Halloween

Nov. 1, 1935: Who’ll Drive New Fire Truck Is Question Irking Hebron; Old Timers Recall ‘Pranks’

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 1, 1935.

Who’ll Drive New Fire Truck Is Question Irking Hebron; Old Timers Recall ‘Pranks’

(By ROBERT ALLETT)

Just who should drive the new fire truck is the question bothering the Hebron town board these days. Two weeks ago Boone township bought a two-thirds ton job and presented it to Hebron officials for operation. A modern truck with a 400-gallon “booster” tank, the new equipment can give the township adequate protection against fire damages. How much protection it will give, however, is another story and one which will be aired at the next meeting of the town board to be held next Thursday night at 8 o’clock in Attorney Petrie’s office.

Two schools of thought concerning the township’s need in the line of man-power to operate the fire truck provide the basis for the controversy. At the present time Hebron has a volunteer department of twelve men and in the past the first one to reach the fire-house after a call, was privileged to drive the old truck.

Glenn Norton, president of the town board, thinks a man should be hired for twenty-four hour duty to be responsible for care and operation of the new equipment. Other members of the board, Leland Buchanan and Guy Albertson, are not entirely sold on the idea, it is understood. General sentiment in Hebron seems to support Mr. Norton’s opinion. Trustee Harry Williams is in favor of hiring a full-time fireman and the township has offered to cooperate in paying his salary.

A strong argument in favor of President Norton’s proposal was offered early Monday morning when a garage and tool shed owned by Joseph Reif, who lives east of Hebron, caught fire at 2:30 o’clock. Fifteen minutes elapsed between the time of the siren call and the truck’s response. The building burned to the ground with loss of many patent models and a Chevrolet auto, awned by Reif. Sam Folsom, commenting on the length of time it took the volunteers to get organized and reach the scene of the fire said, “the boys were just out of practice.”

The good old days when Hallowe’en was a night of terror for Hebron residents is gone forever, according to Isaac Cross and Otis Childs, only they agree that those old days were sometimes not so “good.”

The citizens still remember the time, many years ago, when pranksters put Pastor Kruell’s buggy on the Pennsy tracks, just north of town, and watched the train smash it flatter than the wonderful one-horse shay. Detectives spent many days in Hebron following the incident, trying to find the guilty parties. Memory of their presence and the arrival of heavier conveyances combined to put a damper on such activities and for the past several years October 31 has been comparatively quiet. Heaviest casualties occur in the line of outdoor conveniences, that of Mr. Cross having been tipped over annually for the past forty years. “I fooled ‘em this year,” said Isaac, who has lived in Hebron for about seventy-three years, “and put ‘er inside.”

In spite of the fact that the state conservation department has repeatedly stocked the Kankakee basin with small game, hunting in that vicinity is poor this year. An abundance of fox are said to be killing rabbits and pheasants. Fox pelts bring little or no price and Porter county does not offer a bounty on their heads so little has been done to wipe out this small game menace.

The Hebron Men’s club, sixty strong, will begin its winter program of card parties next Thursday night. Last year, according to George Gidley, until last year president of the group since its organization seven years ago, average attendance was about fifty. The club is a live-wire body which each Christmas sponsors a fund for poor children. Andres Crawford is the new president.

Oct. 31, 1985: Halloween fright 1985 - Dujmoviches transform garage into custom haunted house

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 31, 1985.

Halloween fright 1985

Dujmoviches transform garage into custom haunted house

By Elizabeth Cloyd

Staff writer


The garage at 732 Governor looks a lot like any other garage in South Haven.

Once inside, however, the differences are frighteningly apparent.

Inside the garage is the fifth haunted house members of the Dujmovich family have constructed. Randy, John and Scott Dujmovich and cousin Tony Dujmovich have made creating haunted houses an annual family affair.

This year’s edition features Frankenstein’s laboratory, Dracula in his coffin, an automated witch stirring a cauldron and a scene from The Exorcist, complete with Regan screeching and spinning her head around.

According to its creators, the haunted house is guaranteed to spook.

Randy, Tony and John Dujmovich made their first haunted house when they were in the sixth grade. The following year they also made a haunted house, but they took a break from scaring people until three years ago, when the haunted house became an annual family event.

To make the most of the limited garage space, the Dujmovich clan and their friends build an intricate maze with plywood, rails and cardboard to baffle visitors.

Constructing the haunted house took about a month.

The steps, turns and twists of the haunted house make visitors lose their sense of direction, making them more susceptible to the surprises the haunted house offers.

The Dujmoviches, and friends Jim Stewart, Brett Homann, Floyd Vestal and Jay Walker planned, built and staff the house. Members of the group take turns performing the different jobs in the house, from serving as haunted house, from serving as haunted house tour guides to donning masks and scaring people from under bridges and from behind windows in the house.

