Westerly High School - Westlyan Yearbook (Westerly, RI)

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The Senior Year Book— 1931 (Clans tStstnnj SINCE I have been voted historian of this illustrious class, I shall proceed in my own frank and original manner to bring before your minds as honestly and fairly as possible the high, low, good, bad, strong, and weak points in the past of the class of 1931. In the fall of 1927 we entered Westerly High School, bringing among our one hundred and seventy-three members some of the most talented personages the world will ever know. Our revered, older schoolmates gazed with astonishment at the incoming Freshmen, and duly showed their respect by treating several to baths in the horse fountain in the park. In order to assemble ourselves to prevent further indignities, we immediately held a class meeting, electing: Charles Lamb as President, Donald Bonner as Vice President, Martha Nardone for Secretary, Florence Greig for Treasurer. These officers of the class were pledged to help, further, and protect the lives of the innocent and unsuspecting Freshmen. Thus our first year slid by, leaving only a shadow of memories to mark our initial advance in the great struggle for knowledge. From this step we were promoted to the second rung of the ladder—the rank of Sophomores. Here we were more justly appreciated, and were even allowed to attend the various evening functions of the school, most notably the Senior Prom. It was at this dance that Dot Ryan and Bur-nie Stenhouse first drew attention to their grace and beauty in interpreting the variety of dance steps, a talent which during their Senior year won for them the honor of best girl and best boy dancer, respectively. In the fall of this year the members of our class were confronted with the tremendous problem of selecting rings. With almost super-human will power we set our minds to meditate upon this enormous task, and, after due consideration, our choice was made. How proud we were when the pretty trinkets arrived and we could exhibit to the whole school the wisdom of our selection. Our place in dramatics was heralded by Althea Nichols, our best girl dramatist, who that year won the first award in Prize Speaking, competing gloriously against the older and more experienced members of the upper classes. We had for our leaders to guide us through this successful season: Dana Christy for President, John Hinchliffe for Vice President, Althea Nichols as Secretary, and Betty Wells as Treasurer. Now we see opening before us Junior year, glorious in its opportunities, and bringing to the fore many of our most brilliant and influential classmates. Before, our main efforts had been concentrated on building a strong and effective foundation of knowledge; now, for the remaining two years, our paths lay open to all the enjoyment and fun which school life could offer. Away with books and the hours of diligent study attached to them; ours was the world; and what happiness we had, we must fight for! Therefore, we started the fighting by holding a class meeting for the election of officers to lead the way through this new year’s revel. The results of the battle were: Edward Boutelle for President, Benjamin Simmons for Vice President, Anna Fraquelli as Secretary, and Eleanor Scanlon as Treasurer. Then came the Junior Prom. My! how the girls vied with each other to dress and look their best in order to receive bids from the most popular and most handsome boys in the class. The boys also appeared in gala attire with sharp creases in their trousers and bright ties to catch and dazzle the eyes of their fair ladies. It was during this contest that Marjorie Estabrook and Johnnie Nagle became con- -«s{ II )?►-

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Tin: Senior Year Book— 1931 Aiiiircaa - (ClaHB Night FRIENDS—We, the class of 1931, extend to you a most hearty welcome to join with us in this, our last evening of merrymaking, as students of Westerly High School. We are justly proud of the fact that our group is the first High School graduating class to hold its class night exercises in this new Junior High School. The privilege of meeting in this splendid auditorium is but one of the many advantages which you, the people of Westerly, have enabled us, as students of the Westerly schools, to enjoy. For these advantages and the staunch loyalty with which you have supported all our activities, we thank you and wish to extend to you our sincere appreciation. Tomorrow will be graduation day for the class of 1931. It will mark the end of our High School career and the beginning of new activities for all of us. We have been striving for four years towards this goal under the faithful and sure guidance of our honored and capable teachers. The lessons which we have learned in the various phases of our school life will en- able us to confront the problems of the future with greater ability and confidence. We all hope that the friendships made and the deeds done during these four years of High School work and play will always hold a place among the pleasantest memories of our lives. During the exercises of the evening, you will hear a summary of the various feats accomplished by this class. No little part in the actual doings of these deeds has been played by the underclass members of the Westerly High School, who, by their wholehearted co-ope'ration and support of all our activities, have aided us inestimably. It is not, however, the support which we as a class appreciate most, it is the splendid spirit in which it has been given. Tonight being our last evening together, there are many matters which must be discussed and given due consideration. Thus I will now give way to the speakers of the evening, members of the class chosen to bring you various important messages. —Donald Bonner. (in (Dur 5 rhnnl Once again your doors are open That we may pass on through; In our hearts are mixed emotions. But to you they’re always true. Though afar our paths may lead us, We will never cease to long For the days we spent together In your halls so old and worn. Nelson Himes. - 10 ) -

