1923 Marion Kerr

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

1922 Margaret Crawford

Margaret Crawford was from Berea, Ohio and had attended Berea High School. She was a junior in 1922 and graduated in 1923. She was a Class Secretary, Vice President, part of the Exponent Staff, and Alpha Kappa Sigma Treasurer. Here is her quote from the year book,

"My Peggy speaks sae sweetly

To a' the Pove I'm cauld,"

And a snippet about her,

 

"Margaret cannot decide what her vocation will be when she graduates. But why worry when one has the ability and disposition that "Gee" has? No on ever saw her lose her temper or poise."

 

 

 

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives 

1921 Beulah Kollar (and Court)

 

 

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

1920 Marie Speelman

Marie Speelman was the first elected May Queen at Baldwin Wallace's first May Day celebration in 1920. At that time, she lived in Crestline, Ohio, and began attending Baldwin Wallace in the fall of 1916. However, technically she should have graduated in 1920, but she stopped attending college after completing two years of course work. During that time, she chose to work in government service. Although she returned to Baldwin Wallace, she could not officially graduate in 1920 with her class. Marie Speelman also had the position of president of the Y.W.C.A. She is described as being quiet but popular among the student body.

 

 

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

May Queens

Next in our series of posts is the topic of May Queens. As previously stated, each May Day a May Queen would be elected. However, to be more specific, at Baldwin Wallace, the Student Assembly voted on all girls of junior status. This was a primary election. Then, from this election, three girls were chosen and a second, final, election was held. This election decided who was May Queen for that May Day and year. During May Day weekend, a crowning ceremony took place and the May Pole Dance was done in the Queen's honor. A brief bio will be given in subsequent posts for each May Queen when information is available. Pictures will also be provided when possible.

1922 May Queen Margaret Crawford

 

 

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

What is the Theme?

Last post, I discussed May Day floats and how they corresponded to each year's May Day theme. So, I thought it would be fun if I posted photographs of some of the various May Day floats that were made for BW May Day. This is going to be a guessing game. I am going to post a link to a separate page on the blog that contains the answers. So, just comment whatever you think the theme is below and we'll just see. Also, some floats might be from the same year so multiple floats could be designed for the same theme. Have fun!

 

Float Number 1

 

Float Number 2

Float Number 3

 

Float Number 4

 

Float Number 5

 

 

Answers are located at What is the Theme? Answers. Thanks for playing!

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

May Day Floats

Another major part of the May Day festivities was the creation of floats by every sorority, fraternity, and any student organizations or classes that wanted to participate. These were created using chicken wire and crepe paper. Each May Day had a theme that was chosen and voted on for each year. Then, in connection with this theme, each organization would create an idea for a float and submit it for approval. On May Day, these floats were paraded beginning at the Berea High School parking lot. They would then travel down Bagley Rd. to Front St. From then on they would turn left and go down Front St. to East Bridge and then to Beech Street. From Beech they would turn right onto East Grand St. to the Rec. Hall. During the course of May Day, each float from the parade would be judged and at the end, winners would receive trophies.

    Float Production in 1961:

 

 

For 1965, the May Day theme was "Disneyland":

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives 

Men's Chariot Races

1948 Chariot Race

 

1949 May Day Race

 

1972 May Day

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

Women's Relay Races

1961 Relay Race

 

1961 May Queen Sally Horton

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

Tug O' War

1961 Tug Game

1964 Tug O' War

 

1961 Game

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

May Day Competitions

Sports Competitions were a big part of the May Day festivities. Today, this is the only remnant that remains of the festival and is continued on during the April Reign Competitions. However, many of the events have changed. April Reign entails obstacle courses, tricycle relays, tug o’ war, and pyramid. During May Day, different competitions were changed over time. However, in 1920, there was a 100 yd. dashes for men, girls’ baseball games, peanut races, 60 yd. dash for women, wheelbarrow races for men, shoe races for boys, 3 legged races for girls, sack races for men, tug o' war (married men vs. single men), and a needle threading contest.  However, in later years, most competitions were: boat races, men’s chariot races, women’s Relay races (tricycles and scooters), and tug o’ war.

 Boat Races: 

1972 Boat Race

 

1958 Boat Race

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

A History of May Day at Baldwin Wallace University

In the past, May Day was celebrated at Baldwin Wallace University before the school merged together. In 1913, the two colleges of German Wallace College and Baldwin University combined to become Baldwin-Wallace College, now Baldwin Wallace University. At that time, May Day was celebrated informally at the school.

 However, in 1920, the celebration of May Day at Baldwin Wallace University became an official university event. In the wake of the World War I, a group of students gathered together looking for a school-wide festival to embrace the coming of spring. These students were inspired by a Young Women’s Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.) conference held in the summer of 1919 near the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. There, others students from around Ohio, as well as from West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania met together. Their purpose was to discuss different events that were held on their various school campuses.  

