“May Day seems to have enjoyed some observance in the early colonial period, as evidenced by Increase Mather’s scathing attack on the day:
“It is an abominable shame that any persons in a land of such light and purity as New England has been, should have the face to speak or think of practicing so vile a piece of heathenism.”
In Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1628, there is a report of the Puritan militia suppressing a maypole celebration, complete with drinking and dancing. And a maypole was cut down in Charleston, Massachusetts, as late as 1687.”

from Halloween: An American Holiday, And American History by Lesley Pratt Bannatyne

The photo is much later, obviously:
Queen of the May
by The Fellows Photographic Co., Philadelphia
c1891

The Black Cat
1896?
(poster advertising the magazine)

“Thurston, master magician and his pets”
[ca. 1898]
Otis Lithograph Co.

Which one is Thurston, though?

“Witch and a black cat”
1894
from The Picture Magazine

This black cat looks like an inflatable beach toy from the 1920s. Or a seal, I guess.

“The Grandmother of the Dolls and the big Black Cat”

illustration by Oliver Herford

from Little Mr. Thimblefinger and his queer country; what the children saw and heard there by Joel Chandler Harris

1894

“Train wreck at Montparnasse Station, at Place de Rennes side (now Place du 18 Juin 1940), Paris, France, 1895.”

Uhh, today is mostly a train travel day for us. Hope to arrive in Paris with the train fully inside the station.

“Camping party at the Wright home, 7 Hawthorn Street, Dayton, Ohio”
[1899 Sept.]
Attributed to Wilbur and/or Orville Wright.

This is my kind of camping party, except for the ghost and the acoustic guitar(s). Maybe the ghost is ok.

“Le Chat Noir” cabaret sign
by Adolphe Leon Willette
Late nineteenth century

Sporting Life
written by Cecil Raleigh & Seymour Hicks
Strobridge & Co. Lith.
c1898

“Infants’ clothing of every description.” “Handsome piqué pelisse, as illustration, trimmed rows of insertion, with frills of embroidery. Price 45/-. Bonnet, 9/6.” “Peter Robinson, Ltd., Oxford St.” Written on border: “June 19, 1897.”