Barre High School - Barretone Yearbook (Barre, MA)

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EDITORIAL Looking Backward As we, the graduating class of ’48 look backward on the four years we have spent at Barre High, nostalgic thoughts fill our minds -- thoughts that extend back as far as our freshman year when we were entering our beloved school for the first time. Looking backward to our first few weeks at Barre High we can remember the confused muddle of our minds in trying to decide whether or not we had selected the right course for our future career. We knew that our high school career -- more than anything else -- would fashion our future for us, yet we were doubtful and uncertain. We knew that we would have to base our vocation on our high school course, yet this decision seemed an unimportant one. This was perhaps the most decisive choice of our lives although we did not realize it fully at the time. Looking backward to our “younger” days we sometimes wonder why we hadn’t studied just a little bit more. Studying was the “bane of our existence” from one day to the next. Now as Seniors, we fully realize the impact of the all too obvious fact that we can no longer neglect seemingly unimportant factors because of a coming dance or a “good” movie. Looking backward to our final year at Barre High leaves us with a feeling of regret. All too often is the phrase “I wish I had done that” reiterated. For now the time has finally arrived when all of us will benefit from our former mistakes, and from these mistakes obtain the initiative to “look ahead.” Let’s Look Ahead Seniors, the challenge of a peaceful world rests with each and everyone of us, the future generation of America. Graduation is upon us, and as the hour approaches, we feel like “needles in a haystack” in comparison to the billions of people who have made America a place of deference. We love our country; so did the Pilgrims and our forefathers who fought so valiantly for its freedom. What will be our contribution to the world of tomorrow? What are we going to do to make America strong and secure for future generations? Are we prepared to meet the world and face the future as a reality? As Seniors -- do we under- stand the rights and duties of the democratic way of life, so as to be competent in fulfilling our obligations as members of the community and citizens of the state? The need for American youth to think rationally, to express thoughts clearly and efficiently, and to read and listen with understanding is vitally essential in a land of freedom. Freedom . . . Do we understand the word? Is it something to be read of in a book or spoken of in everyday speeches? No — freedom is something real, which must be practiced where busy men and women and yes — even children work to live. Seniors — we must take care that this American freedom is not overthrown by any aggression from foreign enemies, nor infringed upon by the tide of differences that sweeps the world today. As future citizens of America, we must make freedom work for the common welfare, and for the prosperity of our beloved United States. Every generation of Americans has pioneered for itself and for generations to come. Now this challenge is ours, for we are the pioneers of 1948. America is still a new country! Science and industry are making her over entirely, and opening for us new frontiers of greater opportunity. Let us then, with faith and vision into the future, look ahead, keeping in mind these words of wisdom: Have the elder races halted? We take up the task eternal. Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied and the burden and the lesson, over there beyond the seas? Pioneers! O Pioneers! WALT WHITMAN

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We immediately adjusted ourselves to the now familiar routines and elected the following class officers: Bob Smith, President; Catherine Celona, Vice President; Irene Finan, Secretary; and Charles Mallozzi, Treasurer. Next, the magazine drive rolled around once more and with it came Del Obert whose jokes and laughs are always eagerly awaited by all the students. When the basketball season began, in November, several of our classmates were on the team. This was the second year for Charlie and Gildo. In March, we sponsored another money-making caper, a Spaghetti Supper, fol- lowed by a dance. Everyone had a good time, except perhaps the mothers who worked so hard to prepare the food. May brought with it our biggest moment to date at Barre High — our own Junior Prom. We each received our rings in the hall, decorated with hundreds of crepe roses. Mickey Sullivan and his Orchestra furnished the music. The highlight of the evening was the singing of our class song, “Memories,” with special words written by Miss Murray. At the graduation exercises, many of us received long awaited and long dreamed of Pro Merito Pins. Still, we all wished they were our diplomas instead. September again, and the last mile. Boy, to think at long last that we’re Seniors! Our class elections this year named: Bob Smith, President; Irene Finan, Vice President; Charles Mallozzi, Treasurer; and Betty Murphy, Secretary. Viola Persechino was elected representative to the Student Council. Also at this time. Bob Smith was chosen Scriptus Editor. The Magazine Drive, this year, put us in the lead by an overwhelming majority. As our reward, we were the guests of honor at the Ice Cream Party. The ice cream certainly disappeared fast, but where to is an unsolved mystery. In October we very meticulously presented our Senior Tea. Our parents were entertained by a chorus of Seniors and several solos. Our well attended Christmas Alumni Social was the scene of “Christmas in the Morning,” a one act play directed by Miss Murray. After a very welcome Christmas vaca tion, we immediately plunged into the Senior Play preparations, stopping momentarily to put on a food sale, January 31. In February, before a sell-out house, we presented “What a Life,” starring Johnny Milan as Henry Aldrich. Because popular demand was so great, we presented it for a second time in April to almost as large a crowd. Two Senior girls honored: Viola is elected Barretone editor and Irene is elected D. A. R. representative. The B. H. S. Basketball team entered the Orange Tournament, taking second place consolation award. Barre sent more fans to the games than any other school. We are let loose March 30, for a day in Worcester where Van-Tine’s of Boston has set up a studio in the Sheraton to “shoot us.” Arrangements were completed with Arnold Tours of Boston for our four day Senior Trip, May 6, 7, 8, 9 in New York. Every minute was crammed full of sightseeing, boat rides and radio. At last, after plowing through finals for the last time we don our own caps and gowns, and as all the school joined in “Auld Lang Syne” we held our Class Day exer- cises. And finally, the next night we received our “sheepskins.” Once we held that important document in our hands, it seemed that it was just yesterday we had first entered the building as ex-eighth graders. . . . how quickly the time has flown, when we look back on it. So long, Barre High. 16

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JUNIOR CLASS MEMBERS Daisy Adomaitis, Rose Aliquo, Stanley Andrukonis, Lester Backus, Richard Baker, Isabel Better, Althea Brown, Shirley Carpenter, Romana Chapman, John Cirelli, Marion Cometo, Jean Cummings, Eleanor Flem- Chapman, John Cirelli, Marion Cometo, Jean Cummings, Eleanor Fle- ming, Dolores Franciose, Carmelo Giarusso, Virginia Gulino, Ethel Keddy, Sally Ann Lang, Wilbert Lincoln, Herbert Lindblad, Demaris MacKay, Angelino Maio, Samuel Marsella, Margaret Morris, Merle Morse, William Morse, Allan Nurmi, Elaine O’Brien, Douglas Panac- cione, Theresa Panaccione, Donald Rebokus, James Rice, Frank Ricotta, Richard Roberts, Romeo Salvadore, Earl Sample, Joyce Sawtell, Paul Snyder, Anna Stevenson, Kathleen Woodland, 18