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.