Billerica Memorial High School - BMHS Yearbook (Billerica, MA)

Page 25 text:

HOWE HIGH YEARBOOK (pAopJtjdk (pamn “Not a soul down on the corner — ” How true these words ring out! One may go down ’most any time, And find no one about. But let us go in fancy now To good old Spinney’s store; The gang was there ; — ’twas easy then To learn Howe’s 44’s lore. Behind the well stocked counter of Pharmacy De Luxe, Spinney, Inc., stands Ralph himself, surrounded by the usual drug store crowd. Ralph’s benign countenance bespeaks the healthful effects of multi-sodas and frappes as he sets the stage for the inception of the nightly gossip session. His pride in The Stage Door Canteen at the Town Hall knows no bounds as he praises the efforts of the townspeople for their generous co-operation and support. In fact, since the opening of the Canteen, he has been Billerica’s number one citizen ; and so to him we turn to hear the latest of that peppy class which left Howe in the June of ’44. “Taffy” Dolan is to do her roller skating act at the Canteen; and Edith Bent, Taffy’s friend and manager, is also a familiar figure at the Canteen. Charlotte Nussey, comedienne at the Canteen, gave the boys a treat by bringing back some rare insects from her African tour. They are commonly known as jitterbugs. Ray Lincoln occasionally condescends to do a bit of acting here. He has established a record of five hundred consecutive performances of “Tommy” on Broadway. Ralph Brigham, who is now in the Marines, attributes most of his success to his uniform. Who is she, Ralph? Mary Burke and Shirley Barrett are proprietors of Burke and Barrett’s Slenderizing Salon. They are patronized by such well known personalities as Rita Haley and Ethel Newman, chorus girls in a famous night spot as well as at the Canteen. Laura Boy land, another graduate of ’44, is the extremely efficient secretary of Harry Wright, owner and manager of Wright’s Super Filling Station. Irving Clark, sergeant in the Army, is using his manly strength and physical fitness to mas- ter the privates. He’s succeeding admirably. Gloria Johnston, wife of a Navy man, leads the grand march each night at the Canteen ; she is an excellent drum majorette, but that’s “old stuff” to her. Freida Zawisa, now happily married to a sailor, is one of the senior hostesses at the Canteen. — 21 —

Page 24 text:

HOWE HIGH YEARBOOK FORTY-FIFTH : I, John Newman, leave my technique of skipping- school to Arnold Brown. FORTY-SIXTH; I, Charlotte Nussey, leave my quiet life at Howe to Harris Crouse. FORTY-SEVENTH: I, Ethel Perry, leave my olive complexion to Louise Turner should she wish to look like Merle Oberon. FORTY-EIGHTH ; I, Doris Phinney, leave. FORTY-NINTH : I, Donald Pickering, leave my witty remarks to Dryden. FIFTIETH ; I, Leo Plourde, leave fond memories of past football games. FIFTY-FIRST: I, Virginia Radcliff, leave my height to Landry. FIFTY-SECOND ; I, Dorothy Reagan, leave my charming smile to Claire Wentworth. FIFTY-THIRD : I, Evelyn Redden, leave my placidity to Janet McColough. FIFTY-FOURTH: I, Ralph Schult, leave to follow in my brother’s footsteps. FIFTY-P ' ' IFTH : I, Kathleen Sipprell, leave my sophistication to Dora Russell, a shy little sophomore. FIFTY-SIXTH : I, Esther Slocomb, leave my domestic propensities to “Ginny” Brouillard. FIFTY-SEVENTH : I, Ralph Spinney, leave with the rest of the class, American Literature, forever. FIFTY-EIGHTH : I, Barbara Tintle, leave my basketball uniform to Betty Leavitt. FIFTY-NINTH: I, Shirley Tower, leave my fingernails to anyone desiring protection. SIXTIETH : I, Jean True, leave high school after four successful years of it. SIXTY-FIRST: I, Lillian Verheyen, leave my office technique to Nancy Lunt. SIXTY-SECOND : I, Paul Wells, leave my position as center for Howe to Bud Stowe. SIXTY-THIRD : I, Harry Wright, leave economics. SIXTY-FOURTH : I, Frieda Zawisa, leave my stenography notes to Harry Henry, who aspires to be one of Howe’s faculty members. The foregoing instrument, consisting of three (3) pages, is in the year nineteen hundred and forty-four, by the said class of 1944 signed, sealed, and declared to us and each of us to be the last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who, at their request and in their presence, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. CLASS OF 1944 Shirley Condon Dorothy Franz Lawrence McCluskey Ann Meserve Paul Wells Ralph Spinney — 20 —

Page 26 text:

HOWE HICxH YEARBOOK Henry Casey says the chips are down because he can get only as high as a corporal. Dot Reagan’s Glamour Salon is a busy spot, as the gals have their beauty problems mastered here before they entertain at the Town Hall. Louise Matthews is now a prominent softball pitcher, who keeps in training by working at the A. and Z. Defense Plant in the town of Finkleton. Esther Slocomb has lately become president of the C.I.O. because of her popularity among her co-workers at the A. and M. Boat Shipyard. George Graham is in the Navy along with his pal Joe Hennessey. George and Joe are hav- ing a race to see who will become admiral first. (Note: They’re both S 3 c.) Charlotte Lee is a singing waitress at the Canteen by night, and secretary to Principal Cyril Locke by day. Lillian Verheyen is a bus driver on the Middlesex and Boston run. Marie Cook, prominent surgeon, coyly says her first patients were “broken up” over the ordeal. Shorty” McCusker is a pursuit pilot now. His plane is equipped with a special high seat so he can see the surrounding country. Priscilla Clark is doing fine work in selling embroidered handkerchiefs to raise funds for the Canteen. Ruth Brouillette takes time off from her Employment Agency managerial tasks to dance with the boys. Margaret Loranger, who is a private secretary at Build ’Em Quick Shipyards, helps to pre- pare dainty lunches for the service men and women at the Canteen nightly. Donald Pickering, who is the proud father of two sets of twins, has his hands full with his children instead of his old school girl friends. Ann Meserve, just as sweet and demure as ever, takes her turn as mistress of ceremonies at the Canteen. Kay Sipprell, who recently won her way to star- dom, is soon to appear in the new movie “Small Town Girl Makes Good,” which will have its premiere here in town. Doris Phinney is a riveter in the Build ’Em Quick Shipyards. Paul Wells is now doing an engineering project for the Marines; incidentally, he still enjoys debating, particularly with the staff sergeant. Ethel Perry has a booth at the Canteen, where she draws pictures of the service men and women. Her art is really something; at least, that’s what the service men say. — 22 —