Mischief Night, apparently, is a Jersey thing. Here's how this mayhem started.

NJ.com Advanced Media ^ | October 29, 2018

[SMGFan]

Toilet paper and rainbows of silly string dangling from trees, soap smeared on car windows and overflowing foam fountains. Eggshell shards scattered across yards and driveways with with gooey yolks sliding down window panes. Each Halloween in New Jersey, some residents awake to find such sights on their manicured lawns and once-sparkling windows. It's the sign that someone (probably your local teens) had a good time the night before on Mischief Night — which is, apparently, a very Jersey thing.

The night of Oct. 30 has long-proved a prankster's paradise. But in recent years, more and more police departments have set curfews for those under 18, patrolling neighborhoods to make sure no cartons of eggs or rolls of toilet paper go to waste decorating the streets.

[lastchance]

What town in Hunterdon? I used to visit relatives in Pittstown every summer. They owned Sky Manor back in the 60’s.

[Hot Tabasco]

Does Detroit still burn itself down in celebration?

No..

You sound more and more like a sex education teacher who is still a virgin............

[pinkandgreenmom]

Readington.

[Joe Brower]

"Grew up in Jersey in the late 60s, early 70s. Mischief night was big in my area."

Same here! We wreaked havoc. It was great fun for us in Pt. Pleasant.

[Mears]

We used to cut clotheslines back in the 40s,remember them?

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[Joe Brower]

The 40s is a bit before my time. Never cut any clotheslines, but I once ran into one in the pitch-black dark while running away after a good pumpkin-smash. Went flat on my back, skidded across the maple leaves, heaved back up on my feet and over the fence I went.

In those days, if an upset homeowner got ahold of you, you were in for a good whuppin'.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Mischief Night, apparently, is a Jersey thing...I don't know about that - we had it back in good 'ol Swarthmore, Pennsylvania seventy years ago....

[Guardian Sebastian]

In St. Louis we called it Picket Night.

[SMGFan]

story details vary from headline.

[Mears]

Great story! And if you were anything like my sons you learned NOTHING from it. :-)

.

[Conserv]

In O’Fallon, we called it Mischief Night and we would go “corning.”

We would start getting ready 2 wks in advance. And, the first thing we had to do was raid the local farmer’s corn field.... and then start schucking.

Worst homeowners got was a rat a tat tat on the windows or doors. Then, in the morning, they might have to break out a broom.