Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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THE MAGNET The time is about ten years from now and the scene is in Leominster, which sup- posedly has developed into a large, prosperous city. Upon returning from Paris to Leominster in the summer of 1942, I immediately went to see one of my old friends, Agnes Hackett, or “Hack” for short. She was recuperating after a long “case” in which she was tremendously interested. She greeted me with open arms, and we started at once to talk about old times. “Talking about class mates, guess who drove me over here! Carl Lanza.” “Oh, yes,”’ remarked ‘‘Hack,” “he owns the checker cabs in town.”’ “Hack” interrupted, “What a coincidence! But did you know Theresa Sullivan and Harold Filmore are piloting aeroplanes ?” “No, I didn’t know that,” I replied, “but guess what! While attending a party in Paris, I found that two of my fellow guests were Janet Wheeler and Irma Sanford; the former was one of the highest paid surgical nurses abroad and the latter was purchasing her trousseau.” “T received a letter from Rosamond Sobelton last week,” ““Hack” remarked. “You know she is a dietitian in New York and is doing splendidly. She wrote that Mara Trafton is engaged to a Yale man.” At this precise moment, the door-bell interrupted us. Our eyes bulged when Fred Strypeck handed Agnes a telegram. She tore open the envelope and read, ‘Arriving on Pero.) F.M. train.” ; Serambling to my feet, I exclaimed, “‘Who’s it from?” “Pennery and Killay,” she answered. “Why, ‘Hack,’ it’s nearly that time now.” We hurried into our wraps and a short time later we were greeting our class president of ’32 and his buddie, Killay, a “cub” reporter.and doctor of osteopathy exclusively. Their suggestion for dinner and the theatre was met with cries of delight. During dinner our subject of conversation was the big accident. Probably our readers have surmised that the participant was Edward Bailey, a well-known painter, who, taking one of his famous corners, carried Beatrice Potvin’s left front fender along with him. She has already taken the case to court and Alec Stein is her lawyer. Upon arriving at the theatre we were surprised—and yet were we surprised—to find Edith Gardner selling tickets! In the lobby, behind a prettily decorated booth, was Bar- bara Orcutt selling candy. “Why are we meeting so many of our old class mates?” I asked in surprise. “Where have you been?” asked Barbara. “Our graduating class is giving this play tonight for the benefit of charity. At our last alumni meeting we also decided to have a class reunion at the Country Club. Here is a list of names. I was going to send it to you; now I won’t have to. What luck!” We proceeded into the theatre to be confronted by ushers; namely, Katherine Regan and Mary Dufort, who led us to our seats. After we were seated, my glance wandered to the front row. There sat Bettie Harris all alone. It seemed strange that she was unat-

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THE MAGNET Edgar T. Beaulieu Commercial Course Hirem Rickey Sons ““‘A man he seems of cheerful yesterdays and confident tomorrows.” Baseball, 3, 4; Football, 4; Operetta, 3; Inter-class Bas- ketball, 3; Boy’s Chorus, 3, 4; Aviation Club, 2. 3; Athletic Ticket Committee, 2; Inter-class Football, 2, 3. Alfrieda Friske eo a”? Commercial Course State Teacher’s College “A quiet maid but wondrous wise.” Stenography Club, 4; Senior Prom Committee. Micheal Little - Mitchell” Classical Course University of Columbia “As prone to mischief as able to perform it.” Inter-elass Football 2, 8, 4; Inter-class Basketball, 2, 8, 4; French Club, 4; Garden Club, 3; Debating Club, 4; =Magnet”’ Stail, 2;;Health Council, 4: Aviaz tion Club; Chorus, 4; Athletic Ticket Committee, eos) 4 Alexander Pizziconi Pete” Commercial Course University of Rome “In books lie knowledge.” Assistant Manager of Basketball, 31; Senior Prom Committee, 4; Health Club, 4; Operetta, 3. Geno a, Salvatore ee vo Classica] Course Undecided “Worry ne’er did man good.” Football, 4; Baseball, 3, 4; Orchestra, 2; Inter-class Basketball, 3, 4. Francis Toolin ‘‘Seon” Classical Course Northwestern University “Go west young man, go west.” Asst. Manager Football, 2; Manager of Track, 2: Manager of Football, 3; Debating Club, 2, 3; Vice President Debating Club, 4;Garden Club,3.4; Vice President Garden Club, 3; Secretary Garden Club, 4; Chairman of Music Committee for Junior Prom ss: 4A

