Wellesley High School - Wellesleyan Yearbook (Wellesley, MA)

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WELLESLEY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL CLASS HISTORY Wellesley High School Wellesley, Mass. June 4, 1931 Dear Mary Sue, Three years ago when you and I entered the Senior High we saw before us a long vista of years, the greater part of an eternity, so far it seemed to stretch into the unknown future. But, my dear, we spread our sails in Septem¬ ber, 1928, one hundred thirty-four strong, laughed at time and life, and today seventy- four have reefed sails and moored their bark. How lonesome I felt in the realization that you had to go to Ohio when your family moved in 1929. But, Mary Sue, I’ll tell you of the big events of our school years. First, we elected our class officers for the Sophomore year: President, Donald Moore; Vice-Presidentv Barbara Bowdoin; Secretary, Arthur Lynch; Treasurer, Franklin Willey, who ably represented the class. We shone in football, hockey (field and ice), basketball, baseball, and track. I can’t recall which sex excelled in these sports, but I feel pretty sure it must have been the girls. Realizing the rare dramatic ability of our boys (girls, I mean) we immediately delved into heavy drama and produced with ability and finesse the play “Do You Believe in Luck?” on Play Night, January, 1929. Those in the cast were: Alice Cobb, Arthur Bullard, Marion Glen¬ dining, Betty Hodgson, Constance Morse, Drue Ella Matthews, Max Wahl, Howell Bates, Bar¬ bara Bowdoin, Romeo De Fazio, and Mary Sue La Heist. Not satisfied with the footlights, our class aspired to be Patrick Henrys. So sincere were our efforts that we entered the Prize Speaking Contest. We Sophs “put in our thumbs and pulled out two plums” for prize speakers, Max Wahl surpassing Patrick Henry, and Dorothy Drinkwater excelling Lucy Stone Blackwell. (At least, that’s how we Sophs felt about it.) Nor did we stop there, but jumped right into the middle of the School Theatre Club’s musical revue, “The Coward of Costo Polo,” in which the combined theatrical talent of many of our Sophs made all previous performances pale into insignificance. Before we realized it, we found ourselves right up on our toes for the Junior Year. New class officers were: President, Howell Bates; Vice- President, Richard Van Iderstine; Secretary, Dorothy Drinkwater; Treasurer, Richard Dunn. Even if our class bank account didn’t equal Rockefeller’s, we had our officers just the same. Our first event of the year was Parents’ Night, when we had to be strictly on our dignity—or assume that attribute if we didn’t possess it. The class officers were ushers. Chosen to rep¬ resent the school was Dorothy Drinkwater, who read Robert W. Service’s poem “Carry On.” Parents decided that we all at least tried to do justice to our school and home training. But now, less serious in our Junior Year, we indulged in a fantastic comedy entitled “The Spell,” a flight to the land of Irish Folk Lore. This play, which was well produced and much enjoyed, was presented on Play Night, and brought several new people to the stage: Cyn¬ thia Wentworth, Lillian Hansen, Dorothy Drink¬ water, Louise Gidley, and Helen Sylvester. In this same year, Mr. George H. Gilbert, our principal, gave us an unpleasant shock, when he chose other fields for his brilliant en¬ deavors. Mr. Moulton, our popular teacher, took up the gavel, which he wielded successfully until May 12. Then he entrusted it to Mr. Ralph W. Proctor, an able leader, who, we hope, will long be with the school. The Spring Concert of this year gave us an opportunity to try our talents in instrumental and choral work. No doubt some of us can trace our rise in the Musical world to this ini¬ tial experience. As for sports in our Junior Year, A1 Living¬ stone was winner of the Tennis Tournament; Helen Dunn was captain of the girls’ baseball team. Worthy of note is the fact that the Washing- ton-Franklin Medal for excellence in History was won by Drue Ella Matthews. The eight highest ranking Juniors, chosen as ushers for graduation, were: Dorothy Belt, Walker Carroll, Dorothy Drinkwater, Drue Ella Matthews, Ruth Norton, Nancy Perani, Helen Sylvester, and Cynthia Wentworth. Now we beheld ourselves bearing on our shoulders the weight of dignity, intelligence, and honor of Seniors. Class officers elected were: President, Dick Van Iderstine; Vice- President, Arthur Bullard; Secretary, Drue Ella Matthews; Treasurer, Fred Mills. In sports we mention this year masters in the art of tennis, cupbearer A. Livingstone, and Betty Hodgson. As social “adepts” we found ourselves spon¬ soring the Senior Class Party. That night we had a boys’ play, “The Last Rehearsal,” in which the following took part: Walker Carroll,

