75th Queen of Candles – History

by | Jul 4, 2016 | Events, History, Queen of Candles

REMEMBERING

HISTORY

1942-2016

By Ron Reedy, Lititz Springs Park Historian

Original article in the Lititz Record

 

Long live the queens!

First Queen Pauline Moyer

2016 Queen Samantha Shields

75th Pageant of the Queen of the Candles

(sponsored by the Lititz Woman’s Club)

 

Although the custom of illuminating the Park with candles on July 4th began in 1843, the Crowning of the Queen of the Candles was inaugurated only in 1942.  When plans to mark the 100th Anniversary of the first candle illumination were discussed, members of the Arrangements Committee endeavored to find some way to place special emphasis on this event.

The idea of Crowning of the Queen of Candles was the suggestion of Omar K. Bushong, a member of the Committee.  Mr. Bushong, assisted by Miss Mary Augusta Huebener and several others, worked out the plans for this colorful, pomp-filled spectacle that was indeed a particularly fitting prelude to the lighting of the candles.

Reigning as the first Queen was Pauline Moyer, daughter of Mr.  Mrs. Isaac Moyer, who was chosen for the honor by the students of Lititz High School.  The members of the Court were

  • Ruth Bender
  • Betty Cox
  • Vivian Dietrich
  • Gladys Hoover
  • Betty Lou Jones
  • Marian Krane
  • Rhoda Krane
  • Helen Nagle
  • Marian Royer
  • Dorothy Sing
  • Norman Steely
  • Gloria Wike

Other participants included

  1. HeraldJames Johnson
  2. HeraldFred Rohrer
  3. Train BearerCharles Landis III
  4. Train BearerRichard Miller
  5. Crown BearerJerry Moore

Boy Scout Torchbearers, who served as escorts, were

  • John Bear
  • Jene dePerrot
  • Richard Grube
  • Elliot Krane
  • William Ladd
  • Richard Leed
  • Wilbur Reist
  • Howard Richardson
  • William Ringer
  • James Ryan
  • Rodney Stark
  • Stanley Schoenberger

At the appointed time, a sonorous trumpet fanfare sounded from the hill above the “head-end” near the Boy Scout Cabin, as the Heralds ceremoniously announced the approaching “royal” procession of the Queen and her Court that, with dignity and grace, majestically moved along the path from the cabin to the Paul E. Beck Memorial Band Shell.  The attentive audience, having already enjoyed the preceding band concert, remained seated to watch the resplendent event.

To climax the evening’s program more than 100 men and boys assisted in illuminating 10,000 candles throughout the Park, commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the first candle illumination held in 1843.

Because it was so well received, the pageant was held again in 1943.  In response to popular demand, the Committee decided to make the Queen of Candles Ceremony a regular part of the grand candle illumination which continues today.

1952 Crowning of Cynthia Breininger
(ring bearer John Sheaffer)

1959 Queen of Candles Court
Joan E. Klopp Clair crowned as Queen

1976 Bicentennial Celebration
Queen of Candles Court
Elizabeth J. Hanna Counselman crowned Queen

1971 Crowning of Ida Mae Reiff High

2013 Greta Marie Weidemoyer

Former Queens  1942 to 2016

1942 - Polly Moyer Keenen
1943 -  Dorothy F. Sing Graybill
1944 - Jane Reidenbaugh Carper
1945 - Jane S. Martin Kreider
1946 - Margaret Grosh Reidenbaugh
1947 - Sylvia L. Roth Kauffman
1948 -  Ruth Risser Wimble
1949 - Barbara Lou Miller
1950 - Virginia Lou Ranck Ludwig
1951 - M. Jean Sturgis Steffy
1952 - Cynthia Wier Breininger
1953 - Audrey Risser Cochran
1954 - Joan C. Reist Gibbel
1955 - Jane L. Risser Pinkerton
1956 - Vivian C. Landis Aichele
1957 - Susan Beck Smith
1958 - Nancy Eicholtz Badorf
1959 - Joan E. Klopp Clair
1960 - Leslie Reinhart Male
1961 - Suzanne Hosler Kay
1962 - Mary Ann Hess Scherpf
1963 - Sue Minnich Weaver
1964 -  Linnea J. Minnich Hershey
1965 - Terry Kegel Johnson
1966 - Gloria J. Brubaker Quigley
1967 - Donna Ann Wiegand Hammond
1968 - Daphne Shaeffer Treat
1969 - Catherine Hess Figart
1970 - Donna J. Steffy Enck
1971 - Ida Mae Reiff High
1972 - Debbie Ann Kleinfelter Wier
1973 - Kathryn M. Eckert Wanenchak,
1974 - Kathleen Jo Garner Schoenberger
1975 - Cynthia Lynne Gingrich
1976 - Elizabeth J. Hanna Counselman
1977 - Rufina Lynn Eckman Ebersol
1978 - Cheryl L. Martin Tennis
1979 - Jo Ann Washchysion Conjar
1980 - Lisa M. Zercher Goodin
1981 - Kathy Lynne Haddad Howley
1982 - Mary Beth Gibbel Bertrando
1983 - Kathryn M. Badorf Norris
1984 - Beth Ann Eidemiller Duch
1985 - Cynthia N. Hurst Sensenig
1986 - Linda Jo Geiger Fleth
1987 - Julie D. Turano
1988 - Debra J. Haddad Ramsey
1989 - Kimberly Ann Harris Eckman
1990 - Jill Michelle Musser Starliper
1991 - Amy Fyock Stehn
1992 – Dori Harnly
1993 - Bree Allison Derr Arva
1994 - P. Dawn Harnly
1995 - Kelly Jo Coen
1996 - Kaye Louise Bucher Black
1997 - Sarah E. Eshelman Sell
1998 - Christina M. Booth
1999 - Emily Good
2000 - Katie Jo Gerfen
2001 - Nicole Marie Mobarak Diller
2002 - Jill Christine Newberry
2003 - Roxannah Hunter
2004 - Taryn Hollister
2005 - Alyssa Newberry
2006 - Kate E. Stewart
2007 - Sierra Kreft
2008 - Mikaela Soto Watkins
2009 - Kelsey A. Zeswitz
2010 - Marissa Laine Talbot
2011 - Danielle Marie Keim
2012 - Taylor Lee Calta,
2013 - Greta Marie Weidemoyer
2014 - Lauren Gabrielle Stork
2015 - Reagan Elizabeth Conrad
2016 - Samantha Shields

1950  4th of July / Queen of Candles

Lighting of the candles at the park