Mendon May Day—

Bright blue skies, dew covered grass and snow capped mountains are among a few of the hallmark traditions of our Mendon May Day. Our springtime celebration is now held on the first Saturday in May, each year, it is sure to stir your soul as well as delight your springtimes senses.

 

Mendon Utah Logo
  • Mendon May Day
  • Beginnings
  • May Day Traditions
  • May Day Songs
  • Crowning Speeches
  • May Queen's

Mendon May DayMendon May Day 2006

Mendon’s May Day is a community celebration that has continued on from Mendon's early pioneer times, in much the same form and fashion as it was first practiced by those early founders of our city. If they were watching the pageant this year… I think they would approve of our celebration and the one-hundred pretty little school girls dancing around five maypoles, singing the songs of spring, songs for their Queen of the May. The speeches, dance steps, music and songs were prepared for us long ago and today we shared this legacy with our community once again. Thank you Mendon for preserving your heritage, for sharing it with our small but growing community, for sharing it with all whom would come. You are one of the very best kept secrets in the country! May 1, 2010 was our 148th time to crown a Queen of the May to reign over the quaint springtime array, I hope we are able and willing to do it that many times more. Thank you people of Mendon for your hard work and for your love and kindness in keeping this wonderful tradition alive. Thank You …

May Day Beginnings

The beginnings of Mendon’s first May Day can be traced to the early spring of 1863. A group of young girls, feeling the exhilaration of the fresh springtime air, walked, skipped and perhaps even ran with excitement, south toward the old millpond some three miles distant. Recent events in the valley had created a sense of safety among the early pioneer settlers who were still living fort-style and the young ladies of the newly settled town were going to take advantage of it. Picking the native spring flowers, placing them in their hair as they went, they collected beautiful bouquets and laughed with each other as they enjoyed the beauty of the countryside and the fresh warmth of the sun. History has given us the names of only two of these young women, Mary Willie and Seny Sorensen.

In the country of their birth, springtime had always brought with it a celebration of the season; they had celebrated May Day in England and the Scandinavian countries as children. No reason could be seen not to elect from among the assembled group of friends a May Queen of their own. The method of selection is not known, but the first queen, Seny Sorensen was crowned on that day with a hand woven wreath of fresh springtime flowers.

From this early time until the present, Mendon has continued a proud tradition of celebrating spring by honoring the youth of the local area. The dances are taught, the songs are sung, the steps are memorized and the sound of one hundred or more, young girls praising the queen can still be heard in Mendon, on the first Saturday in May, at 10:00 in the morning on the town square, rain or shine! Come and visit with us!

History of Mendon's May Day—

The May Day years with links below, will take you to the information I have posted to the web for that year. Enjoy your trip into the fun days of Mendon’s May Day past.

 
Mendon May Day Index by Year
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980
1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970
1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960
1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950
1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940
1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930
1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920
1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910
1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900
1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890
1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880
  1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870

Rodney J. Sorensen

 

Mendon's May Day BeginningsMendon May Day Dancers, 2002

The beginnings of Mendon’s first May Day have been traced back to the early spring of 1863. A group of young girls, feeling the exhilaration of the fresh springtime air, walked, jumped, skipped and perhaps even ran with excitement toward the old millpond, some three miles to the south of Mendon. Recent military events in the Cache Valley had created a new sense of safety among the early pioneer settlers who were then still living at the time fort-style for protection from the Indians, and the young ladies of the newly settled town were going to take full advantage of it. Picking the native spring flowers from the valley floor, placing them in each others hair as they joyfully went, collecting beautiful bouquets and laughing with each other as they enjoyed the beauty of the fresh countryside, the soft warmth of the spring sun. History has given us the names of two of these young women, Mary Willie and Seny Sorensen, the rest we could surmise, for there were by this time several more families added to the settlement at Mendon.

In the native countries of their birth, springtime had always brought with it a celebration of the season; they had all celebrated May Day, both in England and the Scandinavian countries as children. At the time, no reason could be seen to not elect from among the assembled group of young friends, a Queen of the May for their own. Thus it was done, a group of girls choose from among them, a queen. The method of selection is not known, but the first Queen of the May is, Seny Sorensen was crowned on that warm spring day with a fresh wreath of woven springtime flowers. Another of the young women would have stood behind her, said a few words, and placed the beautiful floral wreath, still fresh with the scent of spring upon Seny's head.