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WELLESLEY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Charles Andrews ‘’Coolness and absence dC heat and haste indicate fine qualities.” President of Class (1927- 1928) : AerH Club U. 2) ; Travel Club 13) : Model Aeroplane Club (3) ; Stu¬ dent Council 11, 3) : Tennis (2). Fred Conant “Man is not made to question.” Athletic Club ll) ; The¬ atre Club (2) ; Dramatic Club 13) ; Glee Club (1. 2, 3) ; Basketball, Tennis. Barbara Bowdoin Reason or none.” Sport Study Club 11); Theatre Club (2) ; Dra¬ matic Club (3) ; Vice President 11) ; Sopho¬ more Play (1) ; Ring Committee (1) ; Prom Committee (2) ; Picture Committee (3) ; Senior Play; Hockey (3). Henry Patteson A prominent man because of his height.” Chess Club (3) ; Tennis (2) ; Golf (3) ; Junior Play, Coward of Costo Polo.” (2). Harry MacNeil You may depend on it that he is a good man..” ‘ Athletic Club (1. 2. 3); Baseball (1); Football ID. Paul Fedele T would do what I please, and doing what I please I shall have had my own will.” Athletic Club 11, 2) ; Glee Club (3). Constance Morse “Conky” “What’s the use of worrying ?” Theatre ll. 2) ; Dra¬ matic (3) ; Sophomore Play; Junior Play: Properties, Senior Play; Track (1). Frank Weidick Frankie” No where so busy a man as he there was.” Athletic Club ll) ; Handi¬ craft Club (2). Barbara MacFayden Gaiety is the soul’s health.” Sport Study (1). Page 20

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WELLESLEY HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL Walter Bulger, David Porter, Arthur Bullard, Max Wahl, Charles Gubellini. In the “Mid¬ night Fantasy,” Cynthia Wentworth was charm¬ ing and graceful in the stately dance of that period, the Minuet. The spirit of modern dancing of 1930 was demonstrated in a tap dance by Dorothy Drinkwater. Marion Glen¬ dining was the pianist. Lillian Hansen made a hit with her popular songs. Another Parents’ Night rolled around when Dorothy Drinkwater did her best to impress upon the Wellesley parents that a new and larger school should grace our town, to hold the great talent and ability which we felt would follow after we graduates have entered the School of Experience. Football and field hockey awards were made largely to the Seniors. Captain of the foot¬ ball team was Dick Van Iderstine. Virginia Daniels captained the field hockey team. The class claims much credit for our produc¬ tion of “ ’Op o’ Me Thumb.” Also well received was the play, “Martha-by-the-Day,” in which the Seniors really proved their dramatic abil¬ ity. Those taking part were: Barbara Bow- doin, Walter Bulger, Walker Carroll, Alice Cobb, Jessie Dodge, Marion Glendining, Betty Hodg¬ son, Drue Ella Matthews, Fred Mills, David Porter, Max Wahl, and Cynthia Wentworth. In addition to his class office, Dick Van Ider¬ stine was chosen captain of the football, bas¬ ketball, and baseball teams. The hockey team had a successful season under the captaincy of Fred Mills. Charles Gubellini led the track team in their drill for the Olympics. Our school paper, the Monitor, was carried on through the untiring efforts of the staff headed by Cynthia Wentworth, editor-in-chief, and Alice Cobb, assistant editor-in-chief. The final five committees of the Senior Year were appointed as follows: Class Will Ruth Norton, Chairman Mary Fitzpatrick Richard Shaw Prophecy Betty Hodgson, Chairman Jessie Dodge Walter Bulger History Dorothy Drinkwater, Chairman Mary Doyle Grant Bowman “Who ' s Who in the Class of 1931” Richard Van Iderstine, Chairm an Barbara Bowdoin Lillian Hansen Fred Mills Class Day Marion Glendining, Chairman Louise Gidley Constance Morse David Porter Ralph Williams Now in all sincerity, I wish to pay a well- deserved tribute to our outstanding students. After standing high on the Honor Roll for three years Dorothy Belt was chosen Valedic¬ torian and Drue Ella Matthews, Salutatorian. And so concludes the story of the Class His¬ torian. Tomorrow we will take off in solo flights to ports unknown. May we land on the islands of Health, Strength, Happiness, and Success. “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in.” Your devoted friend, THE CLASS HISTORIAN. Dorothy Drinkwater, Chairman Mary Doyle Grant Bowman SALUTATORY Friends of the class of 1931, School Commit¬ tee, and citizens of the Town of Wellesley. Just two months ago the fiftieth anniversary of our beautiful town was celebrated. Gay bunting, banners, and the Stars and Stripes adorned stores and public buildings. An exhi¬ bition of quaint old costumes and varied ex¬ amples of the skills of our townsfolks was held at Alumnae Hall. For a week congratulations were received from neighboring towns, special orations were delivered, and Semi-centennial programs were followed in every school. During those golden commemoration exercises some of you may have overlooked the anni¬ versary of our school system, the development of which these fifty years has been rapid and ad¬ mirable. In 1881 there were 331 school chil¬ dren and four school buildings in our town. To¬ day there are 2,167 day school pupils and ten large school buildings. Our schools, with our able superintendent, are well known over the entire country, and we should be extremely proud of them and of him. Particularly should we be proud of the Senior High School, the last step in Wellesley’s public educational system Fifty years ago there were in Wellesley High School thirty-four students with never more than three teachers. To tell the truth there was much question as to the value of a High