Mendon May Day— 1988
Mendon City Council Meeting— Paula Watkins presented a list of May Day guidelines for the council.
Mendon City Council Meeting— Paula Watkins informed the council that Barbara Bird will be chairman of May Day with Karen Hansen as vice-chairman. Don and Nancy Wilcox will chairmen the 24th celebration this year.
Mendon City Council Meeting— The drawing for the May Day queen was held. Marcianne Hart was drawn as queen with Terry Erikson as alternate.
Mendon May Day Fest On Friday, Saturday— Mendon will celebrate May Day Friday and Saturday. A May Day dance will be Friday at 8:00 p.m. at the Mendon LDS Church with music provided by the “Tarlicks.” A floor show will be at 10:00 p.m. provided by the Utah State University regional dance festival participants. Refreshments will be served. Cost is $5.00 per family or $1.50 per person; everyone twelve years old and older is invited. Crowning of the May Day queen and dancing of the maypole will be Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in the city square. May Day queen is Marcianne Hart, daughter of Lindi and Wyand Hart. A program in the chapel will follow the braiding of the maypole. Afternoon activities will include a soccer game at 1:00 p.m.; volleyball, horseshoes, races, jump rope and hopscotch, hula hoop, Frisbee, marbles and whistles, and a heritage fireside at 2:00 p.m. An alumni maypole for anyone who has braided the maypole in the past is invited to participate at 2:30 p.m. Family-oriented softball games are scheduled for 3:00 p.m., a commercial softball game is at 6:00 p.m., “Sleeping Beauty,” a children’s play presented under the direction of the arts council at 7:30 p.m. in the city building. Food is available throughout the day Saturday.
Mendon To Host Annual May Day Celebration— Mendon will celebrate May Day Friday and Saturday. A May Day dance will be Friday at 8:00 p.m. at the Mendon LDS church with music provided by “Tarlicks.” A floor show will be at 10:00 p.m. provided by the Utah State University regional dance festival participants. Refreshments will be served. Cost is $5.00 per family or $1.50 per person; everyone twelve years old and older are invited. Crowning of the May Day queen and dancing of the maypole will be Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in the city square. May Day queen is Marcianne Hart, daughter of Lindi and Wyand Hart. A program in the chapel will follow the braiding of the maypole. Afternoon activities will include a soccer game at 1:00 p.m.; volleyball, horseshoes, races, jump rope and hopscotch, hula-hoop, Frisbee, marbles and whistled, and a heritage fireside at 2:00 p.m. An alumni maypole dance will be at 2:30 p.m. Anyone who has braided the maypole in the past is invited to participate. Family-oriented softball games are scheduled for 3:00 p.m., a commercial softball game is at 6 p.m. “Sleeping Beauty,” a children’s play under the direction of the arts council will be at 7:30 p.m. in the city building [1934 yellow brick school]. Food is available throughout the day Saturday.
The City Of Mendon— Celebrates May Day with a full schedule of events today. At 10:00 a.m., the traditional dancing of the maypole will be held, followed by the crowning of the May Day queen in the chapel. There will be soccer games at 1:00 p.m. and at 2:00 p.m. volleyball, horseshoes, races for kids of all ages, jump rope and hopscotch, hula hoops, Frisbee, marbles and whistles and a heritage fireside are scheduled. Anyone who has braided the maypole in the past is invited to join in the 2:30 p.m. alumni maypole and there will be family-oriented softball games at 3:00 p.m. A commercial softball game is set at 6:00 p.m., followed by the 7:30 p.m. performance of “Sleeping Beauty” in the city building. Suggested donations for the play are fifty-cents per person or $3.00 per family. Food stands will be open from noon to 7:30 p.m.
