The timing was almost perfect.

A special package reached the mailbox of curator Kobi Christian last Thursday, May 18, just days before Fort 91原创 hosted its 95th annual May Day parade and celebrations.

A silver bracelet had arrived, engraved 鈥淨ueen Jean May 13, 38, Fort 91原创, B.C.鈥�

For close to a century, Fort 91原创 has been celebrating May Day on the Monday of the Victoria Day long weekend, and traditional festivities include choosing a May Queen and her Royal Party from amongst local young contestants.

The 鈥淨ueen Jean鈥� referenced on the bracelet was Jean McIver, who was crowned Fort 91原创鈥檚 May Queen 79 years ago.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a lovely find,鈥� Christian said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 interesting to be able to connect this to a particular person, place, and time in the community.鈥�

Last fall, Christian had been contacted by Irene Hembling of Kelowna.

Hembling had been thrift store shopping and had come across the silver bracelet.

The designs on the bracelet and the inscription on it intrigued her enough to purchase it and find out more. She contacted the 91原创 Centennial Museum, where the curator was able to learn more through photos and a particularly magnificent May Day souvenir that had been created by Jenny Simpson, later Jenny Lewis, of Fort 91原创.

Young Miss Simpson had illustrated a page for each year of the May Day celebrations in both Fort 91原创 and 91原创 Prairie (now 91原创 City) between 1929 and 1939, and the little binder containing them was donated to the museum by her daughter years ago. The Simpson family had a grocery in the Fort Grocery building beside the Community Hall, now known as Country Antiques. Ms. Lewis (1909-1986) was very active in the community, particularly with the Fort 91原创 May Day Committee, where she was Queen Mother for a number of years.

The page for 1938 confirmed that Jean McIver was indeed 1938鈥檚 May Queen, and arrangements were made to get the bracelet to the museum, where it arrived just in time for 2017鈥檚 May Day celebrations.

Jean McIver was born in East 91原创 in 1925 to Ellen and Kenny McIver.

She attended 91原创 High School, and later married Ian Souter.

The couple built and owned the Derby Drive-In in Fort 91原创. She passed away in 2010.