and places of business … then it is time for parents and all citizens to unite and educate the youth of today upon the rights of everyone and that these costly depredations must stop.”

-The First ever mention of Layton about Halloween in a newspaper was in Davis County Clipper on Nov. 6, 1903. This report stated:
"The Ladies' Independent League made their first appearance this season in the form of a Halloween party, at the pleasant home of Mrs. Martha Weaver, Saturday night. Ghosts, witches, spooks, fortune tellers and everything gruesome and hideous requisite to make this party a genuine success, was in evidence."
That's how early 20th Century Halloween went in Layton and most of the nation -- Halloween parties held, but no going door-to-door to candy yet.
-Some 11 years later, in 1914, another Layton Halloween party was mentioned in the newspaper. The Nov. 6, 1916 Clipper stated then: "Miss Martha Ellison gave a Halloween party Saturday night, that was attended by upwards of fifty guests, a number of them being from Salt Lake and Ogden. The house was appropriately decorated for the occasion and a regular Halloween menu was served. A cavern was provided where a witch told fortunes."
That same issue of the Clipper also mentioned boys in Layton had staged various Halloween pranks on Oct. 31 that year -- letting the air out of automobile tires, taking harnesses apart and scattering things about yards. This "caused a great deal of trouble," the story stated.
-Jumping forward to Halloween of 1935 and several parties went mentioned as held in Layton. The Clipper of Nov. 8, 1935 stated that Miss Cara Flint of Ogden held a Halloween party in Layton at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Flint. There was music and a luncheon.
That same issue of the newspaper reported that Phyllis and Bernice Pettit also hosted a Halloween party in Layton, but this was a slumber party. "The supper table was gay with Halloween decorations. Long streams of orange and black reached from the chandelier to each guest's place. Place cards of black cats indicated where each guest should sit, and the favors would little hats of orange and black."