Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

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SACHEM . . 1940 J ack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: J anet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Why, that’s Rob Healy. Here’s a picture of our Freshman class officers. What does it say under- neath ? It says: President, Daniel Pugh; Vice-President, Janet Wheeler; Secretary, Norma Swanson; Treasurer, Robert Healy. Danny looks sort of cross, doesn’t he? Yes, he didn’t want to have his picture taken and had to be dragged out. He’s out-grown his bashfulness now though. Here’s a clipping about the Freshman assembly. I wasn’t here then. Tell me about it. Well, the Freshmen gave a radio play right up on the stage in the assembly hall. The play was called “Sutter’s Gold” and Paul Tatro assumed a German dialect for the leading role. We had a real microphone and Dwight Bailey was the sound effects man. I’d like to have seen it. It should have been broadcast over a national hook-up. I wouldn’t say that, but we did give the play over station WSPR. What are these pictures about? They’re pictures of our Sophomore party. It was held in the gymnasium and there were games, balloons, dancing, refreshments, and entertainment. Who did the entertaining? I can’t remember very well, but I know Anna Wylie did a ballet dance for us, and Ruth Canfield tap danced. Oh, yes, Arthur Wyatt sang cowboy songs. It seems as if I could hear Art now. (Arthur Wyatt sings) Here are the class officers for the Sophomore year. President, Daniel Pugh; Vice-President, Norma Swanson; Secretary, June Smith; Treasurer, Richard Martin. These pictures are of the hurricane. I put them in because it came in our Junior year. That hurricane certainly did a lot of damage! Rut it gave us a few days vacation and provided plenty of material for camera fans. Our class officers that year were President, Francis Fenn; Vice-President, Norma Swanson; Secretary, Lilian Levesque; Treasurer, Paul Tatro. Yes, and that was the year we put on the Junior Cabaret. Here’s a picture of the decorations. Did you ever see so many jack o’lanterns and cornstalks? That scarecrow man with the pumpkin head who sat up on the stage certainly added the finishing touch to a Hallowe’en atmosphere. Everyone had a wonderful time. Jimmy Roberts provided the music, didn’t he? Yes, there was entertainment too: Anna Wylie and Ruth Canfield danced for us again, and Arthur Wyatt and Ralph Oliver sang cowboys songs. Elroy Renjamin sang for us too. “Remember” was the song he chose to sing first. (Elroy Benjamin sings Remember”) The Junior-Senior Promenade came that year too. The hall was beautifully decorated in blue and silver with old-fashioned silhouettes decorating the walls. Bell Brothers provided the music. There were balloons hanging from the center of the ceiling too. I remem- ber how surprised everyone was when the wrong string was pulled and the whole decoration came down on us instead of just the balloons. Here are some pictures of the decorations and the Grand March. Here’s a picture of Jeannette Kent and Norma Swanson who were chosen Junior Marshals for the 1939 graduating class. In September we entered our final year in high school with our numbers somewhat diminished for the building of the Suffield High School took many away from our class. Who were our class officers that year? Elroy Benjamin was President; Ruth Cesan, Vice-President; Norma Swanson, Secretary; Paul Tatro, Treasurer. page twenty-three

