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"THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1950 Congratulations to on Your 50th ELK WELCOM E HOME Emmer Bluffton, Concrete and Brick Entrance to Science Hall Congratu lations Bluffton College on 50 Years of Academic Service ED GOOD -COAD- for all heating purposes Bluffton, Ohio Engineer of heating plant since 1926 Bluffton College Anniversary HO WE TAKE PLEASURE IN CONGRATULATING BLUFFTON COLLEGE ON A HALF CENTURY OF PROGRESS IN A THRIVING COMMUNITY Steps Bluffton Cement Block Inc., i BUILDING SUPPLIES Bluffton, Ohio E I Administration building of Bluffton College in' former years. Now the home of Dr. L. L. Ramseyer, President of Bluffton College. The home was constructed by J. A. Amstutz, first president of the Board of Trustees. We take pleasure in Congratulating Bluffton College on their GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY ART AMSTUTZ GROCERY Bluffton, Ohio First Observed Here in 1910 First Queen Crowned Four Years Later Rain Has Marred Celebration on Only Three Occasions Since 1914 May Day, with all its colorful pageantry7 and gayety, has Long been accepted as one of Bluffton’s oldest and finest traditions. In its initial stages, however, it differed consider ably from the May Days of the pres ent and recent years. In the last forty years, May Day has grown and changed with the college, ever in creasing in significance and popular ity. The first annual May Day of Bluffton College was held May 24, 1910. At that time, Bluffton was still known as Central Mennonite College. Organized as an educational May Day7, this first one consisted of ad dresses by prominent educational leaders in the afternoon and an open meeting of the Low’ell Litorary Society in the evening. Friends of the college from the community were invited to attend the sessions. A special invitation was also extended to all the schools of Allen and sur rounding counties. First May Day This first May Day had several features which are no longer a part of May Day festivities, but it also lacked some of the features which have since become regular events of each May Day celebration. It had no May Queen, no winding of the May Pole, no class program or box burial ceremony, no Shakespearean play to climax the occasion—in fact, it was hardly recognizable as May Day in comparison with the varied activities which are now’ regarded as traditional May Day features. May Day w’as not held in connec tion with Commencement activities in its early years, but was usually held several weeks prior to the end of school. In 1917 it w’as decided to delay the May Day celebration until Commencement week, so that more alumni and friends of the college could attend. This practice has con tinued through the succeeding years. Queen in 1914 It W’as in 1914 that May Day made its first important change toward present customs, for it was in that year—also the year that the institu tion’s name was changed to Bluffton College—that Miss Viola Welty reigned as the first May Queen. Her throne was built against the east side of College Hall. For her entertain ment, a group of girls sang “The Rose Maiden,” accompanied by Pearl Bogart Mann, who is still accompany ing college musical presentations. The stage for the singers w’as lo cated near the present driveway, be tween a cherry tree and the mock orange tree which at present over hangs the path betw'een Lincoln Halls. It was that the first May Pole For several years tw’o W’ere used—a miniature by small children and the customary pole wound by college girls. Crowning Of Queen Is Highlight In Outdoor Campus Festivities College and here, also, was wound. May Poles one wound The forerunner of the Alumni THE BLUFFTON NEWS, BLUFFTON, OHIO Annual May Day Colorful and Picturesque is One of Bluffton’s Oldest Traditions versus Varsity baseball games, now played in the morning each May Day, came in 1931, and was planned by Coach “Zig” Burcky. It was in the form of baseball specialties” and in cluded contests of batting, ball throwing, and base running, with a grand prize and a booby prize award ed to those earning these respective distinctions. Another “first” was in the previous year, when the first box burial was held. This custom has been con tinued every year since that time. Shakespearean Plays The Shakespearean plays, also tra ditional May Day activities, have been presented at intervals ever since 1912. However, it was not until 1932 and the years following that the plays were given as outdoor evening performances and thereafter became an annual affair, May Days have their humorous the jazz The Bluffton College not been without elements—such as by Ruth Krehbiel’s 1918 festivities. Used as instruments no have burned Spike Jones green with envy? Quite a bit of unexpected ex citement has arisen at various times, also for according to the June, 1926, issue of the WITMARSUM, a near catastrophe was averted in that year when “the crown of daisies was al most lost while Krehbiel Bridge was being crossed, but was rescued by a vigilant guard.” performance band in the contrivances doubt would Rain has disturbed the regular schedule of the celebration only three times in the history7 of May Day, and on each of these occasions, the fes- Former May Queens As an added feature in this year’s May Day festivities at Bluffton Col lege, all former May Queens, Maids of Honor, Popular Men, and Queen’s Escorts have been invited to partic ipate in the May Day procession, Saturday afternoon, June 3. They will appear in the procession, in their respective year costume similar originally worn, same garment. groups, wearing a in color to the one and if possible, the This special feature of the tradi tional May Day festivities is being planned and promoted by the An niversary Commencement Committee, of which Professor H. W. Berky is the chairman. Others on this com- Heartiest Congratulations to my Alma Mater on their 50th Anniversary Baccalaureate Speaker & TAR. L. L. Ramseyer, president, u who will deliver the address open air baccalaureate services of Bluffton College to be held on the campus. Sunday after noon, June 4. tlvltlea were merely postponed or held inside. May Days have also been of his torical importance to Bluffton College. Last year’s May Day was the occasion for the groundbreaking of Bluffton’s newest building, Founder’s Hall. nual May Day, coincides with the gala Fiftieth Anniversary celebra tion of the college. As the college continues to grow and expand in the years to come, so also will May Day continue as one of Bluffton’s oldest and grandest traditions. This year, the fortieth an- And Attendants Will Be In May Day Procession mittee include Dr. Shelly, Miss K. T. Moyer, and James Reusser. The response to this invitation has been very gratifying, with over forty former May Day celebrities already having promised to be here for the celebration and to participate in the procession. The committee in charge expects approximately fifteen to twenty more to answer in the affirm ative. A number of Bluffton residents are included in this list of former queens and attendants. Among them are Mrs. H. W. Berky, Miss Edna Ram seyer, Mrs. George Linden, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Simcox, Carl Smucker, Laurence Burkhalter, and Earl Leh man. inifri r. IGO/ IM G. T. SOLDNER Representing Investors Diversified 409 Cherry St. Bluffton, Ohio iwsjp*- Servi/es, Phone DPP HALL Congratulations Bluffto College on the Occasion of/Your 50th ANNIVERSARY Like this college, which has made a definite contribution to community welfare, it is our aim also to be of commun ity service. FIRST NATIONAL BANK PAS’ttfaA, OHIO Inc. 163-Y congratulations on your 50tk Bluffton Collej Congratulation 50th A Ann^Versary! I The Citizens. National Bank Member Federal Reserve Bank Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Bluffto^, Ohio Congratulations Bluffton College May Your Future Be Happy and Successful A Sound Education^ Institution immunity ALSPACH I)RY PAGE THREE I Science Hall with Lincoln Hall in background LEIBER’S JEWELRY STORE Bh ffton, Ohio ’33 Administration Building on the Bl Congratulatioi on Your 5( s to Bluffton College occasion of your nni vers ary DR. S. K. MOSIMAN Former President of Bluffton College “He Visioned a Greater Bluffton” Urich's Chy Market Bluffton, Ohio .————— ...... in a Thriving CLEANERS iffton, Ohio is Bluffton College th Anniversary