Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

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CHRONICLES..1937 CLASS HISTORY Time: Scene: Pauline Agnes Pauline CI host of 1934 Agnes 1934 Pauline 1934 Agnes Pauline (ihost of 1935 Agnes 1935 2037. A secluded spot in Agawam. (As the curtain rises, the orchestra plays Mr. Ghost Goes to Town.” Two young girls enter the spot and discover a tombstone.) (Kneeling and pulling away the grass.) Come here, Agnes. Sec if you can make out what it says. (Running toward the stone.) It says, 1934. Here lies our childhood, the Freshman Year of the Class of 1937.” Oh, what a long time ago. I'll bet everyone has forgotten about them. (The girls start to run away as a ghost rises from behind the tombstone.) Don’t be afraid. I thought you might like to know what happened a hund- red years ago. When the Class of '37 buried its Freshman Year here, the)- gave me their secrets to guard. Do tell us what you know about them. In the fall of 1933 about one hundred and thirty promising boys and girls entered upon their high school career. Most of them felt they were very grown up, but two retained many of the traits of babyhood. If I remember correctly they were Billy Walsh and “Honey” I.ucardi. After a few weeks of struggling with such new subjects as I atin and Algebra, they became politically minded and elected their class officers— Andrew Gallano, president; Agnes Swanson, vice president; Dorothy Birchard, secretary; and George Wood, treasurer. When Andrew Gallano left school in the middle of the year. Lino Schinelli was elected to finish the term. Ksther DePalma and Lino Schinelli were chosen as Student Council members. Didn’t they have any parties? No, thc - were still children and more interested in sports than in social life. Many of the girls were members of the hockey, basketball, and baseball teams. In June Agnes Arnold, Margaret Grasso, and Agnes Swanson received A's for fulfilling certain health and sports require- ments throughout the year. Lino Schinelli had the honor of being the only freshman boy on the football team. T hat is the end of my story, ((ihost vanishes.) Why does he have to leave the story here, when lie just barely started? (Looks around and finds another stone.) Come here, Pauline. I have found another one. This one says, 1935. To follow you I'll not consent, until I know which way you went.” (A ghost then appears from behind the tombstone.) Are you the ghost of 1935, and can you tell us more about the Class of '37? I'll be glad to tell you more about that interesting class. T he only new officers were Norma Bailey, secretary; and William Walsh, treasurer. That year they began their social life with a party. They thought they were quite grown up, but they soon found they were still children. The boys sat on one side of the room and the girls on the other, afraid even to look at each other. (Music off stage.) Listen, isn't that music? T hat’s the guitar solo that Mildred White played at the party. That was the first opportunity the class had to display its talent. (Curtain is drawn and Mildred plays Springtime in the Rockies.”) page twenty-five

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CHRONICLES..1937 and, as a result, hastened his death. Kdison’s greatest contribution, the electric light, has become indispensable to man. Each of these men was successful because he had the courage and determination to triumph. However, we must remember that courage and determination by themselves do not bring success. We must use these qualities with intelligence to accomplish any- thing. These three men were aware that they were taking the more difficult course, but they were willing to make sacrifices in order to contribute to the welfare of their fellow man. Now many of us will say that these men were lucky, that if they hadn’t had good fortune they never would have been successful. It is true that luck is a very important factor in many lives. Some people who have succeeded have been aided by fortunate occurrences, while others who have failed have been the victims of tragic or unfortunate circumstances. When a man possesses the qualities necessary for success, even hard luck and adversity will not hold him in check for very long. His difficulties may be increased, but, if he has the right spirit, he can and will overcome his reverses. These commencement exercises in which we arc participating are rightfully named because they mark the beginning of a new era for the members of the Class of 1937. We are going out to face new and baffling problems in a rapidly changing world. For some it has been a long hard struggle to come this far, but we realize that our difficulties are now just beginning. W e all have had the same amount of training, have mastered the same lessons, and have met the same requirements for graduation, but all of us will not make the best use of our training and ability. Those who fail will be the ones who have not the will, the determination, or the courage to improve themselves. They will fail to seize every opportunity offered and will sit back waiting for good luck to help them out of their difficulties, while the determined persons will go ahead and make their opportunities. We must remember that while we arc waiting for our ship to come in. it may have come and gone already. It is not going to lower a derrick and hoist us aboard; we will have to row out to it and climb aboard before it sails away. We have passed through a period of depression and hard times, but thousands of people already have refused to be whipped by hard luck and, by careful planning, deter- mination, and courage, have managed to attain success. Let us follow in their footsteps with their motto as our own. It is not “I would if I could, but I can’t, ’ but rather, “It can be done, and I can do it.” Paul Adams. THE FUTURE In known, the waiting Future lies, A path untried, a song unsung. Beyond abides that Mystery, I ife everlasting — Eternity. I thought I felt her silken wings, That unseen joyousness she brings; I thought I glimpsed the soul of I ife, I thought I knew Reality. But lo! It fled. 1 know not whence, It brushed softly and silently past; Yet in the fleetness of this hour, I, too, saw a vision of Truth: Fife is a challenge, noble and pure, A challenge for unbounded growth! Margaret Brady. page twenty-four

