Bellows Falls High School - Sampler Yearbook (Bellows Falls, VT)

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THE SAMPLER 29 has enough interesting places on it to give ap- preciative people a great kick. The view from Fall Mountain is alone worth the effort ex- pended to reach the top. If you want some real fun this summer, go on a camping trip. You won’t be forced to go far from home. Just get out on a back road far enough to be out of the midst of civilization, pitch your tent, cook your meals outdoors, and enjoy yourslf as long as you can stay. Don’t be afraid of getting rheuma- tism from sleeping on the ground; I didn’t. We of Bellows Falls are very fortunate to have so many rivers near at hand. There are the Connecticut, Williams River, and Saxtons River. On the two smaller streams, there are several fairly good swimming holes. Although these places fall short of a public swimming pool, one can have lots of fun using what places he already has if he is careful. The swimming hole on Cold River also is just a good hike out of town. Try it some day this summer! We find many fishermen around here. That is only natural, because we have so many places to fish. There are all kinds of fish, from trout in the small brooks to the big, fighting pike up the Connecticut. So far, I have mentioned some of the aids and advantages that we have for our use and enjoyment in outdoor health activities. Now let me make a few suggestions about things that we might do to increase the number of outdoor activities and the benefit we receive from them. Bellows Falls would surely enjoy an out- door public swimming pool, built and main- tained by the town. The advantages of this pool would be its more sanitary conditions, greater safety for its patrons, and the larger attendance that it would command. At .present, there are difficulties in building and carrying on such a pool. A suitable location is needed, its construction would cost the town some money, and its upkeep would be a continual expense to the town. However, if anyone can devise a workable plan for this project, it would be well for him to try putting it across to the other townspeople. Here are a few more suggestions: How about starting a young people’s outing club? This club might handle all outdoor activities of the younger people, such things as winter carnivals, team games, and all things like these. The meetings of this club might fur- nish the young folks with a chance to get to- gether and discuss various new activities and all other things. Perhaps it would be possible to have a camp near at hand. If the public could be persuaded to build a camp near home, many more of the young people of Bellows Falls could spend some of their time during the summer in camp. This would be a great experience for the young people and an aid to them. Give this idea a little thought. Another form of outdoor activity that can be developed is touring, especially by automobile. If you have a car, by all means make it a point to take several trips this summer. Visit the White Mountains, Lake Champlain, Lake Winnepesaukee, P'ort Ticonderoga, the Mohawk Trail, or any other place of interest to you. Thus we can learn geography at first hand and have a good time doing it. There is one more important thing that we should try to do; that is, to develop a more cheerful attitude toward life and our own health. Don’t be discouraged because so many people died last year. After all, that was only natural, but the death rate is de- clining, so, if you live long enough, you may live forever. Miss Parker has said that we were to speak about health tonight. She has gone on to tell about health in general, health education, and the importance of disease prevention. Miss Robinson has shown how conditions in busi- ness have improved to the advantage of our health. Miss Fenn has made it clear how im- portant health and healthful methods are in the home. Miss Faris has sketched the work being done in our schools to promote health in the student body. The importance of health in all matters has been clearly brought to light. I have tried to give an idea of the part played by outdoor activities in health. I also have made suggestions, which, if follow- ed, will give the people of this community more outdoor activities, and, in turn, better health. (Classmates, please rise.) Here you see the Class of 1936 of Bellows Falls High School. We have gathered for our last time together at the greatest event of our lives. From now' on we shall be alone, facing the world and trying to solve our own problems. We are very glad to have our friends and relatives here tonight wishing us good luck; but there is another favor we want to ask. Take a good look at us so that you will be able to recognize us again sometimes. If, in the next few months, our steps seem to stray from the path which leads toward a successful life, a happy and useful life, won’t you put your hand on a shoulder and point the way to our eyes, unskilled in seeing? Just remember that we haven’t had much experience in this old world and give us a little helpful advice. It will be gratefully received. Clifford Holmes.

