Burlington High School - Arrowhead Yearbook (Burlington, MA)

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Prophecy Do you believe that dreams come true? Are they prophecies of things to come or only figments of an over-wrought imagina- ion? What interpretation would you apply to the following epi- sode which materialized from the haze surrounding one of my in- frequent detention hall daydreams? I was sitting in Room 206, Burlington High School, Burling- ton, Massachusetts, in the year 1949. As usual, I was hard at work gazing out the window at the distant hills, energetically thinking about nothing. Suddenly, I snapped to attention! Outlined against the hills and trees were some shadowy forms which gradually took shape and evolved into the following vision which floated before my astonished eyes. I saw myself in 1959 walking down a dark, dismal Burlington highway. Before me loomed a sign which read, “Boisterous ban- quet and rollicking reunion sponsored by the Class of ’49.” The neon lights on the billboard proclaimed to the world that a num- ber of celebrities would be presented at this celebration. Gazing at this lighted billboard, I saw that the music for this fabulous af- fair was to be furnished by the “Gustafson Get Up and Go Orches- tra.” The two Hurley brothers, who had risen to fame as accom- plished vocalists, were to render a number of vocal selections. William, it seemed, had taken the place of Bing Crosby, and Ran- dall was, in turn, known as the second Nelson Eddy. My attention was drawn from the neon lights by the sound of a car coming to a stop. Upon turning around, I saw that a sleek, black ’59 Cadil- lac had stopped beside the curb. On closer observation I saw that the woman at the wheel was Dorothy Norden. Dot told me that she was the chauffeur for this reunion, and that the car belonged to Blanche Murray. Blanche had become “Queen of the Midget Autos,” but the Cadillac was her own private car. I realized, as we drove along toward Burlington High that the class spirit and cooperation had not died even though ten years had passed. Next I found myself at B. H.S. The door of the car was open- ed by a tall, dark and handsome fellow, who of course was Dick Garibotto. Dick and I found plenty to talk about as we went up to the fourth fléor in the newly installed elevator. I realized that the school had been enlarged to meet the needs of the town’s grow- ing population. Upon entering the new auditorium, I was welcomed by our secretary, Mabel Johnson. Immediately I became engaged in con- versation with one and then another of my former classmates. From these bits of conversation I learned a great deal about what

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bette : J. Maguire; 4—E. Schwartz, J. Duncan; 5—B. Oldfird; 6—G. Charette; II—L. Plummer, L. Nelson, J. Duncan, E. I5—F. Meaney; 16—J. Moon, C. Rupprecht; 17—E. 2I—R. Garibotto, R. Matto, B. Pattison, S. Cripps; 22—Mr. Johnson, D. Norden; 23—W. Hurley, M. Rogers; 24—B. Oldford, M. Rogers; 25—C. Colley; 26—B. Betts;; 27—J. Williams, R. Matto, C. Colley; 28—B. Oldford; 29—R. Garibotto, I—L. Gustafson; 2—B. Pattison, E. Schwartz; 3 7—B. Kendall; 8—C. Colley; 9—B. Oldford; 10—R. Daly, B. Murray; Schwartz; I2—L. Plummer; 13—C. Rupprecht; 14—W. Hurley; Schwartz; 18—J. Kerivan, R. Sheerin, W. Hurley; t9—M. Johnson; 20—D. Norden;

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some of the ’4g9’ers had accomplished in ten years’ time. Regretfully I learned that George Charette and Ed Kindred had turned to crime. They were known respectively as “The Mash- er” and “The Chopper”. Ernest Taylor, who was Chief of the F. B. I. (Food for Babies Inc.) was on their trail in order to get them here for the banquet. The names were derived from the fact that George operated a potato masher, and Ed, a food chopper at the F. B. I. factory. It seemed that they were on vacation in Connecti- cut at this time. From another bit of conversation, I found that some of the ’4g’ers had become big businessmen. Burton Betts and Robert Mac- Kenzie were the owners of the “Betts and MacKenzie Circus.” They had employed some of their former classmates, and because the circus was in town, all were present at the banquet. Marian Carpenter had become known as “The Lady of the Tightrope.” Jean Crogan, the best lion trainer in the United States, was called “Lady of the Cats.” Chicky Meaney had a steady job feeding the elephants. Al Michaud and Henry Lowther had likewise become big businessmen. Since Burlington had become a runner-up to New York as a fashion center, they had established their dress de- signing company on Broadway in Burlington. They too had some of their former classmates in their employ. Bob Sheerin was the leading designer of women’s dresses. Lorraine Nelson and June Duncan were the skillful seamstresses who did all the dress making. After having this opportunity to chat for awhile, we were in- vited to go to the banquet hall for a delicious dinner. When every- one was seated at the table, two waitresses began to serve the meal. I recognized these two girls as Bea Kendall and Winnie French. I was told that these two girls work in a very “swank” restaurant owned by the tall gentleman who had just entered. I recognized this man as William Wallace. After the delicious meal was over, I found myself once again in the auditorium. The orchestra began to play, the lights on stage went on and the spot-light flashed on a tall fellow at center stage. He intro- duced himself as none other than Chuck Rupprecht, who was to be master of ceremonies for the evening. He told us that a number of the’49’ers had volunteered to entertain us for the evening. Bar- bara Oldford, Margaret Rogers, Ruth Matto and Claire Colley, with the aid of Bob Daly, the ladies’ man, did a snappy dance rou- tine. Bob and the girls danced at the “Tread Mill’ which was owned by Barbara and Margaret. We were honored by hearing from the Hurley Brothers who rendered a number of popular yvo- cal selections. The entertainment came to a close with everyone singing “The Song of Burlington”, which was written by two fa-