We are four weeks away from the annual Romeo Peach Festival, which means basketfuls of that fruit, related products, and of course, the Peach Queen! This blog will devote itself to one past Peach Queen each week until August 31, when the festivities begin!
Let's start with Margaret Ann Smith. In 1973, the 18-year-old from Three Rivers was crowned as the Peach Queen for that year. She had wowed the judges with her answers and her talent of playing the flute and the piccalo.
However, she was also involved with the Peach Queen Scandal. To be fair, it wasn't much of an offense. For context, the person is who selected as Peach Queen is also entered into the Miss Michigan Pagaent every year. In Margaret's case, she also held the title of Miss Three Rivers. According to pagaent rules, one can't represent two franchised titles at the same time in a single contest. As a result, Margaret had to relinquish her Peach Queen crown and royal duties to first runner-up Ann Marie Sullivan of St. Clair Shores. Margaret was still able to participate in the Miss Michigan pagaent only as Miss Three Rivers.
It didn't affect Margaret's standing in the long run. She was still being referred to as Peach Queen when the 1974 contest was being held and when the Peach Festival organized a homecoming for former Peach Queens and Miss Romeos in 1976.
To learn more about Margaret Ann Smith, other Peach Queens, and the Peach Festival in general, you can locate the Romeo Peach Festival Collection here and/or contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org to see said collection in person.
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Romeo Peach Festival Collection, 1973 and 1976