Queen Geneil Hughes

1945's Queen of the May, Geneil Hughes was crowned by her consort, Alvin Kidman.

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Mendon Utah Logo

Mendon May Day— 1945Mendon May Queen Geneil Hughes and her May Day court.

Mendon Sets Traditional May Day— Traditional May Day celebration will be staged in Mendon, Saturday of this week, under direction of the ward Sunday school superintendency. This community —one of the oldest in Cache Valley— has held the May Day fete ever since its founding. May queen is Geneil Hughes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John O. Hughes; her consort is Alvin Kidman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Kidman. Coronation ceremonies will be held at 10:00 a.m., followed by the maypole dance by twenty young people, under direction of Gladys Hughes, Donna Larsen and Marie Walker, accompanied by Mozelle Sorensen. The public meeting begins at 10:30 in the chapel, with Mayor Vance D. Walker as principal speaker. The children’s dance is at 2:30 p.m., sports contests for all ages at 3:30, with a ball game between married and single men at 4:30. The pubic dance is set for 9:00 p.m., with music by Norman Watkins’ orchestra of Brigham City.Crown Bearer, Richard Yonk and Flower Girl Althea Sorensen

May Day Festivities In Mendon Saturday— Traditional May Day celebration will be staged in Mendon Saturday this week, under direction of the ward Sunday school superintendency. This community —one of the oldest in Cache Valley— has held the May Day fete ever since its founding. Events Saturday will include Crowning of the queen at 10:00 a.m., the maypole dance, a public program, children’s dance, afternoon sports contests and a dance in the evening. May Queen is Geneil Hughes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John O. Hughes; her consort is Alvin Kidman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Kidman. Coronation ceremonies will be held at 10:00 a.m., followed by the maypole dance by twenty young people, under direction of Gladys Hughes, Donna Larsen and Marie Walker, accompanied by Mozelle Sorensen. The public meeting begins at 11:30 p.m. in the chapel, with Mayor Vance D. Walker as principal speaker. The children’s dance is at 2:30 p.m., sports contests for all begin at 3:30 p.m., with a ball game between married and single men at 5:00 p.m. The public dance is set for 9:00 p.m., with music by Norman Watkins’ orchestra of Brigham City. Sunday school leaders are Reeves Bird, Durrell Hughes and T. Kay Sorensen.

Mendon Holds Celebration— Miss Geneil Hughes was crowned Queen of Mendon’s May Day celebration Saturday morning by Alvin Kidman. Also features of the morning entertainment were maypole dancing and a program held in the ward chapel. The program consisted of prayer, Joseph N. Sorensen; numbers from a ladies chorus; songs by the queen and her attendants accompanied by Mrs. Ellen Ladle; duet, Nancy Hardman and Helen Whitney; comic reading, Mrs. O. J. Barrett; vocal solo, Ross Bartlett accompanied by Mrs. Harry Bartlett; piano solo, Elaine Kidman; talk, Mayor Vance D. Walker; duet, Mrs. Alice Stauffer and T. Kay Sorensen; vocal solo, Mrs. Melvin Baker accompanied by Mrs. Geneva Olson. In the afternoon entertainment included a children’s dance, games, races and a ball game between married and single men with the married men winning. Dance in the evening concluded the day’s evening and music was furnished by Norman Watkins’ Orchestra. The celebration was under direction of the Sunday school superintendency, with Reeves Bird, superintendent, in charge and sports under direction of Durrell Hughes.1945 May Day Flower Crown

Instead of walking diagonally through the town square to the maypole, the queens procession kept to the road and walked around the block, due to the length of the grass and the wetness of the early morning dew. Several of the townsmen were a little upset, having setup their cameras in the “wrong” positions. A camera is reported to have filmed May Day this year.

1945 Court Members— Josephine Baker, Cleon Richards, Heber Hardman, Ferd Hardman, Betty Lou Yonk, Queen Geniel Hughes, Consort Alvin Kidman, Maurice Sorensen, Bonnie Shelton, Maurine Muir, Gilbert Wood, Laura Lee Bird, Geraldine Kidman, Clyde Muir and Marilyn Bird. Crown Bearer Richard Yonk, Flower Girl Althea Sorensen.