A Razor Blade Canceled This Berkshire Town’s Trick-Or-Treat

Halloween is Friday and trick-or-treaters all across Massachusetts are gearing up for the much anticipated candy fest.

Parents for years have been warning children of tainted candy on Halloween. Be it razor blades, needles, or other poisons, the fear was almost as bad as ghosts and goblins themselves.

Myth, Legend or Reality?

Myths have got to come from somewhere. A small Western Massachusetts town back in 1975 proved the scary legend to be reality. Similar stories have sprung to life since then, to boot.

Pittsfield and Dalton, MA in 1975

The Berkshire County town of Dalton, which borders the county's largest city of Pittsfield, made the papers on Halloween in 1975.

Tainted candy canceled Trick or Treat

Dalton, MA police sifted through 75 pounds of Halloween candy on Halloween 1975. Three razor blades were found in Dalton treats that year, leading the town to suspend Trick or Treat the next 3 years. -These Mysterious Hills Facebook Page

A total of five instances of doctored Halloween candy have been reported to Dalton and Pittsfield police following trick or treat rounds last night. Two parents in Pittsfield told officers that youngsters had returned home with a nail and a razor blade embedded in candy bars last night, while two more instances turned up in Dalton last night. -berkshireeagle/newspapers.com

I have never, or known of anybody, to have ever found tainted Halloween candy, but similar stories have definitely popped up over the years.

Tips for Parents on Checking Halloween Candy

1. Don't let kids eat candy until they get home.

2. Inspect candy under a bright light.

3. If candy doesn't look or feel right, toss it!

4. Throw out those homemade treats!

5. If you find tainted candy, call the police.