Bad Axe High School - Bad Axian Yearbook (Bad Axe, MI)

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CLASS PROPHECY OF 194a Page 22 One sunny, quiet morning in the spring of 1936, a shrill voice pierced the calmness of the peaceful little city of Bad Axe, Michigan. “Yoo! Hoo! Phyllis, are you busy?” It was none other than Pat Herriman calling to Phyllis Rapson as she was hanging up the Monday morning wash of her employers, Chuck Corbishley and his wife, the former Willidean Willard. No, I'm never too busy for a bit of gossip. What’s that you’re waving at me?” “It’s a letter from Frances Piorunek urging us to quit our work and come to California. .She’s offering us jobs in her ‘Ritz’ Hotel at Long Beach. Three former classmates of ours are already there; Pete Ney is the bartender, John Lawrence, doorman, and Jim Ney is head bell- hop.” Wednesday morning found Phyllis and Pat west of Bad Axe on M-53 hitch-hiking to Cali- fornia. Presently a black Buick drew up, anil as they got in they recognized the driver as Joe Schwanitz. Having received a letter from Eddie Clark, he too was on his way to California to chauffeur Eddie’s band on a cross country tour. A few of the members of the band were some old classmates of Ed’s: Gayle Withun played the accordion, Arlene Codings, vocalist, Dale Jones, trumpet player, Pat Shuart, guitar player, and Donna Mae Smithers, cornet player. After a few miles had rolled by, a small prosperous town came into view. But alas. Joe did not sec the sign — “Speed Limit — 20 miles per hour”. Suddenly a policeman on a motor- cycle yelled, “Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Said Joe, “Why if it isn’t my dear friend Bill Murdock!” And so it was. Since it was his friend, Bill decided to forget about the speed limit and invited Joe to have lunch with him. Joe almost fell over when he found the pro- prietor to be Don Rogers, and he recognized some of the waitresses as Dorothy Ducharme, Frieda Becker, Marjorie MacDonald, and Leona Laslo. After resuming their journey, Phyllis opened the newspaper she had purchased at the res- taurant. The following headline caught her attention: “Bill Discher Coach of U. of M. Has All Star Basketball Team — Bob Brown Leading Star.” “Say,” said Pat, “I believe that’s the school where Pete Flannery is Professor of Zoology.” Turning to the sports’ page, they noted the following article — Bronze Lady,” famed horse of Faye Reichelt wins Kentucky Derby.” Miss Rcichelt gave most of the credit to her jockey, Charles Becking and her trainer, Don Krohn. As they glanced through the column, they saw that Art Polk was makng quite a name for himself as a prize fighter. After an uneventful ride of about 35 miles, they came to another town. Seeing a dime store, Joe decided to stop and buy some souvenirs. Great was his surprise to learn that Lil- lian Hill and Clara Dzukala were the owners. They explained that three years agb, die women had decided to run the town and that all the businesses and offices were run by women, Arvilla Etzler was the mayor, Wanda Sparling was the sheriff, Veronica Ignash and Anna Mae Ahearn owned a dairy bar, Helen Henny owned a florist shop, Velma Polk and

