Cathedral High School - Spires Yearbook (New York, NY)

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, 'fr 4 ly I gmt, al? rr 7313 W' - tfsfffli l ' s :qt lf es X2 6 X' 4 . ,. 5: fan' ,V ,V i if gy., ,, , , f 2 . ,, 7,5 Y n V l1f'L3t'V,,: ,V ff - f vi f, . ,Ei rays f 1 lfiflf, A Q ag W fwlsll t-,QE f, '11-5, V. Q fl, 'f I ,ly ff M f fi , T t - , V f 'F ,. , W, 1 ,. , 12' , . , . Father Charles L. Meeus. better known as Father Plumblossomf' te, 'Li' Z 3 sl 1933. This year marked the beginnings of the Catholic Action Clubs and of the Hughesian Debating Council. Because of the large registration in the Main Build- ing in September, students from upper Manhattan and the Bronx were sent to the Branches, October found the ARBUTUS type and sheet larger as a forward step in the progress of our school paper. 1934. The Spring Festival Style Show presented costumes from 1775 to l934. Those who remember our first graduation in the Waldorf-Astoria this June will also remember the first Legion of Decency List posted at the Lexington Avenue entrance to the school. In September the French Club, began by Sister Marita Gertrude, and the Classical Club were found among our extra-curricular activities. Our Alumnae Association had its first meeting in October. 1935. A gold Ciborium was presented to Father Delaney in June on the twenty- fifth anniversary of his ordination. Our spring activities consisted of the first trip to Washington, inaugurated by the History Study Club, and the annual Field Day of the Athletic Club at Woodland Lake Park, Staten Island. ln October the Science Club was started and very important for all Cathedralites the Guidance Department under Sister Mary Aquinata ln December three Cathedralites re ceived prizes in the Chamber of Commerce Essay Contest 1936 After three successive victories-gold medal awards from the Society for the Promotion of the Study of Latin-Cathedral received a lovinq cup Medals were won bv Rose Connolly 1934 Helen Lynch l935 and Grace Cody l936 ln September we welcomed a new principal Sister Mary Bernardita who replaced Sis ter Marie Annette Preliminlary examinations were eliminated this fall In October a National Catechlcal Congress of the Confraternuty of Christian Doctrine was held in Cathedral and in the Waldorf Astoria 1937 Our first appearance in the St Patrick s Day Parade' The ARBUTUS received second honors at the Columbia Scholastic Press Convention This is the year the Dramatic Club presented Mary Stuart and the Glee Club Professor s own com position Heather Glen written expressly for Joan Roberts One of our former graduates Grace McDonald was starring on Broadway in Babes in Arms Several times during depression years W P A actors presented dramatic plays in our audi torium Amonq these plays were The Late Christopher Bean Romeo and Juliet Twelfth Niqht Midsummer Night s Dream 1938 At graduation the girls wore white caps and gowns for the first time At the Class Day exercises the lay teachers presented a play portraying Cathedralites as teachers see them ln the fall we were very much saddened by the death of our beloved Archbishiop Patrick Cardinal Hayes Catholic Action Groups were very ac tive at this time we find the Eucharistic Group making altar linens for poor churches The great Broadway Show of the year was Thornton Wilders Our Town 1939 ln January the world was grieved by the death of Pope Pius Xl During the soring we welcomed Archbishop Spellman to New York as the new shepherd of our qreat Archdiocese Dr Marion Newcomer gave a short series of talks to the seniors on topics of interest to the modern girl these talks continued each year until the doctor s death Before the opening of school in September Monsiqnor La velle became seriously ill and died before the end of September Madame Fallon ended her years of service to Cathedr l in June of this year and her place was taken by Miss Margaret Young ll933l who coached the play Daddy Long Legs In May some of our students formed part of the guard of honor to Gover nor Lehman at the opening exercises of the World s Fair at Flushinq Long Island The Nleuwland Science Club of Cathedral had a daily demonstration of the making of dyes two club members attended the Fair each day to carry out the demonstra tion A course in Secretarial practice was introduced into the school in September Four primary grades of the elementary school were sent to the neighboring paro chlal schools and Rooms l04 lO5 207 208 and 209 were now occupied by the s 0 KK if 0 E - , . - , . .Ili G . 91 ll - I 9.9 11 - ' I1 IK ' I l ,I , If . 1 5 ' . E . f ' ll - sv ' ' ? ' 34: , . K A, , - v y g N ,- V g . . . . . . . -., l ,A 1 by- X 1 , h ., I t , y , 1 f i K i It ' - i L s 'f e . ' ' ' . . . , , A r 'lou' -'lx -QL high school. Chamber of Commerce Essay Contest-five prize winners. 1- ff VW, .- Y . . . L7 . ' .. .... , . r - 'I l . . . . . . ' : . , ' gg l' yn- - - . . . ' . ,ii EA . U , U sts.. - - ' - - - - - J' 4 'lx . . . . . . . , Q , ly L 1 - Tj ' l or o' lt , f ix l X 2' ,,,' ie- 4 R I4 . y y K y L as gg y A 5 4 MW Z K 1940 ln February Sister Maura formed the Library Club which to this day makes library facilities more convenient and accessible St Patrick s Cathedral is becom mg still more imoortant in the life of the Cathedralite for this year marks the first May Mass and also the first graduation exercises to be held there We received four state scholarships this year ln September Miss Marie Hale took over dra matics and speech in the school All classes of the elementary school have been Sent to the neighboring schools and the high school now occuoued the entire build mg Room 105 was converted into an administration office St Veronica s and All Saints were opened as branches Ls L.-:-

