Bellows Free Academy - Alpha Omega Yearbook (St Albans, VT)

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ER E IS POW G D LE W NO K Dlssemlnated Be .C 4.-v Q I 4-1 GJ -I Q 0 stitutlon In Through This

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SENIOR CLASS HISTOR Class Historian To begin with, this is not a history of facts listed in the order in which they oc- curred during our four years of high school, but it is the most important happenings in our school years brought to light to be re- lived for a short period of time. This is a history written in three parts, Discovery, Exploration, and Settlement with an after- word expressing some strictly personal opin- ions. DISCOVERY On the morning of September fourth 1934-, the faculty of Bellows Free Academy sat around a long table in the gymnasium chatting pleasantly about the summer vaca- tion just passed, when they caught sight of a group of well-dressed and reasonably good-looking boys and girls huddled together in one corner of the gym. To thc casual on-looker they appeared to be only a badly frightened group of boys and girls, but to the experienced eyes of those dauntless dis- coverers each one possessed individual tal- ents decidedly worth exploring. They bade them enter and spent the next few weeks in trying to make them feel at home. Wlien the discovery of these new people was reported to the ruler of the country, Principal Dickinson, he received the news of the annexation calmly and with only a few misgivings. He examined with interest the trophies which these new-comers had presented to their teacher explorers. These trophies were report cards bearing cabalistic signs designed to denote the mental ability of each individual. The new-comers were given a name, Freshmen and were then divided into small groups and assigned to the different explorers. The first few weeks the Fresh- men were forever taking the wrong turn, finding themselves in the wrong corridor, and arriving at their class rooms half an hour late. They were regarded with scorn by the upper classmen and people who had resided in the school for a longer period than they. The older members did not con- sider them worth annexing, but by Thanks- giving they had lost most Of their scorn, and tl1e Freshmen settled themselves to four years of hard work. They were permitted to form an or- ganization of their own, and under the guid- ance of a senior they chose the following officers: President-John Swainbank Vice-President-Barbara Gallagher Secretary-ltiildred hiacy Treasurer-Frederic Potter At this time many of the Freshmen be- came interested in strange new games such as basketball, baseball and football. The social functions to which the Fresh- men were required to go to attain dignity and poise proved delightful to the girls but were a source of torture to tl1e boys. At the close of this year a terrible disaster befell the Freshmen. Although it was instigated by their benevolent discover- ers, many had their growth checked by a year and others. permanently disabled, left the Freshman class forever. This disaster was called Final Examinations . EXPLORATION The next September the group returned and according to custom became Sopho- moresu. And now a funny thing happened. Remembering the scorn with which they had been regarded they looked in the same man- ner upon the new-comers who took their places as Freshmen. The explorers launched forth into what they supposed to be the experienced minds of the Sophomores. But to their surprise they did not find the gold mines of knowl- edge that they had expected to. The ex- plorers found that the minds of the Sopho- mores varied from sponges to razors, and so they began to dig down and work and hope that in time their efforts would produce the flower of every teacher's heart-a genius. The Sophomorcs, now fully familiar with the routine of the classroom and without Question a real part of the school life, settled down quietly and chose the following officers: i6l

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President-VValter Lemnah Vice-President-Phyllis Sullivan Secretary-Gwendolyn Baker Treasurer-Herbert Peterson As Sophomores they again entered into the sports of the school and attained prowess in each. The social functions of this period were more numerous than previously. In order to raise money for the Freshman- Sophomore Reception they put on an Ama- teur show, the returns from wl1icl1 enabled them to give a very attractive reception to the Freshmen. In the fall they returned as Juniors , which title caused their importance to swell beyond all known bounds. This year was one of hard work and many interesting so- cial activities. The Juniors sponsored the Junior Jamboree which filled the auditorium to overflowing. Later they gave the Junior Prom in honor of their respected upper classmen, the Seniors. Vfe firmly believe that no better nor more attractive Prom has ever taken place within the walls of our gym- nasium. Ten of our members took part in the annual Junior Prize Speaking. Through this trying year they were ably led by the following ofHcers: President-Charles Preston Vice-PresidentfBarbara Gallagher Secretary-Constance Tobin Treasurer-Lawrence VVright After the dreaded ordeal of examination was passed, they returned to the fourth and most important period of their school life, the Senior Year. VVhen they had received the title of Seniors their dignity soared to dizzy heights and all began to take them- selves and their work more seriously. For officers to lead them through this busy year they chose the following: President-Dwight Newland Vice-President-Sylvia Guay Secretary--Annunciata Fortuna Treasurer-Richard Thwing TliE BIERCURY won the first class honor rating in the National Scholastic Press As- sociation newspaper contest under the able direction of the following Seniors: Editor-Dwight Newland Headline Writer-Osmond Brown Feature Editor-Eleanor Heath Vocation Editor-Ralph Rushlow News Editor-Sylvia Guay Girls Sports Editor-Myrle Corrigan I8 Alumni Editor-Gwendolyn Baker Exchange Editor-Philip Newton Advertising Manager-Robert Lessor Circulation Manager-Barbara Galla- gher Typists-Constance Tobin, Betty New- ton This year for the first time the Parent- Teacher Association presented the Senior members of the Mercury Staff with green and gold pins in the shape of a quill and scroll. These will be treasured for many years to come, and their work on THE AIERCURY will be remembered with much pleasure. The president and vice-president pre- sided over their first Senior Supper held on December 9. The tables were attractively decorated with Christmas trimmings. A large tree stood in one corner loaded with gifts which brought shrieks of laughter. The gifts were later turned over to the Salvation Army. Just before the Christmas vacation an old custom, which had been discontinued for a number of years, was revived. This was the boys' farce. That afternoon the audi- torium rang with hilarious laughter as the boys characterized many funny incidents of the past. During this year a Glee Club had been organized and under the skillful leadership of Mrs. Hall they produced a very enter- taining operetta, The Tea House of Sing Lo. Many of the seniors had leading parts in this operetta. On February 14, 1938, Founder's Day in honor of Hiram Bellows was celebrated for the Hrst time. Exercises including the reading of the will, the decree, and a history of the life of Hiram Bellows were held in the auditorium in the afternoon. In the evening the Gold and Green Key, both honor- ary Senior societies, sponsored a very attrac- tive formal dance in the gymnasium. This, it is hoped, will be an annual event in the life of the school and the class of '38 is proud to be the first senior class to celebrate Bellows Free Academy Founder's Day. The Senior girls held their farce just before Easter vacation and proved them- selves to be just as entertaining as the boys had. Three members of the Senior Class. Sylvia Guay, Charles Regan, and Richard Thwing, represented Bellows Free Academy for the first time in the New England Music Festival. Their second Senior Supper was held on April 28 in the dining room which was 1