In most towns, Halloween is about costumes, porch lights, and a little mischief. In Chillicothe, Illinois, it means more than that. Halloween has twice revealed the soul of this town, once in tragedy, and once in triumph.

Two events, both on October 31, occurred exactly 90 years apart. One involved fire and destruction. The other was a long-awaited football victory that lit up the night. One reduced the town to ash. The other raised its spirit back to life.

Now in 2025, we look back 135 years after the fire and 45 years since the Grey Ghosts’ dramatic win. These two nights stand tall in the history of Chillicothe.

Some might say it is coincidence. Others might call it fate. Either way, Halloween in this town seems to come with something bigger than just costumes and candy.

Halloween 1890 – A Night of Fire and Loss
Just before midnight on October 31, 1890, a fire broke out at Hancock’s Livery Stable near the center of town. Fanned by the cool fall winds and fed by dry wood buildings, flames ripped through the downtown business district.

Chillicothe had no fire department at the time. A desperate plea was sent to Peoria, where a special train loaded with fire engines was dispatched to help. But there was no equipment on hand to unload the engines, and the crews could do nothing but watch as the fire raged on.

By morning, more than thirty businesses had been lost. Among the casualties:

• The Chillicothe Bulletin office
• The Post Office
• Millinery shops, bakeries, tailor shops, groceries, saloons, barbershops, and private residences
• Telegraph and Telephone offices, cutting off all communication.

The estimated damage exceeded $200,000, an enormous loss in 1890. Most merchants had little or no insurance. The fire left the town physically and financially devastated.

Still, Chillicothe endured. It took 18 months to rebuild. The downtown would never look the same again, but the spirit of the people remained strong. In the ashes of destruction, a deeper resilience took root.

Halloween 1980 – When the Ghosts Came Back to Life
Ninety years after the fire, on another Halloween night, Chillicothe was in the middle of a different kind of struggle.

The IVC Grey Ghosts football team had not won a game since September 22, 1978. They were stuck in a 23-game losing streak. The team played hard, but the results never seemed to follow. Despite their losses, the fans still showed up to support their team.

On October 31, 1980, they faced Bloomington Central Catholic, ranked seventh in the state. Few expected anything different than what the record had already shown. But that night, something was different. The players were fueled by inner strength. Several Grey Ghost players came onto the field with facial paint on, proving they were ready to play on “their night.”

Junior quarterback Todd Burger threw three touchdown passes, including a first-half score to Bruce Everetts and a go-ahead touchdown to Dan Felske in the fourth quarter. Burger suffered a concussion during the game and had to be helped off the field more than once. He returned to throw the final touchdown pass, even though he had no memory of the second half. After the game, Burger was hospitalized overnight and remembers very little from the game.

Sophomore Dave Buckman filled in as quarterback when Burger was out and played with composure beyond his years. Senior Bob Jenkins commended Buckman for this performance as the backup quarterback. “He came in during a pressure situation and did a hell of a job.” Defensively, Robert Reggio and Mike Rodier led the charge, applying relentless pressure and making clutch stops late in the game.

When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read: IVC 20, Bloomington Central Catholic 13.

Fans rushed the field. Players lifted head coach Ron Taylor into the air. It was Taylor’s first and only win as a varsity head coach. It was also the first win ever on Taylor Field, which had been named in honor of his father, George Taylor, two years earlier.

“You don’t know how long this has been for me,” Coach Taylor said after the game. “This is wonderful. Great for the kids. They did not quit, that is all there is to it.”

“It’s a high that I had never felt,” said senior linebacker Robert Reggio, the emotional anchor of the defense.

“We dedicated this game to the seniors,” added Mike Rodier, whose two-way effort helped control both sides of the ball.

For that one Halloween night in 1980, the Grey Ghosts did not just win a game. They broke a curse. They brought pride back to the town. And they did it on the same field that bore the name of one of Chillicothe’s greatest coaching legends.

Two Halloweens, One Unshakable Town
The fire in 1890 and the football win in 1980 share more than just a date. They reveal something true about Chillicothe.

The town has burned. It has struggled. It has rebuilt. It has believed again.

One Halloween tested the buildings. The other tested the heart. In both cases, the town proved it was stronger than anyone thought.

Whether by coincidence or fate, Halloween in Chillicothe seems to have a way of reminding us of who we are.

Ghosts and Goblins
So, the next time October 31 rolls around and the air turns cool and crisp, remember what this date has meant for our town.

It has been 135 years since the fire. It has been 45 years since the win.

And we still talk about both.

Was it just coincidence? Or was it something more? Maybe Halloween, in this town, is when the real stories are written. This author witnessed something special that night in 1980 and many still speak of it fondly and the legend continues to grow.

Chillicothe has burned. Chillicothe has suffered defeat many times.

And Chillicothe, has always found a way to rise again.

That is more than tradition, that is who we are.