Berlin High School - Lamp Yearbook (Berlin, CT)

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At last — the month of the Junior Promenade — we were initiating the school into all these traditional customs. Remember, though, you Juniors who follow us, that “WE of 1936“ paved the way for you! We were now heading towards port. For the past three years we had been at sea, but with increasing age and knowledge we were learning to pilot the ship to the desired port, safely. in September, 1935, we were Seniors! The very word “Seniors” held a sort of enchantment, a novelty never known before to Berlin. This senior year meant a complete high school of our ow n. We wondered where we would be placed as a class but all our fears were dispelled when we learned that the Library would be our session room. To our delight, Miss Mulcahy, our class advisor, was our homeroom teacher. But we couldn’t be Seniors in name only. We assumed dignity and a manner which quickly distin- guished us from the rest of the school. The Freshmen were awed at our presence. We asserted our authority in ordaining a code of laws called “Senior Privileges”. It contained many laws, especially annoying to the underclassmen. These laws were enforced by fit punishment for the culprit. I will even dare to say that one Freshman had to act as bootblack to a Senior before the entire senior class. Let us hope he will have forgiven us by this time. We Seniors were busy people with socials, the outside activities, the play, “Murdered Alive,” directed by Mr. Hardy, sports, musical activities, Beacon staff, Choral Club, typing and sewing. Suddenly we became aware of the fact that there was not too much time left before graduation. We tried making money in every way, even selling pennants. Caps and gowns were voted upon. The ring design submitted by Joseph Simeone, class president, was selected by the “Pin and Ring Committee”. The class of ’36 had “Primus” engraved on the ring, dis- tinguishing them as the first graduating class. The ring also was used as the school seal. “ Daddy Long Legs”, the class play on which we so enjoyed working under Miss Mulcahy, the director, was presented in April despite the fact that during its rehearsals the cast was somewhat quarantined with measles and scarlet fever. June came before we realized the flight of time. Class day over, we were eagerly awaiting the Senior Ball, under the capable direction of the chairman, Lester Rich and his able committee. Who will ever forget that delightful night in June, when our girls sauntered in lovely gowns among the potted palms, attended by their escorts? With graduation we docked in a safe harbor and we leave our school which has been so efficiently ad- ministered by our superintendent, Mr. Calvin E. Wilcox. We will long remember these important years of our life as having been spent in most enjoyable preparation for the coming work which we are to pursue henceforth.

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CLASS HISTORY Unique, Cooperative, Progressive — Thus we symbolize the class of ’36. Little did we realize four years ago how r much the future held in store for us; or how 1 much we were to accomplish during our high school course. In the ninth grade we had a new r method of teaching English and History. Our English class was a crew headed by the able captain, Miss Mueller. We kept a ship’s log w herein all the best literary efforts were preserved. Our History class was conducted as a newspaper, each student filling some position on the newspaper staff. Through this new type of work we developed the now eminent qualities of our class — leadership and individuality. We gave a St. Valentine’s Dance and a St. Patrick’s Dance at which we acquired party etiquette. The History classes produced a musical comedy, “Tintype Blues”, directed by Miss Mueller. Even now some of the characters return to haunt us. June brought with it several events which we will ever esteem in later years. We had a very success- ful class day followed by graduation. This day arrived, clear and warm, the air heavy with the scent of roses. We were excited, but then, why shouldn’t we have been; we were no longer Freshmen! After graduation came the Prom, the first in the history of the school. Our Sophomore year found us the oldest class in the school. We soon adjusted ourselves to this respon- sibility and opened the Christmas season with an unusual holiday party — the success of the year. In Spring we marked our year with a memorable milestone — “The Black and Gold Yearbook” under the supervision and helpful guidance of our English teacher, Miss Mulcahy. Somehow, that September day in 1931 when we entered the school was rather unusual. We were Jun- iors; but, aside from that, the astonishing fact was that never before had Juniors walked the corridors of the Berlin High School. From this time on things happened in close succession. We were actually going to have an Athletic Association which would sponsor sports of all kinds! At a large and exciting assembly Coach Hall had a vote cast for school colors; our boys next appeared in blue and cardinal uniforms. This startling combination seemed to pave the way for future victories. Our athletic activities have made sounder physical specimens of the boys and girls — but far more im- portant, it has made them better sports in the true sense of the word. The Athletic Association later gave a minstrel after which followed several other socials during the year. On the first school day of January, 1935 the Berlin High pupils no longer had to carry their lunches to school, for they could now patronize the cafeteria which had been newly installed. How ' good it was to get home cooking in school!

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CLASS PROPHECY “ When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain?” The three weird sisters were again huddled together in their gloomy cave trying to decide when the fate of their latest victim would be determined. After having set a definite date, they were about to disperse when a shadow darkened the entrance. At the witches’ questioning glance a person stated in a none too certain voice that he had come to learn the fate of the Berlin High School Class of 1936. The sisters, being in a rather amiable mood, readily consented and began their preparations. Soon a blazing fire was burning under a caldron filled with a mixture of the various parts of different animals. For a moment nothing happened but, as the caldron commenced to bubble and boil, a vapor arose from it. It thinned into a mist and then a scene became visible. I pon close examination we saw two sales- men, Eddie Gacek and Joseph Zigmont trying to persuade Mayor Hall of Becklv to purchase some of their Water Proof Sewer Pipes. Apparently finding this task useless, they walked a few miles to the town hall in which a poultry session was being called to order by Ell jo Easing, Berlin’s noted chicken raiser. He has been receiving much opposition from Geraldine SuHon whose duck farm is on the verge of bankruptcy. In the nearby Walowski Beauty Salon, Elizabeth Michaels was struggling with Eleanor Marieni ' s latest pompadour, while Marjorie Wall was manicuring John Griswold ' s nails. The Berlin High looms in view. Here Emily Drust is a teacher of chemistry. Merle Brown is still court- ing the blonde Emily but her answer has been “NO!” until he becomes at least Vice President of the United States. Gardner Williams is in charge of the school’s cafeteria and serves his original dishes which are very tempting. Agnes Peterson, Clara Biskupiak and Stella Godek , have formed a ladies’ basketball team adequately named the “Fouling Females.” Belly Walsh, on the other hand, favors Donkey basketball — the stars on her team are Norma McCorkle and Lenore Cistaire. Clara Motyka is attending the Switzerland Olym- pics. She is contesting against Sonja Henie for the fancy skating title. Among the other contestants are Lino Girone, attempting the high jump, and Joseph Simcone, the discus throw. Arthur Bittner is making an extensive search through the Polar Regions seeking Proctor’s Lost Chord. He is traveling near the new settlement of Little Robia founded by the two Roby brothers, Richard and David. Russell Fritzson is also here experimenting to see whether fiery hair can survive at 1 00 degrees below