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THE MAGNET tended, but I soon learned that Donald McCaffrey was master of ceremonies. Looking a little to my right, I recognized Albina Grinkis, who is owner of a cheese factory in Cuba. She was accompanied by Margaret Joy, who had recently come into a fortune. Directly behind them sat Joseph Gargulinski, proprietor of a large produce company. A few seats over were Alvin Bourne, owner of a chain of shoe stores, and his wife. Two rows ahead of me were two old classmates, Dorothy May and Arthur Leahey. They are employed by John Despotopolus, owner of the National Banana Company. At this juncture, our master of ceremonies came in from behind the curtains and presented a special attraction, before the play, John Carrescia and his Cotton Club Synco- pators. Among the able musicians we noticed Bill McAulay, of course, at the drums; Geno Salvatore, caressing the violin, and Kenneth Collins, jazzing the piano. He attracted much attention because he was bouncing on the piano stool in rhythm with the music. His “Cab” Calloway yell was noteworthy; John Hobb’s dancing feet and puffed up face were a striking contrast to the music he blew out of his flute. William Grimes played the saxa- phone and sang a novelty number with imitations. Alessandro Pizziconi tooted a trombone. The well presented play followed. Simone Fife and Malcolm Johnson were the leads. Another interesting character in the play was Bessie Lanza, who in real life is a teacher with Alfrieda Fiske, in an exclusive boarding school for girls. Alexina Lafave led in the applause when her friend, Miss Lanza, made her entrance. At the end of the second act, Pennery was informed that he was wanted back stage. We next saw him being led before the audience by the spokesman for the evening. He made the announcement of the coming dinner dance at the club. His speech was well given and it brought back vividly the night of the Senior play. He soon joined us for the third act and informed us that Douglas Eaton and Roger Hill had charge of the lighting effects, their business being electricity. The next morning we proceeded to send out invitations for the dance. The first went to Clemence Allaire, who was studying French with Marie Baril and Mary McGrath in New York. Another was sent to Catherine Dolan, who is superintendent of nurses in the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The next group were sent to girls who are now nurses; namely, Dorothy Caswell, Mildred Piper, Winifred Callagher, Ruth Grabner, Leatha Leahey, Mary Murray, Mary Reagan, Arline Saunders, Alice Smith, Irene Smith, and to Mildred Wass, who is school nurse in Springfield. The next invitation was sent to Muriel Sherwin, now head librarian of the Worcester Public Library. Another was written to Roberta Wass, who is employed as governess at the home of the headmaster at Andover Academy. Barbara Sawyer was the next name on our list. She is private secretary to Lowell Caswell, a breker. The names of Margaret McColl and Blanche Savage, models in a salon of Madame Strut-Around in Vienna, were the next in order. The next two who were to be recipients of invitations were Margaret Mahan, private secretary to Clemont Dupont, and Margaret Hammer, owner of a canned chicken factory in Iowa. I next wrote an invita- tion to Margaret Davidson, hostess of the Hamilton Hotel in Bermuda and Jeanette Cap- lette, leader of a group of biologists who are analyzing coral on that island. That completed our list. The following week at the club we were greeted by Herbert McKenny, president of the club. While we were talking, a group entered, and we saw Anne Burdett and her newly acquired millionaire husband, and Everett MacDonald, with his fiancee. The hostess of the evening was none other than Edith Farwell. She designated some of the distinguished guests present. ‘On your right, two tables over, is Earl Caisse, city editor of the New York Times, accompanied by Doris Coulliard.”’ “Is that Ray Carr over there?” drawled Killay. “Yes,” answered Edith, “he has just come Fast with his wife from his cattle ranch in Wyoming.” Thereupon our hostess left us to announce the famous piano team Westine and McRae. Hazel Clapper and Leona Dohla followed in a dance number. While dinner was being served, we noted that our waitresses were Marion Wilfert, Mary Walsh. and Evelyn Porter. Pennery suddenly spied an old friend at another table, the former Rena Mackey, now Mrs. Paul Chase. Seated at the same table were Laurette Lyonnais and Hiland Kingston. Francis Toolin, a reporter for that flourishing Leominster news journal came over to our table with Warren Bentley, football coach at the University of Southern California.