1909 May Day Festival

The turn of the century decade began one of transition and progress and is considered the first decade of materialism and consumerism. The Industrial age was in full swing, mass production made prices fall to all time lows. Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs were read more than any book other than the Bible.

Leisure time activities during the first decade of the twentieth century were spent at family get-togethers, baseball games, picnics, playing ping pong, long Sunday drives in the horse and carriage (or the new family car). In the evenings families gathered around the piano for a sing-along. The family was at the center of everything.

The following excerpts from an article in the Atlanta Constitution, dated 29 April 1909, gives an insight into the social life during this time. Notes that Mrs. Jack Hayes (our Annie), was one of the organizers of this Festival.

May Day Festival at Snap Bean Farm

West End Ladies to Hold Festival Saturday to Benefit Memorial Fund

One of the largest and most brilliant May day festivals ever attempted in Atlanta has been planned for Saturday afternoon, May 1, at the Sign of the Wren's Nest. The undertaking is that of the ladies of West End for the Uncle Remus Memorial Fund, a movement which is especially dear to their hearts, and the program they intend to carry out will be in keeping both with the spirit of May Day and the spirit of the Snap Bean Farm.

The festival will take place on the wide meadow at the farm, and nearly two hundred children will take part in the exercises attendant upon the crowning of the May queen at the Maypole dance.

An orchestra which will be in attendance throughout the entertainment will play bright dance music and three groups of children, including the knights and ladies, each around a pole of bright-colored ribbons will dance the Maypole dance.

Afterwards, the participants and the spectators will scatter over the meadow for a general good time and refreshments will be served from picturesque booths, each of which will represent some famous story by Uncle Remus.

Uncle Remus Stories

At a rustic booth, all in green, "Miss Meadows and the Gals" will have ice cream and cake for sale. Miss Ruth Rossner is manager of a grab bag feature and the committee of arrangements includes: Mrs. Brevard Montgomery, chairman assisted by Mrs. J. W. MacEachern, Mrs. B.
F. Collier, Mrs. W. M. Jenkins, Mrs. Muse, Mrs. Jack Hayes, Miss Fannie Simpson.

The program will begin promptly at 4 o'clock and admission to the grounds will be 10 cents for everybody.

West End has entered with universal enthusiasm into the preparation of the festival and a general patronage is urged for what will be an ideally beautiful occasion.

Visitors in the city and admirers of the work of Uncle Remus are especially invited to the Snap Bean Farm, under typical circumstances, when it is overrun with children.