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Downtown
Greenville Beggars Night
Ghouls, Goblins
& Shirley Temple
By Bob Robinson
From babes in arms wearing OSU cheerleading costumes to adults with
scars, chainsaws or one eye missing, ghouls, ghosts and goblins invaded
the streets of South Broadway Thursday night in a scene vaguely
reminiscent of “The Night of the Living Dead.”
The difference of course was the movie wanderers wanted victims and the
South Broadway wanderers wanted candy. One of the businesses being
“hit” by the ghoulish visitors said they handed out nearly 1,000
suckers.
Every year, on the Thursday prior to the city’s “official” Sunday
Halloween Trick or Treat, Downtown Greenville and its local businesses
host Beggar’s Night. It’s one of many events that highlight rural
traditions in the City of Greenville, Darke County, Ohio.
Begging for candy is preceded by a parade with the VFW Honor Guard,
Greenville High School Band, fire trucks and hundreds of children (and
their adults) dressed in their “finest.” They march from the Greenville
Library to South Broadway to the Greenville Circle. It’s a fascinating
look at the creativity and fantasy of our children… along with a little
parental nudging, of course.
Because of teaching schedules at Edison and other conflicts, I hadn’t
been able to go to many of them, but I managed this year’s. It turned
out to be a special year.
“Hello Mr. Robinson!”
“Hey Mr. Robinson. You were my teacher!!”
Pointing. “I know you! You were my teacher when Mrs. (Name) couldn’t be
there.” Slightly embarrassed smile. “I can’t remember your name,
though.”
“That’s okay. I have a hard time remembering names, too. It’s Mr.
Robinson.”
“Hi Mr. Robinson. When are you coming back to my class?”
“You were funny! You said you were Mrs. (Name). Everyone knows you
can’t be a girl. You’re a boy!” Giggle.
One student asked me which school I preferred when I subbed… I
mentioned one, got a frown, then another, got a huge grin.
I enjoyed seeing my substitute “charges” outside of the classroom. I
enjoyed getting to meet some of their parents. As always, the warmth
and love I saw in these precious children – ranging in age from
Kindergarten to two 2012 GHS graduates – give me hope and confidence in
the future.
Maybe that’s why I keep “substituting” with an otherwise often
mind-numbing busy and hectic schedule. Even a “glass half full” person
like me needs positive reinforcement sometimes.
And I have to admit I love the hugs that I get from many of them.
One of the highlights of the evening occurred before the parade
started. I’ve always been a fan of the Miss Annie Oakley competition,
another great tradition of Darke County. It precedes Annie Oakley Days
Weekend.
On Thursday night child movie star “Shirley Temple” (Bella) and Darke
County Legend Miss “Annie Oakley” 2012 (Elizabeth Harless) posed for a
photo. Thank you, Elizabeth, for your kindness and generosity.
However, that’s only half the story. The other part I heard about
secondhand after the parade…
“She kept looking. She would glance somewhere else but her eyes always
came back to Bella. The man was looking at all of the kids in the huge
circle. She nudged him… he looked at Bella. After a moment they came
over to her.”
“What’s your name?”
“Bella,” whispered the two-and-a-half year old girl.
“Bella Rose Enicks.”
“You won first prize, Bella.”
Nana and Mamaw were delighted. Bella didn’t know what was happening…
only that she was having fun. They got their picture taken by The
Advocate and her “win” was the topic of conversation for the rest of
the evening.
Proud parents are Brittany Augustine and Shawn Enicks. Proud
grandparents are Bob and Susan "Nana" Robinson and Misti "Mamaw" Harsh. Bella still
insists she is NOT Shirley Temple. Even at her tender age, she is tired
of being told she looks like the child movie star.
“I Bella!!!” she always says.
All of the festivals, parades and events that occur in Darke County
throughout the year are wonderful traditions. They are a result of a
tremendous expenditure of effort from hundreds of individuals – mostly
volunteers – devoted to enhancing the experience of life in Rural West
Central Ohio.
It seems only natural that a celebration of the traditional Halloween
would be enhanced for “children” of all ages pretending to be ghosts,
ghouls, goblins, strawberry shortcake, fat men with cigars,
cheerleaders… even Shirley Temple.
Enjoy the photos.
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Ghouls, Goblins & Shirley Temple
Photo Set 1
Photos by Bob Robinson
Click here
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Ghouls,
Goblins & Shirley Temple
Photo Set 2
Photos by Bob Robinson
Click here
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Ghouls, Goblins & Shirley Temple
Photo Set 3
Photos by Elaine Baley
Click here
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