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Roosevelt Halloween Party
Tribune photo published October 31, 1953

Typical of Halloween parties held in schools all over the county on Friday was this one at Roosevelt school.  These first grade pupils of Muriel Jennings are shown eating their refreshments after hearing WOI's "Story Hour."  The cookies and orange drink were served by home room mothers Mrs. James Jordan and Mrs. George Fenton, along with Miss Jennings.  The display in the center of the room is a miniature circus the children made in connection with their theme study this fall.

Tribune photo published October 31, 1953

Children in colorful costumes attended the party given by the American Legion Auxiliary Friday night at the Legion hall.  Without their masks these youngsters would be recognized as Virginia Whitcomb, Karen Thorson, Betty and Ann Harrison, Mike Abbott, Mary Morris, Julie and Toni Horsefield, Alan Bornmueller, Mike Blaess and Mary Kay Whitcomb.  On the program for the children were Mrs. Harry Osborn, Mrs. Leslie Harrison, Mrs. J.B. Opheim, Charles Calhoun, Mrs. W.W. Cooley and Mrs. James Woodward were in charge of the judging of costumes.  Chairman of the whole event was Mrs. Pearle DeHart, chairman of the community service committee of the Auxiliary.

HALLOWEEN PARTIES SET HERE SATURDAY - Halloween can be a time of fun at the great expense of no one, the Ames Moose lodge has assured.  the Moose are sponsoring Halloween parties for all county children here Saturday with treats and entertainment, a parade, costumes and prizes.

Weather permitting, party goers will assemble at 5:30 p.m. at the band shell for a parade to the high school auditorium.  There'll be a party at the high school auditorium for the younger children and one at the Odd Fellows lodge for teenagers.  The idea of the whole thing is to provide a better time for Halloween celebraters, in the best of company and with a more pleasing result than if they were left to their own devices.  The Moose Halloween celebration is their Fifth annual party for county youngsters.  They've arranged for 75 prizes donated by Ames businessmen, to go with the treats and entertainment.

The party for the younger children who are to be in costume, will start at about 6 p.m. at the high school auditorium.  There'll be a showing of cartoon movies, distribution of treats without tricks and awarding of prizes.  That party will last until about 8:30.  The teenagers will celebrate with a dance and refreshments at the Moose lodge, above the National Food Store on Fifth street beginning at 8:30 and lasting till about 11 o'clock.  There'll be cider and donuts as refreshments.

AMES HIGH SCHOOL WEB - "The Witchy Weather Get Together" will be the party to be held Saturday night in the study hall at 8 under the sponsorship of Homeroom 138.  The party will have a Halloween atmosphere and everyone there should have a swell time, according to Ed McDowell, homeroom president.

STORY HOUR BEGINS AT PUBLIC LIBRARY SATURDAY - Story hour at the Ames public library begins its fall season this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with a Halloween program under the direction of Jean Murray, assisted by Shirley Small.  Children from kindergarten through third grade are invited, and once in a while at these sessions a mature looking four-year-old is able to escape detection, the library reports.

While the younger children are having their fun upstairs, the Bookworms' club meets in the auditorium under the direction of Lavelle Hauck, children's librarian.  This is for children from fourth grade up.

UN SHOWERED WITH LETTERS TO "HALLOWEEN"  Letters addressed "Halloween, United Nations" have been clogging the basement post office at U.N. headquarters.  Sometimes the address is "Trick-or-Treat, United Nations."  This highly unlikely combination of a prankster's holiday and a world organization is not generally known, even around the U.N.

"We've been calling it our best kept secret," admitted Mrs. Helenka Pantaleoni, chairman of the U.S. Committee for the U.N. Children's Emergency Fund, (called UNICEF).  The story wasn't concealed deliberately, but just because it developed so far beyond expectations that only the U.S. committee and the U.N. post office have kept pace with details.

"It started in Sheboygan two years ago," explained Mrs. Pantaleoni, a former actress who works full time at her job even though it is an unsalaried "volunteer" post.  Youngsters in that Wisconsin town were urged to use "trick-or-treat" tactics for a worthwhile purpose.  So they collected pennies instead of candy and shipped the money off to the U.N. Children's Fund.

Last year the idea spread to 500 communities. Some sent in boxes jammed with pennies and nickels and dimes.  the total was an amazing $32,000.  This year, four times as many towns have written the U.N. for Halloween kits.  "We got requests from Canada and from Hawaii, too," Mrs. Pantaleoni said enthusiastically.  "It really isn't the money that pleases us the most, but the chance for families in so many towns to feel they're taking an active part in something here at the U.N.  They learn a little more about the work we do and the U.N. doesn't seem such a far-off organization.