Mendon May Day— Mother Nature cooperated quite nicely for Mendon’s traditional May Day. The day was filled with wonderful activities for the young and old. We were so proud to have Brother T. Kay Sorensen lead us in the beautiful May Day songs that his grandfather, Isaac Sorensen, put to music 106 years ago. This was T. Kay’s 50th year in leading the songs and he was so honored in the program in the chapel following the maypole dancing and crowning of the queen, Marcianne Hart. Marcianne’s consort was Tim Watkins, son of Bishop and Paula Watkins. Marcianne’s maids of honor and their escorts were: Rosemarie Barrett with Matt Hansen; Janna Doolittle with Matthew Owens; Julie Thompson with Jason Wooden; Cindy Cheney with Greg Speth; Jenny Heers with Kent Campbell; Teresa Groll with Kevin Anderson; Kerry Leavitt with Brian Petersen; Tammy Thompson with John Balls; Lisa Whoolery with Robert Hopkins; Angela Nelson with Justin Peterson; Anjanette Hart with Jeremy Hennick; Melissa Larsen with Shaun Kidman; Carrie Hyer with Glen Obray. The flower girl was Suzanne Lindbloom and the crown bearer was Bracken Longhurst. Sixty young girls from first grade to fifth grade danced the maypole. Their instructors were Claudia Larsen, chairwoman, Barbara Obray, Kim Willie, Pat Krebs, Dixie Miskin, and Carolyn Baker. Norma Myers was the accompanist. The city also awarded a plaque to June and Fred Bowen for the most beautiful lot in Mendon his year. Honorable mention was Angela and Karl Bird and Bob and Karen DeGasser. The May Day committee consisted of Paula Watkins, city council; Barbara Bird and Karen Hansen chairwomen; Karen Hansen and Judy Shelton, dance; Jean Ryan, floor show; Earl and Vicky Doolittle, queen’s court; Claudia Larsen, maypole dancers; Guy and Lori Bartholomew, food stand; Leon and Sheri Lemon, afternoon games and activities; Pam Buist and Gloria Hofler, program; Kristine Groll, flower planting; Valerie Larsen, play production; and many other not mentioned who helped and supported this outstanding event.
Printed May Day Program: Mendon May Day, May 7th, 1988, 10:00 a.m. Queen’s Court: May Queen, Marcianne Hart; Consort, Tim Watkins; Flower Girl, Suzanne Lindbloom; Crown Bearer, Bracken Longhurst. Maids of Honor with Escorts: Rosemarie Barrett with Matt Hansen, Janna Doolittle with Matthew Owens, Julie Thompson with Jason Lee Wooden, Cindy Cheney with Greg Speth, Jenney Heers with Kent Campbell, Teresa Groll with Kevin Anderson, Kerry Leavitt with Brian Petersen, Tammy Thompson with John Balls, Lisa Whoolery with Justin Peterson, Anjanette Hart with Jeremy Hennick, Melissa Larsen with Shaun Kidman, Carrie Hyer with Glen Obray. Maypole Dance Instructors: Claudia Larsen, Barbara Obray, Kim Willie, Pat Krebs and Dixie Miskin. Maypole Dance Accompanist: Norma Myers. The 58 Maypole Dancers for 1988—
| Andrea Hansen | Sara Krebs | Carrie Thompson | Amy Hardman |
| Deneil Murray | Robyn Larsen | Abbigail Furniss | Deanna Thompson |
| Amanda DeGasser | Natasha Schroder | Christina Kirk | April Kirk |