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CHRONIC L 1C S . . 1 9 3 7 Pauline 1935 Agnes 1935 Pauline Agnes Ghost of 1936 Pauline Agnes 1936 Pauline Agnes 1936 Ghost of 1937 Pauline Agnes 1937 Pauline That is a quaint old song. We never heard it before. The class was able to show its dramatic ability when it presented the Sopho- more Assembly. They acted out scenes from different books. One of the outstanding scenes was taken from Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities.” (Curtain is drawn to show scene.) What a coincidence! We’re just reading that in school now. 'Phc sophomore class was represented in the Commercial contest, held at Northampton, by Mildred White, Dorothy Vancini, George Soderlund, and Pauline Barbieri. As I recall, they ended their year with a picnic at Babb’s. They enjoyed swimming, boating, roller-skating, and eating. (Ghost disappears.)) There must be two more stones. Here’s one of them. (Pulling away the grass.) This says, “1936. Sacred to the Memory of Sweet Sixteen.” (Ghost rises.) I suppose you are the ghost of 1936 and can tell us about the junior year. Now let me think. I believe the officers that year were Lino Schinclli, president; Agnest Swanson, vice president: Claire LePagc, secretary; and Ralph Lucardi, treasurer. The first big social event of the year was the Junior Cabaret. The hall was decorated to represent a barnyard. It was not a financial success, but those who attended had a good time. Then a cabaret was a dancer Yes, I remember reading that they were quite popular a hundred years ago. This year, with the help of Mrs. Worden, who wrote the dialogue, the class presented its assembly showing scenes from their every day school life. I remember vividly the French scene from “Le Voyage dc Monsieur Perichon.” (The curtain is drawn to show scene.) In March the regular school routine was interrupted by the great flood. School work-could not be carried on because most of the teachers were on one side of the river and the pupils were on the other side. Most of Agawam stayed high and dry, but their neighbors suffered severe losses. (Flood pictures.) Don’t you remember seeing pictures of the flood in the paper last year? Yes, I do. The flood was mentioned in the list of events which occurred one hundred years ago. The most important and successful social event of the three years was the Junior Prom. As usual, Charlotte Jasmin was in charge of decorations. Many hours were spent decorating the hall in red and gold, the senior colors. After the excitement of the Prom had died down, every one looked forward graduation. Agnes Arnold and Agnes Swanson were the Junior Marshals. This class was fond of picnicking so they ended the year with another outing at Babb’s beach. (Ghost then disappears.) (Both girls run to the next stone and read, “1937. The End of a Perfect Life.” 'Fhe girls are very disappointed to find the ghost of ’37 asleep behind the tombstone. They finally rouse him.) (Stretches, yawns, and rubs his eyes.) Where am 1? What time is it? This is Agawam. It is the year 2037. I knew I was worn out after that senior year, but I didn’t think I was tired enough to sleep a hundred years! We are sorry to have to disturb you, but we are interested in hearing more about the Class of 1937. Page twenty-six