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Thk Sknior Year Book— 1931 spicuous for their good judgment as to what to wear, thus earning for themselves the honor of being the best attired girl and boy in the class. During this year, all the big he-men of the group responded to the insistent call of athletics. Football had first place, and in that field we were most notably represented by Stenhouse, Greene, Bonner, Codings, Payne, and Dolan, who won for us the Eastern Connecticut-Southern Rhode Island championship. Next came track, bringing forth Magni and Soloveitzik, who established an enviable record by ’’eating up” the miles. Spring now drew on, and with it baseball. Dolan and Stenhouse were again seen on the old home field, scoring their points in as specactular a manner as they had in football. We enjoyed an unusual find in Bud Christy, who, aside from being our most handsome boy, was also one of our first and best ball players. The boys were not the only ones to appear in the limelight, for at this time Anna Fraquelli and Althea Nichols made themselves famous by winning the first and second prizes in the Martha C. Babcock Essay Contest. We think this is the first time that both honors have been won by Junior students. Thus we are inordinately proud. Summer vacation finally left the venerable school of Westerly free to be patched up again in order to stand the wear and tear of our next and most important year, and gave us a slight break in the daily routine, that our health and good spirits as Seniors might be assured. We found ourselves in the autumn of 1930 congregated for the last time in W. H. S. in Rooms 7 and 10, the Senior sanctuaries, under the care of Mrs. Wight and Miss Leach. We noticed that a dignified look of responsibility and seriousness had settled upon the faces of our classmates; for we all realized the immensity of our importance. We were the heads, the leaders, and all our decisions and actions would be taken as guiding stars by the young and more inexperienced children of the school. First and foremost, it was our duty to elect our Senior class officers, who proved to be: Donald Bonner for President, Dana Christy for Vice President, Florence Greig as Secretary, and Eleanor Scanlon as Treasurer. To the Student Council this year we sent Eleanor Scanlon, the most popular girl, and Bill Dolan, the most popular and best all-round boy of our group. One of the new ideas sponsored by the council was the Friday afternoon dances, the purpose of these frolics being to bring about greater sociability among the students and between the students and teachers. Music was furnished by the school orchestra and many merry hours were enjoyed. For our Senior Play, we changed this year from the customary three-act drama to a group of three one-act dramas. What a fine representation of future actors and actresses was featured! “The Trysting Place,” a winsome comedy by Booth Tark-ington; “The Valiant,” a powerful tragedy of modern life by Hall and Middlemass, and “The Carved Woman,” an Indian fantasy, by Hartley B. Alexander, were the plays, which, under the leadership of Miss Jennie B. Stanton, enjoyed a signal success. The Prize Speaking of 1931 was unquestionably one of the best ever presented to the Westerly public; we consider it the best. Our class was creditably represented by seven members, among whom Charles Kenyon, reading “Aunt Jemima’s Pants,” won first prize for the boys, while Robert Burnett, portraying Kipling’s “Boots,” received second prize. Florence Greig, winner of the girls’ second prize, presented “Silence” by Edgar Lee Masters. The wide variety of the winners’ selections lent added fascination to the program. Now, with our course nearly completed, our thoughts are turning toward graduation—graduation, that magic word that spells reward for all the study and work of the most delightful four years ever spent; years in which knowledge has been gained, friends have been made, and everyone has been fired with the glory and enthusiasm of youth. What memories are stored away to be recalled with pleasure as long as we live! May the future of the class of 1931 be as happy as its history! —Dorothy Beaudreau. ' 4 12 fc -