Ode to moms, way back when

JERRY PERSON

Last Sunday was Mother’s Day, a day in which we remember that special

one who brought us into this crazy world and protected us from its

hardships and troubles.

Whether celebrating with mother at a family gathering, or the

placing of a single rose at her graveside, our residents have always

found time to remember their mothers.

This week, we’ll look back at a few examples in which we honored

these important heroes in our lives.

Mother’s Day in America does not go back that many years. Author

Julia Ward Howe first proposed it in 1872, when she suggested people

honor their mothers on June 2. A Kentucky schoolteacher, Mary Towles

Sasseen, started celebrating Mother’s Day in 1887.

By 1907, a campaign was begun for a national observance on the

second Sunday in May, and in 1915, President Woodrow Wilson signed a

resolution making Mother’s Day an annual observance.

I picked the year 1951 to look back on, as there are still many

who are still with us to remember that special day.

What better way to honor mother than to accompany her to

Wintersburg Methodist Church for the annual mother and daughter

banquet? Bowers of sweet peas and roses decorated the church’s social

hall, runners of honeysuckle were placed around each table and at

each place setting, a red rosebud corsage was there to welcome the

mothers.

A special evening musical program was presented for their

entertainment, followed by the introduction of the youngest children

present, Mary Applebury and Stephen Rehling, and the oldest mothers,

Ella Graham and Lula Nichols.

The following Sunday, Methodist minister Charles Bacon’s message

to his congregation was entitled “Behold Thy Mother,” followed by the

church choir singing “Mother Love.” Following the choir, Elaine and

Barbara Pederson sang a duet with music supplied by Mrs. Oscar

Stricklin Jr. on the organ.

Over at the Foursquare Church on Lake Street, the Rev. Pete

Nyenhius presented each mother with a special gift, and the oldest

and youngest mothers were given a beautiful orchid corsage.

Nyenhius’ morning message to his congregation was “The Command of

the Mother of Jesus.” For his evening sermon, Nyenhius chose “The

Grandmothers of King David.”

A special mother and daughter tea was held at the Church of God

(First Christian Church), hosted by Hazel Whittaker. After welcoming

the large turnout of mothers and daughters, Whittaker introduced Cora

Dugdale, who offered a mother’s prayer. Mayme Schuth followed with a

toast to the mothers, entitled “Happiness.”

Bouquets were handed out to the oldest and the youngest mothers

present. Mary Cannon, the oldest mother at 90, and Shirley Worthy as

the youngest, received those. Ruth Rardin received a bouquet for

having the most daughters present.

As the choir sang “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow,” the

mothers and daughters partook of tea, coffee, and punch and plenty of

good homemade cookies.

At the Woman’s Club on Tenth Street, the mothers were given a

special potluck dinner from the Blue Star Mothers. The program

chairwoman, Tracy Hill, introduced the evening’s speaker, Jessie

Hayden.

At the First Baptist Church’s annual Mother’s Day banquet, 93

mothers and daughters enjoyed a turkey dinner. During this

celebration, Clara Mae Ellis welcomed each mother and daughter. This

was followed afterward by a toast to the mothers by Jayn Almond.

Recognized at this banquet were Serena Harris as the oldest mother

present and Willene Miller as the youngest.

Central Elementary School did not forget their room mothers, as

the school PTA hosted a special tea at Lake Park Clubhouse for them.

Not even our celebrated police officer, Owen A. Mosier, was immune

to this special day. He penned the following Mother’s Day poem that

sums up the feelings for this special time:

To mothers dear, from far and wide

Whom’ere have been our constant guide

We tender you our heartfelt thanks

And hope you’ve forgiven our childish pranks.

You’ve helped our broken hearts, to mend

And guided us in our childish trend

And the memory of you still lingers

How you used to kiss our injured fingers

To you, we dedicate this day of days

And there’s not one of us, but prays

That you’ll be blessed and so we say

All love to you, on Mother’s Day.

* JERRY PERSON is a local historian and longtime Huntington Beach

resident. If you have ideas for future columns, write him at P.O. Box

7182, Huntington Beach, CA 92615.