Braintree High School - Wampatuck Yearbook (Braintree, MA)

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DIARY June 1938 Dear Diary: We ' ve just finished up one of the most exciting years any of us will ever see, jirohably. Vup, conscrij)tion took place just ten months ago in Sei)temt)er 1937! It was then that our little body of green P ' reshmen was first drafted as buck i)rivates into the great raid s of Braintree High. Little did anyone know that we brought with us the makings of one of Braintree’s finest football teams. Of course, like all amateurs, it took some little time to accustom ourselves to the rules and regulations of high school life, and all the higher uj) officers of our regiment were of no help! Our ingenuity, however, brought us through with only slight casualties. Only a few wanted to light the ammunition to see if the rain did it any harm. The life of a private doesn ' t In-ing very many opportunities to show the skills that we were bles.sed with, but basketball, under the direction of Coach Erwin was heartily received, and some of our rank was also apparent in Mr. Jordan ' s rifle club. The girls made a record turnout for glee club, and that same year, our music teacher. Miss Flint, left; but, I don’t think there was any connection. The novelty of our service in the Braintree High School army began to wear away, but flared up again when we ended the first ten months of active service, and went “on leave’’ with a trip to Onset, and a boat ride through the Canal. .... With mixed emotions, “A Rookie” .lime 1939 Dear Diary: Well, furlough has ended, and reveille sounds earlier the.se morning.s — eight o’clock, to be exact. Now we’re on dress jiarade all the time. One slip and we’re demoted and court-martialed by the ipi per- classmen. However, as long as we remembered to salute the sipjeriors, calm and good-feeling jirevailed. We took it on the chin, knowing the day was not far off when we would have our chance at giving orders. Mr. Oakman was voted as and appointed to the position of General of our army. Others in command were: Major-General Chiesa, Major .Mien, Quartermaster Hatch, and Lieutenant Mattie to sujiervise war corres])ondence. The bugle blew assembly for football, and many of our army enlisted. Our senior star, Gerard Clougherty, saw much action on the battlefield this year, as well as a great many of our other future players. The first war maneuver against our emjjfy treasury was the Sophomore Social. Everyone dressed in their “civies” and danced to the Dukes of Rhythm! Others, who felt that jitterbugging was beneath their dignity, amused themselves with ping-pong, darts, and what have you. The trij) to Canobie Lake in New Hampshire, and worlds of fun for several hundred, blew taps to our second year as enlisted men . . . and girls. . . . With decision June 1940 Dear Diary: Ready — Aim — Fire! . . . And we’re off on our junior year in a big way. Our commanding officers were the same as in ])revious years, and they flew their colors high this year. The selection of the class ring took place earlj ' in the season, and the committee’s choice was highly commemlat)le. Paul Cheverie and ’Rardie Clougherty i)roved out- standing juniors on the football squad — with Bill Laver} ' and Btewie Stevenson sharing the limelight on the championship cross-country team. Baseball season gave many juniors an opportunity to rise from the regiments, with Paul Cheverie Thomas Huleatt, Vice President I PAGE 10 }• Robert Chiesa, President

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19 5 0 EVE, is of i1P4I requests the wates company at a V Year ' s Ere litz-’Carlton Hotel saxaphone chorus taken by Earl Wentworth, with Dwight Chandler taking it on the off beat Our attention is diverted now to the dining room. Soup’s on! The stampede over, the Class of ’41 again assumes the guise of civilized society. Presiding at the head table is Robert C ' hiesa, B.A., LettB., V.S., AI.E., D.C.L., P.D.Q., W.P.A., U.S.A., prominent penalogist, famed for his pamphlet attacking capital punishment (he must be running for president). On his right sits Bill Ingmanson, chemist famed for his amazing discovery of a good cheap substitute for water. On the left of our revered executive is an empty seat, where Mel Brown, civil engineer, would have sat, if, while surveying a mountainous part of the country, he had not mistaken an angle of depression for an angle of elevation. In short, he stepped off a cliff. On all sides of the table we see several very prominent celebrities: Agnes Lynch, surgeon in-chief of New York C’ity Hospital (cares for horses, dogs, and minor cuts); A. E. Carda- I ' ople, sports-writer, famed for his delightful coverages of sub-grammar school games; Justice Angelina (Marchetti of the Supreme Court; and Eddie (Mace, brilliant naval hero (he pulled an over-plumi) admiral out of the drink). The dinner proceeded smoothly, if one discounts the fact that waitress Beatrice Blanchard spilled a dish of soup over Richai ' d j Andrews, handsome coast guard officer (hasn’t been out in a boat more than three times , in his life). After dinner, dancing was enjoyed by all (?). Paul Lawrence, millionaire playboy, I acted as bartender. Paul’s “Blitzkrieg Special” was only one to a customer as Edward Lydon, John Hideout, and (Mai Stewart can well testify (when they regain consciousness), j Some of the more l)rilliant members seem to be missing for the time being, Init they are soon discovered the four “sophisticates,” Joan Weinz, drginia DeCoste, “Chic” [ Wheeler, and C’onnie (Marsh. The culprits are Bob Cashen, Bob Johnson, Bol) Chiesa ' Bob Allen, and Bob Small, who are debating whether the “Old Howard” has a better chorus than the “Casino.” From their conversation we learn that burlesque comedian I Lester Hatch is currently appearing at the “Casino.” ‘ The two I ' eporters covering the party were somewhat handicapped. Gerald C ' lancy j had a stiff neck and James Donovan seemed strangely hunched over, but the fact that they j had just finished six treatments with Margaret Dand, eminent physiotherap ist, explains everything. j In less time than it would have taken the ghost of Hamlet’s father to beat it for points West, the party broke up. Outside the snow was falling. A distant clock bonged out the hour of three. The sleep}’ doorman blew his whistle and out of nowhere there appeared a Lovell bus cavalcade, led l)y driver James Leahy. Noisily the happy alumni climbed into the busses, and the last ! door banged shut with the coat tails of Robert (late as usual) King wedged in. He just made it. As the gasoline fumes cleared away, the lights of the marquee went out. One hour later, a solitary figure could be seen on the corner curb, cautiously, yet hopefully holding up an ice encased thumb, which pointed South. It was Roderick Chadbourne . . . every- ' one was accounted for. ■{ PAGE 9 I