From this early time until this very day, Mendon has continued a proud tradition of celebrating the return of spring by honoring the youth of our local area. The dances are taught, songs are sung, steps are memorized over and over and then you will hear the wondrous sound of some sixty young school girls, praising the queen in verse, piano playing in the background. A queen is to be crowned on the town square each year, the first Saturday in May. Beginning at 10:00 a.m. most years, and lasting until just after Noon, including the program held at the nearby church. Yes, it can still be heard in Mendon rain or shine, outdoors if at all possible, but indoors if need be. Come by and visit with us.

Those, whom established the tradition in Mendon, would most likely recognize it, as it exists today. I think this is due to the fact that commercial concerns are usually not ever allowed to spoil it. It is just the good people of Mendon, their young Queen, our little sons and daughters, all taking one spring morning from each year to get together on the village green. Overhead we will wish for blue bird skies, white snow capped mountains in the distance, lushes green grass and dew on everyone’s shoes… a time to cherish and reflect together. A time for family, friends and returning citizens of Mendon.

Mendon's May Day Traditions

Kind friends, we have met this lovely day, to welcome again the spring. The birds are singing a joyous lay, and the trees their fragrance bring. Nature has on her robe of green, she smiles all through the day. The pretty blossoms with the buds between, now blush in their old-fashioned way. The fairies are calling for someone to reign, over all of the springtime array. So we must now hasten our laurels to gain, and crown __________ our Queen of May.

Thus wrote Bishop Henry C. Sorensen, the composition commonly spoken of as the crowner’s speech. Those of us who have been invited to do the honors have memorized and spoken these meaningful words as each has placed a crown of flowers on the head of a lovely girl. This and all that goes with it has had a refining influence on the young people of Mendon. The idea, is it said, came from the English converts who had taken part in May Day celebrations in England. In the beginning, with apple blossoms and May flowers around them, the townspeople went ‘Straying and Maying’ around the public square. They followed the Marshal Band under the leadership of Frank Williams, who organized the young men and boys. The maypole dance and the crowning of the queen were later introduced. Larsine (Seny) Sorensen, who later married Alexander Richards was the first Mendon May Day Queen. Since then there have been many; and we honor them again today. I know of only two times in the history of this celebration when it was conducted differently. One time the queen was crowned by the Sunday school superintendent, who was my father, William Isaac Sorensen. The other time she [Arzella Bird, in 1915] was crowned by another girl, Julia Ahrens Muir. This was done because of a shortage of, or unwillingness on the part of the boys to act. But in the last fifteen or twenty years there has been no such problem. This might be because of the expertness of the Sunday school superintendency and the larger number of boys in this age group. As I have observed this program I can see the wisdom of the ward leaders of yesteryear in sponsoring a boy-girl relationship in a refined and beautiful setting. It has been suggested by some in the past that this program could be modernized. But it is my feeling that its strength is in its simplicity. It is time tested, having proven successful year after year. The words of the songs sung by the townspeople and the maypole dancers tell the story of Mendon’s May Day. The following are the songs that are used, the origin of which I am not sure:

“Oh May Queen”

Oh May Queen, Oh May Queen we’re coming.
Right gladly we greet you today,
The birds sing, the bees now are humming,
To welcome you Queen of the May.
Thy subjects, we bow down before thee,
With flowers we’ll deck your bright hair,
The garlands we weave we’ll swing O’r you,
To welcome you May Queen so fair.

“'Tis A Merry May Day Morning”

’Tis a merry May Day morning,
Sunshine all the hills adoring,
Skies are bluest, field are fairest,
Clouds are lightest, shadows rarest.
Soft and sweet the breezes blow,
Lest the brooklet laughing low.
Blossoms gaily nodding go, Merry May Day.
Merry, Merry May Day, Merry May Day

“Hail To The May Queen”

Hail to the May Queen, the Merry May Queen
Hail to the May Queen, and now let us sing,
Let us dance in a ring, and welcome our Queen,
Hail to the Merry Queen of May Day.

“Apple Blossoms”

Apple blossoms swing and sway,
In the merry month of May.
All the fairy folks are gay,
’Tis the merry month of May.
In the trees the birdies call,
Apple blossoms softly fall,
Here the robin sweetly say
’Tis the merry month of May.

