Camden High School - Megunticook Yearbook (Camden, ME)

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4 THE MEGUNTICOOK CAMDEN, MAINE Four very short years ago, in the fall of ’47 to be exact, a large noisy group of unruly-looking boys and girls were hustled into the classrooms of CHS. It is very much in doubt as to whether such a sight will ever be seen again or not. At that time it looked like a long hard climb to what we thought was the top of the ladder —to be seniors. In order to be officially taken into the brotherhood of CHS students, of course we had to endure Freshman Reception. The week had been cut down to three days but the seniors managed to cram the three days full of various tasks and antics for us to perform. It must be admitted now that we all had a grand time and all of us escaped without injury—even Parker who was nearly hanged! Bas- ketball season then got underway and we contributed several players to the cause. The Washington Trip seemed a long way in the future this year, so we did not accomplish much aiong the line of money-raising but it was a good year for all. Summer came and went and then we could sit in the main room as sophomores and gloat over the fresh- men. We really had some sports tal- ent in our class! Another summer passed quickly and we climbed another rung on the ladder—we were at last juniors in the back of the main room. This was the year of the Junior Prom. Everyone who went had a grand time; the dec- orations were beautiful and we even had printed programs! The choosing of the class rings seemed to make us a little more of a class. In June it was at last our privilege to precede the seniors down the aisle at the Opera House and take our seats in the front rows. We all saw many good friends leave us that year; all we had left of them were countless wonderful re- collections but at last we were sen- iors! Summer sped by and we were on the last rung of the ladder only to find that it was really just the begin- ning. The first thing to get off our shoulders was the initiation of the freshmen. We bore them no special grudge so we treated them very rea- sonably by our views. Our class rings and pictures arrived and everyone began to realize that you really paid to be a senior. The Senior Play was a grand success and everyone who was in it had a swell time. No one group of people ever had to sell so many tickets to various things as we did. Miss McCobb’s daily remark to nearly every person came to be, “You haven’t sold any tickets and you want to go to Washington!” Through the efforts of the Senior Mothers’ Club, a grand organization, we realized that the Washington Trip was really possible. With the year nearly gone we real- ize that it will not be long before we will be receiving our diplomas. The Washington Trip for which we had

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THE MEGUNT1COOK CAMDEN, MAINE 3 tremendous values. If it wasn’t for this citizenship we wouldn’t have any- thing to say about who our president, representatives, and senators would be or about any other political mat- ters. We wouldn’t be entitled to un- employment insurance, old-age pen- sions and countless other great bene- fits. When we stop and think of it, most of us are certainly lucky, aren’t we? Do we often think of the thousands of children all over the world who do not really belong to any country? Maybe it would be a good thing if the next time we went to the church of our own choosing, we said a little prayer to God, thanking Him for making us citizens of this great coun- try, protected by its laws and armed forces, and asking Him to help the people of lands less fortunate than ours. —Ellen Donovan, ’52 COMMUNISM That nine-lettered word—commun- ism—looks harmless enough, or wait, does it? Does it look harmless? Look closely—look into the scenes behind it—Korea, China, even the United States of America. Communism is as poisonous as arsenic. It is as widespread as the common cold. First of all, what is a very simple definition of communism? One that we can explain and keep in our mind always. Communism is, in a large sense, greed. It is a certain group of people who are not satisfied with run- ning themselves, and perhaps their home, but want to rule everybody, ev- erybody’s home, everybody’s country. They would like to be higher than anyone, even God Almighty. These are the kind of people we want to rid the world of. Take Russia, for exam- ple. The people of that country are puppets. The government controls everything. The people are told what church to attend, what they can study in school, how to vote. There is no freedom of the press, no freedom of speech. Do we want this United States, under God, to keep its free- dom and government of the people, by the people, and for the people? If we do, we must stop communism. Communism means war; war means bloodshed and death. For the sake of simplicity let’s call communism a dis- ease—like mumps or chicken pox, only worse. This disease attacks dif- ferent people; they become interested in it. All kinds of promises are made to the victims. What is it? Ignorance? Yes, ignorance and selfishness are two important factors. As we graduate from high school, we go knowing that in this time of un- certainty, we may never see our friends and teachers again. We may be drafted, or we may enlist. We may die fighting for our country against this disease, in the slime, muck and dirt of foreign soil. All this is because of the greed of men to rule the uni- verse. It’s our job to do our share to stop this dreaded disease. We’ll do it! We’ll fight for our freedom and liber- ty as our forefathers fought for theirs! I agree with what Patrick Henry said, and I quote, “Give me liberty or give me death.” I know that hun- dreds, even thousands of Americans will do what they can to give their children, some day, freedom and peace. —Donald Laliberte, ’51