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XTRIES l»41 again jjroving to he in line tor promotions. In sport.s, we should not forget the girls (most of our boys don ' t anywayt. I ' ield hockey was exceptionally poj)ular, and the Braintree girls took no hack seat, no, not even a rumble seat. This year a new athletic plan was introduced, with Mr. Thwing at the head. The plan was well received by the student body, and so far has proved highly successful. The class was excei tionally well represented in the newly formed “B” Club, which includes nearly all the ahtletic-minded, and there was a record turnout for the club ' s banquet. Spring . . . Birds ... a pretty girl, etc. and the Prom. (Jff came the regimentals and on went the tux, Sundaj ' -bests, or what had we, and the local florists ditl a booming (should I say blooming ' ?) business. One of the most successful dances given here, at least in jmur author’s opinion. “The Belle of Barcelona,” a comic operetta was presented by the Junior Class in grand style on the night of March 8th. Orchids to Miss Lindsay for the way she handled the musical end, and anything his big heart desires to Mr. Oakham for his expert coaching. Notable juniors in this performance were: Doris Stovold, Mellicent Jenkins, John Rideout, and Jack Tolleson. We look forward to our next j’ear in service, not because it is the last year for most of us in Braintree High, but because of the background, both socially and scholastically, that we will receive. . . . Sincerely yours. An Experienced Rookie June 1941 Dear Diary: Once again we’re “on the ball,” this time, out to get our commissions. To bolster uj) our first line of defense, the treasury, Christmas cards were distributed, anil the returns ran high. Tipping the list of our fighting divisions was our terrific football squadron, with Captain Cheverie in command, ' aging a battle against all other teams, like a young hurricane, was our undefeated track team, with Croix de Guerre’s to Bill Lavery, Stewie Stevenson, Art t ' eathers. Bob Allen, and many other loyal coursers. Our commanding officers remained the same, and we appreciated the way that they, and our genial adviser, Mr. Oakham, stood by us. Ev ' ery good army must have its entertainment, so on January 17th, we all went on leave for the Senior Show, a Minstrel Show, coached by General Oakman. Many from our ranks took part in the Junior’s Opera, “The Pirates of Penzance,” on May loth. A striking Military Ball (also known as the Prom) was tendered the soon to resign seniors bj ' the juniors. With the suddenness of a Blitzkrieg we were jilung ed onto the firing line. Exams descended ujion us with the fury of Stuka dive-bombers. Most of us, though, stood u]) like the real soldiers we were, and fired back an anti-aircraft barrage of correct answers knocking the toughest of the questions for a loop, ’e all knew what was to follow; namely, the decorations, medals, and oh yes . . . the diplomas. The decorating ceremony took place on the night of June 18th, and was followed up, on the 20th by the reception, the official full dress event, which marked the end of our enlist- ment, and was, in itself, one of the gala events of our service. We know that we have profited by our term in Braintree High, ' e soon forgot our grumbles about being drafted, and in amazement, we wonder how we could ever get along without the background this school offered to us. To the next generation to enter this fortress of knowl- edge, I dedicate most humbly this diary. Let him read it with care, and find out what awaits them. . . . finally signed. An Honorably Discharged Officer •f PAGE 11 Evelyn Mattie, Secretary