Evening star., 1954-04-29
Blossom Fete
AT Winchester
Nears Climax
Poeeuntry and Pie
Provide FIuvor for
Virginia Festival
By Mory Lou Werner
Stor Stoff Correspondent

WINCHESTER, Va, April %.
The coronation of 17-year-old
Patricia Ann Priest as Queen
Shenandoah XVII by Defense
Secretary Wilson topped the list
Of today's activities at the OPEN
ing of the annual Apple Blossom
Festival here.
Queen elect Pat - everyone
called her Pat from the moment
she arrived-was to receive her
golden crown at II am. at the
Handley School Bowl. 1t. Gen.
Clifton B. Gates. commandant
of the Marine Corps School at
Quantico. has been designated
minister Of state to assist Secre-
tary Wilson at the coronation.
The Weather Bureau predicted
cool temperatures throughout
the day. with the mercury reach
ing the low COS by afternoon.
There was no hope of sunshine
for festival activities today.
Blond, blue.eyed Pat, daughter
Of United States Treasurer Mrs.
Ivy Baker Priest, stepped into
the festival spotlight yesterday
with poise and charm seldom
found in one SO young-even in
a veteran queen. She has been
queen of two other recent festi-
walls.
Adept Pie Cutter.
Her first task at the apple
festival was the traditional pie
cutting. A 36-pound apple pie
was provided. and Pat was given
big white chefs cap to wear
atop her close-cropped golden
hair. Pat demonstrated a skill
full hand cutting the pie and
sat down to eat two slices be-
fore she was whisked away to
the Joint Civic Club Luncheon.
She wore an aqua cotton print
sunback dress with a bolero.
At the civic luncheon, Pat was
introduced to Miss Johanna
Young Walsh. a guest from VIM
chester, England. Miss Walsh
brought greetings from the
mayor Of her native city to the
namesake community in Vir-
ginia. She thanked Winchester.
Va. for the bundles it sent to
Winchester, England, during the
blitzes Of World War II.
Two Time Escort.
Pats first festival escort was
Jimmy Robson. 10. of White
Stone, Va. a student at the Uni
versity of Virginia. He also was
the first escort for last years
queen, Miss Kathryn Eisen-
hover, niece of President Eisen-
hover.
The dizzy whirl of pre-festival
events kept up for Pat all after
noon and evening. She was in.
terviewed over two radio stations,
attended a reception for the
press and later attended a re-
ception for festival workers. It
was late before she had chance
to see her famous mother, father,
brother and sister who came
with her. The Priest family lives
in Arlington County, and Pat
attends Washington-Lee High
School.
Today's schedule is even buster.
Pats day begins with the coro-
nation at IL am. Afterwards,
she was to visit the apple
orchards with her court Of prin-
cesses. Festival workers found
a few orchards still in bloom.
although the early warm weather
has left most of Winchester's
famous apple trees more green
than pink.
While Pat was visiting the ap-
pie orchards. the first perform
ance of "Forerunners-Pageant
of Springtime" was to be staged
at the HandJey School Bowl at
1880 am. Pat and her court
were to return to Handley Bowl
to watch the second presentation
Of the pageant at 3 pm.
The 1000 Winchester school
children who participate in the
colorful pageant went through
the final dress rehearsal yester-
day.