Yes, the May Pole was a big deal. My mother in law was May Pole queen at her school one year. Even in her nineties, she was still proud of that fact.
I suppose it was observed in areas with a strong German influence.

I can just see these girls taking their Maypole duties seriously, and the boys just on the verge of turning it into chaos.

l.e. on 1st May 2012 @ 7:12am

Ella Everson Sheldrake was originally from Wisconsin and the daughter of Ole and Ida (Blagg) Sheldrake

I believe she may have very well been a grandmother or great grandmother of Arlen. (Arlen tell us the relationship.

Pine Grove observed May Day with quite a ceremony, I know my great aunt Florence was crowned "Queen of the May."

Charlott on 1st May 2012 @ 7:47am

I found a photo of the "Old Mt. Hood School", which was built in 1914 and still stands and is registered as a National Historic Place.
Did it replace this school?

l.e. on 1st May 2012 @ 7:59am

WOW ! Yes, Ella is my grandmother. I had forgotten that she was a teacher. She is in the picture in the back just to the left of the middle window. My brother Roger is also a regular visitor to this site and will also appreciate this photo. Our father John L. was born at their home in Mt. Hood, last I looked the house is still standing.
I had no idea that this picture could exist, MANY thanks Arthur.
Didn't the may pole dance have something to do with the plague? (all fall down).

Arlen Sheldrake on 1st May 2012 @ 8:49am

That was "Ring Around the Rosie", Arlen.

l.e. on 1st May 2012 @ 9:28am

Mom says this school was located on the south side of Woodworth road, in the big field to the east of the bridge. She was born in what was the post office at the date of this picture, on the north side of the road.
She also commented, Arlen, that when she went to school at the Mt. Hood School, in the late 20's, every Easter the school had an Easter Egg Hunt, but the grounds around the school were so open there were no good places to hide the eggs. So all the kids walked down the road to the Eversons', where they had hid hundreds of eggs for everyone to hunt on their beautiful grounds. That's still a beautiful house.

Dedilee on 1st May 2012 @ 10:10am

I am not certain if this is just a maypole dance or a ribbon dance. I know Pine Grove had the actual riboon dance, which consisted of various colors of ribbon, then as the childen went in and out it wove and then when they reversed it would unwind.

Charlott on 1st May 2012 @ 3:44pm

There are various ways to wrap the ribbons for different effects (patterns)

Charlott on 1st May 2012 @ 3:53pm

I remember winding the Maypole at Park Street school about 1954. Does anyone else remember that?

Dorothy on 3rd May 2012 @ 4:51pm

Ella Sheldrake was my Grandmother. What a great picture. I did not know she was a teacher. My father was Eugene Sheldrake. Callie

Callie Sheldrake Lunn on 20th May 2012 @ 11:07am

I see here to the far front left is my Great uncle Bill and grandmother Mary Leasure.

TERRY DRAPER on 2nd July 2020 @ 6:37am