FIRST MISS AMERICA AT REHOBOTH 1880

BACKWOODS PENNSYLVANIA GIRL WINS

FIRST MISS UNITED STATES TITLE

IN 1880 REHOBOTH BEACH PAGEANT

This article appeared in the Wednessday, October 5, 1966 newspaper “The Express” of Lock Haven

Pennsylvania, in the column “ShoreLInes” by Joseph Cox.

A backwoods girl from Shinglewood near Lock Haven became the first Miss America, rather, the first Miss United States.

The contest was held about 1880 at Rehoboth Beach Delaware said Col. Henry Shoemake president of the Pennsylvania Folklore Society when he recalled the story of Myrtle Meriwethers selection as Miss United States, the most beautiful unmarrid woman in our nation, and her return to her country store in Oswayo Valley,as a chapter in the states folklore.

Myrtle belonged to a business womans league in norther Pennsylvania, she was the corresponding secretary, that was induced to hold their convention at Rehoboth Beach. While there at her convention, exporing the boardwalk, she saw posters of a 'young womans beauty contest. She noticed that there was candidate for Pennsylvania, as several other states.

The contest promoter of Rehoboth Beach. Joseph H. Dodge, sized her up and called her attention to

the specifications , single, less than 35 years old, five feet four, no more than 130 pounds, and tat he prize was a gilded plaque and $300 in a bridal trousseau. Dodge praised Myrtle's evident qualifications and assured her she would win the Pennsylvania position should she enter. She decided to enter the contest.

The day of the contest parade of the Vestals, as it was called, began the girls marched around the open air stage as a group, then singly.

The judges were Thomas Edison, Judge Harrington of Delaware Supreme Court and M. Banwart the French envoy in Washington, D.C. Suddenly William Thompson, rapped for order, and announced that Miss Pennsylvania was Miss United States, the most beautiful unmarried woman in our nation.

Unlike her modern day counterpart, the first Miss America, forgot the whole thing as she settled down

to the quiet routne back home in Shinglewood as a backwoods girl.

There is a faded picture in an old newspaper, the only reminder now, of Myrtle Meriwether in the

back seat of the horse drawn Shinglehouse-Coudersport stage, in the collection of Col. J. W. Quiggle, president of the Rehoboth Beach Association.