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28 THE S A M P I, E R He will proceed to enumerate all of his physi- cal ailments and business trouble in a mourn- ful, whining tone. The people right here in this community have that fault. If you don’t believe me, just ask yourselves. Simply re- call the last time some one inquired after your health. Didn’t you answer him by saying, “Oh, I'm not too bad?” This attitude could be improved materially by the mental relaxation found in outdoor activities. People here in Bellows Falls, al- though oblivious to the fact, have at their disposal the best possible opportunities for outdoor recreation. One thing especially provided for our benefit and enjoyment is the public playground. Being typical New Englanders, perhaps we do not appreciate the wonderful geographical arrangement of the country around here. Just across the river is Fall Mountain. Maybe there are some here who do not know that Fall Mountain has three ponds between its two main ridges. We have a river or two for swimming and other water sports. The back roads near us furnish a place for horseback riding, hiking, or bicy- cling. Many of us don’t realize what a wonderful climate we have. We are in just about the middle of the temperate zone. This location gives us all four seasons of the year, none in too much extreme. The climate here is so favorable that the life-span of the average person over in New Hampshire is longer than in any other state of the country. In fact, the only place in the world where the average life-span is longer than in New Hampshire is New Zealand. Here there is a spring, very good for sports and for spring fever; a summer, warm enough to permit swimming, camping, dressing scantily, etc.; a fall, still warm enough for sports, but cool enough to make the leaves and natural scenery beautiful; and a winter with plenty of snow and cold to give us much pleasure from skating, skiing, and all other winter sports. To have all four of these seasons is a privilege which we should appreciate. In the spring, we have just the right tem- perature for baseball, track, and tennis. The weather is generally warm, but not too un- comfortable. During the summer our most popular sport is swimming, but golf, tennis, and baseball still flourish. The fall brings cooler, peppier weather. It is ideal for foot- ball, so that is what we play during that season. Still, I think people all over the world envy New England more for its winter season than for anything else. Our winter sports are world famous, and the more of them we have, the more famous they will be. One place where we can all find a chance for healthful outside exercise is the public playground. Up there the most important thing to be found is the athletic field. That piece of ground is large enough for baseball, football, track and field events, hockey and skating rinks in winter, and practically any other sport that could be mentioned. The people of this town may freely par- ticipate in one of the most popular outdoor sports, tennis. At the playground there are three tennis courts, all made for our use and enjoyment. At the tennis courts, there is a chance for much beneficial exercise for anyone who likes the game. It is, moreover, a game of skill, furnishing one with the incentive to keep playing and to increase his skill. People of all ages play tennis. When you go to the playground for a good time, be sure to take your children along, they will have the best of fun on the swings, seesaws, chute-the-chute, or playing volley ball and basketball. Even the smallest ones will heartily enjoy the sandbox. As soon as winter arrives and the weather is really cold, rinks are built and flooded for skating. There is a rink for the use of the hockey teams, and another for the general public’s enjoyment. One has that oppor- tunity for activity during the cold months of the year, that is, provided he does not shatter the ice every time he falls. If a person started doing that, he probably would be barred from the rink. At present, the playground is not in use all the time. Still, when some people go to the playground they find the field or the tennis courts occupied, and they are forced to wait their turns or to go home without playing. I think we might avoid most painful situations like these by closer supervision of the play- ground. It would be much better if the town could employ a man to spend his whole time in magaging the playground. He could de- vise a schedule that would let everyone have a chance to spend considerable time in ac- tivities at the playground. It would be of great value for us to have a fixed time for the school teams to practice, a different hour for the town teams, and a time just for the young fellows to run around and do what they want. The school tennis team already has a definite schedule for practice at the playground; let’s devise a schedule for the other parts of the field. These hills of Vermont and New Hampshire furnish us with the chance to have a great deal of fun. Fall Mountain, just across the river, is far enough away to make the ap- proach and climbing it a good hike. It also

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30 THE SAM P L E It LOCAL MELODIES “Lazybones”.......................................... “ I Won’t Dance”..................................... “Let Yourself Go”.................................... “Shootin’ High”...................................... “Freckleface Have A Heart”........................... “I'll He Glad When You’re Dead”...................... “I Get A Kick Out of You”............................ “Feel Like A Feather in the Breeze”.................. “Sugar Plum”......................................... “It’s Easy to Remember”.............................. “The Breeze”......................................... “Cling to Me”........................................ “I’m A Night Owl”.................................... “ Learn to Croon”.................................... “ Rollin’ Home”...................................... “Talkin’ to Myself”.................................. “Sophisticated Lady”................................. “I Woke Up Too Soon”................................. “Swing It”........................................... “Drifting and Dreaming”.............................. “A Needle in a Haystack”............................. “A Lazy Day in the Sun”.........,.................... “About A Quarter to Nine”............................ “Curly Top”.......................................... “The Very Thought of You”............................ “The Old Refrain”.................................... “Smiles”................................................ “ Lies”.............................................. “You’re An Ole Sinoothy”............................. “Flirtation Walk”.................................... “Old Folks at Home”.................................. ‘‘Lights Out”........................................ “Thee On A Match”.................................... “I Want To Go Back to My Shack”...................... “Side by Side”....................................... “Redheaded Woman”.................................... “The Gentleman Obviously Doesn’t Believe in Love”.... “Go Into Your Dance”................................ “Country Boy”........................................ “Winter Wonderland”.................................. “We Just Couldn’t Say Good-bye”...................... “Over Somebody Else’s Shoulder”...................... “You Can’t Tell a Book by Its Cover”................. “I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket”.............. “Reckless”........................................... “Just A Blue Eyed Blonde”............................ “Million Dollar Baby from A Five and Ten Cent Store”. “Dartmouth’s In Town Again”.......................... “It’s Been So Long”.................................. John Hennessey Daniel MacDonald Morton Downing Stella Woynar Helen Waysville Francis Barbieri Frank Jurkoic Ruth Garland “Battler” Barrett . Clifford Holmes Ruth Farrell Avis Edwards’ Gray Skirt Florence Meaney Floyd Carey “Eggs” Hennessey Eleanor Brosnahan Carolyn Stone Edward Kane Charlotte Bemis Alma Crommett Beatrice Fullam Carroll Lloyd John Ilealy Marjorie Smith Corliss Sanborn Laura Fenn Allen Dexter Geraldine Lorange .Arthur Wareing Sylvia Fenn Martha Wyman Margaret Macarthy and Bertrand Roby E. Brosnahan, H. Kane, and A1 Cray Paul Costin Fenn Sisters Phyllis Frey Edward Miner Sanford Wilson Gilbert Weston Virginia Snow . Bernadine DeMuzio and Edward Kane Mary Lewkowgi Helen Kane Patrick Harty Joseph Massucco Ellen Stearns .Jean Edwards Shirley Bradley Kay MacLennan