| Lori Olsen | Rebekah Olsen | Jentry Hudson | Sharilyn Miskin |
| Heather Reynolds | Amber Eck | Megan Croshaw | Alissa Bott |
| Melissa Bradshaw | Marci Bradshaw | Katie Willie | Kristine Willie |
| Angela Hofler | Katie Fryer | Sarah Clemensen | Andrea Clemensen |
| Emilee Petersen | Jami Pierce | Shayna Buxton | Hayden Hanford |
| Michelle Olsen | Jami Olsen | Mandy Whoolery | Valerie Miasnik |
| Kandie Woodbrey | Traci Woodbrey | Hannah Walbridge | Bessie Walbridge |
| Anna Groll | Emily Groll | Mandi Bartholomew | Melanie Bartholomew |
| Amber Taylor | Holly Thompson | Kelly Larsen | Lisa Larsen |
| Holly Buist | Amanda Hyer | Kirsta Hopkins | Maria Taylor |
| Julie Lindbloom | Shanda Hart | Jennifer Jensen | Nichole Hardman |
| Shari Bird | Skye Longhurst |
May Day Program: Introduction of Queen’s Court, T. Kay Sorensen; May Day songs, T. Kay Sorensen; accompaniment, Norma Myers; conducting, Max Baker; prayer, Kenneth Buist; presentations, Mayor Ross Shelton; song, “That’s What Friends Are For,” queen’s court, accompanied by Gloria Hofler; song, “My Heavenly Father Loves Me,” Holly Buist, Beth Muir, accompaniment and Monika Muir, flute; speaker, Gaylon Hopkins; medley of songs, Martha Bullock and Millie Bess; song, “Catalina, Madelina,” Bryce Larsen; song, Martha Bullock and Millie Bess; prayer, Carolyn Baker. Afternoon Activities: soccer, 1:00 p.m., Leon and Sheri Lemon; volleyball, 2:00 p.m., Jennilyn Quinlan and Nancy Myers; horseshoes, 2:00 p.m., Fred Bowen and Gilbert Peterson; races, 2:00 p.m., Lynn and Norma Myers; jump rope and hopscotch, 2:00 p.m., bring your own rope, Mary Jean Campbell; Hula Hoops, 2:00 p.m., Tony and Joanne Hardman; Frisbee, 2:00 p.m., Ed and Wanda Banham; whistles, 2:00 p.m., bring your own knife, Bishop Richard Cheney; heritage fireside, 2:00 p.m., Mellree Andersen and Donna Buist; alumni maypole, 2:30 p.m., Claudia Larsen and Norma Myers; family softball, 3:00 p.m., Craig and Janet Petersen; commercial softball, 6:00 p.m., Ed Buist; “Sleeping Beauty,” 7:30 p.m. Valerie Larsen. The food stand will be open from noon to 7:00 p.m. May Day Committee: Paula Watkins, city council; Barbara Bird and Karen Hansen, chairmen; Karen Hansen and Judy Shelton, dance; Jean Ryan, floor show; Earl and Vicky Doolittle, queen’s court; Claudia Larsen, maypole dancers; Guy and Lori Bartholomew, food stand; Leon and Sheri Lemon, afternoon activities; Pam Buist and Gloria Hofler, program; Kristine Groll, flower planting. Thanks for all the help and support from everyone!
Thomas Kay Sorensen— “Mr. May Day” For 50 Years. “My involvement with May Day has developed within me an enthusiasm for and an appreciation of springtime, but more important, a love for and an interest in the beautiful youth of our community. It has also inspired us to research the customs of our ancestors in this and other countries. I am grateful for this privilege of working with the people of Mendon in such a capacity over the past fifty years.”