Randy Dujmovich said the group gets a lot of inspiration from horror movies, although an idea for the haunted house can strike at any time even while he’s at class at Purdue North Central.

“We’ll see something in a movie and try to adapt it to work in the haunted house,” he said. 

“Sometimes we’ll be sitting there in school and get an idea and just start drawing.”

Although they charge admission for entry to the haunted house (50 cents for those 12 and under, 75 cents for those 12 and over) the haunted house has never made any money.

“We usually end up $50 or $75 in the hole,” Tony Dujmovich admitted. He said he and his crew continued to create the haunted houses because of popular demand.

“The public seems to like a lot and people were asking about it, so we did it again,” Ton said. “We just do it for fun.”

Randy Dujmovich could not predict how long they would continue to produce the haunted houses, but said they would probably continue.

“We’ll probably still be doing this when we’re 40.”

Brett Homann comes to life as Frankenstein at the Dujmovich Haunted House.

Brett Homann comes to life as Frankenstein at the Dujmovich Haunted House.

A ghoulish Dracula peers out from his coffin at visitors to the Dujmovich Haunted House in South Haven. Jim Stewart, in monster garb, is one of eight South Haven residents who staff the annual homemade haunted house.

A ghoulish Dracula peers out from his coffin at visitors to the Dujmovich Haunted House in South Haven. Jim Stewart, in monster garb, is one of eight South Haven residents who staff the annual homemade haunted house.

An automated version of Regan, the waif possessed by the devil in The Exorcist, spins her head and screeches while Tony Dujmovich, in the werewolf mask, appears from behind her bed.(V-M: Kathy Woodward)

An automated version of Regan, the waif possessed by the devil in The Exorcist, spins her head and screeches while Tony Dujmovich, in the werewolf mask, appears from behind her bed.

(V-M: Kathy Woodward)

Oct. 27, 1965: Goblins To Roam Valparaiso Streets

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 27, 1965.

Goblins To Roam Valparaiso Streets

Annual Halloween festivities in Valparaiso will open Friday night when witches, goblins, ghosts and other eerie costumed and other eerie costumed characters will take to the streets (sidewalks, that is) for a single evening of “Trick-or-Treat” as designated by Mayor Don Will.

Following a restful night youngsters of the city will be guests of Valparaiso’s Jaycees at the organization’s annual Halloween Party at the Porter County YMCA Saturday evening.

According to Chairman Robert Crawford, costumed children are requested to meet Saturday at the south side of the courthouse between 7 and 7:30 p.m. sharp for the parade to the YMCA, led by a city fire truck.

‘Y’ Entertainment

At the YMCA youngsters will be ushered through a system of entertaining chutes to the basement area where judging of costumes will be held.

Crawford said today 42 prizes will be awarded for winning costumes in a variety of categories.

Also on the entertainment agenda for the evening will be the showing of popular film cartoons.

Refreshments of doughnuts and soft drinks will be served by the Jaycees.

TRICK-OR-TREAT PARTICIPANTS一Group of young goblins and ghosts peeking around cornstalks are representative of cast which will take to Valparaiso streets for annual ‘Trick-or-Treat’ night set by Mayor Don Will for a single run Friday. City’s youngste…

TRICK-OR-TREAT PARTICIPANTS一Group of young goblins and ghosts peeking around cornstalks are representative of cast which will take to Valparaiso streets for annual ‘Trick-or-Treat’ night set by Mayor Don Will for a single run Friday. City’s youngsters will be feted at Jaycee Halloween party at YMCA Saturday evening. From left Beth Harrington, 3, Lynn Harrington, 4, Mike Meyer, 7, Jeff Harrington, 6, and Michele Meyer, 4. (V-M Staff Photo)

Oct. 15, 1935: Library can Supply Ideas For Hallowe'en

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 15, 1935.

LIBRARY CAN SUPPLY IDEAS FOR HALLOWE’EN

The season of Hallowe’en brings a deluge of requests for party suggestions to the public library. The planning of novel games and entertainment for parties to celebrate the mysterious evening occupies many local people and the “party and game” books at the library are much in demand.

While Hallowe’en is one of the most popular occasions for costume and fancy popular occasions for costume and fancy parties, the library receives requests for information about stunts and entertainments at other times. All through the year, readers ask for books which will give ideas for novel entertainments. Certain holidays, of course, are always popular days for entertainment. Valentine’s Day, Washington’s birthday, Christmas and other festivals are chosen for parties by many hosts and hostesses. But an almost equal number of requests come from people seeking unique ideas for bridge parties, birthday parties, showers and similar entertainment.

Popular among the titles which suggest novelties in decoration and entertainment for Hallowe’en and other holidays are: Dennision’s party magazine, Putnam’s book of parties, Planning Your Party, and The Shower Book.