Derry Curfew

The Derry Curfew was a municipal ordinance enacted in the spring of 1958, following the discovery of the body of three-year-old Matthew Clements. The murder of the child, who had been snatched from his tricycle, prompted Chief Richard Borton to propose the measure at a special session of the City Council, where it was adopted unanimously and went into effect the next day. The rule mandated that all children be off the streets and under the supervision of a "qualified adult" by seven o'clock in the evening, a stark response to the escalating terror that had gripped the town since the murder of George Denbrough the previous autumn.

Enforcement and Presence in Daily Life

The curfew was a visible and constant presence in Derry. A stark poster, bearing only the words "REMEMBER THE CURFEW. 7 P.M. DERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT" in black print on white poster-paper, was taped to the checkout desk of the Children's Library, a place where the Losers' Club often gathered. This sign served as a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked outside, even in the seemingly safe haven of the library. The rule was reinforced by a special school assembly where the Chief of Police assured children they had nothing to worry about as long as they obeyed the curfew and other simple rules: don't talk to strangers, don't accept rides from people you don't know well, and remember that "The Policeman Is Your Friend."

Impact on the Losers' Club

The curfew directly affected the activities of the Losers' Club, dictating the boundaries of their summer freedom. Ben Hanscom, for instance, was given a Timex watch by his mother specifically so he could be home by suppertime, which was at six o'clock, a full hour before the curfew. She warned him that if he was late, she would call the police. The rule also influenced their choice of meeting places; the Barrens, a wild and secluded area, became their primary refuge, as it was a space where they could play without the immediate threat of being caught by the curfew or by the bullies who roamed the town. The curfew was a constant, oppressive reminder that their world was not safe, and that the adult authorities, while trying to protect them, were also imposing a form of control that limited their ability to confront the true horror of Derry.

The Curfew as a Symbol of Derry's Fear

The curfew was more than just a practical measure; it was a symbol of the town's collective fear and its inability to deal with the supernatural evil that was stalking its children. The rule was a desperate attempt to impose order on a situation that was fundamentally chaotic and inexplicable. It represented the adult world's failure to understand or combat the true nature of the threat, which was not a human killer but a shape-shifting entity that lived in the sewers and drains. The curfew, therefore, became a tool of the town's denial, a way for the adults to feel they were doing something while the real horror continued to operate in the shadows, beneath their feet. The Losers' Club, by contrast, understood that the curfew was useless against It, and their defiance of its spirit—by meeting in the Barrens after hours—was a crucial part of their rebellion against the town's enforced ignorance.