Mendon’s May Day— Spring colors of pink and blue fluttered in the cool breeze as old and young alike gathered for the traditional Mendon May Day celebration last weekend. Meanwhile, dark clouds loomed overhead threatening to bring it to a close. Mendon residents once again, as they have done in previous years, braved the weather for their annual celebration of spring. Very few, however, if any, can say they have braved it for as many years as “Mr. May Day,” T. Kay Sorensen. Sorensen has worked on the May Day celebration for fifty out of the 106 years that it has been celebrated. Prior to that time, his father, William I. Sorensen, was in charge of the activities. A grandfather, Isaac Sorensen, is responsible for the composition of the May Day songs that are sung at the celebration every year. The May Day celebration is a long-standing tradition and will continue for many more years. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will continue to enjoy the celebration in the future, according to many residents who attended Saturday’s festivities. The activities actually began Friday evening with a May Day dance in the Mendon LDS chapel. The “Tarlicks” provided the music for the participants of twelve years and older. Later in the evening, a special number was performed by a group of Utah State University Regional Dance Festival participants. Saturday morning festivities opened with the crowning of the May Day queen, Marcianne Hart. Her chosen consort was Tim Watkins. The queen’s name is drawn from a hat filled with the names of all eligible sixteen year-old girls in Mendon. This year’s court was chosen a little differently because there were more boys that girls of that age. The males were allowed to choose a maid of honor from a younger group of girls. The maids of honor and their escorts were Rosemarie Barrett and Matt Hansen; Janna Doolittle and Matthew Owens; Julie Thompson and Jason Lee Wooden; Cindy Cheney and Greg Speth; Jenny Hers and Kent Campbell; Teresa Groll and Kevin Anderson; Kerry Leavitt and Brian Petersen; Tammy Thompson and John Balls; Lisa Whoolery and Robert Hopkins; Angela Nelson and Justin Peterson; Anjanette Hart and Jeremy Hennick; Melissa Larsen and Shaun Kidman; Carrie Hyer and Glen Obray. Suzanne Lindbloom was the flower girl this year and Bracken Longhurst was chosen as the crown bearer. Following the crowning was the traditional maypole dance. Sixty young girls, ages five to eleven, danced in unison around the three maypoles set up in the city square. The colors chosen this year were pink and blue. The girl’s dresses and maypole streamers followed this color scheme. Hours of work went into the choreography of the maypole dance and appreciation was evident to the dance instructors. They were Claudia Larsen, Chairman, Barbara Obray, Kim Willie, Pat Krebs, Dixie Miskin and Norma Myers, accompanist. A program in the nearby chapel followed the dance. The queen’s court was introduced, and Sorensen led the audience in the singing of the May Day songs. Norma Myers accompanied the singing. Mayor Ross Shelton then made a few presentations. Shelton first recognized Sorensen’s participation in May Day and expressed his gratitude with the presentation of an honorary flag. Next he awarded a plaque to Fred and June Bowen for the “Beautification Award.” They were commemorated for their help in beautifying Mendon. The speaker chosen was Gaylon Hopkins. He spoke on the tradition of May Day and its effect on his family and others in the community. “It has been an enjoyable thing,” Hopkins said. “It is a great tradition for our family.” Hopkins also mentioned how rare it is to see a tradition that has continued since the pioneer days and establishment of Mendon. He compared the celebration to the pattern of the maypole, saying it is a symbol of what patience can do. He also said Sorensen is a good example of this patience and commented that he is a “good man for keeping the currents going.” “It (the May Day tradition) is woven into the fabric of this community and into our hearts and our lives,” Hopkins said. Spring songs were a major part of the program, including a medley of songs sung by twin sisters, Martha Bullock and Millie Bess. Afternoon activities followed. These included soccer games, softball games, volleyball, horseshoes, races, Frisbee and the whittling of whistles from willow boughs. A concession stand was set up near the church for hungry participants. Citizens were also urged to look at a display of Mendon artifacts set up by the art council. A heritage fireside took place in the early afternoon. Slides of past May Days were shown as well as a few antique home movies donated by long-time Mendon residents. The celebration came to a close with the performance of “Sleeping Beauty.” “We felt very good about it (the celebration),” Maxine S. Sorensen said, “People put a lot of work into it.” Picture Caption: T. Kay Sorensen, Mr. May Day, leads sing-along. Picture Caption: May Day’s flower girl and crown bearer lead the queen, her consort and procession to the May Day field. Picture Caption: Mendon May Day dancers begin the day with a traditional maypole dance. Picture Caption: May Day Queen Marcianne Hart is crowned by chosen consort Tim Watkins. Picture Caption: May Day participants take a break from the festivities.