Champlain Central School - Aurora Borealis Yearbook (Champlain, NY)

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As we, the Class of 19t 2, near the end of our Senior Year, we pause for a moment to look Dack upon our Grammar and High School days. Our school days began in 1940 when we attended the beautiful old building on Prospect and Champlain Streets. The school burned that year, so, after a long Christmas vacation, we continued our lessons in the Methodist Church. Although we have many fond memories there, we were very happy when Miss Dudley, our third grade teacher, lead us to the new school in December 1942, The grades were full of fun and memories but the climb to High School was hard and in 1948 our group found itself entering the Freshmen year with only eight students. They included Wilfred Brisson, Betty Dupee, Donald Snery, James Leggett, David McCrea, Joel McCrea, Dorothy Wootton, and Scott Yakey. With Mrs. Barber as an Advisor, we recall such things as tne Freshmen Food Sale and our long-dreaded Initiation. In 1949 we were sorry to lose Betty Dupee but gained Francis Proulx from St. Mary’s Academy and Gertrude Bechard from Chazy. Mrs. Scriver became our Advisor and, as hard working Sophmores we sponsored a Halloween Dance and a Card Party. The busy Junior Year brougnt to us Henrik Bredenberg from Mount Assumption Institute. The main events of the year were our magazine subscriptions, Halloween Dance, Junior Prom and receiving our class rings. Dorothy Wootton and Henrik Bredenberg added a placq.ua to the School Trophy Case this year, winning second prize in the History Contest. In our Senior year, we lost Gertrude Bechard, who became Mrs. Robert Gooley. As a result, the class of 1952, which began with twenty-two students in 194U was left with one girl and six boys. The three original students Doing Joel McCrea, Dorothy Wootton, and Scott Yakey with Henrik Bredenberg, James Leggett, David McCrea and Francis Proulx joining us. With tne memories of the classes, Sports, Senior Play, Concerts, extra curricular activities and the class trip behind us we are now ready to leave our dear Alma Mater. It is with great sorrow that we say FAREWELL and TEANKYOU to tne Faculty and Students, and assure them that we will always remember tne things tney nave done to make our school years at C.C.S. profitable and enjoy- able ones. The beaufitul Pearly Gates swung open, and St. Peter saw Mrs. Scriver stand- ing before him. What is it you want? , asked the Guardian of the Gates. Well replied the Advisor of the Class of 1952, I was wondering if the class had arrived yet. All here but one, smiled Peter, but, I guess she was always the tardiest anyway. You mean that she won’t be here? inquired Mrs. Scriver. Oh, no, said St. Peter, she should get here eventually. You don’t mind if I eavesdrop on you a bit, do you? asked Mrs. Scriver. Not at all, answered St. Pete, but you'll have to find a cloud to rest on. What’s the charge for this one? asked Mrs. Scriver. Deposit five halos, and you can stay there as long as you wish,” answered St. Peter. The Advisor of the great Class of 52 settled on what appeared to be the fluffiest cloud, after dropping five halos in the parking meter, of course. The gates swung shut, and Mrs. Scriver cupped a wing to her ear in order to hear more distinctly. St. Peter joined the Class, or the internationally renowned Champlain Seven THE PLACE----HEAVEN THE TIME----JUNE 2052

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Minus One, as they have commonly been called Quiet down now, he told them Scott Yakey, Class President and representative of the Angels came to the fore. Scott's face plainly showed obvious frets. He addressed St. Peter, Every body's here but just that one. You don't suppost they wouldn't allow ----? She'll be here , Interrupted Peter, never fear. You know, I'd like to hear of the experiences of the members of this, the Class of '52. Won't you tell me some? Well, yes, replied Scott, I don't want to seem disrespectful or anything but since I know more about Scott Yakey than anyone else, I'd like to start with myself. I had a great Spring my last year at CCS. I took all honors in baseball. My batting average was .999 and Coach Rusack gave the following statement, 'your fielding is swell, but there's room for improvement as far as your batting is concerned.» Well, that's life. The Boston Red Sox signed me on ny graduation day. I wasn't too much of a success right away, mostly because I hadn't had any Minor League experience. Walt Dropo was a fixture at my regular spot, first base, so they put me in the spot vacated by Ted Williams, left field. As I said, my lack of Minor League experience hampered me, and I stumbled my way to a lowly average of .401. I knew the next Spring, that, unless I irproved on that, my baseball days were numbered. When I hit .441 that season, the Red Sox, commonly known as the Back Bay Millionaires, raised my annual pay from $425 to $450 and I was elated. They told me that the reason they didn't raise me all the way to $455 was that almost anybody could do as I did, break the all-time batting record. Well, I played for nigh on to 35 years, and since baseball had been such a well-paying Job, I immediately went on relief. How about these two fellows? asked Pete, pointing to Francis Proulx and J ames Leggett. Well, continued Scott, Francis became the All-American farmer, and a very wealthy one at that. He, with all his riches, first bought the entire village of Coopersville. Then one day, James persuaded him to buy Rouses Point, and James agreed to get him in touch with the right people, provided that he would consent to a plan which James advised. I'll discuss this plan later. Well, Francis did buy Rouses Point, and tnen even managed to finagle Champlain away from the big- wigs of the town in which our Alma Mater was located. He proceeded to appoint James as mayor of Rouses Point, as agreed on in the deal which I previously mentioned. The main points which J ames added to the laws of this border-town were that only hot-rods would be allowed on the streets of Rouses Point and all garages were closed except the one operated by the new mayor, Hot-Rod Hill. How about the two Macs? said St. Peter, referring to Joel and David McCrea. Well, said Scott, Toel turned out to be a new Edison, only he was a much greater inventor than Edison. He was unanimously chosen as president of the In- ventors Anonymous. David finally settled in Mooers Forks, joined the Hell-J)riv- ers. He tired of wrecking his dad's Chevy, and his own '26 Buick, so he turned to this profession. He was the star Hell-Driver. The stunt which pleased the crowds most was the one in which he backed into a truck at 100 MPH. What went with this fellow , said Pete, pointing to Henrik Bredenberg. He , said the president, reached his life's ambition. He was Sports Editor of the Los Angeles Times, and publicity man for the third Major League on the Coast. He was, when in his late fifties, named Dean of American Sports Writers. His most notable effort was his setting up a major league in Siberia. The team he publicized and loved the most was the Tobolsk Red-Raiders. Well, said St. Peter, hearing someone rap on the Gates, what have we nere? It is, answered Scott, a belated, as ever, Dorothy Wootton, the lone girl in our class. She's quite late, but I still have time to tell you of her exper- iences. Dorothy became the most famous woman dentist in the world. But the stage beckoned, and she furthered her fame by dancing in the Broadway Ballet, 'The Tooth the Whole Tooth, and Nothing But the Tooth'. It played for seven straight years. Suddenly everyone, including Mrs. Scriver, who was out five halos, floated away, further and further, to end the meeting. It was a bit toward dusk, and God said his Evening Prayer and blessed the Reunion of the Class of 1952.