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SACHEM 1940 vote for men and measures that would eventually affect them. In France, Switzerland, and England, an average of 82% or 83% vote in the national elections; our high mark does not compare with this, and our average is something of which to be ashamed. To remedy this situation, to know where to begin and how to continue intelligently our part in the government, we must turn to education. This, together with what we learn from experience and the daily headlines of our newspapers, will provide us with an incentive to vote for measures and leaders conducive to the continuation of our present government and the consequent denunciation of any other form of government. But indifference will accomplish nothing. It is indifference toward one’s government, the willingness of a people to let someone else run their government for them that leads to a government of the few or of one for the benefit of the state at the cost of the citizen. In a democratic system, education is the tool for training the citizen in his respon- sibilities regarding his part in the government. If we are to heed the warnings that the headlines of the daily papers bring us, if we are to act in defense of our democratic ideals, we must do it through our schools. Now, as at no other time, this is a respon- sibility of our educational system. The problem of complacency toward one’s govern- ment at the present time and in the future will require a more systematic, thorough training in civic responsibility than has been adequate in the past. Education can and must instill into young boys and girls that which is more valuable than a knowledge of militarism—the right to vote. This right should be closely guarded, for, once lost, it is not easily regained. Education is the only way to make this privilege a greater force— too big to be lost, too precious to be neglected, too powerful to be denied. Few are the countries that now enjoy this privilege. The number must not decrease further. Some country must keep self-government from becoming obsolete. Perhaps it will be a long time before it happens, but someday, after the present day mistakes have been for- gotten, self-government will become the law of the world—not just the law of this land. The Class of 1040 will leave Agawam High School this month to become a loosely organized group of alumni pursuing their respective courses in life. We will take many beliefs with us, some old, some new. We will enlarge upon some, restrict others as time goes on. It is safe to say that one of the most treasured beliefs that we will take is that America is still as the Constitutional Fathers planned, a nation in which to find life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let us always be resolved that these ideals will remain safe in at least one country and that if only one country is to be so blessed, it must be the United States. Edward Shea Class History Time: 1950 Scene: Living room in Janet’s house Jack: Have you any idea what we can do tonight? I haven’t made any special plans. Janet: No—no, I can’t think of any place I want to go. Jack: Well, . . . Say, what’s that book you’re carrying? Janet: This? Oh, it’s just my scrapbook. It’s full of pictures and clippings about our high school days. I know, we can look at it. It’ll be just like going through high school all over again. Want to? Jack: Not me! I don’t want to go through my high school days all over again. Once is enough for me! Janet: Oh come on. We haven’t anything else to do. It’s fun really. Some of the pictures are ones you took yourself. Jack: Yeah? Let’s see. (Both sit on divan and look at book) Janet: These first pictures are of our Freshman class. Jack: I can hardly recognize some of my friends, they look so different. Janet: See Paul Tatro with his pineapple clip, and who is that tall thin boy? page tu enty-two

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SACHEM . . 1940 Janet: Jack: Janet: J ack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: Janet: Jack: What are these pictures? Oh, I know. The Kid Party. It gave us dignified Seniors a chance to revert back to childhood with short clothes, dolls, and lollypops. We had a huge Christmas tree, and a real Santa Claus to give out presents. Robert Healy was Santa Claus. There were prizes too. Anna Wylie and Francis Fenn wore the funniest costumes, while Jeannette and Raymond Kent wore the cutest. Here are some more pictures of the party. We certainly looked cute in baby clothes. There always seemed to be a lot going on in our Senior year. I remember the Agawam Mirror took first place in the Columbia League for Scholastic Publications. Here’s a picture of the Senior members of the Mirror staff. Lilian Levesque was editor-in-chief. Members of our class were well represented in most of the musical events during our four years in high school. I remember “Robin Hood’’ partic- ularly because it came in our Senior year, and Elroy Benjamin, Elmer Goodhue, Edward Godfrey, Mildred Tortoriello, and Marie St. John all had important parts. (Marie St. John sings) Norma Blackburn looked very happy in this picture. She should have too, because it was the second year she had received honors in speaking contests. Francis Fenn, Herbert Freeman, and James Morrison were the most con- spicuous figures in the field of sports for the four years in high school, although there were many other outstanding girl and boy athletes in school. This picture is of the Pro Merito Society. Pro Merito students were Ruth Cesan, Lilian Levesque, Millicent LaVoie, Irene Nacewicz, Paul Tatro, Norma Swanson, Edward Shea, Janet Wheeler, and Anna Wylie. Here’s a picture of Daniel Pugh hitting Neal Raison in our Senior Play. The Senior Play, “Growing Pains” seemed the most important event. Didn’t Miss Phealan have a hard time keeping track of the eighteen people in the cast though! I thought one of the funniest parts in the play were contrib- uted by Danny Pugh as George and Eleanor Pfersick as Elsie. Remember the graceful way in which they danced together? Nothing could surpass their clowning. (Daniel Pugh and Eleanor Pfersick dance) Senior members of the Student Council were—. I et’s see, what does this say? Oh, yes, June Smith, Norma Swanson, Eleanor Jensen, John Sasson, Alfred Penna, and Francis Fenn. On May 24th, 1940, we were guests of the Juniors at the Promenade. Then came our last days at Agawam High. Our class banquet, class picnic, class night exercises, and graduation exercises, all came in such a rush we hardly realized that our carefree high school days had come to an end. (Closes book) Well, I guess those are all the pictures I have. Let’s look up some of our old friends and show them your book. It’ll give us something to do, and I wouldn’t mind looking at those pictures all over again. Janet Wheeler John Sasson Class Prophecy Time: 1955 Scene: The Pine Room of the Captain Charles Leonard House in the City of Agawam where the Monthly Quilters’ Club is in session. Characters: Eleanor Jensen, Jean Blood, Eleanor Pfersick. page twenty-jour