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THE MEGVNTICOOK CAMDEN, MAINE 5 worked for four years is over, but the experience will stay with us for ever. We still have the Quebec Trip to look forward to. We shall leave dear old CHS with sad hearts but hearts that are full of the most pleasant memor- ies of our teachers and classmates. SENIOR AVERAGES 85% (Plus) 1. Charles Masalin 97.79 2. Christine Plaisted 95.15 3! David Brown 94.84 4. Betsy Wooster 93.47 5. Milton Christie 92.95 6. David Crockett 92.27 7. James Bickford 91.17 8. Robert Rowe 91.00 9. Jane Robbins 90.85 10. James McGrath 90.80 11. Winifred Coathup 90.65 12. Helena Poland 90.33 13. Doris Hopkins 89.79 14. Olive Jameson 89.74 15. Albert Bennett 88.80 16. Wilbur Baird 88.40 17. Donald La liberte 88.17 18. Kenneth Hardy 87.75 19. Natalie Payson 86.80 20. Kilton Crabtree 86.66 21. Evelyn Lunt 86.61 22. Eleanor Lunt 86.31 23.’ Blanche Leonard 85.94 24. Grace Galanti 85.60 25. Frank Stearns 85.36 26. Arlene Edgecomb 85.05 CLASS PARTS In March the senior averages were announced. Highest honors went to a popular, hard-working member of our class, Charles Masalin, while Christine Plaisted received second honors. Milton Christie, the class president, will deliver the “Address to the Undergraduates” as is the cus- tom. At a class meeting the last of March, the other class parts were se- lected. Those seniors chosen to de- liver them are as follows: History. Robert Rowe; Prophecy, Kenneth Hardy and Blanche Leon- ard ; Oration, Harland Robinson; Essay, Natalie Payson; Will, Jane Robbins; Gifts, Parker Laite and Irene Fitzsimmons. THE SENIORS’ FAREWELL It’s nineteen hundred and fifty-one, The year when our CHS days are done. It doesn’t seem it’s our turn yet To march and our diplomas get. So, undergraduates have no fear, Your graduation day is near; It makes no difference, whatever your class; You’re one step nearer, each year you pass. So, now our CHS days are through; We leave its memories to you, And hope that you can have as much fun In the things you do—as the things we’ve done. —Eleanor Lunt, ’51 THE CLASS POEM While we were strolling on the beach One gay and carefree day, We saw a great big wooden box A-bobbing in the bay. We pulled it in and lifted the lid And much to our surprise, We discovered a diary Right before our eyes. It started out with the president Of our class of ’51; When at last we reached the end. It included everyone. We found Mickey, whom we all adore, Is now a doctor for the poor. Kilton is a sailor, a-sailing on the sea; He’s busy writing, to his bride-to-be. Harland, the preacher, is one of the best. We hear he’s putting sinners’ minds at rest. Doris Mae, the first grade teacher, so we find, Is trying hard to keep Francis off her mind. Evelvn Lunt and her faithful husband, Willy, Have gone to Hollywood where it’s never chilly. Jim, with his ever-loving little wife, Jane, Invented a mouse-tran which brought them both fame. Grace is a coach at New Gloucester High; She’ll marry one of her men by and by. Olive Jameson, a brain surgeon is. And according to reports—a whizz. Bob and his radio keep Arlene in despair, For him and his radio she really must share. Martha and Helena, as you guessed we would find, Are still having the problem to make up their mind. Helen and Chris have handy a wrench, They married Everett Harding and Dwight French. For Elston Hobbs, the genius, it was fate- ful, To invent a girdle for which we are grateful.