Vigo County Historical Society

Costumes part of museum’s collection

At this time of the year, whether you are young or not so young, a favorite question to ask your friends is "What are you going to be for Halloween?"

This year, reporters have found that children want to dress up as the real-life heroes--the fire, police and armed forces personnel--we hear about and watch doing their job in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Recently the Vigo County Historical Museum received a gift of a costume, called a play suit. It would have been a great Halloween outfit. It was donated by Johanna Heady, who purchased it for her son Steve in 1968. She not only saved the suit, she saved and preserved the box it came in. From the price tag, we know she spent $5.98 at Schultz & Co.

The uniform was made by Herman Iskin & Co. in Telford, Pa, which had been in business since 1910.

The brand name of the play suits is Pla-Master. The box also tells us that the suits are made "for play minded youngsters."

Drawings on the box top show several of the costumes made by the company. You could have chosen from a cowboy or a cowgirl style of clothing. They also offered kid-size uniforms of a Canadian Mounted Police officer, baseball player, policeman, firefighter, doctor or nurse.

Today’s Historical Treasure is Steve Heady’s sailor blue dress uniform. It is made of the same material as a real sailor uniform, complete with insignia on the sleeve. Topping off the outfit is a round, white sailor hat. The quality of materials and workmanship used on this sailor suit has today’s costumes for Halloween beat by a mile.

The costume and box can be found under the spiral staircase in the museum’s entry hall, on top of a display case dedicated to Halloween.

What are you going to be for Halloween" I think I’ll be a snake! S-s-see ha Halloween!