We are now two weeks away from the annual Romeo Peach Festival, so let's continue celebrating the Peach Queens of the past!
Today, we'll talk about Susan Marie Berg - America's Bicentennial Romeo Peach Queen!
In 1976, the 21-year-old from Utica (Shelby Township as it was reported early on) was crowned with that title. The July 29, 1976 issue of The Romeo Observer noted many things about Susan. These included that she was in her third year at Michigan State University majoring in advertising and public relations, how she was a dramatics major for two years, her looks (green eyed brunette), her height (five feet, six and a quarter inches tall), and her weight.
In addition, it mentioned Susan's background in music and drama. From sixth to ninth grade, she was enrolled in a summer acting school and played the lead role in the musical Mame at age 15. Later on, Susan performed in high school plays and worked with the Macomb Theatre At-The-Barn. She was also voted Most Musical by her high school classmates and won the Most Promising Actress award for work done in community theatre. On top of that, she received a $300 acting scholarship from her high school, "the first time an award like [that] had been given."
Susan put those skills to the test when she performed a number from the musical The Fantasticks for the Peach Queen Pageant that year.
For her future ambitions, she wanted to keep being "active in community and semi-professional theatre, and [to work] as a public relations agent or promotional director for a large agency."
Furthermore, she had prior pageant experience since she was a former Miss WBRB and Miss Utica.
In other words, the judges were so impressed with Susan's beauty, educational background, talent, pagentry credentials, and future goals that they gave her the Peach Queen title.
Like the other Peach Queens before her, Susan carried out her duties to represent local peach harvests and to bring attention to orchards and the Michigan Peach Festival. The Romeo Observer listed her schedule, which included trips to Washington D.C. to spread the word about the Peach Festival, Lansing to visit Governor William Milliken, and the Ford Proving Grounds. Her court also attended several sporting events at the Tigers Stadium, Pontiac Stadium, and the racetrack (likely referring to the Hazel Park race track) for promotional purposes along with several media appearances.
Although it's unclear if Queen Susan actually met President Gerald R. Ford in Washington D.C., she was able to deliver a basketful of peaches to Carl Albert - Speaker of the US House Representatives at that time. She was accompanied by congressman James O'Hara - representative of the 12th District of Michigan during that period. The Romeo Observer snapped a photo of the three of them for its September 9th issue, which can be seen below.
1976 was a special year for Romeo. Not only was the United States celebrating its 200th birthday that year, but also the Peach Festival decided to host a Peach Queen and Miss Romeo Homecoming Celebration at the same time! The September 2nd edition reported that 21 former Miss Romeos and 23 former Peach Queens were planning on attending said homeocoming. Some Peach Queens even participated in the Mummers Parade. On Labor Day, many of the women rode in the Grand Floral Parade. The former Peach Queens had one float, while the Miss Romeos had another. And of course, Queen Susan rode on her own float.
Reports of the 1976 Michigan Peach Festival concluded that it was well attended. How well? Police Chief Joe Parrotta said that about 50,000 or more people were present for the Floral Parade on that Monday alone, while more conservative estimates were closer to 30,000. Regardless, it was a big celebration for a special year.
Local newspapers sadly didn't mention Queen Susan a whole lot, most likely due to the publicity with the Peach Queen and Miss Romeo reunions. However, she did get to meet the oldest living Peach Queen at the time - 1932's Helen Cheeseman. The Romeo Observer took this picture after Helen placed the crown on top of Susan's head during her coronation for the front page of the September 9th edition.
Since her time as Peach Queen, Susan has performed at several theatres like the Meadowbrook Theatre, Henry Ford (Museum and Greenfield Village), Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Michigan Opera Theatre, and Northville Marquis Theatre. She also toured nationally with the North American Auto Show and the children's theatre troupe, Prince St. Players. In addition, she wrote several original scripts with many of them being performed by the Marquis children's theater in Northville. She continues to act and write.
Romeo didn't forget Susan in the years after she held the Peach Queen title. In 1996, The Romeo Observer reported that she premiered her first adult play A Hot Time in The Old Time as a dinner and theatre event at the Van Dyke Park Hotel on Van Dyke in Warren. Then, in 2001, Susan appeared as First Ladies Frances Cleveland, Grace Coolidge, and Jacqueline Kennedy in a 45-minute one-act play entitled, "My Life as First Lady" for people at the Romeo Community Center. It was part of a program presented by the Romeo Historical Society. Jim Wallington and Karen Hamilton snapped photos of Susan in costume in those years respectively.
Just like 1946, it was a great success for the festival in such an imporant year, and Susan played a huge role even if it wasn't noticed all the time.
To learn more about Susan Marie Berg, 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, 1976; Melvin E. and Joan D. Bleich Collection, The Romeo Obsever, July 29, 1976, p.1-A; September 9, 1976, p.1 and 2; October 30, 1996, p.9-A; November 6, 1996, p.8-A; and January 31, 2001, p.1-A; and Susanmarieberg.wordpress.com