This Week in Amherst History

Varney and a few of his friends thought it a novel idea to fashion Arab robes as their costumes and hit the hot trick-or-treating spots on South Pleasant Street. “We originally planned to just out-hustle the townie brats,” said Varney. After a few disappointing stops, the empty-handed bunch spotted a lit-up Alumni House. They ventured into a gathering of distinguished trustees. Varney was understandably excited. “There it was, the big scene, and we’d been given a ticket to ride on in as stage-hands,” he said. The only drinks they managed to get were Cokes, and it was bitterly cold outside, but that didn’t stop him from enjoying his evening. “It was Halloween, and we had eaten our candy with the Trustees,” he wrote.