Conshohocken High School - Echo Yearbook (Conshohocken, PA)

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BLUE AND GOLD TIH IE CIL SS IPLCLinECy Time—1941. Place—Harmonville, Penna. Population 50,000, consisting of all nationalities. Noted for its many industries, large department stores and beautiful residential district known as Karr’s Boulevard.” Also, is proud owner of a very exclusive swimming pool, known as “Harmonville’s Delite.” As there seems to be nothing of any importance going on in the great metropolis at the present time and knowing that since it is now ten years to the very day since I graduated from high school it sort of recalls memories to me of C. H. S. Since 1 have just recently returned from a trip to Washington I felt that perhaps it would be a good idea for me to write a story for the Blue and Cold magazine, now having a circulation of one thousand subscriptions, for 1 know the alumnus would be glad to know the whereabouts of a few people of the Class of 1931 that I encountered on my trip. I left my home at six A.M. and arrived at Seventh Avenue and hayette Street the same morning. I intended to travel by way of Auch’s Sightseeing Buses. It appeared that I was the only passenger for no one else was around. As I stood there gazing at the former site of our old high school, now a massive construction of beautiful lime and sandstone, I had many fond memories rush back to me. For I had not seen very many of my classmates since Commencement, but I had often thought of them. After a few minutes’ wait the bus appeared on the scene. And on entering, the driver, to my surprise when I saw him. was no other than our old friend, Joe DelBuono. Fancy seeing him! After being the class chauffeur I should never have been surprised to find him here. I asked him why he chose such a profession, and he replied that upon leaving school no jobs were to be found so he tried making use of his ability which he acquired while in school—driving a class taxi. 'Phis was quite a help knowing the driver and knowing that he was such a capable driver in school I felt at ease for I knew we would not land in any ditches while on our trip. After a few uneventful hours we finally arrived at Conowingo Dam. Here we stopped. We were assigned a guide and after hearing him explain to us the different things we saw in the power house, I sort of recalled the voice to be quite familiar. After pondering for a few minutes I finally decided that it was no other than Tommy Carter. There he was talking away and not a thing could stop him. After he had finished his lecture I approached him and asked him how he had acquired the art of talking this way and he told me that he had answered an advertisement on Public Speaking and this was his reward for making such a high average in the course. My, what a change from the good old high school days! After saying good-bye to 'Pommy we were on our way again when I thought I recognized two people sitting in the front of the bus. After gathering enough courage to approach them I found them to be just whom I suspected, no other than our familiar twins—Betty Ambler and Clara Caine. They informed me they were traveling to Washington to attend the Old Ladies Convention for the raising of Bunnies, carrying on Betty’s hobby during school days. This proved to be very interesting. They also told me they had their apartment together and Betty said she did the housework while Clara did all the cooking. They always were known to be together in school and hated to be separated at this time of life. By this time the bus had arrived at the hotel. I was very much surprised to find that the hotel that 1 was stopping at was built on the site of the New Colonial Hotel,” which had now been torn down and a new hotel had been built in its place Page Fifteen

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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

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BLUE AND GOLD called the “New Kenneth.” As I entered the lobby a young lady came forward to meet me and I gasped with surprise when I found her to be my old classmate, Evelyn Phillips. But then I might have known better for in corresponding with the hotel in regard to my rooms, appeared at the top of the stationery the name of Miss Evelyn Phillips, Proprietress. When I asked“Ev”why she decided on this vocation she informed me that she received the idea on our trip here in 1931. Since she always had a way with bell hops, and there wasn't much possibility of her getting her man, she decided to use the excess furniture from her father’s business and become independent in life. As for the name she gave the hotel, she said it was just “to remember him bv.” I was then taken to my room and after dressing for lunch I proceeded to go to the Roof Garden. On entering, sweet harmonious music greeted my ears. Oh yes, I recalled seeing in the paper that the season’s rage in the music world was appearing here for a few weeks. A waiter took me to a table and I asked him who was the leader of the orchestra. He informed me that they were very fortunate in having famous Jackie Kochhies Orchestra. What! I could hardly believe my ears. Not our Jack Koch of C. H. S.! Yes, it did appear to be him. After sending a note to him he came to my table and I asked him how long he had been in this musical career and he said he had so much trouble keeping his hair combed and never had much money to have it cut so he decided to go in for this type of work, for as a rule, orchestra leaders look more impressive with long hair hanging over their face. He sure had plenty of it and one could hardly detect that it really was our old friend Jack. I requested him to play something for me and he played his latest song, Jeanette, I Dream of Thee.” My, how pretty that was with Jack crooning it. So much like Jack! 1 was about to go when the waiter informed me that I should remain as there was to be a floor show and when Jack announced Madame Anna, the sensational gymnastic dancer of the season and her two assistants, all sorts of things entered my mind but never the one that appeared in the dance, for it proved to be nobody but Anna Suvitsky with Charles McCarron and John Divitis as her two assistants. They entered with Anna held high over their heads. She was dressed as a summer nymph and the boys were dressed in leopard skin representing the cave men of 1941. First the boys retired to one side and Anna to the other. After running the length of the floor she flew to Charles’ arms who caught her and held her high above his head. After doing all types of gymnastic dancing, they ended by doing their specialty dance, the “spooky dance.” They received many encores and then retired. I rushed back scenes to talk to them. Anna informed me that she was tired of studying and that when she danced like this she felt carefree so she was giving up studying for good. The boys also said they had at last attained their one ambition to be big strong men. As I had planned to visit the Concoran Art Gallery I hurriedly left them to continue my tour. The doorman called a taxi for me and when it drove up to the entrance it was painted a turkey red and a peacock blue. My, what colors! As I stepped in I noticed that the driver was no other than Jane Kowalkowski. Well, since Jane’s hobby was to drive fast, this was the very place for her to be for the traffic in Washington moves very quickly and I recall the many tickets she received while in high school for speeding. I spoke to Jane and she told me she was working for an old classmate of ours, Dot Vandegrift. What, I asked? Not the Dot I knew in school, but Jane assured me that she was correct. I immediately asked her to take me to her office. She drove me to a very large building and before my eyes appeared a large sign, “Vandegrift Taxi Company.” Our slogan, “See Washington Page Sixteen