Ahhh, a special one for Charlott.

I think I have mentioned on here before that my mother in law was May Queen at her country school. That would have been about 1925. Even in her 90's she was quite proud of that. It must have been a big deal.

L.E. on 17th February 2016 @ 7:46am

American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief was of importance in 1915, Mother Nature was the poster icon. Groups represented were from the three groups of the Armenian Genocide. Troops, Armenian Catholics, Armenian Protestants, Armenian Apostolic

OrMtnMaid on 17th February 2016 @ 7:58am

Yes, L. E. I can make some comments on this photo. My great-aunt Florence (Clark) Thrane was Queen of the May in 1916. I have photos of her as the queen and the poem that her Papa wrote to her regarding it. She does appear in this photo, looking at this on your right on the back row of the big girls she is the first on by the margin of the photo. The little boy right in front of her just could be my own father, but I can't say one way or the other for certain. When I initially glanced quickly through to see if I recognized anyone I saw him even before I saw my Aunt Florence. I have kept looking at it and some little about his ears don't fall right into line. That doesn't necessarily mean anything, just could be the way he standing. Sadly I only recognize one other girl in the picture. She is standing to what would be the right of the queen with the necklace on. It is one of the Krussow girls, but I don't know which one it is. As to the costumes I don't have a clue really. Could be of various nations, but that wouldn't deal with nature. I assume that each group that are dress basically the same represent something.

Now as to the "band". I do know that at the start of school the students were "drummed" in. Their uniforms look very military, but again don't know.

Yes, the May Day celebration at Pine Grove was a big event. I have pictures of the girls winding the pole and that was all probably taken in that 1916 year when my Aunt Florence was the Queen of the May.

Aside from the May festivities here I am seeing a couple of other things that are quite interesting. I wish the top of Van Horn Butte was a little clearer and would give me a better idea of what I am seeing. I am thinking from the location that the large building is what we now refer to as "the carriage house" but appears that in the beginning it had an upper story on it. It does make sense to me, that it would house the hay for Van Horn's horses and then at a later date probably when McClain owned it , the top story was removed and the bottom used for a garage. Just from the location I am very certain that that is not the big house, which would have been just a little further to the west. This does give a good view of the large trees that were on the top and most of them were still there when I was up there in the 1950's before the big house was part of Pine Grove history.

Now I have a question.....what do you make of the flying saucer that appears just above the heads of the band. You will really have to enlarge this picture to get a good view of it.

Charlott on 17th February 2016 @ 8:29am

I attended Pine Grove from 2006-2011. I remember many photos of a so called May Day. I've seen one where they are going around a tall stick...

Mauro on 2nd January 2017 @ 2:48pm