Mendon May Day— 1992
Mendon City Council Meeting— Mayor Earl Doolittle reported that Sandy Austin will be the May Day Chairman this year. Mayor Doolittle conducted the drawing for the May Day queen. Katie Krebs was drawn as queen with Kristalou Hart as alternate.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: May Day Celebration— It’s time to start preparing for the annual Mendon May Day celebration. The first meeting for parents of the girls participating in the maypole dance will be next Sunday March 29th, at 4:15 p.m. in the church. The dresses will be discussed as well as the scheduled for practices. This is an important meeting, please plan to attend. Sandy Austin is heading the May Day celebration this year.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: May Day Celebration Meeting— Don’t forget there is a 4:15 p.m. meeting in the church today, for parents of the maypole dancers. The dresses will be discussed as well as the schedule for practices. This is an important meeting, please plan to attend. Sandy Austin is heading the May Day celebration this year.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: Relief Society Announcements— Our service project for May is planting flowers at the church and helping with the games on May Day. Dorothy Hancock has agreed to coordinate the flower planting. The Young Women will design and plant a value garden symbolizing the seven values outlined in the Young Women’s theme. If you would like to participate in this project, please contact Sister Hancock. We will need help with the children’s games on May Day. if you would like to help here, please contact Melanie Hatch. We need everyone’s help on these service projects. Please make a commitment to serve.
Mendon Sets May Day Events— Mendon will celebrate its traditional May Day on Friday and Saturday. A dance will begin at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the Mendon LDS ward, 20 North 100 West. The floor show will begin at 10:00 p.m. The May Day queen and court will be presented at the dance also. Cost will be $1.00 per person or $5.00 per family and refreshments will be served, according to Sandy Austin, chairwoman of the celebration. Crowning of the May Day Queen, Katie Krebs, sixteen, daughter of Pat and Steve Krebs, of Mendon will begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday on the city square. The queen’s court consists of twenty-two young adults living in Mendon. The traditional braiding of the maypole by fifty-five school-aged girls will follow the crowning. A program will then be held in the Mendon LDS church building. The food stand will open at 2:00 p.m. and remain open until 6:00 p.m. During the afternoon there will also be a variety of games for all ages ending with a soccer game between the two Mendon soccer teams in the under ten age group. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. there will be a coed softball game for all those interested in playing. May Day celebrations were a common spring celebration in most communities during the early settlement of Cache Valley. Mendon was settled in 1859 and the May Day celebration has been continuous since 1864.
Mendon Celebrates May Day, Home Cooking— Greetings, Cache Valley cooks. Of course you all know what is happening Saturday in the valley. Yes, you’re right. It’s the annual Mendon May Day celebration, and of course you have it written in your day planner and plan to attend. Right? Good, I’ll see you there. I’ve probably said it before, but I think the way each small community in Cache Valley is dedicated to its particular celebration is so wonderful. Each “special” town celebration deserves our attention. And because I live in Mendon, of course, you’ll hear me talk about May Day. It’s an important event to those born and raised in Mendon. I look forward to it because I’ll get to see and visit with some of those people, on the other side of town, I haven’t seen all winter. The Mendon Daughters of the Utah Pioneers have completed a cookbook with lots of good recipes that can be purchased at the celebration or you can call Nettie Kidman to get your very own copy. The cookbook costs $4.00, and includes $4.25 worth of coupons in the back. That more than pays for it. It was difficult for me to only choose a few recipes to share with you. The fact that I know these women made it even harder because they are all good cooks as well as good role models for me: Cocktail Meatballs, Shirley Brown, Mendon; Crab and Seaflake Salad, Blanche T. Yonk, Petersboro; Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup, Deloris Yonk, Petersboro; Chicken Roll-Ups, Maxine S. Sorensen, Mendon; Nacho Festival Plate, Afton Quinlan, Mendon; Don’s Baked Halibut, Judy Shelton, Mendon; Turtle Cake, Ester Smart and Kathryn Shelton, both of Mendon; Cinnamon Rolls, Nettie Kidman, Petersboro; No Cook Fudge, Colleen Hardman, Petersboro; Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding, Blanche T. Yonk, Petersboro.
