The following appeared in The Rock County Star on October 18, 1929.
Barbecue To Be Feature of Witch Day
Gigantic Community Hallowe-en Party to be Held Here Oct. 31st Under Auspices of Commercial Club
“Witch Day” will be featured in Luverne, on October 31st with entertain-ment and decorations appropriate to the Hallowe’en season and with a program climaxed by a tremendous Barbecue, at which all comers will be invited to share a part of a huge beef, which will be prepared over an open fire in good old fashioned style, and served free, with buns, coffee and sugar and cream.
Details of the celebration remain undetermined at this time, but the resolution to celebrate on October 31, with a gigantic community Hallowe’en party, with all the trimmin’s, was reached at a special session of Luverne Commercial Club, Tuesday night, at which time the club agreed to sponsor and finance this event.
Committees were immediately appointed to arrange the details of the celebration, conforming to the resolution presented to the club by its retailers’ committee. The retailers’ plan called for a “Witch Day,” with a suitable program, featured with a barbecue using a whole beef, prepared on the city street, in an old fashioned way and served free, and enlivened by a street program, club-operated stands, bands, a dance, and what not.
To the conventional Hallowe’en surprises, the club arranged for an addition of prizes of another character — merchandising value surprises. Each and every merchandising establish-ment will be urged to present to visiting beef eaters special values of a character in keeping with the day in their sensational character. These values will be extensively, advertised according to arrangements, and preparation of show windows in conformity with Hallowe’en will be made throughout the city.
In addition to an entertainment program of professional character, highlighted by the first local appearance of the famous Little German Band, of New Ulm, Minn., there will be innumerable street novelties of a Hallowe’en character, including old fashioned apple ducking, fortune telling and similar events.
In order to further convey the Hallowe’en spirit the club contemplates making a witch disguise the official costume of the day and varying this dress with costumes giving wearers the appearance of various Mother Goose characters.
In the baby beef parade, presented by the 4-H clubs of the county, the committees hope to call public attention to another aspect of the celebration significance to Rock county, the committees point out, for the serving of an entire beef to the people of the community, puts a very proper emphasis upon an industry which has made Rock county famous. Not only has the community been honored by the exhibition of prize beeves of the 4-H workers and others, but, for three years, the carlot baby beef prize, awarded by the extension division with the cooperation of the livestock breeders, has gone to Rock county beeves, raised by James Ellsworth, of near Magnolia.
The evening program will be presented in the Luverne armory, as will also the afternoon program should the weather make it advisable. An old time dance with music furnished by the radio-broadcasting vaudevillians, the Little German Band, will close the day’s events.
Committees appointed by President Engan, to arrange the details of the day included a committee on Barbecue, Concessions, Publicity, Entertainment, Decoration, Parade and Finance. A. M. DeLapp heads the Barbecue committee; J. E. Cameron the concession committee; B. E. Pelstring the publicity committee; J. R. Wiggins the entertainment committee; F. C. C. Smith the decoration committee; C. G. Gaylord the parade committee; H. B. Creeger of the finance committee.
Each of these committees will have sub-committees to take care of other details of the program. A meeting of the above named chairman, has been planned for this evening, at which time the reports of the committee heads on progress thus far will be heard.
Other action taken by the special club meeting Tuesday night, included the decision to close Luverne’s stores from 10:00 on, on Armistice Day, and the appointment of a committee to confer with the executive of the Legion on Armistice Day arrangements.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.