The Dietrich home at the corner of Division Avenue and First Street Southwest has been decorated for Halloween 39 straight years. Bob Schneider/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

IN THE COMMUNITY

Historic home in Medicine Hat decorated for Halloween for 39th year

Oct 30, 2024 | 2:30 PM

It’s the 39th year that the Dietrich household has gone all out with Halloween decorations.

The Dietrich’s historic designated home built in 1900 is located at the corner of Division Avenue and First Street Southwest.

Owner Dwaine Dietrich said decorating their home was an idea that his wife came up with when their children were little, which keeps Halloween day busy.

“I think it was the third year that we were here that we ran out of candy at 900 kids,” Dietrich said.

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“We were like seven, eight hundred for many years and then people, all over the city started decorating for Halloween, so there’s all kinds of displays all over, so we average about 250 to 300 a year now.”

Dietrich said his home has been a destination for a lot of tricker or treaters over the years, with some of his neighbours only averaging between 20 to 30 kids each year.

They did run into an issue with someone stealing one of their displays last Halloween, but it’s not a common occurrence.

“We have video of two ladies coming into the back alley and getting out of their car and walking around the boulevard and stealing the two blow-ups,” Dietrich said.

“It was too dark that we couldn’t get any identification. If anybody sees a big pumpkin with three ghosts spinning around the top, it’s about six feet high, call me because that’s mine, because there was none other in the city like that one.”

The majority of their decorations have been created, imagined and built by Dietrich’s wife.

Each year they also have 13 pumpkins carved and on display.

Dietrich said it takes a few days to get everything set up, now with help from their kids.

“There’s still some in the boxes in the back that we haven’t put out,” Dietrich said.

“Every year, we try and move stuff around to make it look different. The majority of it’s all out.”

Dietrich said he’s looking forward to seeing the excited trick or treaters this year as he does every year.