Bellingham High School - Epilogue Yearbook (Bellingham, MA)

Page 29 text:

Class History As we, the class of 1946, walk slowly from the stage after receiving our diplomas, we will realize that we have just completed the most enjoyable and interesting years of our life— four years we shall never forget. But now let us retrospect. September 9, 1942, a misty unpleasant morn¬ ing, we were all eager and overjoyed for we were entering a new life—high school. Everyone was in a world of mixture and puz¬ zlement, not knowing where to go and what time to go there. Our plight was doubled when some Senior twice our size would say in a thun¬ derous voice: “What are you doing in my lock¬ er?” We soon overcame these hardships, how¬ ever, and started work. Our first class meeting gave us the follow¬ ing officers: Normand Houde, president; William Lewinski, vice-president; Jeanne Fagan, secre¬ tary; and Eugene Trottier, treasurer. Miss Sul¬ livan, our adviser, was faced with the seemingly impossible problem of controlling us. Our initiation came the night of the Ac¬ quaintance Party when we were guests of the Seniors. We all had an enjoyable evening and decided to conduct a dance ourselves. Valentine’s day was the date set for the oc¬ casion. There was work to be done and we didn’t waste any time in getting at it. Everyone helped to decorate the hall with red, white, and blue hearts and contrasting streamers. Our efforts had not been in vain and we felt grateful to hear that everyone had a wonderful time. Our first social affair had proved to be a success. However, we found out that high school was not all play when we heard about the coming of mid-year exams. Pencils, papers, and books were again in circulation and we were studying. We were all scared and dared not let out a sigh of relief until they were over and found that they weren’t as terrible as we had been told. Because of the numerous shortages and dif¬ ficulties of wartime, Bellingham High School did not have a complete schedule of sports activities. We did have a basketball team and many of our Freshmen boys participated. A physical train¬ ing program took the place of sports. More subjects were added such as aero¬ nautics, radio code, and electricity. We also proved our patriotism by buying stamps and bonds and trying to reach our quota. We had been so busy and the year had been so exciting in both work and fun that we couldn’t believe it when we glanced up at the calendar as a new leaf was turned to the month of June. We hated to leave but we realized that we needed a rest. In the midst of such clamor we said not ‘goodbye’ but ‘so long’ to our newly acquired friends and our former classmates as we closed the doors till the next year. Our vacation ended and we were still as en¬ thusiastic as our first year when September 8th appeared. We immediately settled down and elected our capable class officers. The results were Charles Delaney, president; Vernon Brunelle, vice-president; Robert Murphy, secretary; Wil¬ liam Lewinski, treasurer. We were proud of the work of our all male role of officers. Miss West- art was our class adviser. That year there were even less sports activ¬ ities than before with just a few interesting bas¬ ketball games among classes. The dances were the main events at the school that year so we went ahead with plans for a Thanksgiving Dance. The decorating commit¬ tee was in a quandry but when we entered the hall we saw that they had solved their problems. In the center of the floor was a barn yard with its cornstalks and pumpkins. There also was a rooster who stood quietly near the chopping block but did not reach the fatal adventure. That was his reward for being so quiet. Because there were no turkeys available at the time this fowl served the purpose. The dance was successful both socially and financially. We had other events such as roller skating and ice skating parties, and hot dog roasts which added to our affairs of the year. We were then told that we were to order out¬ class rings. The class looked forward with great anticipation to that day and we chose a gold ring with a ruby stone. Although we would not re¬ ceive them until the following year, we were happy in just thinking about them. Our work was getting more difficult but we eventually grasped the idea that a little more studying would remedy this. The result was that we were able to strike the correct letters in typing, understand Shakespearean plays, and put the nouns and verbs of Latin into a complete thought.

