Wartime picnics in the John and Lillie May grove

The summer of 1942 was one of uncertainty as World War II raged, so two farm-related organizations decided to organize a grand picnic as a morale-booster for the farm families they served. They were Lucas County Farm Bureau and the Lucas County Cooperative Creamery.

The setting was John May's grove, located on the south side of U.S. Highway 34 between Chariton and Russell --- a pleasant wooded area that had been a destination for picnics and community gatherings for many years thanks to the owners, John and Lillie May. They were among the community picnic organizers.

The Mays' distinctive farm house --- designed by Chariton architect William Lee Perkins and located across the highway north of the grove --- was (and remains for those who pay attention to such things) a landmark although the grove has long since been diminished and turned to other uses. Its heydey as a public gathering place known as May's Grove lasted from roughly 1925 through 1955.

The picnic featured games designed to entertain and occupy members of Lucas County's various 4-H clubs with an afternoon softball game for adults that pitted east Lucas County against west and an event-concluding tug of war --- in addition to Herb Plambeck's address.

Here's a brief item from the Chariton Herald-Patriot of Thursday, Aug. 6, reporting on the picnic as it was occurring:

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Approximately 700 persons attended the first Lucas county picnic and sports festival at John May's grove east of Chariton today. An intensive program of sports proceeded according to schedule on a day of perfect weather for the event.

A picnic dinner was held at noon with those attending being seated at long tables under the trees. Herb Plambeck, farm editor of radio station WHO in Des Moines, spoke this afternoon.

The Chariton Legion junior band played and drilled and the Russell band played at the event, sponsored jointly by the Lucas County Farm Bureau and the Lucas County Co-op Creamery.

Boys and girls, men and women were participating in various events. Signs posted those present where to register for different sports contests.

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I'm not sure how long these community picnics continued, but did determine that the third in a series was held at May's Grove during August of 1944.

My own memory of the grove is very faint, but when I was very young family friends, the Rev. Archie and Myrtle Beals, had a small cabin in the grove and I attended a picnic there with my parents, an event most likely related in some way to Russell's First Baptist Church.

After the grove passed from May ownership, the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Beals brought the little cabin into Russell and planted it in the side yard of their home where it still was sitting when I was in high school there.