Mendon Schedules May Day Activities— May Day Queen Katie Krebs, along with her court, will preside over the traditional Mendon May Day celebration this weekend. Mendon was settled in 1859 and the May Day celebration has been an annual event since 1864. This year, the spring celebration will begin Friday night with a dance at 8:30 p.m. in the Mendon LDS Ward, 20 North 100 West. A floor show will be presented at 10:00 p.m., and the May Day queen and court will be presented. Cost will be $1.00 per person or $5.00 per family and refreshments will be served, said Sandy Austin, chairwoman of the celebration. Krebs, seventeen daughter of Pat and Steve Krebs of Mendon, will be crowned at 10:00 a.m. Saturday on the town square. Katie’s grandmother, Marie Walker Krebs, was May Day queen exactly fifty years ago, Austin said. The queen’s court consists of twenty-four young adults living in Mendon. The traditional braiding of the maypole by fifty-two young girls will follow the crowning. A program will then be held in the Mendon LDS church building. The food stand will open at noon and remain open until 6:00 p.m. From 1:00–2:00 p.m., a variety of games for young children will be offered on the town square including pony rides and relay races. In addition, Sophia Corbridge will present a workshop on preserving family pictures in the cultural hall of the Mendon LDS church, said Irma Moon of the Mendon Arts Council. Between 2:00–3:00 p.m., games for teens will be offered, along with a story hour by Marvin Moon. Bingo will also be offered. A soccer game is scheduled at 3:00 p.m. between two Mendon soccer teams made up of children under ten. At 4:30 p.m., anyone interested is invited to participate in the co-ed softball game.
Mendon May Day Handout: May Day 1992— May 1st at 8:30 p.m., May Day Dance. [This years theme,] “The Dance.” Music for everyone, floor show at 10:00 p.m., refreshments will be served. Cost $5.00 per family or $1.00 per person. May 2nd, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Crowning of the May queen. 1992 May queen is Katie Krebs. Maypole dance. Program in chapel following the braiding of the maypole. Afternoon activities: Children’s games, 1:00–2:00 p.m., pony ride, relay races, fish pond, and more; “Shoebox to Showcase,” 1:00 p.m., Sophia Corbridge, learn how to preserve and work with photos; games for teenagers, 2:00–3:00 p.m.; Cache Valley bear stories, 2:00 p.m.; Soccer game, 3:00 p.m.; Bingo, 3:00–4:00 p.m.; co-ed softball, 4:30 p.m. Food stand open from noon–6:00 p.m.
Printed May Day Program: Mendon May Day, May 2nd, 1992, 10:00 a.m. Queen’s Court: May queen, Katie Krebs; Consort, Mark Shelton; Flower Girl, Kandis Jarrett; Crown Bearer, Ryley Fletcher. Maids of Honor with Escorts: Camille Campbell with Paul Croshaw; Mandy J. Fryer with Cory Andersen; Kristalou Hart with Jarman Lyle; Rebecca Johnson with Kelly Kidman; Janell Nelson with Jeremy Hudson; Kristi Ann Olsen with Burk Fonnesbeck; Sarah Thornell with Jay Dee Jensen; Sarah Walbridge with Telly Longhurst. Assistants to the Queen’s Court: Linda Hudson and Rhyll Croshaw. Maypole Dance Instructors: Carolyn Kerbs, Terry Bowen, Norma Myers, Kathy Lindbloom, Doreen Taylor, Suzanne Hansen, Melody Jones and Barbara Obray. Maypole Dance Accompaniment: Norma Myers. May Day Dresses: Patty Taylor and Janet Holladay. The 52 Maypole Dancers for 1992—
| Amanda Leavitt | Maria Taylor | Cassy Maughan | Carolyn Cheal |
| Blaire Fonnesbeck | Traci Woodbrey | Katy Cheal | Kara Hopkins |
| Elysa Kidman | Deana West | Suzie Lindbloom | Joylyn Tanner |
| Leia Larsen | Shanda Hart | Jessica Miller | Jennifer Taylor |
| Erin Hofler | Sara Eck | Jennifer Miller | Amberlee Hyer |
| Melissa Taylor | Bessie Walbridge | Chelsey Moore | Laura Kerbs |
| Kathy DeLay | Devon Nye | Heidi Bowen | Amanda Anderson |
| Christy Cressall | Kristine Willie | Amelia Jackson | Cindy Larsen |
| Sara Kirk | Tara Croshaw | Kristi Woodbrey | Jennifer Lindbloom |
| Shalice Groll | Skye Longhurst | Lisa Zobell | Amanda Hardman |
| Eliza Walbridge | Jenny Bowen | Darci Larsen | KaDee Larsen |
| Ashley Archibald | Leslie Willie | Daci Kunsman | Areel Nye |
| Cayli Fletcher | Rachel Kidman | Jennifer Leavitt | Ariane Holladay |