Page 28 text:

Class Poem Our high school days have come and gone. But they have left with me The memory of what has been Yet never more will be. The joys, the sorrows, the knowledge attained The help that was ours for the asking. Incited us on toward the goal we’ve gained And a memory ever-lasting. Together we’ve worked, together we’ve strived To accomplish deeds really clever. The effort was small, the reward is great, A class unrivaled ever. And now as we leave you, Bellingham High, Our hearts fill a little with sorrow For our yesterdays are but a dream. Our future is tomorrow. —Jane Tuttle Class Song Tune of: Marching Along Together Bellingham High, we’re leaving. Starting on our own sweet way. Bellingham High, we thank you For the help you’ve given us day by day. We will start on some new tasks. Answering all our country asks. We’re there the minute they call for us. We’re always there without a fuss. We re all equipped with knowledge true. We’re sure that it will help us through. Bellingham High, we re leaving. We the Class of ' 46. —Elizabeth Thayer

Page 30 text:

GLASS HISTORY ( Continued ) Our Junior year came into sight and we realized that our high school days would soon be at an end. We were assigned to our homeroom and as one glanced about the room, it was evi¬ dent that our class was much smaller than it had been two years before. Our confident class adviser Miss Addante, had little trouble bringing the class to order. We elected our class officers and the results were Charles Delaney, president; Betty Petrosky, vice- president; Betty Skalubinski, secretary; Gerard Gregoire, treasurer, and Marie Dore, chairman of activities. Our spirits were high and we were thrilled to learn that sports had returned to Bellingham High School and many boys participated. We also had members of the class on the cheerlead¬ ing squad. We were rising high. A change of class advisers became effective and likeable Miss Mathieu helped us through the bad times as well as the good. Mr. Collins, our principal, answered the call of Uncle Sam and Mr. Granger took his place. That year we lost three members to the armed forces: Gerard Gre¬ goire and Victor Denault donned khaki while Vernon Brunelle chose the blue of the Navy. We knew that they would prove to be as prominent in the service as in school, and our thoughts fol¬ lowed them. Our most important event of that year was the “Junior Prom.” We all had work to do. The hall held a gay floral setting. The night had finally arrived and our hard work won the ac¬ claim of all. Lu Raymond furnished the music and we danced away an evening with Gaiety and Laughter as our companions ending the memor¬ able night with the Grand March. Enthusiasm and eagerness remained in our hearts as we entered the doors of our alma mater to begin our fourth and final year of high school. Our goal was near. We found ourselves under the guidance of our loyal class adviser, Miss Ballou, who imme¬ diately set in our minds the principle that work well done brings pleasure. Election was held and after counting the ballots we found that our energetic class officers were Elizabeth Thayer, president; Maurice Patrick, vice-president; Betty Skalubinski, secretary; Betty Petrosky, treasurer. We initiated the new Freshmen in a fairly decent way. They proved to be great sports and admitted that though it was embarrassing it was fun and they were still our friends. To show our appreciation we were hosts at the first Senior event, the Freshman Acquaintance Dance, and all had a good time. Encouragement led us on. To raise our financial status we made plans for a whist party and blanket raffle. Our hard work was rewarded by the successful results. Another member, Tommy Nicholson, had an¬ swered the call to the service by donning the uniform of the United States Navy. This added a fourth star to our. service flag. We came back to school the following week to find that Mr. Collins, our former principal, had returned. Although we were happy to see him back we were also sorry to see Mr. Granger leave for he had always been willing to give a helping hand. We were again working. Plans were started on our “pride and joy” the Epilogue. Jane Tut¬ tle was unanimously elected editor-in-chief and she gave instructions to her associates. Every member co-operated in making this a proud pos¬ session of the future. Then came our unforgettable week. The class outing was held on Monday and without a care we went our merry way. The following day our banquet was held. The end was fast approach¬ ing. Class Night arrived and before we knew it the notes of our graduation march were ring¬ ing in our ears and we were marching down the aisle in our caps and gowns. And then—Commencement. Our goal was reached and we received our diplomas. Although we were happy, sadness swept through our hearts. We were leaving our friends, our school, our teachers, probably never to see some of them again. We had completed our education, the foundation of our future lives. For this we owe much to the efforts and guidance of our parents and our teachers. Our last event of the year, the Senior Hop, concluded our four years as a united body. Now we would walk alone. We, the class of 1946, are proud to have been graduated into a world of peace. We will leave our school friends and enter an unsettled world—a confused world. What¬ ever our place may be in the reorganization of a world at peace our democratic education will be our strongest weapon and our motto will ever be our guide. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, CHAR¬ ACTER IS SUCCESS. —Betty Petrosky