Halloween hotspot
Costumed children flock to German Village for annual haul
of goodies
For those who live around Schiller Park, Halloween is a time when they open front doors to hundreds of children from surrounding neighborhoods.
It is a tradition that has gone on for years.
Beverly Marcum, 44, who lives on the South Side, said she remembers as a small child coming over to the stately brick homes surrounding one of the city’s best-known parks.
When she got older, she brought her own children to German Village for trick-ortreating.
Thursday night, she was with her grandchildren.
“They give good stuff to the kids out here, and you
don’t have to worry,” Marcum said.
Columbus and most of its suburbs held their annual Beggars Night on Thursday.
Though Columbus’ trick-or-treat hours didn’t officially start until 6 p.m., kids in costume were starting to make their rounds at Schiller Park earlier than that.
Jeremy Chandler, 37, said children were at his front porch at 5:30 p.m.
Chandler was prepared for the visitors, with 20 pounds of candy. Friends who came over for the evening brought an additional 20 pounds.
He didn’t expect to have any leftovers.
“I have seen buses pull up,” Chandler said. “Sometimes, we see the same people a few times in a night.”
Peter Fox, 36, was visiting Chandler dressed as the Big Bad Wolf in grandma gear from Little Red Riding Hood. He was drinking a long-neck beer as he watched the parade of beggars come to the door.
“Hey, wolves get thirsty, too,” Fox joked.
One of the visitors to Chandler’s home was Sam Agra, 17, of the South Side, who grabbed some boxing gloves and a cape to dress up as boxing champion Manny Pacquiao. He was out protecting his 12-year-old sister, Maggie, who was dressed as Princess Jahanara, the princess of India from the 1600s.
Joel Teaford and his wife, Meg, who are in their 70s, have lived on Deshler Avenue for 30 years. He decided to stock up with 700 items to give out this year, up from the usual 600.
Teaford said it’s their tradition to hand out packets of hot chocolate, which seemed to be a hit.
“We used to give out raisins, too,” Mrs. Teaford said. “But that wasn’t real popular. Sometimes they would hand them back.”
Darnell Heywood and her neighbor, Carolyn Harper, were out to greet the children from the front porch of their duplex. They spent $150 on candy, which filled a huge bowl.
Heywood and Harper said that German Village is known as a home for professionals and emptynesters. The Halloween celebration helps to break down barriers and welcome kids and residents from other areas.
“People aren’t afraid to come up to the door and interact,” Heywood said. “It really is a special thing.”
Chip Burke and Julia Backoff, who will soon be married, moved to Deshler Avenue on Memorial Day and were told by neighbors to get ready for Halloween. So they thought they were ready when they purchased 500 pieces of candy.
They ran out within a half-hour.
“We’ll be ready for next year,” Burke said.