Conshohocken High School - Echo Yearbook (Conshohocken, PA)

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BLUE AND GOLD The duty which faced us and always will, was the election of officers, who were to be our leaders throughout the year. We thought and pondered and finally decided that the officers of our preceding year had done much for us and we were willing to follow them for another year, so our officers were the same, being: President .......................William Yocum Vice-President...................Edwin Trycinski Treasurer........................Merrill Metz Secretary .......................Sylvia Blasband Corresponding Secretary..........Mildred Traister This year our duties were many and varied. We determined to start right in and do our best in order to have a successful year. In the school play, “It’s the Climate,” all Seniors with the exception of one, portrayed the parts. Leads were given to Ruth Grauel and Vincent Bonkoski, who were aided by Earl Love, Albert Riker, Elizabeth Famous, John Light, Robert Lukens and Edwin Trycinski. We often thought what would the High School do after our talent is gone. They will probably have to root around and discover others. We held a Senior play, “Dulcy,” which went over as a howling success. Everyone acted their part well and the audience had to admit it was excellent. Our veteran actors took the parts, being well experienced in that line, they could not fail. Ruth Grauel had established herself as a heroine of all the plays, Vincent Bonkoski as a happy married man. Albert Riker had played so many old men parts that he was beginning to think himself an old man. Elizabeth Famous is the true mother type, she is so motherly. Earl Love certainly knows his business as a lover, and William Yocum is one of the best of butlers. And we must not forget John Light our comedian, who most always carried the show off alone, of course. Jack Koch, Edwin Trycinski, Ralph Sponar and Robert Lukens co-operated to make it a success. Doris Fillman, a newly-discovered actress, made her debut in this play. We certainly give her credit for taking her part so well. The play brought in a good bit of money which helped to relieve our financial state considerably, but we were a little short in our Washington fund, so we sold magazines to supply the remaining amount. A numerous number of subscriptions were sold, which netted us enough money to fill the gap. Plans were then made for the Washington trip, and we were accompanied by Mr. E. W. Oerman, Miss Isabel Houck and Miss Elizabeth Shinn as chaperones. We decided to treat them as one of us and give them a good time which they would remember in the future years. Contrary to usual custom we went to Washington during our Easter vacation. It was just our luck to have rainy weather, we have had it for every affair we had, so we expected it and prepared for it. Our trip was made by buses which had heretofore been made by train. We were such a different class, that everything we did was different from what others had done before us. We certainly could break the monotony of everything. We spent three days in Washington and one in Gettysburg. While at Washington we visited the foremost places of the city. In the few days we spent there we saw more than we ever expect to see again, and then we didn’t see everything. On the last day there, our minds were such a blur from gazing at so many different objects that our brains just refused to function and we would look at something and take no interest. We were weary and tired travelers, and some sleep was our only desire upon reaching home. It was late Saturday night when we arrived home. The trip was over. In four days, without any trouble at all, we spent the money which had taken us four years to save through hard labor. Page Thirteen

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BLUE AND GOLD Our one aim was to build up our W ashington fund. We learned that we were to sell candy at all the games, plays and other activities that went on in the High School. Into this we went heartily anxiously striving and groping. W e were successful in this one business. Near Thanksgiving time we received our class rings. For the first few days they felt so heavy that we swore we would never get use to them. Our fingers seemed weighed down and it was with an effort that we raised them. But it didn’t take long for us to get use to them. At Christmas time we sold Christmas cards. The Faculty and students of the High School were well supplied, because we saw to that. With the approach of winter, the boys and girls of our class went out for athletics and many of them made the varsity team. In the operetta, “Jerry of Jericho Road,” Vincent Bonkoski. Earl Love and Florence Woznicki carried the leading roles, while Albert Riker, Richard Tees, Donald Wessell, and John Light carried minor parts of the cast. Our talent as actors and actresses was budding forth. Some of the Juniors employed their fine voices and graceful dancing to the best advantage in the chorus. Who would have ever thought that such clumsy and awkward pepole as we, could be so graceful. We were a very surprising class and could do things one wouldn’t expect of us. In the orchestra were enough Juniors to make a good orchestra of their own. Our class certainly did have the hot air to blow on the different wind pipes and extract from them melodious tones which gave them the power to harmonize with the rest of the orchestra. “Skidding” was the name of the play given this year by the High School. Ruth Grauel and John Light took leading parts, with the assistance of Betty Ambler, Albert Riker and Earl Love from our class. To think that we were only Juniors and took such a great part in the play. During this year, we were always reminded of money, how much we needed, how much we must get and then some more about money until we were so money crazed that we couldn’t see straight. Our Washington fund was growing, but so slowly. Through the untiring efforts and kindness of Mrs. Edna Burkle, nee Whitebred, and Miss Alice Buckel we made a success of the rummage sale. Our last effort to r ise money was on the Junior Pie and Cake Sale. We worked hard and we must say came out with flying colors. In the Armistice Day parade the Junior girls were all dressed in white and the boys in white flannels and dark coats. They presented a most spectacular sight. The merry times soon ended as school was again to close for the summer vacation. The third year of High School went entirely too fast for all of us. We returned from the all to short vacation as dignified Seniors. We now occupied the front seats of the auditorium. How proud we were the first day, seated a way up front, totally forgetting those behind us, happy in ourselves because of our advancement. Three years we had labored to gain those seats and we were bound to keep them for at least a year. I nlike any other class that entered the Senior year, we were divided into two parts and put into two different rooms. The only excuse the faculty could give was that we were too large a class to be put into one room. But we drew our own conclusion that the faculty deemed us a terrible class and decided to divide us and have twfo “bosses,” to look out for us. There certainly was a war when we first found out about the division. Page Twelve

