Bellows Free Academy - Alpha Omega Yearbook (St Albans, VT)

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8 THE MERCURY The committee in charge of the dance spent many long and toilsome hours in decorating the City Hall for the occasion. When their task was fin- ished, the appearance of the hall cer- tainly was a credit to the class. Our spring vacation was several Weeks longer than usual this year, not because the school board thought we needed an extended rest, but because we were waiting for the construction work on Bellows Free Academy to be completed. Finally, on April 28, 1930, we en- tered the new school, appreciative of our new home, yet timid, for We knew not how to find our way about. Not only we, the sophomores, but also our so-called superiors, the juniors and seniors, and the unfortunate little freshmen. For once We were all in the same predicament. We liked this new and beautiful building, yet it was hard for us to for- get the old Academy with its creaky stairs, its icy rooms, and leaky study hall. In June, we were given the honor of decorating the new auditorium. Though we could not be the first to graduate from Bellows Free Academy, we were happy to think we could be the first to decorate our beautiful auditorium for the best loved of the commence- ment activities. Our junior year was an eventful one under the leadership of the following capable officers: john Callaghan .......... President Hortense Marchessault Vice-president Marjorie Hodge ......... Secretary William Dempsey ....... Treasurer Early in the fall, there arose the question of publishing a school paper. When, after considerable discussion and careful planning, it was decided to start what seemed to some an impos- sible undertaking, a meeting was held and the following juniors were chosen for the Editorial Staff: John Larry ....... Athletics Editor Dolores Guay ..... Exchange Editor Joseph MacDonald .... News Editor Business Staff: Edith Daily Assistant Circulation Manager William Renaud Assistant Advertising Manager Although the seniors did their best towards making this paper a success, that success was not attained without assistance from the juniors. The work of ,32 was evident in many departments of the magazine. Even the cover design was a piece of art done by a member of our class, Robert Fitz- gerald. As juniors we were confronted with maintaining the tradition of giving the seniors a farewell ball. With the constant demanding and pleading of our competent treasurer, nearly every junior paid his dues, enabling us to make this ball a success. The last event of the year was the Junior Prize Speaking Contest. The spirit of the juniors was shown by the exceptionally large number who con- tested. The prizes Were won by Char- lotte Gaither, Ernestine Best, and Per- sis Start. As We sat in the audience on Com- mencement Night of 1931, watching the graduating class, a thrill of pride went through us with the thought that in just one more year We should be up on the stage, but this thrill of pride soon turned to sadness, as We realized that in only one short year our high school days, the happiest days of our lives, would be over. In the early fall of 1931, we entered Bellows Free Academy just a little

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THE MERCURY 7 Senior Class History The story that I am about to tell is one that will remain for years un- finished--the history of the Class of '32, We have, it is true, completed our career at B. F. A., but we shall go on, though in diverse paths, always making history for B. F. A. and ,32. Our carefree high school days, fel- low classmates, are over, and it is now time that we turn to the more serious side of life. Let us, for a few short moments, recall the events of our high school days, that they may always dwell in our memory. We look back on our first day of high school almost as though it were a nightmare, still I believe the majority of us wish we might live that day over again. During that memorable day and even the first weeks that followed, everything ran along smoothly for the older students, but as for us, poor freshmen that we were, it seemed im- possible for us to do anything without getting ourselves into difficulties. The first big event in our high school life was a Freshman Class meeting held for the purpose of electing officers that could safely lead us through our first year of high school. This meeting re- sembled a menagerie when all the animals are let loose, more than it did a group of sane boys and girls. After much discussion, the following officers were finally elected: Stephen Brouillette ....... President Edith Daily ......... Vice-president Kathryn Touchette ........ Secretary John Larry ............. Treasurer These officers did their best to make the freshmen seem more like high school students than like children, but there was one thing that couldn't be accomplished and that was to collect the class dues. That was an impossible undertaking. Considering that the sophomores looked upon us almost as though we were scoundrels, it was really a sur- prise to us when we were invited to at- tend a reception in the City Hall. It is very evident that the majority of our classmates thought the sophomores were playing a practical joke on them, because only three freshmen couples attended the reception. This reception ended, for the year, our activities as a class. We spent the remainder of that semester and the next in preparing for those horrible mid- year and final exams. The next September, we gathered back at the old high school with only a few of our number left behind. It may seem a trifle unusual, but it was the general opinion that we held the same sentiment toward the fresh- men as the class ahead had had toward us. Since we were now sophomores, wise and sure of our own opinions, it was not so hard for us to decide on our class officers. ln only one much more orderly assembly than that of the pre- vious year we elected Ernest Warren for President, Persis Start for Vice-president, Aldine Miller for Secretary, and Robert Cunningham for Treasurer. This year it was our privilege to give the freshmen a reception. We had one food sale to help, but our efforts were hardly necessary. We had an excep- tionally large class, and everyone, it seemed, was willing to pay his dues.

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TI IE MERCURY 9 more dignified and splendid than ever before, for we were seniors. We were the classmen to whom all others owed respect. Uur first important duty was the election of class officers. Not just ordi- nary ones, but officers who could and would teach us the laws and customs of the Senior Class. When we held a meeting for the purpose of accomplish- ing this task, I must sadly relate 'that we resembled freshmen much more than we did seniors. After a heated discussion, the following officers were elected: William Dempsey ........ President Marjorie McKenney .. Vice-president Hildreth Russell ......... Secretary William Renaud ......... Treasurer I might add that these officers have fulfilled their duties perfectly. On December 18, the Friday after- noon before Christmas vacation, the in- telligent boys of the graduating class put on the annual Senior Boys' Farce. These unusual boys entertained the members of Bellows Free Academy in an unusual way. The skit, written by Joseph Vincent MacDonald and James Scully, was in the form of a very important contest between the A and B divisions of a his- tory class. The wise old professor, Francis O'Connell, questioned the two teams incessantly. The questions ask- ed pertained to the affairs of certain members of the audience, and the an- swers given did not add to the comfort of the victims. Many of these musical boys showed their talent by playing on their respective horns, and by giving vocal solos. Everyone enjoyed this famous skit, given by these famous boys, and there was the general feeling that the senior girls would have a difficult time to pro- vide an Easter entertainment that would outdo the boys'. The next event on the seniors' pro- gram Was the first Senior Supper. Wil- liam Dempsey and Marjorie McKen- ney proved their ability at being a very charming host and hostess. The dining room was decorated in keeping with Washington's and Lin- coln's Birthdays and St. Valentine's Day. During the supper, there was much merriment over the valentines members of the class had made for each other. After the supper, stories of Wash- ington, Lincoln, and of the origin of St. Valentine's Day were told by noted speakers of the class. The Albanians furnished music for dancing in the gymnasium where the seniors entertained guests. I am sure I can safely say that everyone of us had a good time at our first Senior Supper. On March 25, the senior girls gave the members of the school an enjoy- able send-off for a happy Easter vaca- tion. They presented the most original and, of course, the most interesting en- tertainment ever put on by the senior boys or girls of this school, an enter- tainment written by Marjorie McKen- ney. In this humorous skit, Dolores Guay was the Director of the B. F. A. Scan- dals, and the poor woman was having a perfectly horrible time trying to find a girl to work for her. No one knew just what kind of girl she wanted, nor what her duties would be. This in- formation was not disclosed till the very end, after many girls had answer- ed the Girl Wantedn sign. Not long after school opened for the spring term, there were rumors of an- other Senior Supper. This event took place on April 21. William Renaud and Hildreth Russell as host and hostess planned a very successful buffet supper. The supper took place in the B. F. A.