“May Breezes”

When May breezes melt all the snow from the trees,
The tiny blue violets look up thro’ the leaves.
And the birds who have slept thro’ the long winter night,
Awaken and greet thee, Awaken and greet thee,
Awaken and greet thee with joy and delight,
Awaken and greet thee with joy and delight.

These songs have been memorized by the young girls of Mendon for over 100 years. Because of this inborn interest it is relatively easy for the girls to learn the songs and routine for the maypole dance. The queen’s company consists of approximately five couples, girls and boys about fifteen years of age. The boy who attends the queen is known as the consort. The other girls are maids of honor, each having an escort. It is customary for the family of the queen to invite her company to her home for a fine dinner on the May Day. Former residents of Mendon always make an effort to return to the old home town for this important celebration where they are sure to renew acquaintances with old friends and relatives. The Mendon May Day celebration is one worthwhile tradition which we hope will be kept alive for future generations.

T. Kay Sorensen

 

May Day Congregational SongsSpencer Leishman and Holly Morgan, 1994.

These two traditionally May Day congregational songs, words written by Isaac Sorensen and set to what they called an old tune, were in use as early as the 1870’s. They are perhaps the oldest part of the “Original” Mendon May Day, to be handed down to us and still carried out each year. The music for these songs was not set down in note form, as we have it now until 1964. Prior to this time they have just been stored in the collective memory of the May Day accompanists and handed down every other generation or so, as required. May Day piano accompanists which I remember are from past to recent: Nancy Hunt Ladle; Mozelle Barrett Sorensen; and currently Norma Baker Myers . These three women will account for the bulk of all May Day celebrations since at least the 1930’s. Of course others have played as it as needed, Beth Muir is one that comes to mind.

“Straying And Maying”

The merry maids a maying went
One morning bright and early,
The flow’rs were blooming, grass was green
The dew-drops bright and pearly;
The wind was pleasant, soft and sweet
And all were filled with joy to meet.

While straying and maying
While straying and maying,
Amid the early blooming flow’rs
Amid the early blooming flow’rs.

The lovely maids now here and there
With baskets filled with blossoms,
They culled the flow’rs of white and blue
To deck their heads and bosoms;
And sang with air of sweet content
As though the winding fields they went.

While straying and maying
While straying and maying,
Amid the early blooming flow’rs
Amid the early blooming flow’rs.

With cheerful glee and chorus song
The hours were filled with pleasure,
Some found a pebble, some a flow’r
Each trifle seemed a treasure;
For trifles light as air can please
The guiless heart in hours of ease.

While straying and maying
While straying and maying,
Amid the early blooming flow’rs
Amid the early blooming flow’rs.

Isaac Sorensen

 

“Come To The Woodland”

Come to the woodland away away!
Gathering flow’rs for the Queen of May.
Ev’rything lovely and bright and rare,
Weaving a garland for one so fair.
Sing with the wild birds a song today!
_____ , our _____ , is Queen of May,
Oh! ____ , our ____ , is Queen of May!

Down in the meadow beyond the brook,
Blossoms are found like and open book.
Rev’rantly gather each pearly gem,
One who so loves us has cared for them.
Heaven is wearing a smile today!
____ , our ____ , is Queen of May,
Oh! ____ , our ____ , is Queen of May!

Isaac Sorensen

 

May Day Crowning Speeches

“Then there was May Day. On the first day of May, Mary Willie, Seny Sorensen and a crowd of girls walked out to Clayton to gather flowers. They voted Seny Sorensen to be Queen and had a wonderful time. They have always celebrated that day as May Day ever since!”

When you think that it was not until 1964 that the music was first combined with the words and the notes put down to the May Day songs, that you realize — that oral traditions have played an important role in Mendon’s May Day. Nancy H. Ladle, Mozelle B. Sorensen and Norma B. Myers, it would seem, have between them played the May Day songs all 144 plus years of the celebration, well almost. These three women accompanist are all that most of us, except perhaps the very oldest resident of the community, can remember. This celebration has survived and thrived with an oral transfer of the information required to stage the springtime production. Through it all, Mendon May Day has remained remarkable stable over the years, May Day has adapted as needed to fit with the times without loosing what its earliest traditions are all about, the communities youth.

