Bulkeley High School - Class Yearbook (Hartford, CT)

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BULKELEY HIGH SCHOOL 1926-1951 We, the class of 1951—” These are proud words. Here we are, actually graduating—thrilled, slightly nervous, and perhaps a trifle nostalgic. It’s hard to realize that these symptoms are not occurring for the first time in the history of education; not even in the history of Bulkeley High School. It all began back in 1926, when Mr. C. Culemo, contractor, dusted his hands and sat back in his desk chair, mentally counting the one and a half million dollars due him for the construction of B. H. S. (Desk carvers, please note.) On September 13 the doors of the big new building at 470 Maple Avenue opened to admit a chattering troop of eager young students burning, we trust, with desire for the knowledge to be dispensed in the shining structure. Those first years must have been exciting, if not a bit hectic, as new organizations and activities popped up like mushrooms. In swift succession came the first football game (Stonington 12, B. H. S. 0), the first Torch , the first Boys’ Club-Girls’ League dance, and the first Dial —but not the first Sno-Frolic, which was not heralded joyously by Bulkeley girls until 1944. Guiding this oversized infant, Bulkeley, through the critical early years was Dr. Gustave A. Feingold, with Mr. Amos C. Hoyt and Dr. Dane A. Dargan as the Vice-Principals. Mr. Hoyt was later transferred to the Board of Education, leaving ’ Dr. Feingold and Dr. Dargan, also acting as the Dean of Girls, to carry on the in¬ creasing activities at Bulkeley. No history of the school would be complete without a tribute to Dr. Feingold, who died in June, 1948, after twenty-two years of devotion to the school. He was widely known as a progressive educa¬ tor with a deep concern for his students’ welfare. Bulkeley will not forget him quickly. Under his guidance, the school developed steadily, becoming well known for its frequent assemblies featuring such speakers t 3

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PREFACE We, the class of 1951, are privileged to graduate on the Silver Anniver¬ sary of Bulkeley. We look with pride at the excellent record of our school: the achievements and contributions of our teachers, under-graduates, and alumni in various phrases of human endeavor. A brief glance into the future indicates that our class will be confronted by many problems. Our world is a dynamic one, and the atomic age has already introduced a multitude of com¬ plex and serious problems, many of which are international in scope and in¬ tangible in nature. It is our fervent hope that, guided by the ideals and training absorbed at Bulkeley, we shall do our share to overcome whatever difficulties may arise, and that we shall be a credit to our families, our teachers, and our school. In the next few years, our paths will undoubtedly diverge. However, we hope that this Class Book will serve as a link in the bonds which hold us all together. We have attempted to capture the spirit of our class in its various activities: academic, athletic, and social. We sincerely hope that in future years this book will revive the happy memories and friendships of our days at Bulkeley. We take this opportunity to express our appreciation to those teachers and students who have made this yearbook possible: to Mr. McCrann for his wholehearted cooperation; to Miss Potter, our faculty adviser, for her invaluable assistance and encouragement; to Mr. McElney and Miss Salford for their counsel to the Business and Art boards; to the office staff for their generous assistance; to Jo Ida, Art Editor, and her talented staff composed of Robert Manning, Anita Nazaruk, and John Castro, for their very fine sketches; to Nancy Crawford and her competent typing staff — Louise Masaitis, Eloise Skau, Marilyn Ford, Ruth Bail, Elaine Desrocher, Wanda Howaniec, and Athena Dikegoros; to Ignazio Salone for his splendid sports coverage; to the Photography Club for many pictures which have added the personal touch to the book; and finally to the many individuals and groups who have co¬ operated so generously in this, our joint endeavor. Peter Barry, Editor-in-Chief 2

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as Vachel Lindsay and Stephen Leacock. The Girls’ League fur¬ nished the club room in 1932, providing the rapidly multiplying school groups with a pleasant meeting place. The class of 1936-A was the last to graduate in January; since that time there has been only one commencement a year, and the strain on the faculty’s long- suffering nerves has probably been lessened considerably. Student government, recently reorganized as the Student Congress, began in 1938. Physical changes also have occurred at Bulkeley: the build¬ ing underwent surgery in 1930 and again in 1940, when the shop wing was added. Even so, there were months when the walls bulged from overcrowding, and rather than install two-decker desks in the classrooms, the school had to resort to double sessions at one time in 1931. Of course, no school can last long without sharing the life of the community. Bulkeley served well as a relief center in the ’36 flood. (The Torch staff distinguished itself at that time by printing an issue, copy by copy, on a small hand press, when the big machine was currentless.) The school contributed money and manpower to the war effort; our first casualty was Ensign Ulmont Whitehead, for whom the Whitehead Highway was named. Our Principal, Mr. Leo M. McCrann, came to Bulkeley shortly before Dr. Feingold’s death. Always friendly to the students and openminded to their suggestions, he has accomplished much for the school, establishing the annual speaking contests and the Grace Garvin Award Assembly. He is ably aided by Dr. Dargan and Mr. Frederick T. Bashour, himself a B. H. S. graduate. Mr. McCrann’s interest in athletics is famous, and during these past few years our football and basketball teams have won many championships. Perhaps school life can’t always be so colorful as the career of Morgan Gardiner Bulkeley, for whom B. H. S. was named, but we who are now graduating wish our school his vigor, hardiness, and energy. There have been many graduating classes before us, and more will follow—but there will never be another Class of 1951, and we hope we’ve left a record which future student historians may mention with pride. Julia L. Howard 4