The Merville community celebrated the one year anniversary of sod turning with a 1920 May Day celebration.

It was a party with all the trimmings: Violet Trotter was crowned May Queen, a May-pole Dance was performed and there were treats, sports and a May Day Ball.

Sorry Reverend Menzies but the Cumberland Islander newspaper begs to differ about Merville having the first May Queen. The May 10, 1919 edition lists Jessie Stevenson as the Cumberland May Queen a full year ahead of Merville. And an article appearing in the North Island Advertiser from May 1, 1976 tells of Courtenay’s first May Queen, Mildred Cunningham, being crowned on May 23, 1918!

Bonus

Click here to see a photo of May Queen Violet Trotter.