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fffwugff Cyffy Wm 1924. This year ushered in the demolition of the old houses on Lexington Avenue to make way for our new school building. Sister Mary Raymond's death caused much grief among those who had loved her so. Any student who maintained an 85fMp in a subject was exempt from examinations. 1925. This was the Holy Year-a year fraught with many graces for Cathedralites. ln the fall we welcomed the first branches-SS. Peter and Paul's and St. John Chry- sostom. 1926. In September the new Lexington Avenue wing of the school was completed and we began the term in an entirely new atmosphere. 1927. The graduates of this June were the first to receive the senior ring now worn by Cathedralites. lt was designed by Muriel Heis-Litz of the 1928 class. September saw the opening of the Fiftieth Street wing of the building. The New York Public Library, which formerly stood beside the school, is now located on Lexington Ave- nue. 1928. In February the first issue of our school paper, the ARBUTUS, was pub- lished. Graduation was held in the auditorium of the new building in June and the building was dedicated as the Archbishop Hughes Memorial High School on Wed- nesday, October IO. The Dramatic Club, under Madame Fallon, presented As You Like lt and the Ambrosian Clubs under Professor Heinroth gave the Mi- kado. 1929. Through the united efforts of the Dramatic Club and the Ambrosian Clubs, it was possible to purchase a Carrara marble altar for our chapel. Professor's origi- nal musical comedy, Little Miss Nobody , was presented for the first time. ln September Father Matthew Delaney became Director of Cathedral High School with his office where the present faculty room is now located. 1930. ln June the first issue of our school yearbook SPIRES was published. ln September Sister Victoire was changed and Sister Annette became principal. Oc- tober brought us two days of agony-preliminary examinations. The Athletic As- sociation is now functioning in Cathedral. 1931. This year Cathedral shook with excitement. The erection of the Waldorf- Astoria had the faculty as well as the students gasping. Regularly representatives of the construction company visited the school to see if the blasting had done any damage. Because the music room was converted into an art room, Uncle Teddy was promoted to the eighth floor, This was the year the George Washington Bridge was opened. 1932. ln April, Father Fadden, who had spoken to us frequently at our assemblies, died suddenly. Seniors acted as a guard of honor when his body was brought into the Cathedral. ln September our beloved Cardinal Hayes celebrated the fortieth anniversary of his ordination. A move was soon on to form a debating society. 3? 6, .Lila ai. ist -SS- z.-'G' '. .QV 1 a? ' iv- as- . , gf, .-f ' L his ' N , .gi First Graduation-1909 -seventeen graduates. 13

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1941. ln March Miss Mary Louise Hiskey gave one of her memorable entertain- ments consisting of lrish selections. ln April the Glee Club gave a concert in which our school song Hail, Cathedral's Blue and Gold was sung for the first time. The Athletic Association sponsored a very different Field Day this year, a bus ride to Bear Mountain, to which the entire school was invited. In September Holy Trinity Branch was opened. The Guidance Department under Sister Anita Mary was of- ficially begun with its headquarters in what is now the Faculty Room. This year also marks the beginning of rotation. December 7-Pearl Harbor! 1942. We had something new in graduation exercises this January. Four Cathe- dral Girl Scouts in uniform, carrying American and Papalflags, led the line of march to the Cathedral. This custom is still continued except that the students now wear school capes and beanies. With war raging across the continents of Europe and Asia, we were having shelter drills and first-aid classes at Cathedral, and praying earnestly for peace. This spring the new altar was constructed in the Cathedral. While the work was in progress, we had Holy Mass for the first time in our Oratory during the Junior Retreat, and Benediction was given in the auditorium. To take the registration of civilians in preparation for rationing, students worked in the ele- mentary schools in February for several days. ln September Sister Miriam became our principal and was here to welcome the different communities of Sisters com- ing to teach in the Main Building and in the Branches. The ARBUTUS showed many changes during these yearsg we find such familiar pages as Events of the Month and Cathedral Capers as well as the addition of pictures. 1943. We started off the New Year by resuming the publication of the SPIRES for the January class. For several years we had two books a year. Modern His- torians, attentionl In June Cathedral scored the highest American History average in the state--99.5fMn. In the sports field we find the early stages of our Varsity working with the C.Y.O. under the direction of Miss Lovejoy and Sister Mary Anysia. Junior Achievement is also under way with Pat O'Hara as the President of all J.A. Companies in New York State. Since we are in the midst of a war, a war stamp booth was erected at the Lexington Avenue entrance to the cafeteria. In De- cember we also had a Jeep Rally, consisting of entertainment, refreshments, grab- bags, and games. To participate in any activity, we had to buy a war stamp. Thanks to the proverbial spirit of Cathedralites, we raised enough money to buy four jeeps with Cathedral plaques on them. This movement was instigated by Jeanne Davidson and Ursula Corcoran, now members of the Sparkill Dominicans. September brought us the Statue of Our Lady to the front hall, a tradition dear to every Cathedralite. 1944. Congratulations to our Varsity for winning the C.Y.O. cup for the first time. The ARBUTUS received the All-Catholic Award from the Catholic School Press As- sociation and the Medalist from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. We are still selling War Bonds and stamps-now at the counter during lunch periods. Fac- ulty members and students of these days still remember the missionary from China. Father Charles L. Meeus, popularly known as Father Plumblossom, who visited Ca- thedral this year, imparting to us some of his indomitable spirit and great love for God. During one of his visits he taught us to sing Alouetta in Chinese. Father joined the U.S. Army as chaplain and served on the Burma Road, where he always carried a Cathedral banner on his plane, The Little Flower. More of Father Meeus laterj ln an art contest sponsored by Macy's in coniunction with Scholastic Maga- zine. first prize was won by Georgine Gerstmayr and honorable mention by Cather- ine Burke. In September under the direction of Miss Marion Hauck, the Health Service Program was inaugurated. Graduation in the Waldorf-Astoria in 1938-312 graduates.