Mendon May Day— 1912
Mendon, April 14th— May Day will be celebrated as usual under the auspices of the ward Sunday school. The local board held a meeting Sunday and selected a May queen for the occasion. Miss Ethel Ladle received the highest number of votes and her election was made unanimous. The committee to arrange for the day’s festivities will be chosen at once. A program will also be arranged and published in the next West Side issue. A carload of pipe has arrived for the water system and is being distributed along the line. Several new commodious residences will be erected in Mendon this summer. There is a building fever prevalent, and one who will not quarantine. More rain, more rest, is the watchword now days; farmers are beginning to worry considerably over the present weather conditions that continue to prevent any seeding being done. We are divinely promised “seed time and harvest” so all we need do is wait; the time will come. This weather is favorable for winter wheat, that seems to be very good this year.
Mendon, April 29th— May Day will be celebrated on the 17th instant, and we hope the weather man will favor us with a good day. The committees having the days festivities in charge are a follows: Committee on program; William I. Sorensen, Oscar J. Barrett, Elmer J. Hancock, Sunday school superintendency. Committee on maypole dance; Jane Hughes, Ethel Sorensen, Olive Sorensen. Committee on decoration; Winnie Hardman, Selma Barrett, Ila Willie, Ruth Bassett, Vera Baker, Roy Bird, Mahonri M. Richards, William Reid. Committee on afternoon sports; Eddis Watkins, George Gardner, Enoch Richards, Pierce Hardman. Committee on procuring of the maypole; Charles Ladle, Walt Andersen. Elmer Paul, Bertha Cunningham, Marvel Hancock. Program for the morning services: Ethel Ladle, queen; Oliver Taylor, Consort. Gathering at maypole at 9:30 a.m., song by ward choir, “Maying.” Crowning of the queen. Song by maids of honor. Maypole dance. Assembly in the ward house: Song, ward choir; prayer, Joseph Hardman, Sr.; song, choir; speech of welcome, member of ward Sunday school superintendency; vocal solo, Miss Lucile Bird; reading, Mr. D. A. Boyer; piano solo, Elease Watkins; May Day thoughts, Jennie Richards; vocal solo, Mr. Child; recitation, Geneva Baker; violin solo, Clifford C. Watkins; song William I. Sorensen; piano solo, Ethel Sorensen; reading, Mrs. Lizzie Barrett; song, Primary girls; recitation, Linden K. Wood. Dinner. Afternoon sports will consist of children’s dance, baseball game, basketball game, horse races, foot races, contests for which prizes will be offered. In the evening a grand ball will be given in the Richards Hall. We are sure to have a good time. Come and join us. The weather for the last few days has been favorable for planting, and farmers are too busy to talk to agents of any kind. All the people who have been afflicted with small pox are well, and have been released from quarantine, for which they no doubt are thankful.
Mendon Directory: John H. Anderson— Merchant, Alfred Gardner, manager Mendon branch; Hyrum T. Richards— Merchant; Abe Baker— Barber; Alma Jensen and William I. Sorensen— Contractors and Builders; Alexander Hill of Wellsville— Saw Mill. All kinds of logs sawed into lumber. Good work guaranteed; Charles Hughes— Blacksmith; Leroy Colby— Orchardist; Matthew H. Foster— Paper Hanger; Thomas Muir, Jr.— Cattle Dealer. Highest prices paid for all kinds of beef cattle, range cattle and calves.
Mendon— May Day in Mendon was a happy one for all who took part in the doings. The weather was fine for a wonder, so the weather man must have listened to the petitions of the children for a sunny day so nothing occurred to spoil the pleasure of anyone we know of. In the morning twelve girls dressed in white braided the maypole, which was the finest feature of the celebration. About 200 people were present to witness this number of the program. The May queen, Miss Ethel Ladle was crowned by the consort, Mr. Oliver Taylor. His crowning speech was so excellent that we herewith print it, as follows: “My friends, on this bright day so dear, I greet all the people of Mendon who have assembled to do honor to Flora, the Goddess of Flowers, and enjoy themselves with a little straying and maying. Flora has never visited us, but we enjoy sincerely the works which our Pagan ancestors attributed to her, and since we never expect to see her beautiful face, we choose from among the fair maidens of the earth, one whom we crown the queen of this festive season— the time of life, of joy, of brightness. Flowers of varied hue and fragrance, trees, with their infinite variety of foliage and spray, grass which spreads over the dark cold earth for a few weeks ago a carpet of emerald; birds with their melodious songs, all proclaim that the springtime is come— the season of hope, of joy, of gladness. As Tennyson says: “In the spring a fuller crimson comes upon the robin’s breast. In the spring the wanton lapwing gets himself another crest; In the spring a livelier iris changes on the burnished dove; In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” Every one is happy on this day. We draw away from dull care and for a brief space of time, live with nature. But while we all feel joyous, we recognize the need of a leader.” The queen and her maids looked lovely. Such splendor is not often seen in a country town. They were the talk of the town, and rulers for one day. They were also very polite and didn’t ask people if they had any “grape seed to sell” when they looked at them. The morning service given in the ward house was a splendid arrangement of song, recitations, speeches, readings, monologue, sentiments, instrumental numbers, etc., that pleased the audience, which was a large one for these busy times. The ward house was decorated most artistically with potted plants and beautiful rugs. The walls and ceiling were one mass of drapery. This committee received many compliments for their talented work. The afternoon sports began on time and were interesting from the start. Long Peter Larsen won the fat man’s race. The prize was a new hat; but when Peter opened the box, to his astonishment it contained a bantam rooster. Joseph H. Watkins won the old men’s race and received a bantam hen. Eddis Watkins was first in the race for the fastest in town. The baseball game was played as scheduled, Brigham Young College vs. Mendon. At the close of the game the score stood eight to four in favor of the visiting team. The game was well played, was a close contest with the exception of one inning, when the Brigham Young’s made four runs. Pat Barker did the twirling for the Brigham Young’s and proved himself no novice in this line. Henry Kidman and James Muir threw the curves for the Mendon boys. People are now all excitement about ball playing and another game will be played here on the 24
th instant. The dance for adults in the evening was so crowded that dancing was almost out of the question. About sixty numbers were sold; but despite the crowd they all had a good time. Thus another May Day festival passed into history. Three Sisters from Hyde Park were present to witness the proceedings and take notes. They are thinking of adopting the May Day in their ward. We also had visitors from Beaver Dam and other wards, who are becoming interested, in this kind of amusement. Picture Caption: Braiding the maypole.
