World War I brought thousands of soldiers to Camp Lewis, now JBLM. Halloween provided a night of fun and relaxation and a way for Tacoma to welcome these young men who were far from home.
Tacoma Welcomes Soldiers on Halloween
After months of construction, Camp Lewis officially opened on September 5, 1917. The 91st Division, mostly made up of men from the West, including my great-grandfather, started to arrive. By November 11, the camp’s population had reached 45,000.
But what were soldiers to do for fun? On October 17, two weeks before Halloween, post commander General Henry Greene cordoned off the nearby “Joy Zone” due to illegal activity. He also temporarily banned soldiers from visiting “vice-ridden” Seattle.
But soldiers could still visit Tacoma on leave, and the city welcomed them with open arms on Halloween. Dances were particularly popular. The Elks invited soldiers who were members back home to an “old-fashioned” domino dance while 100 soldiers attended a dinner and dance at Sloan’s Dancing Academy.
The Business Girls Club of the YWCA invited 60 men to their “mysterious Halloween program.” This included games, a “chamber of horrors,” a ghost story reading, and two fortune-telling “witches.” Young adult organizations at local churches also invited soldiers to their Halloween parties.
Camp Lewis officers received special invitations to a number of events. Many attended a dinner and dance hosted by the management of Hotel Bonneville. Leon’s orchestra provided dance music, and everyone wore black and yellow witch caps. The Commercial Club held a similar event at their own building. The Snell family also invited around fifteen young officers to a debutante ball at their North Tacoma home.
Halloween Sports at Camp Lewis
“Except for gatherings at smokers and entertainments,” the News Tribune wrote the next day, “Halloween night at Camp Lewis was just like any other night at the cantonment and the visitor had no fear of falling over stretched ropes, etc. Military discipline demands that the sterner part of life be kept uppermost and there were no commands issued or orders given against playing pranks—the men simply knew they would not be tolerated. The soldiers who attended the various entertainments had such good times that they think they have found the ideal way to celebrate.”
Besides the usual program of inter-regimental football games, Company F of the 316th hosted a “smoker,” an informal boxing and wrestling competition. The highlight of the competition was a bout between Johnny “Battle Chico” Rice, the “bantamweight champion of the West,” and Tony Moreno, champion boxer of Company F.
The event was rounded out with a program of singing, dancing, and ragtime piano by Company F talent. Private Howard Patrick, from California like most men in the company and a composer in civilian life, debuted a marching song he had written for his unit.
Deadly Flu Cancels Halloween 1918
The 91st “Wild West” Division left for France in June 1918 and was replaced by the 13th Division. Meanwhile, Greene Park had been built across the Pacific Highway from Camp Lewis to provide wholesome and monitored recreation for the soldiers. Service organizations like the YMCA and Red Cross were well organized to provide entertainment as well.
All this should have made Halloween 1918 bigger than the year before. But in September, Camp Lewis saw its first cases of the deadly pandemic flu. The camp was put on quarantine as thousands of soldiers became ill.
The quarantine lasted past Halloween. Events were cancelled, and soldiers were unable to visit Tacoma, which had also banned public gatherings. To help cheer up patients at the base hospital, the woman’s Monad Club of Tacoma sent boxes of apples they had planned to use as decorations for a soldiers’ Halloween party.
Camp Lewis Demobilizes, 1919
The Armistice ended the war on November 11, 1918, barely a week after Halloween. Camp Lewis was converted to a separation center. Hundreds of soldiers were discharged every day. Keeping those that remained entertained became very important.
Several holiday parties were held Halloween week in 1919. Soldiers enjoyed seasonal games at the Red Cross party while a costumed “fortune teller” gave encouraging fortunes to hospital patients. The Girls Club at the Greene Park YMCA hosted a masquerade party.
War Camp Community Service held a large Halloween masquerade dance at the Soldiers and Sailors Club. Soft candlelight from jack-o’-lanterns lit the room as the group enjoyed a masquerade dance. A Seattle performer entertained the crowd, and the line to the fortune-teller’s tent was long.
To bolster attendance, ex-servicemen were invited through the American Legion. Women could also write for invitations. With 75 people attending, the party was, organizers told the News Tribune, the “largest and most enjoyable party given at the Soldiers and Sailors Club during the autumn season.”
Though a smaller masquerade dance would be held later that week at the club, this party also marked the end of an era. It would be the last big party before many of the remaining young women volunteers left. The Camp’s population was dwindling. The war was over, and soldiers were headed home.
Camp Lewis Legacy Lives On
Few traces of the World War era can be found on JBLM today. The Red Shield Inn is the only surviving building from Greene Park. Home to the Lewis Army Museum, this is a great place to learn about JBLM’s history and its continuing legacy of service.
