Mendon May Day— 1975
Picture Caption: Spring flowers are a little late coming this year but May Day flower girl Teresa Groll, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Groll did find a few to present to Mendon’s May Day Queen, Karla James. Jason Kirby, son of Mr. and Mrs. Brent Kirby, will serve as crown bearer to the May queen while Kevin Barrett will repeat the century old tradition of crowning the queen. The May Day activities in Mendon will begin Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on the town square.
Mendon Posts Schedule For Saturday Festival— A tradition which began over a century ago will be relived Saturday when the Mendon May Day festivities get underway with the braiding of the maypole at 10:30 a.m. on the town square. Crowning of Queen Karla James, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer James, will follow the braiding of the maypole. Kevin Barrett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanton Barrett, will perform the honors of crowning this year’s queen. Twenty-eight maypole dancers will braid the colorful pole as the congregation sings the traditional May Day songs which tell the story of the spring celebration. Dance instructors this year have been June Bowen, Carolyn Baker, Judy Shelton, and musical accompaniment by Beth Muir. The entire day’s activities are under the direction of the Mendon LDS Sunday school presidency consisting of Merlin Yonk, Max Baker and Dennis Kidman. A town tug-o-war and children’s and old-times’ races will begin at 1:30 a.m. in the afternoon with a children’s movie to follow in the Mendon church house. There will also be a kite flying contest in the afternoon. Several softball games have also been scheduled in the afternoon activities. A dance beginning at 9:00 p.m. will conclude the May Day celebration in Mendon.
Mendon Events Slated Saturday— The schedule of Mendon’s May Day celebration, to be held Saturday, and the location of the events are: 10:30 a.m., braiding of the maypole on the town square; 10:45 a.m., crowning of May Day Queen on the town square; 1:30 p.m., tug-o-war, children’s races and old timers’ races on the town square; 2:00 p.m. children’s movie at Mendon LDS Ward; during the afternoon, kite-flying contest and several softball games; 9:00 p.m., May Day dance.
Printed May Day Program: Mendon May Day, May 3rd, 1975, 10:30 a.m. Queen’s Court: May Queen, Karla James; Consort Kevin Barrett; Flower Girl, Teresa Groll; Crown Bearer, Jason Kirby. Maids of Honor with Partners: Angela Cheney with Rick Shelton; Denise Bird with Eric Bowen; Julie Muir with Tony Buist; Cristal Carter with Verdell Kidman. Dance Directors: June Bowen, Carolyn Baker and Judy Shelton. Maypole Accompanist: Beth Muir. Maypole Dresses: Blanche Yonk and Julie Kidman. May Day Chorister: T. Kay Sorensen. The 28 Maypole Dancers for 1975—
| Leiloni Hyer | Heather Barrett | Heidi Doolittle | Jennifer Lewis |
| Kristine Myers | Leisa Thompson | Jane Freeman | Keli James |
| Wendi Kirby | Denise Muir | Monika Muir | Rachelle Kirby |
| Debra Reid | Anita Cheney | Camille Hardman | Heidi Whoolery |
| Jodie Helms | Jessa Watkins | LaNa Bodily | Lisa Jackson |
| Paula Anderson | Joan Brown | Marnie Freeman | Kim Kidman |
| Michelle Taylor | Stacey Carter | Marciea Barrett | Peggy Reid |
May Day Program: To be held in the Mendon ward chapel immediately following the maypole dance. The queen and her court will be introduced by T. Kay Sorensen. Afternoon Events: Children’s races and activities, 1:30 p.m.; children’s movie, 2:30 p.m.; baseball games: married vs. single men, 2:30 p.m.; Newton Explorers vs. Mendon Explorers, 3:30 p.m.; commercial leagues, 4:30 p.m.; evening dance, 9:00 p.m., “Come and enjoy yourself!” Following the program and throughout the afternoon, there will be home cooked foods for sale. Eat your lunch with us! Hamburgers, Pronto Pups, Hot Dogs, Drinks, Cake, Candy, etc. We sincerely thank all those who took part today and helped in any way to make this a successful May Day, Saturday, May 3rd, 1975. Under the direction of the Mendon ward Sunday school officers and teachers. Merlin Yonk, Max Baker and Dennis Kidman.
Mendon May Day Festivity, Mendon, Cache County— Queens old and young celebrated May Day today in Mendon as this small northern Utah community with a 500 population held a traditional observance dating back to the 1870’s. Charlotte Richards, May Day Queen seventy-four years ago reminisced with Karla James, the May Day Queen of this year’s festivities. Mrs. Richards was crowned “Queen of the May” in 1901 when she was sixteen years old, and she looks forward to the event each year. The whole town of Mendon turns out for the day’s events, and former residents come from far and near. “They all come back to celebrate May Day. They surely like to come,” remarked Mrs. Richards. This year’s queen, Karla, seventeen, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer James and is a junior at Sky View High School. Crowning of the queen, braiding the maypole by twenty-eight school children, races, a town tug-o-war, kite flying contest, several softball games, and a program in the Mendon LDS Chapel were all part of the day’s activities. A dance at 9:00 p.m. will culminate the May Day celebration. All activities were under the direction of the Mendon LDS Sunday school presidency, Merlin Yonk, Max Baker and Dennis Kidman. The first May Day festivities were organized under the Sunday school president Ralph Foster in the 1870’s. Picture Caption: 1901 May Day Queen, Charlotte Richards, and this year’s queen, Karla James.
Picture Caption: Mendon Maypole Dance— “My Aunt Sally” was again danced around the maypole in Mendon Saturday as the return of spring was celebrated in the community. Karla James was crowned Queen of the May during the day festivities. More photos of Mendon’s May Day activities appears on page two.
Picture Caption: Mendon Celebrates Spring— Tug-o-wars, water fights and flying bikes and kites were all a part of the scene at the Mendon May Day celebration Saturday. Continuing a tradition which began soon after the pioneer settlement of Mendon, young and old alike spent a fun-filled day on the town square commemorating the season of spring in the valley.