Mendon May Day— 1993
Mendon City Council Meeting— Nola Murray reported that there will probably be no dance this year for May Day because of the damage done to the church house last year.
Mendon City Council Meeting— The drawing for the May Day queen was done by Mayor Earl Doolittle. Anna Watkins name was drawn out as May Day queen. A May Day dance was brought up again. An age limit was suggested with best dress being required. The local LDS ward will be contacted about using the church house.
Mendon Names May Day Queen— In its regular meeting Monday, the town council: Drew the name of Anna Watkins, sixteen, daughter of Richard and Paula Watkins, as the 1993 May Day queen. Her name was chosen from twelve girls eligible for the title. The annual celebration is planned for May 2nd and will be chaired by Sandy Austin; Heard a report from council member Nola Murray that $7,862 had been raised toward the new town hall during the 1992 July 24th celebration. Other funding is still being investigated; Discussed establishing a service project to involve community youth. Judy Nelson and Annetta Anderson encouraged the council to create “a meaningful” project, according to town clerk Paul Cressall; Set April 24th, as town cleanup day prior to the May Day celebration. April 27th and 28th were set as alternate days in case of rain; Approved applying for funds collected from the countywide restaurant tax. The money would be then be used for Mendon May Day and the town’s Pioneer Day celebration.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: May Day— There will be a meeting for the mothers of the girls, ages first through fifth grade, concerning this years May Day Dresses. Please meet next Sunday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. at the church. If you have any questions please contact Sandy Austin.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: Maypole Dance— There will be a meeting today at 4:15 p.m. at the church for the mothers of the girls who would like to dance the maypole dance this year. Any girl from first grade through fifth grade who live in Mendon or Petersboro is eligible. Practices for the maypole dance will be every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday off the bus at the church. Practices will start Monday, March 29th. If you have any questions about the dresses please call: Susan Anderson or Kaye Taylor. If you have any questions about the practices please call Kim Willie, Terri Bowen or Doreen Taylor.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: May Day Mom’s— If you are making your daughter’s May Day dress, please remember that the bows, the front sash and the back ties are all made from the white material, not the stripe material.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: Parents of girls first through fifth grades, please remember your maypole dance practice.
Mendon City Council Meeting— Nola Murray reported on the city Easter egg hunt, [and that] the traditional [May Day] floor show and dance will be held at the local LDS ward until 11:00 p.m. Nola suggested having the council watch the halls in the chapel during the dance. Those attending the dance will be required to be fourteen years old or older and be in best dress.
Council Discusses May Day Plans— Plans for the upcoming, May Day celebration on Saturday, May 1st, were the primary discussion during the April meeting of the Mendon City Council. Council member Nola Murray said: “Its an annual event from choosing a May queen to dancing around the maypole. The tradition goes back to the 1860’s. it’s a lot of fun for the whole town, and we do it every year.”
Mendon Schedules May Day Activities Saturday— Dressed in spring colors, fifty school-aged girls will decorate two maypoles as part of the annual Mendon May Day celebration on Saturday. Prior to braiding of the maypoles, Anna Watkins, seventeen, daughter of Richard and Paula Watkins, will be crowned May Day queen. The queen’s court consists of young people who are juniors in high school and living in Mendon. Following braiding of the maypole there will be a program held in the Mendon LDS church building consisting of speakers and musical numbers. The food stand will open at noon and close at 5:00 p.m. From noon until 3:00 p.m. there will be a variety of games for young children followed by a soccer game between the two Mendon soccer teams in the under ten age group. This celebration began in 1864, five years after Mendon was settled.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: [Copies of the words to the two congressional May Day songs, “Straying and Maying” and “Come to the Woodland” were placed in this weeks bulletin and were scheduled to be practiced during Sunday school.]
Watkins Selected As Mendon May Day Queen— Dressed in spring colors, fifty school-aged girls will decorate two maypoles as part of the annual Mendon May Day celebration on Saturday. Prior to the braiding of the maypoles, Anna Watkins, seventeen, daughter of Richard and Paula Watkins, will be crowned May Day queen at 10:00 a.m. The queen’s court consists of young people who are juniors in high school and living in Mendon. Following braiding of the maypole there will be a program in the Mendon LDS church building consisting of speakers and musical numbers. A food stand will open at noon and close at 5:00 p.m. From noon until 3:00 p.m. there will be a variety of games for young children followed by a soccer game between the two Mendon soccer teams in the under ten age group. This celebration began in 1864, five years after Mendon was settled. May Day celebrations were a common spring event in most communities during the early settlement of Cache Valley.
Council Discusses May Day Plan— Plans for the upcoming May Day celebration on Saturday, May 1st were the primary discussion during the April meeting of the Mendon City Council. Council member Nola Murray said: “It is an annual event from choosing a May queen to dancing around the maypole. The tradition goes back to the 1860’s. It’s a lot of fun for the whole town, and we do it every year.”