These two crowning speeches have been used since the late 1930’s. Written by then Bishop, Henry C. Sorensen they have served all who have had the privilege to crowned a queen since this time. The choice of which speech to use is left up to the queen and or her consort. Memorization has always been encouraged, but not always practiced. Some interesting variations have been noted over the years, “I crown you Queen of May.” in 1976 being among them. Prior to this time, the consorts were able to write a speech of their choice, I am unsure if the Bishop inserted these two to help the young men, or to reign in a speech or two that were not what the town thought should have been. Either way it just adds to the fun and the history tradition. Update: During the program at the church after the 2006 crowing of the queen and maypole dance… Bruce Anderson, was the featured speaker. As part of his talk, he asked for Jenae Baker Jepsen, Mendon’s May Queen for 1976, whom for all these years has had to endure… well endure what Bruce had done to her so long ago, to come forward. A chair was provided and a crown of fresh flowers appeared. With Janae holding the Q-Cards for Bruce, and the audiance rolling with laughter, the error of so long ago, 30 years to the day, was finaly done correctly. Much to everyones delight. There is no escape from May Day fever, some cases just take a little longer to set in. Thank you Bruce Anderson for righting your wrong, thank you Jenae for being such a good sport, and a lovely queen of Mendon’s May Day.

"May Day Crowning Speech A"

Kind friends, we have met this lovely day,
To welcome again the spring.
The birds are singing a joyous lay,
and trees their fragrance bring.
Nature has on her robe of green,
She smiles all through the day.
The pretty blossoms with the buds between,
Now blush in their old fashioned way.
The fairies are calling for someone to reign,
Over all this springtime array.
So now we must hasten our laurels to gain,
And crown _______ our Queen of the May.

Henry C. Sorensen

 

"May Day Crowning Speech B"

The glorious springtime now is here,
The gayest season of all the year.
Nature has risen from her silent tomb,
Zephyr is feasting on flower and bloom.
Nightshades have donned their bonnets of blue,
Violets display their bright colors, too.
Let us admit the sylvan scene,
We crown ______ our May Day Queen.

Henry C. Sorensen

 

Mendon's Queens of the May1906 May Queen and Her Court

"Come to the woodland away away! Gathering flow’rs for the Queen of May. Ev’rything lovely and bright and rare, Weaving a garland for one so fair. Sing with the wild birds a song today! _____ , our _____ , is Queen of May, Oh! _____ , our _____ , is Queen of May!"

If you have photographs and or other May Day information that you could share, please contact me via the contact link and let me add the information to our growing collection and web posting. I wold like to scan them and return them to you if you wish, or add them to the hard-copy files. Thank you so very much as always…

