From Time to Thyme

By Paula Dunn

The months of August and September were the height of reunion season in early years of the 20th century. During that time period, the Noblesville Daily Ledger even ran a “Family Reunions” column to alert readers to upcoming gatherings.

Although most of the events listed were family reunions, the paper also included church homecomings, small town get-togethers and picnics and pitch-ins held by various organizations.

One of those organizations had the oddest membership requirement I’ve ever seen.

The Mary Association of the United States, was exactly what it sounds like. Membership was limited to women whose first or middle name was Mary (or Marie, since “Marie” is derived from “Mary.”)

The group was started by three Noblesville women named (surprise!) Mary. Amazingly, this wasn’t exactly an original idea. The Mary reunions appear to have been inspired by the John reunions that had been held in Eaton, Ind. for several years.

The first ever Mary reunion took place in Noblesville in 1915. More than 200 women, children and babies named Mary attended the afternoon-long picnic held on the grounds of Second Ward school (today’s Seminary Park.) Most of them came from central Indiana, but there were also a couple from other states.

According to the schedule in the Ledger, the festivities began at 1 p.m., with a registration and get-acquainted period. This was followed by entertainment: a vocal performance, a couple of readings, a violin solo, a whistling solo and a short talk.

At 3 p.m. souvenir gifts were handed out to “the youngest Mary present, the oldest Mary,  the tallest Mary, the slimmest Mary, the fattest single Mary, the fattest married Mary, the lightest weight married Mary, the newest Mary bride, the Mary mother of most children, the Mary who jumps the rope most times and to the Mary who comes the greatest distance.”

(And yes, it appears that they weighed those women. The weights were published in the paper!) 

The Ledger noted that refreshments were served, but didn’t specify what. A write-up in the Anderson Herald, however, raved about the women’s fried chicken, “home-grown and home-cured and home-boiled hams,” bread, biscuits, and “homemade preserves, jellies and pickles laid out on home washed and bleached white tablecloths.”

You can practically see the Herald reporter drooling when you read his account. (Between the description of the food and a comment that “not one homely young woman was to be seen,” it’s pretty clear the “mere man” mentioned in the article was the reporter.)

The final event of the day was a group photo. At that time marigolds, the association’s emblem, were handed out as party favors. ( The word, “marigold,” is a contraction of “Mary’s Gold.”)

Everyone had such a good time, the organizers decided to make it an annual event. For the next six years, Marys came here from all over the country for the annual reunion. (The 1916 reunion attracted 1,206 Marys!)

Not even World War I could stop the Marys. The decorations, entertainment and mood just acquired a patriotic fervor.

Even the food was patriotic. In 1918 a cake decorated with an American flag made of icing was auctioned off. In the center of the cake was one service star which represented the baker’s grandson, who was serving in the army.

The article didn’t mention where the auction money went, but since war mothers and war grandmothers were given “seats of honor” at the reunion, I’m betting it was donated to the war effort in some way.

The 1920 Mary reunion was the last one held in Noblesville. After that, they were moved to various Indianapolis parks.

I found evidence that the Mary picnics continued to take place at least until 1959, but I lost track of them after that. (“Mary” is not the easiest name to research.)

Paula Dunn’s From Time to Thyme column appears on Wednesdays in The Times. Contact her at younggardenerfriend@gmail.com