By Sam Frattasio, ’27

Staff Writer

I am a third generation Hanoverian.  My grandparents built homes in Hanover in the early 1970’s and 1980’s, and both of my parents grew up in town. Hanover has changed quite a bit since my grandparents’ and parents’ youth, and Halloween has changed along with it.  I recently discussed Halloween in Hanover with my parents, aunts and uncles, and learned about traditions of the past.

Halloween has always been a special day of the year in Hanover.  When the Hanover Mall was indoors and a real “mall,” the stores would have indoor trick or treating throughout the complex.  Children would dress up and collect candy from places like Orange Julius, Friendly’s, Almy’s, Zayre’s and Sears.  The largest grocery store in town, Angelo’s, used to have its annual giant pumpkin raffle, which would routinely provide a 100 pound gourd to the winner for jack-o-lantern carving. Hosting its own haunted house in the fabled Sylvester School, Hanover was known as the scare capital of the South Shore long before Barrett’s Haunted Mansion ever opened its doors in Abington.  Perfectly suited to host the ghoulish affair, Sylvester School turned into the scariest building in Plymouth County.  Hanover High School upperclassmen ran the show, creating cauldrons of boiling brains in the kitchen, scary clown and skeleton jump scares from broom closets and numerous other spooky creations throughout the hallowed hallways. 

Another interesting thing about Halloween in Hanover back then is that children stayed and trick or treated in their own neighborhoods.  Those seeking pillowcases of candy did not drive to another part of town, or another town altogether.  Woodland Drive, Old Town Way, Brook Circle, Stonegate Lane, Larchmont Lane, Old Forge, Green Hill Road, Brookwood Rd, Old Farm Rd, Myrtle St, Broadway, Circuit St, Main St and many other streets served their residents perfectly well on Halloween. Today, the Stone Meadow neighborhood seems to be a popular area for trick or treating, receiving most children above 10 years of age and leaving other neighborhoods empty of kids in costumes. 

Halloween is a great American holiday filled with youthful energy.  Every town has its own celebrations and Hanover is no exception.  Each October 31st is its own unique tapestry, with new memories created each year.  We might, however, do well to consider the traditions of Hanover’s past, and how things were done once upon a time.  Maybe we can meld together the best of what makes Halloween so memorable today, with what made Halloween in Hanover of yesteryear so much fun?        

Featured image: Image: 2warpstoneptune.com from https://www.thatzhowiroll.com/home/2019/10/9/8-ways-halloween-has-improved-since-the-80s