Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

Page 28 text:

i liose Were the Days By PENNY FILOSI Republican Staff It was 1931 — the year of the Great Depression, Prohibition and the graduation of 65 seniors called the “Class of Champions” in Agawam High School. Their graduating date may not have been consider- ed part of a year of opportunity to go on to further education or a good job. Money was scarce. Liquor was taboo. But the tightly knit group was full of spirit. There was so much spirit in the Cla-s of 31 that now, 45 years later, class representatives expect about 35 persons to attend the 45th class reunion to be held Oct. 2 at the Colosseum Banquet House in West Springfield. “We’ve been having a reunion every five years since our 15th class reunion.” said Mrs. Louise A. (Caruso) Moreno of 19 Anthony St., Agawam. “They’ve been very well attended considering the length of time (since graduation),” she said. “We got out of school right in the heart of the De- pression. Not too many could go to college in those days, there was probably just a handful (that went). “There were very few jobs available. Many of them had to take odd jobs on farms, but those that did go to college did very well,” Mrs. Moreno said about the achievements of her classmates. She recited a list of names and the status of the former Agawam High School seniors after 45 years. Bion T. Wheeler, is the financial secretary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. The Pilch brothers, Chester and Francis, sold the Pilch Chicken Farm in Hazardvilie, which did “excep- tionally well for years, and went into organic farming, which also is doing “exceptionally well,” Mrs. Moreno said. Harold Roos, who was president of the class, was associated for years with Howard Johnson’s and is now managing his own restaurant in Holyoke. Charles Marsh recently retired from his employ- ment with a rubber company. He had been stationed in South America. The women, who were pre-liberation, fared as well. According to Mrs. Moreno, Irene Gavoni is a bac- teriologist in a hospital in Maryland. Phyllis Jones is a nursing supervisor in a Hartford, Conn., hospital. Edith Pisano was an accountant in Springfield and Louise Mev rs was a supervisor for a telephone company. In 1931, Agawam was noted for its award-winning high school football team, basketball team, orchestra and commercial typists who won several national awards. “We were called the Class of Champions,” Mrs. Moreno said. Classmates attended games for a small fee. Money was not easily available. The seniors also attended class picnics and dances. “We didn’t have cars to run around in. And there was no such thing as drinking or dope either,” Mrs. Moreno said. If some classmates did drink beer it was 3.2 per cent. Dress code was different from today’s casual jeans- and-shirts unisex uniforms. Boys wore suits, shirts and ties. Some wore sweat- ers instead of suit jackets. Their hair was cut short. Girls wore their hair short but few in the class had the latest-style permanent waves. Permanents had just been developed and were expensive. Girls also always wore stockings. They were not al- lowed to wear socks because if they did part of their legs would be bare, according to Mrs. Frances (Montag- na) Fagnani, 33 Wilson St., Agawam, who also was a member of the class. “I can remember the superintendent sending his own daughter home because she came to school in socks. You didn’t show your legs in school,” she said. The class sweethearts married. Teachersspent long hours after school working with students, talking to them, listening to their dreams, giv- ing them extra attention. About 50 persons attended the reunion in 1971. That number included classmates and their spouses. This year Mrs. Moreno expects about 35. “I guess some of them have passed away and many of them are in Florida retired or in some parts of the country we can’t contact,” she said. Any member of the class who has not been contact- ed or knows the address of any classmate should con- tact Mrs. Harry (Cote) Sunrenant. 60 Terry Road. West Spriopfiold Mrs S' ron- j ; ♦»..» nppn'-i' rh- ■ ■••• f -