Hi Pi Day everybody! I hope you have some pie like these people in this picture did!
In the February 5, 1953 issue of The Romeo Observer, one of the big news stories was about the county cherry pie baking contest. It took place on Saturday, January 31 in the home economics room at Romeo High School.
The photo shows the judges deciding on the winner under the watchful eye of Bill Rupp, the County Agricultural agent and supervisor to the contest. Starting from the left, these women were Mrs. L. Steigleman, home service advisor for the Detroit Edison Company; Mrs. L. R. Newlin of Romeo; and Miss Phyllis Leith, home service advisor for the Consumers Power Company. On the right near the front is Mrs. Judson Corby. She was the home economics teacher at Romeo High School and was tasting the food.
The article, in which this picture and others show up in, describes how the judges evaulated the pies. Specifically, they chose the winning pastries "on a point basis, a designated number of points going for method of preparation, quality of the pie and the personal qualificiations of the contestant."
This contest was such a big deal in Romeo that the newspaper devoted three separated pages to it. This had more coverage than the Hillcrest Orchard Farms fire.
Now, you're probably wondering who won the contest. It was Doris Ann Adams - a 17-year-old Richmond High School junior who participated in the contest three previous times. I didn't reveal this earlier because the article was literally entitled, "Richmond Girl is County Cherry Pie Champion." She won a silver bracelet and a chance to represent Macomb County in the state contest.
While it doesn't reveal why Doris specifically won, it's clear that the judges noted her experience in making pies and that her method for preparation and the quality were up to their standards.
I hope her pie was delicious!
To learn more about the county cherry pie baking contest, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890.
Source: The Romeo Observer, February 5, 1953, p.I-1, p.I-2, and p.I-6