by: Shirley Simmons
MAY DAY Is an ancient festival originating in Europe at the beginning of Summer. Many celebrated with a May Queen, May Pole, and other traditions. Most early American schools held some kind of celebration for students in which they performed various talent feats. Fuquay Spring High School was no exception. Recorded here by Mr. Prince, we can see the outdoor event held in front of the “Old Red Building” on Academy Street. No date was recorded with these photos but it appears to have been between the opening in 1918 and when the 1927-28 building was added on Ennis Street. The photos are not of good quality but still interesting historically.
The public sat along Academy Street to watch the performances. A number chose to “hang out” in the windows behind the performers. Whether they had any part in the event is not clear. For May Day the children were showcased and the public enthralled.
Robert Prince and wife were deeply involved in recording the history of our town. We have received a number of his photos of historical event in our town. Mr. Prince began work at the Bank of Fuquay as a youth and rose to the Presidency.
Collecting mail from the station, he actually missed the picture with his high school graduates in 1922 as recorded in our school house display. Mrs. Prince was a beloved teacher in the Fuquay Springs High School English department to whom the 1928 annual was dedicated.
The Princes were at home on N. Main Street. Note that the snow pictures in earlier articles showed Mr. Prince and his home. Here the couple pose on the front steps. This structure was eventually moved and redone as a dwelling near Fuquay Consolidated.