Polly-Moyer.jpg

First Queen of Candles,

Pauline Moyer

REMEMBERING

HISTORY

1942-2016

By Ron Reedy, Lititz Springs Park Historian

Original article in the Lititz Record

 

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. Herald: James Johnson

  2. Herald: Fred Rohrer

  3. Train Bearer: Charles Landis III

  4. Train Bearer: Richard Miller

  5. Crown Bearer: Jerry 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.