Mendon, Utah's Queen of the May Listing
Year # May Queen Year # May Queen
2012 150 Madison Collins 1937 75 Imogene Sorensen
2011 149 Kelsi Christensen 1936 74 Marie Stauffer
2010 148 Taunie Rasmussen 1935 73 Madall Hancock
2009 147 Ashlyn Ferguson 1934 72 Lois Hardman
2008 146 Lindsey Larson 1933 71 Helen Walker
2007 145 Brandy DeBruin 1932 70 Verral Kidman
2006 144 Cheryl Black 1931 69 Faye Hancock
2005 143 Stephanie Maughan 1930 68 Edna Marcia Darley
2004 142 Alyssa Shelton 1929 67 Cleo Richards
2003 141 Tiffany Peters 1928 66 Vira Hiibner
2002 140 Lisa Ann Ferrara 1927 65 Lea Ann Wood
2001 139 Heidi Lynn Bowen 1926 64 Mozelle Barrett
2000 138 Melissa Ann Taylor 1925 63  
1999 137 Emily Rose Brandley 1924 62 Leona Jane Baker
1998 136 Traci Woodbrey 1923 61 LaVon Ahrens
1997 135 Andrea Clemensen 1922 60 Melba Hughes Sorensen
1996 134 Melanie Seamons 1921 59 Lucille Larsen
1995 133 Angela Hofler 1920 58 Violet Bird
1994 132 Hannah Walbridge 1919 57 Laura Richards Hughes
1993 131 Anna Watkins 1918 56 Juanita Christensen (Buist)
1992 130 Katie Krebs 1917 55  
1991 129 Alison Clemensen 1916 54 Rhoda Louise Sorensen
1990 128 Loni Bird 1915 53 Arzella Bird
1989 127 Penny Woodbrey 1914 52 Nora Ahrens
1988 126 Marcianne Hart 1913 51 Hazel Muir
1987 125 Amy Watkins 1912 50 Ethel Ladle
1986 124 Valerie Kay Hudson 1911 49 Orpha Larsen
1985 123 Leisa Thompson 1910 48 Mary Baker (May)
1984 122 Joan Johnson 1909 47 Theta Maud Whitney
1983 121 Kelleen Ann Hansen 1908 46 Eliza Pearl George
1982 120 Laura Lloyd 1907 45  
1981 119 Carol Croft 1906 44 Olive Sorensen
1980 118 Marciea Barrett 1905 43 Therese Lallis Bird
1979 117 Stephanie Muir 1904 42 Adelia Pearl Bird
1978 116 Tresa Quinlan 1903 41 Ethel Maud Sorensen
1977 115 Lisa Bird 1902 40 Annie Laurie Richards
1976 114 Jenae Baker 1901 39 Charlotte Barrett
1975 113 Karla Diane James 1900 38  
1974 112 Debra Porath 1899 37 Lavinia Hughes (Louis)
1973 111 Julie Ann Muir 1898 36 Rachel Marilla Richards
1972 110 Linda Sorensen 1897 35 Mary Elizabeth Wood
1971 109 Cindy Larsen 1896 34 Laura Baker
1970 108 Karine Ladle 1895 33 Mary Ann Hughes
1969 107 Koya Baker 1894 32 Jane Richards
1968 106 Karen Hiibner 1893 31  
1967 105 Rebecca Blanche Yonk 1892 30 Hannah Sophia Sorensen (Nan)
1966 104 Kristine Sorensen 1891 29  
1965 103 Lela Kidman 1890 28  
1964 102 Mary Jean Willie 1889 27  
1963 101 Coy Andersen 1888 26  
1962 100 Eva Longstroth 1887 25 Martha Emma Sweeten
1961 99 Carolyn Louise Larsen 1886 24 Mary Elizabeth Findley
1960 98 Bonnie Peterson 1885 23  
1959 97 Verna Larsen 1884 22  
1958 96 Pauline Sorensen 1883 21  
1957 95 Vonda Richards 1882 20  
1956 94 Shirley Bingham 1881 19 Martha Elizabeth Graham
1955 93 Kohnie Muir 1880 18 Mary Tamer Lemmon
1954 92 Marilyn Hiibner 1879 17 Elizabeth Ann Forster
1953 91 Harriet Muir 1878 16  
1952 90 Georgia Kidman 1877 15  
1951 89 Glenda Longstroth 1876 14 Sarah Lavinia Walker
1950 88 LaPriel Heninger 1875 13  
1949 87 Enid Ellen Bird 1874 12 Hannah Leavitt Baker
1948 86 Louise Muir 1873 11  
1947 85 Naomi Walker 1872 10  
1946 84 Betty Lou Yonk 1871 9 Annie Elizabeth Paul
1945 83 Geneil Hughes 1870 8  
1944 82 Bonnie Shelton 1869 7 Margaret McCullough Forster
1943 81 Renee Bird 1868 6  
1942 80 Marie Walker 1867 5  
1941 79 Margaret Rae Sorensen 1866 4  
1940 78 Juanita Wood 1865 3 Elizabeth Hopkins Walker
1939 77 Doris Baker 1864 2 Susan Hancock
1938 76 Clara Larsen 1863 1 Larsine Sorensen (Seny)

I have worked on this index listing for well over thrity years now. I took it on as it was on the 1964 program, that T. Kay Sorensen and the Mendon May Day Committee worked on so hard on that year. From that beginning I have hunted and searched the archives of USU, Logan Library, old newspapers and personal collections.

This is my current listing as best as can be determined at this point in time. The names in italics are thought to have been the Queen of May for that year as noted. We just do not have as of yet proof positive from a newspaper clipping and or journal entry. I suppose we may never get them all, but I hope to be able to find a "few" more before I am done.

Either way there is now a good start on Mendon, Utah’s former Queens of the May and a lot of work done, but still it would seem a lot to do…

Rodney J. Sorensen