May Day Program: Introduction of Queen’s Court, Larry and Vicki Olsen; song, maypole dancers; master of ceremonies, Larry Olsen; opening prayer, Mary Jean Campbell; May Day songs, June Bowen; queen’s award, Mayor Earl Doolittle; Song, “The Dance,” queen’s court, accompanied by Rhyll Croshaw; vocal duet, “Longer,” Kathy and Jill Lindbloom, accompanied by Sally Coon; talk, Katie Krebs, 1992 May Day queen; song, “For The Beauty of the Earth,” Shanlie Miskin, Jenny Krebs, Amy Croshaw, Jeri Johnson, Amanda DeGasser, Adam Buist, Paul Croshaw, David Randall, Bartly Mathews and Joshua Kirk, accompanied by Rhyll Croshaw; closing prayer, Stanton Barrett. Afternoon Activities: Children’s games, 1:00–2:00 p.m., Mercedes Clemensen and Kookie Tanner; “Shoebox to Showcase” (Arts Council), 1:00 p.m., Sophia Corbridge; games for teenagers, 2:00–3:00 p.m., Dennis Jensen; Cache Valley Bear Stories, 2:00 p.m., Marvin Moon; soccer game, 3:00 p.m., Sheri Lemon; Bingo, 3:00–4:00 p.m., Carol Thompson; co-ed softball, 4:30 p.m., Ed Buist and Terrell Fletcher. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers will be selling their cookbook. The price will be $4.00. The food stand will be open from noon to 6:00 p.m. May Day Committee: Sandy Austin, chairperson; Carolyn Kerbs, maypole dance; Rhyll Croshaw, May Day program; Michelle Nelson, floor show; Melanie Hatch, afternoon activities; Don and Nancy Wilcox, food stand; Christine Helpingstine, publicity. Thanks to the youth of the Mendon First Ward for the decorations at the dance. Thanks to the Mendon Second Ward youth for the refreshments. A special thanks to Patty Taylor and Janet Holladay for their help with the May Day dresses. A special thanks to all others who have helped with May Day this year.
Picture Caption: May Day— Sunshine and blue skies provided a perfect backdrop for the traditional braiding of the maypole, one of the highlights of Mendon’s annual May Day celebration Saturday. Participants at this year’s festivities enjoyed a variety of activities. Mendon residents have celebrated May Day every year since 1864.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: May Day— Thank You, to all of those that participated, organized, directed, or in any way helped keep this tradition alive and well in Mendon. Your time and efforts are appreciated.
May Day The Mendon Way— Dressed in pink and green dresses, fifty-two school-aged girls decorated three maypoles Saturday at Mendon’s annual May Day celebration. The same girls could later be found playing games and participating in the traditional water fight. The town’s celebration, which originated in 1864, also included the crowning of the 128th May Day queen, Katie Krebs, the daughter of Steve and Pat Krebs, by her consort Mark Shelton, son of Ross and Katherine Shelton. An entertainment program following the braiding of the maypoles and the crowning of the queen. The queen’s court sang “The Dance” accompanied by Rhyll Croshaw. Kathy and Jill Lindbloom sang a vocal duet entitled “Longer,” accompanied by Sally Coon, and ten young adults sang “For the Beauty of the Earth,” also accompanied by Croshaw. May Day is for the young, Mayor Earl Doolittle said, and they should remember the good times. “They did a beautiful job,” Doolittle said “My buttons were just busting.” Past May Day queens and courts stood to be recognized, and the newly crowned queen gave a speech of thanks and told about herself. Maids of honor were Camille Campbell, Mandy J. Fryer, Kristalou Hart, Rebecca Johnson, Janell Nelson, Kristi Ann Olsen, Sarah Thornell and Sarah Walbridge. Their escorts were Paul Croshaw, Cory Andersen, Jarman Lyle, Kelly Kidman, Jeremy Hudson, Burk Fonnesbeck, Jay Dee Jensen, and Telly Longhurst. Kandis Jarrett was the flower girl, and Ryley Fletcher was the crown bearer. Assistants to the court were Linda Hudson and Rhyll Croshaw. Activities continued all day with games and pony rides for children. The Arts Council sponsored two workshops. One was on making better photo albums, demonstrated by Sophia Corbridge, and the other was “Cache Valley Bear Stories” by Marvin Moon. A soccer game was held in the afternoon, and the day concluded with a coed softball game. Picture Caption: Dressed in spring colors, young girls braid three maypoles during Mendon’s annual May Day celebration. Picture Caption: Mendon’s May queen, Katie Krebs, observes the festivities with her escort, Mark Shelton.
