Halloween in Lakefield: Where We Started and Where We Finished

Halloween falls on Saturday this year, and every October I think about the same thing: the walk, and the order of the stops.

I grew up with three younger brothers, so getting out the door on Halloween night was always a kerfuffle. Masks were hunted down, costumes were adjusted, someone had lost a shoe. By the time we were finally on the sidewalk, it felt like a small victory.

My first stop never changed. Mucker and Elsie Hull were our neighbours, and Elsie gave out popcorn balls and fudge, both homemade. You could not leave her porch without something good to eat on the way to the next house.

My friends and I then made a beeline for Terry and Lenore Kuch’s. Lenore made her own candy apples and caramel apples, and they were popular enough that we did not want to risk arriving late. If you wanted one, you went early.

Next was my grandfather’s house, at the corner of Bridge and Clementi. Frank Coyle gave out a full-sized Hershey bar. In a bag full of small treats, a full-sized bar was a real prize.

Ted and Myra’s house was another good stop. The talking pumpkin was always a hit, and none of us ever tired of it.

Beyond that, the middle of the night blurs. I can’t tell you the order of the houses, only that the bag got heavier and the evening got darker.

I remember the last stop clearly. At Dr. Gastle’s house there was one rule: you took off your mask, came inside, and sat down. You were served a slice of pie with ice cream, a glass of pop, and then some red or black licorice. For some reason, that pie and ice cream was the highlight of the night. It was not the candy. It was sitting at a table, warm and unhurried, at the end of a long walk.

I have thought about why that is. The treats were homemade or generous, but what stays with me is that people stopped what they were doing and made room for us. The traditions were never complicated. A porch light on, something baked, and a neighbour glad to see you at the door.

Whatever your Halloween looks like this Saturday, I hope it includes a good stop along the way.