Wheeler Hall - 1920s May Day

 

Wheeler Hall Today

 

 After this conference, Baldwin Wallace College decided to adopt a form of the May Day holiday for their school year festivities as way to embrace the wonders of spring and life after the horrors of World War I. Many associations and clubs on campus then participated in the beginning of May Day at BW. When the weekend-long festival first began, it was decided that a female junior-status student would be elected May Queen. That way, the next year, that same girl would be a senior and could crown her successor. Later, a male student elected May King would escort the May Queen to her “throne”.

Throughout May Day weekend, many activities occurred. Traditionally, there would be a parade that different student organizations, sororities and fraternities, and classes would create floats for. Often there would be a dance for couples to attend as well as folk dances and the May pole dance. The queen would be crowned during the festival and often there would be musical concerts in evening. The weekend and its festivities usually ended with a minstrel show or play that was held in Fanny Nast Gamble Auditorium.

 

May Day - Berea Quarries Park Amphitheater - undated



May Day Location Today

 

Traditionally, May Day was held in the early years on North campus in front of Wheeler Hall. This continued until 1936, when the festivities were moved to the Berea Quarries Park Amphitheater. May Day at Baldwin Wallace was held at the school from 1920 until 1943 when the celebrations stopped because of World War II. At that point, the festival ceased until 1947, when it was reinstated and continued until the last May Day was held in 1998. This coincided with Baldwin Wallace University’s school schedule change from quarters to semesters. In 1999, due to these changes, the school created April Reign, which continues to today. Like May Day, April Reign was created to celebrate the coming of warm spring and summer weather and traditionally entails various sports competitions, located at the Metroparks and Coe Lake.

Citations:

“April Reign.” Baldwin Wallace University. Baldwin Wallace University, 2013. Web. 28 March 2015.
Baldwin Wallace University Archives

Berea, Ohio.” Map. Google Maps. Google, 2015. Web. 28 March 2015.

“City of Berea.” City of Berea: Cuyahoga County. ATD Marketing. 2014. Web. 28 March 2015.

“History of Baldwin Wallace University” Baldwin Wallace University. Baldwin Wallace University, 2013. Web. 28 March 2015.

May Day Program

Here is a schedule of a traditional May Day at Baldwin Wallace University. Each year, the students would vote and create a theme for that year’s May Day festivities. This program is from 1955 and the theme was “All the Word’s a Stage”. On that year, May Day was celebrated May 13, 14, 15, 1955 and the May Queen for that year was Nancy Haxton. Unlike most years, however, no play was performed during that year’s May Day Festivities.

 

Act I

Friday May 13

3:00 p.m. - Faculty-Senior Ball Game - Quarries Park

4:30 - Junior- Senior Tug O’ War - Island

5:00 - Boat Races - Wallace Lake

5:30 - All-College Supper - Park Picnic Area

 

Act II – Scene 1

Saturday, May 14

7:30 – 8:30 A.M. - All-College Breakfast - Emma Lang Lawn

8:45 - Girl’s Relay Race - Berea Fairgrounds

9:00 - Chariot Race - Berea Fairgrounds

9:30 - Parade Lineup - High School Parking Lot

10:00-11:30 - Parade

Begin at High School Parking Lot, March down Bagley to Front, turn left at Front St., March down Front St. to E. Bridge; to Beech St., turn right at Grand and disperse at Rec. Hall.

12:00 - Association of Former Queens’ Luncheon - Lang

 

Act II – Scene 2

All the World’s a Stage” Coronation Program

2:00 P.M., Saturday, May 14

Bill Mackall – Master of Ceremonies

 

Introduction - Wes Abbott, Student Council President

Welcome Address - Dr. Frank G. Lankard, Dean of Baldwin-Wallace College

Processional

Coronation Ceremony - JoAnn Repass, 1954 May Queen

May Pole Dance - Freshmen Women – Sue Miller

Selections by Interfraternity Sing Winners – Delta Zeta Sorority

Dream Girl of Delta Zeta                               Ellen Winn Reed

A Dancing Medley                                           arrangement by Pat Cirigliano and Harry Hershey

Dancing In The Dark                                        Douglas MacLean

Selections by Interfraternity Sing Winners – Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity

Drink Song                                                          arrangement by Myron Rapport

Serenade                                                            arrangement by Earl Lawrence

Men of Alpha Tau Omega                            arrangement by Robert Dubbs

Presentation of May Day Awards

Exponent Chariot Race                                  Nancy Stansbury, Exponent Editor

Interfraternity Boat Race                              Duane Fitts, Donator of Trophy

May Day Parade Floats                                  Ed White

Pageant – Sunday Excursion - Directed by Melvin Hakola

Recessional

 

Act II – Scene 3

Saturday, May 14

4:00 - Reception for Queen - Amphitheatre

4:00 – 6:00 - Open House - Fraternity Houses and Dormitories

5:30 – 7:30 - All-College Supper - Emma Lang Lawn

8:00 – 12:00 - May Day Dance - Rec Hall

 