Maying In Mendon, Fest Is 120 Years Young— For most of America, May Day has grown old and gray; it ain’t what it used to be. Except in Mendon, Utah. In Mendon, May Day springs eternal. “On May Day our population can go from 630 to 2,500,” says Mayor Earl Doolittle. “The first Saturday in May has become a major part of our heritage.” This year the celebration falls on May 2nd. Festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. sharp (as always). They end with a bang that evening (as always). And in between, the rites, rituals and customs haven’t changed a whit since 1872. The founder of Mendon —Isaac Sorensen— started it all. He wanted to bring a touch of old Denmark to a new, untamed territory. Today the “old country” remains alive and well. Amid all the Wild-West celebrations (Founder’s Day in Wellsville and Festival of the American West in Logan) the Mendon celebration has a genteel, courtly feel. Mendon’s celebration, in fact, feels more like a slice of Elizabethan England than an American holiday. It features maypoles, a May queen, a queen’s court, crown bearers, flower girls, male consorts and a general atmosphere of “Maying.” And the songs the town sings sound like tunes a troubadour might compose on a lute. They include “Come to the Woodland” and “Welcome You, Queen of the May” and these lines from the ever-popular “Straying and Maying.” “With cheerful glee and chorus song, the hours were filled with pleasure, some found a pebble, some a flower; each trifle seemed a treasure; For trifles light as air can please the guileless heart in hour of ease.” “My father implanted those songs in me, and his father implanted them in him.” says T. Kay Sorensen, Mendon’s Mr. May Day. “When my father was dying he told me to memorize the tunes and routines and keep them alive. I’ve done that. The songs are very special to us here. We even used to practice them during church.” More than one song is a tribute to the newly crowned queen and her chosen “consort.” To keep the queen’s name secret, the chorus sings the name “Lily” during practices. The queen must be a junior in high school. A hundred years ago she also had to come from a family with enough money to throw a feed for the town, though in recent years the city has taken over the responsibility. Once the queen is named (her name is drawn from a hat), she must chose her court and her male escort for the coronation. This year the honor of queen goes to seventeen year-old Katie Krebs. “And it is an honor,” she says. “Especially for me. My grandmother Marie [Walker] was May queen in 1942— exactly fifty years ago.” Needless to say, everyone in Mendon has a favorite May Day memory or two. Former Mayor Ross Shelton remembers the year it snowed. Some recall the girls wearing paper dresses during the Great Depression. And Doolittle tells of a time when a shortage of young girls meant the boys had to dance the maypole. As for Sorensen, he recalls the year when the boys decided singing lines like “The merry maids a Maying went” was sissy stuff and boycotted the whole affair (“Bunch of smart-alecks,” huffs Sorensen today. “They didn’t feel it was ‘manly.’” “Still,” adds Doolittle, “we’ve only missed one year out of 120. That was the year small pox hit town and people were prohibited from congregating.” And the word is this year’s fest will be as bright and light as ever. For the first time in memory, [T. Kay] Sorensen —Mr. May Day— is not handling the details. At eighty-two he passes the baton along to Sandy Austin, an energetic young Mendon mother who is organizing the day. Sorensen steps down with a word of caution, however: “The celebration was begun because the settlers here liked the idea of welcoming spring after all the drudgery and mud of winter,” he says. “I hope the future organizers are as wise as a tree full of owls and make sure the young people get involved and keep track of our traditions.” The truth is there’s not much chance of them falling away. In Mendon, the more things change, the more they stay the same. For instance, back in ’20s Mozelle Sorensen —then twelve— was named queen. She chose her “good friend and neighbor,” thirteen year-old Owen Sorensen, as her consort. Today the couple’s been married for more than fifty years. This year, Queen Katie Krebs chose Mark Shelton to escort her. Says Mark: “Katie and I are just good friends and neighbors.” Uh-huh. But it isn’t May Day yet. And everyone in Mendon knows how May Day works wonders with the human heart. Picture Caption: Mozelle and Owen Sorensen were the May Day royalty almost seventy years ago. At the time they were “just friends.” Picture Caption: Katie Krebs and Mark Shelton are the 1992 royals. Mark claims that the two are “just friends,” though May Day has yet to work its magic. Picture Caption: Young girls practice the maypole dance. Come May Day, they’ll be decked out in matching white dresses.