Mendon May Day Handout: May Day 1993— Friday, April 30th at 9:30 p.m. Floor show and short dance, “A Whole New World.” Best dress, age fourteen and older, music by Guy Bartholomew, refreshments will be served. Saturday, May 1st, at 10:00 a.m. Crowning of the May queen, 1993 May queen is Anna Watkins, maypole dance, program in chapel following the maypole dance. Afternoon games and activities. Food stand will be open from noon–5:00 p.m.
Mendon Marks May Day— Mendon will welcome the month of May Saturday with a variety of activities at the town’s annual May Day celebration. Two maypoles will be braided in the town square following the crowning of the May Day queen at 10:00 a.m. After the braiding of the maypole, a program featuring speakers and musical numbers will be offered in the Mendon LDS Church, 20 North 100 West. A food stand will open from noon to 5:00 p.m. From noon until 3:00 p.m., a variety of games for young children will be offered, followed by a soccer game between the two Mendon soccer teams in the under ten age group. The Mendon May Day celebration began in 1864, five years after Mendon was settled. May Day celebrations were a common spring event in most communities during the early settlement of Cache Valley, organizers said.
Printed May Day Program: Mendon May Day, May 1st, 1993, 10:00 a.m. Queen’s Court: May queen, Anna Watkins; Consort Adam K. Bodrero Flower Girl, Carrie Hardman; Crown Bearer, Matthew Lockhart. Maids of Honor with Escorts: Jill Lindbloom with Wade Leavitt; Jennifer Kidman with Scott Woodbrey; Stephanie Bowen with Greg Larsen; Jeri Johnson with Adam Buist; Jackie Larsen with Christopher Bradshaw; Shanlie Miskin with Adam Petersen; Laurie Obray with Bartly Mathews; Jenny Krebs with David Randall; Trudy Quinlan with John Barrett; Amy Croshaw with Nathan Hadfield; Jolene Myers with Nathan Bird; Mandy J. Fryer with Ryan Lemon. Assistants to the Queen’s Court: Linda Hudson, Rhyll Croshaw and Paula Watkins. Maypole Dance Instructors: Kim Willie, Doreen Taylor, Trudy Quinlan, Norma Myers, Patty Taylor, Terri Bowen, and Laura Morgan. Maypole Dance Accompaniment: Norma Myers. Maypole Dance Dresses: Susan Anderson and Kaye Taylor. The 50 Maypole Dancers for 1993—
| Christina Jansson | Sara Eck | Blaire Fonnesbeck | Rebecca Jansson |
| Elysa Kidman | Tara Croshaw | Leia Larsen | Rachel Kidman |
| Christy Cressall | Carolyn Cheal | Sara Kirk | Kristine Willie |
| Taya Hill | Leslie Willie | Emily Taylor | Jennifer Taylor |
| Ashley Archibald | Joylyn Tanner | Katy Cheal | Cindy Larsen |
| Suzanne Lindbloom | Kara Hopkins | Chelsey Moore | Jennifer Lindbloom |
| Heidi Bowen | Amanda Anderson | Meleece Cheal | LaShel Porath |
| Lisa Ferrara | KaDee Larsen | Darci Larsen | Erin Hofler |
| Amelia Jackson | Melissa Taylor | Kristi Woodbrey | Shalice Groll |
| Lisa Zobell | Eliza Walbridge | Laila Samhouri | Megan Moosman |
| Janna Willie | Kathy Delay | Melissa Yonk | Cayli Fletcher |
| Latisha Moosman | Areel Nye | Kristin Miasnik | Arianne Holladay |
| Jessica Wood | Jennifer Miller |
May Day Program: Introduction of Queen’s Court, Max and Carolyn Baker; song, maypole dancers; master of ceremonies, Max Baker; opening prayer, Charlene Johnson; May Day songs, June Bowen; queen’s award, Mayor, Earl Doolittle; song, “A Whole New World,” queen’s court, accompanied by Paula Watkins; talk, Anna Watkins, 1993 May Day queen; song, “The Music of the Night,” Victor Harris; closing prayer, Melody Jones. Afternoon Activities: Children’s games, noon–2:30 p.m., Lori Owens and Mary Jean Campbell; water bucket softball, 1:00 p.m., weather permitting; soccer game 3:00 p.m. The food stand will be open from 11:00 to 5:00 p.m. May Day Committee: Sandy Austin, chairperson; Kim Willie, maypole dance; Rhyll Croshaw, May Day program; Lori Owens and Mary Jean Campbell, afternoon activities; Ken and Pam Buist, food stand; Christine Helpingstine, publicity. We would like to thank the Mendon First Ward youth for the refreshments at the dance. Thanks to Linda and Glen Hudson who are always there to help with the dance. A special thanks to all others who have helped with May Day this year.
Ward Bulletin Announcement: May Day— Was simply wonderful, we appreciate all of the 50 lovely young girls that braided the maypole, the May queen and her court, and all of the leaders that worked so hard. Thank you all.
Picture Caption: May Day— Participants in Mendon’s May Day celebration walk around the maypole Saturday. The event featured a variety of festivities throughout the day. The Mendon May Day celebration began in 1864, five years after Mendon was settled.
Picture Caption: May Day!— Nearly fifty young girls dance around a maypole during Mendon’s annual May Day celebration Saturday. The town has been observing May Day for 129 years.