Act III

Sunday, May 15

11:00 A.M. - All-College Worship Service - College Chapel

 

Citations:
Baldwin Wallace University Archives

May Pole Dance Checklist for Baldwin Wallace

1. Choose 14 or 16 girls: (freshman)
1. Two from each sorority (pledges)

   

   1987 May Pole Dance

2. Two independents
3. Two nurses
4. Two commuters
2. Check on may pole at rec hall
1. See if it needs painting
2. Have it put up for practices
3. Hold practices at rec hall
1. Talk to the lady in charge at the rec hall to be sure it isn’t in use on the days you want to practice
2. Have two practices a week, usually at night – 7:15
3. Be sure to start practices 3 or 4 weeks before May Day or sooner
4. Get last year’s streamers
1. Use the old streamers for practice
2. If new streamers are needed, buy 7 yds. material
3. Check on colors chosen by queen for streamers
5. Check on piano to be used in the park – be sure to choose a piano player
6. Have girls decide on what they want to wear for the dance
7. Find an advisor for the dance.
1. If the dance to Waltz of the Flowers is not used,
2. Any new dance may be used
8. Check on having seats reserved in the park for the dancers.

Traditional May Pole Dance Dress Code:

 

 - Wear a white dress or white skirt & blouse – no shoes!

 

1987 May Pole Dancers

 

Citations:

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

Baldwin Wallace May Pole Dance

         The May pole dance is specific to every location that the May Day festival is celebrated at. Therefore, although a generic May pole dance has been provided in May Pole Traditions, here is the dance specific to Baldwin Wallace University’s May Day festival and the requirements for the dancers.

1961  May Pole Dance

 

May Pole Dance Steps

- Girls are divided into two groups, ones and twos.

Music Starts:

1.      Curtsy to the Queen (left leg back)

2.      Curtsy to the audience.

3.      Ones into the pole 4 counts, back 4 counts.

4.      Twos in the pole 4 counts, back 4 counts.

5.      Turn to partner, turn to corner, partner, corner.

6.      Waltz eight counts to the left (begin with right foot over left).

7.      Balance into pole two times.

8.      Ones – 4 counts into pole, pick up ribbon: back on 4 counts.

9.      Twos – 4 counts into pole, pick up ribbon: back on 4 counts.

10.  Wind 24 times (in-out-in-out)

11.  Turn to partner, turn to corner, partner, corner.

12.  Balance three times into the pole.

13.  Wind 24 times again.

14.  Turn to partner, turn to corner, partner, corner.

15.  Ones into pole 4 counts: lay day down streamers, back on 4 counts.

16.  Twos into pole 4 counts: lay down streamers, back on 4 counts.

17.  Waltz 6 counts to the left: turn to Queen and pause…

18.  Curtsy to Queen.

19.  Curtsy to audience.

Music ends. Dance ends.

Citation.

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

May Pole Traditions

 

1948 May Dance

After sunrise on May 1^st, the flower and branches that had been gathered from the forest were placed around the windowsills and door frames of people's homes. Then began the process of choosing a May pole from the woods, which was cut down and stripped of its park. Garlands of flowers were placed on the pole and ribbons were attached. The pole was erected upright and young men and women gathered to dance around it, weaving the ribbons in and out. This was done, similar to the Romans’ Floralia festival, to please the goddess Flora, who had dominion over flowers. Alternatively, people danced to please the tree spirits, hoping for a good harvest that year.

May Pole Dance 1913

Later, May poles were painted in stripes of yellow and black. Sometimes the poles were simply painted white or kept natural. Around 8 to 10 or more ribbons were hooked to the pole, depending on how large the May Queen’s court was. However, there had to be an even number of dancers. Each dancer received one ribbon to hold as they danced, often in bright colors or pastels. The top of the pole often held a flower wreath or sometime a May basket filled with flowers.

May Pole Dancer 1966

The dance goes as follows: two groups of dancers stand on opposite sides of the pole. All the dancers on the right go in that direction weaving in and out of the other group of dancers until the last dancer in that group has passed the last dancer on the left side. The dancers on the left then weaved in out of the dancers on the right until the last left dancer passed the last right dancer. Then, all parties transferred their ribbon to the opposite hand and each group reversed This is repeated until the pole has been braided to the bottom.

Citations:

American Child Health Association. May Day Festival Book: Some Suggestions for Celebrating Child Health Day. New York: American Child Health Association, 1929. Print.

Baldwin Wallace University Archives

Beard, Lina and Adelia Belle Beard. The Original Girl's Handy Book. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers Inc, 2007. Print.

Parker, Lucie. “Greet May with a Maypole” Weldon Owen. Bonnier Corporation, 1 May 2012. Web.  28 March 2015.