Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

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1934 YEAR BOOK 23 marched gallantly down to the stage to receive “A’s” for ful- filling certain health and sport requirements. Several boys received letters and awards for their work on the baseball, basketball, and football teams. Then, one day just before the close of school, the goats “got one on” the sheep—they picnicked all by themselves at Lake Congamond. They reported excellent swimming. After a summer of fun the members of ’34 returned to school to discover that they were no longer to be separated, the sheep from the goats, but in some mysterious way they were divided into three groups under the supervision of Miss Phealan, Miss Belyea, and Miss Mansfield. The officers for this year were: president, Ronald Johnson; vice-president, Odette Bessette; secretary, Shirley Ilawkes; treasurer, Grant Sackett. Bernice Halladay and Raymond Montagna represented their class in the Student Council. This year every one was all set to shine in a social way. The Sophomore Hallowe’en Party was originated at this time. It was a brilliant affair with costumes ranging all the way from pirates’ attire to the rags of Raggedy Ann. The judges decided that awards should go to Doris Svenson and Robert Smith, who had the funniest “get-up” and to Lena Lodi and Myrven Barnard, who had the best costumes. In May several members of the class journeyed to Norwood with the school orchestra to take part in the orchestra contest. They didn’t carry away any prizes, but they had an interesting and profitable trip. Again this fall, talent was needed for the operetta and Fern Miller was chosen for the second lead in “Jerry of Jerico Road.” She made a fine “Sandy.” Daniel Di Donato, Richard Shields, Elizabeth Bloom, and Joseph Assad had parts in the Christmas play, “Solitaire.” Later in the year the Dramatic Club gave “The Valiant.” In the cast were Daniel Di Donato, Joseph Assad, Odette Bessette, and Clayton Moore. This year several members of the class became interested in sports. Raymond Montagna, Ronald Johnson, and Henry Alvergini went out for basketball. Sam Provo hit a home run at one of the baseball games, which proved to all spectators that no one need worry about Sam as long as he could “hit them like that.” Robert Bennett directed his efforts toward football. At the beginning of the Junior Year, the Class of ’34

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22 AGAWAM HIGH SCHOOL But just buckle in with a bit of a grin Just take off your coat and go to it Just start to sing as you tackle the thing That couldn’t be done, and you’ll do it. So even though the world should predict failure, and even though it should consider our attempts pure folly, even though our efforts seem futile, and success seems lost in a mass of fail- ures, we will not give up and say it can’t be done; instead we will be ambitious enough to keep trying, and to stick to it with cour- age and with the determination to succeed. RAYMOND MONTAGNA. History of the Class of ’34 Yes, the sheep were separated from the goats! It hap- pened one morning in 1930 that all college-minded goats were corailed in Miss Smith’s room and the business-minded sheep were herded into the great big fold, the study hall, with Mr. Hadley as the shepherd. Before many days had passed, the goats were invited to join the sheep in the study hall to choose their leaders. With Harold Ross, President of the Senior Class, presiding, they managed to elect for president, Merrill Tisdel, a short chubby lad; for vice-president, Adele Swanson, a maiden with a pleasing blush; for treasurer, Grant Sackett, tall and skinny; for secre- tary, Elaine LaFleche, always rushing around. The Student Council members were Frances Lucardi and Robert Hennessey. Not many months had rolled by before the members of this class realized that it must have been with great difficulty that school activities had been carried on before they arrived, for a large number of them were asked to be in the operetta, “The China Shop.” Elaine LaFleche and Frances Lucardi opened the performance by singing the prologue. Helen Cas- cella had the important role of “Ting-a-Ling.” Following closely on the operetta, came the Christmas As- sembly, which consisted of a series of sketches portraying a number of old English customs. Several of the freshmen ac- tors were needed and willingly participated. When the Press League Convention was held in Agawam later on in the year, some of the freshmen girls found the role of waitress open to them. A very important day for the girls came in June when they

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24 AGAWAM HIGH SCHOOL found that it was small enough to fit into two regular class rooms: Miss Smith’s and Miss Phealan’s. For a second time Ronald Johnson was chosen president. Jane Hamblen was the new vice-president; Adele Swanson, secretary; Clayton Moore, treasurer. Edward Bessette, Frances Lucardi, and Ronald Johnson joined the ranks of the Student Council. This fall football appealed to three of the boys in the class; Daniel Di Donato, Ronald Johnson, and Robert Bennett. At the game with Turners Falls, Robert Bennett caught the pass that meant victory for Agawam. This victory helped us win the Western Massachusetts Championship. The Cabaret started the social activities off with a “bang.” It was a great success. The decorations gave the auditorium a Spanish appearance. The entertainment was clever and interesting, especially a whistling solo by Elaine LaFleche. Once more the entire school enjoyed a beautiful Christmas Assembly. This year it was, “Dust of the Road,” given by the Dramatic Club. Several of the class of ’34 took part. The annual operetta, “Captain Crossbones,” was held in February. Two of the most popular features of this presenta- tion were a Gypsy dance by Frances Lucardi and a Spanish dance by Elizabeth Bloom. Of course the gala event of this year was the Junior-Senior Promenade. The auditorium was changed into the deck of a ship with gay pennants of crimson and silver floating from the mast. The rigging was from the Sea Scouts’ ship, “Viking.” The Class of ’34 had a small share in the commencement exercises this year. Bernice Halladay and Catherine Spaight, as marshals, led the graduates down the aisles to the plat- form. Alas, Senior Year had to come. In the fall of 1933, the members of the Class of ’34 came back, much more dignified, to take the front row seats in assembly, and they did not hesitate to assist the faculty in the running of the school. The members of the class voted this year to be guided in their activities by Ronald Johnson, president; Jane Hamblen, vice-president; Adele Swanson, secretary; and William Cassens, treasurer. It was largely through the efforts of these officers that all projects undertaken were most successfully accomplished. The repre- sentatives in the Student Council this year were Ronald John- son, Edward Bessette, Bernice Halladay, Fred Bennett, Frances Lucardi, Elaine LaFleche, and Sam Provo. Manjr members of the class served on the staff of the “Weekly Mirror,” a four-page newspaper. It was published