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PLAYS Page 21 “Bottoms Up,” a three-act comedy about college life written by Harold Greg- ory. was presented by the class of 1948 on April 25, 1947 under the direction of Miss Lorraine Dalzen. The cast included Howard Bailey. Pete Ney, John Lawrence, Deloris Rob- arts, Shirley Krueger. Beth Rapson, Arleene Jurgess, Helen Alexander, Mildred Young, Pat Hcrriman, Pete Flannery, Sally Walker, Rosemary Sullivan. Gayle Withun, Bill Harbin, and extras — Eddie Clark. Joe Schwanitz, Dolores McIn- tyre. Doris Hanson, Jessie McDowell, and Ray Wollenzien. The committees were as follows: Advertising — Dolores McIntyre, Doris Hanson: Tickets — Elva Blair, Joyce McIntyre; Prompters — Frances Piorunek, Phyllis Rapson; Scenery — Junior Anderson, Charles Brown. Elwyn Capling. Don Krohn; Programs — Wanda Sparling; Ushers — Arvilla Et ler, Velma Polk, Iva McGcachy, Frieda Becker, Bobetta Hoin. “Junior Prom,” a three-act comedy by. James F. Stone, was presented Decem- ber 16, 1947 under the direction of Mrs. Ralph Vanstone. The cast included John Lawrence, Phyllis Rapson, Dolores McIntyre, Faye Reichelt, Mickey Alexander, Beth Rapson. Eddie Clark, Frances Piorunek, Joe Schwanitz, Robert Brown, Pete Ney, and Charles Brown. Fhe committees were as follows: Advertising — Shirley Krueger, Arleene Jurgess; Programs — Lorraine Cornett, Rosemary Sullivan; Tickets — Joyce Mc- Intyre, Elva Marie Blair; Ushers — Arvilla Etzler, Wanda Sparling, Veronica Ignash, Anna Mae Ahearn, Jean McDonald; Props — Doris Hanson, Pat Herri- man; Prompters — Jessie McDowell, Mildred Young. Between the acts the audience was entertained with music by Charles Cor- bishley, Mr. Stoner, and Lucille Hebner. Gayle Withun played accordion solos.

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Poge 21 CLASS PROPHECY OF 1948 Bobetta Hoin owned a beauty parlor, and Shirley Krueger and Arlccne Jurgess were co-editors of tlie leading newspaper. By this time they were well into the middle west anti everywhere they saw farms. Pass- ing by one, Joe noticed the name of Ray Wollenzien on the mail box. Of course he stopped to see Ray and was not surprised to learn that he had married Beth Rapson. However, he was surprised to find that Art Smith, Alvin Long, and Alvin’s sister, Edna worked for them. Ray told Joe that Murdock Leitch and Leslie Mcknight had a poultry farm a few miles away. Resuming the journey, they found the car was low on gas. As they pulled into the Super Duper Service Station, out ran two young women ready to service the car — Helen Schwerin and Eva Weiland. While they were chatting, the third attendant, Sally Walker came out. Looking across the street, they noticed a sign which read — Cars washed by Johnny (Mc- Donnell) while you fish with Bert’s (Yaroch) Bait.” Starting out again, they passed a big munition factory and decided to take a tour of it. They discovered the owners were Don Sams and Clarence Shadd, who brought west with them their secretaries, Elva Marie Blair and Iva McGeachy, and their bookkeeper, Lorraine Cornett. While watching a demonstration given by the foreman, Elwyn Capling, some acid was spilled on Joe’s hand. He was immediately taken care of by the doctor, Howard Bailey and the nurse, Joyce McIntyre. Upon leaving the factory, they noticed a great turmoil a ways down the road. They found the car of Omar Robart’s had collided with Dale Meinhold’s milk truck. Sheriff, Herbert Anderson, Jr. and coroner, Charley Brown were investigating the accident. As they entered Long Beach city limits, they noticed a sign that said Sullivan’s Shoppe.” The girls were immediately besciged with curiosity and forced Joe to stop. To their aston- ishment, they found their convictions were satisfied. Rosie had her most reliable salesgirl, Beverly Filion, help the girls pick out dresses designed by Mickey Alexander and modeled by Doris Hanson. Rosie told the girls that Mable Jean McDonald was a famous hat designer. She also told them that their former classmate, Deloris Robarts, was Dean of the Little (Phyl- lis) Boarding School for girls and that Emily McMillan and Bernetta Finkel were dieticians. They finally reached their destination after much pandemonium. 1 hey were escorted to Frances’ office where they were greeted by Dec McIntyre and Milly Youngs, who explained they were in town for the O. M. C. (Old Maids' Club) convention of which Dee was president and Milly was vice president. However, they were shortly interrupted by a bellhop who gave them a message from Jessie McDowell. Jessie, as usual, wrou!d be a day late for the conven- tion. Thus ended a very successful trip! ! Pat Herriman Phyllis Rapson Bert Yaroch