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BLUE AND GOLD Then, there was heard the cry, “Oh, Doctor!” ever so often during the month of May. Wherever you would turn you’d be sure to hear the expression. “Oh. Doctor!” Don’t get excited, no one was sick, it was just the name of the High School operetta for the year of 1931. Again our class was called upon to participate. The result was that Dorothy andegrift, Earl Love, Robert Lukens, Vincent Bonkosk;, Albert Riker, John Light, Richard Tees, Mildred Traister, Elizabeth Famous, Ruth Grauel, Jimmy Hippie, Ralph Sponar and William Yocum from the Senior Class had leading roles in the cast. The chorus also contained many Seniors who did well. Besides this, only a few of our class have had time and energy for other things, and have shared in work that has been worthwhile. In athletics Woodrow Becker. Vincent Bonkoski, Ralph Sponar, Joseph DelBuono, Earl Love, Albert Riker and Richard Tees are the boys who received sweaters. Of the girls, Ruth Grauel, Evelyn Phillips and Mildred Traister had the honor to receive sweaters in girls’ athletics. We extend our congratulations to them all and heartily wish others to get them in the years to come. We are also proud to say that the boys won the P. I. A. A. District No. 1, Championship in basketball. To Sarah Congelton, John Koch and Edwin Trycinski must be given credit for their work in the oratorical contest. They received cash prizes which repaid them amply for their work. Another contest held in the High School for the first time was the League of Nation contest. John Koch and Anna Suvitsky received local prizes of which they were very proud. Next we held a pie and cake sale in May to get money for the Senior Prom. The last time for us all to gather for a good time. The beautiful evening gowns worn by the girls and the dark coats and white flannels worn by the boys presented a fantastic sight amid the many colored balloons, ticker tape and streamers. The orchestra tried to compete with the Seniors in blowing horns but met with little success. Most of the members attended and a great time was had by all, but again it rained. Well it’s just our luck, probably many envy us. Examination time drew near and many hours of toil and labor were spent in preparation. How happy we were when examinations were over and w'e had a few days free for ourselves. In the few remaining days we planned for our Class Day and Commencement Exercises, the two last affairs for which we had to work. The day came to take our pictures in our caps and gowns. For the first time we donned our outfits. The students tramped the halls, stopping every few seconds to arrange their cap or to give a finishing touch to their gown. My! what a time they had. We then gathered in front of the building and posed for the picture. It was a wild scramble. Boys and girls combed and fixed their hair, mirrors reflected caps that reposed unsatisfactorily upon our heads and we were a regular show for the many spectators. With just a click of the camera, the ordeal was over. Our year is soon to end and we begin to realize it with sadness. We had been successful and are proud of all we have done, and hope that others may do better. We had succeeded by employing the elements of sagacity, will-power and endurance. We fought our battles and lived our lives, forsaking the blinding useless paths leading to no achievement while seeking and climbing the ladder of success, ever in the hope of accomplishing better things. Anna Suvitsky. Page Fourteen