Conshohocken High School - Echo Yearbook (Conshohocken, PA)

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Helen Sands, our female drivers. I also got in touch with Florence Blake, my l ersoiial secretary, and Steve Peszka. my business executive. We got together to form a female automotive circus. nil know, like Lucky Teeter; only I had to he different. Ml my drivers would he women. You know what women drivers are like. Since then it’s just l een worry, worry, worry. He signed his papers ami left, his brow wrinkled in disgust. Two tall, slim gentlemen stood before me now . Through a maze of work sheets, journals. ledgers, pens, rulers, and pencils I could just scarcely make out the feaures of John Giandonato and Krwin Lew an- DOWSKI. Under their breaths I could hear them mumble. Debit sales, seventeen plus eight plus forty-two minus sixty-four equals credit purchases, nineteen plus seven plus six minus four equals three in a hole, debit, credit ...” In the midst of their mumbling they signed their papers and turned away still mumbling and deeply concentrating. Completely rigged up in a white uniform, white cap, stretcher in one hand, medical kit in the other, a Bed Cross Medical Attendant hurriedly dashed up. The familiar smile of Lot is Travagline greeted me. Lou, what are you up to now? I asked. Oh bov, do I like this. I can bandage anything from a toenail to a ten-inch gash. Man. am I happy, he cried as he headed for the examination room. As he entered. I could hear him yell, Medical Corps, here I id come: It was time for my working day to end. and as I straightened out my desk. Carl llvlinski came out of tin examination room, arm in arm with our great chef, Albertino. They asked me where I was going and I told them I had intentions of going out to get a bite to eat and then return to the baracks. Albert joyously said, That’s fine. Say, you had a mania for Zep sandwiches, didn’t you? With my brightest smile I answered. And how ! Boy, w hat I couldn't do to one of those right now. We’ll soon find out, said Albert, for I’m taking you and Carl over to my cafe, and I’m going to make you both a Zep—a yard long.” Let’s go, I cheered, and we left the Customs House on the double. Kven though it w as only three blocks aw ay Al insisted that we take a taxi. In a few shakes of a lamb’s tail we were there. It was a high-class night spot (the best in the city) and we entered very quietly. At a big table to the right I saw a noisy crowd, and inquisitively I asked AI what was going on. Oh. that’s the crowd from the Daily Squeal. That’s a newspaper that the people of Conshohocken have almost monopolized. Do you want to meet them? asked Albert. Sa isn’t that Bill Grabeck the third from the left? I asked, straining my eyes. Yes, he’s one of the best known sports reporters in town. He also does a good deal of broadcasting. Quite a personality around here. No kiddin’. Who’s that cute brunette sitting next to him? I asked again. That’s his wife. You knew that girl. She’s the one he met in his senior year at school, he answered. Oh. her! I’ll see you fellows in a few minutes. I’ve got to see Bill.” I said as I hurried away. I got to the table and Billy didn’t seem to recognize me at first, but it suddenly dawned upon him and he remembered me. Why, you young skinflint you! You might have let me know where you were. he said, smiling. Well, Bill. I lost trace of you myself. Up until a few minutes ago I hadn’t seen you for almost four years,” I said. Well, he said, I got a start when I was still in school and I kind of worked myself up. Say, you remember my wife, don’t you? he asked as he saw me stretching my neck to see her. He moved ami I said, Why, yes. How are you? I greeted.

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nation we got together ami worked like mad. Xml now when ImsinesK starts to hoom. what happens? We get drafted. Oh. boo hooP I he threesome walked away as full of joy as a funeral procession, and just as tearful. As this group departed another terrible trio confronted me. All decked out in dungarees, flannel shirts, and high shoes it was simple to recognize our three class carpenters: Teddy Uba, Thomas Coyne, and Richard I ha. As they signed their respective papers I asked. Well, did you three really get together? Teddy spoke: We sure did and our business is just perfect. Tom does all the necessary driving. Richard takes care of all the business ami I get off easy; I do all the work. Yep, there’s nothing hut a one-for-aLI and all-for-one policy in our business. Corporal, move those fellows faster! ordered the desk sergeant. And I did for a while, until I was mobbed by th« Ambitious Agitators of the Class of ’42. l or this group IIahky Ct hi seemed to do all the talking. Hello. Harry. I greeted him. Don't tell me you fellows are all together. We sure are. We've heen together since we finished school. said Harry. Doing what? I asked. We're in tin boxing game. Meet the gang. Joe Andraka. trainer: Francis Alfonse. handler: Armond Ciccotti, publicity manager: Joe Elmo. manager; and I'm the boxer. As Harry called their names they bowed, but Slugger had to be different. I le curtsied. Corporal, move them along. There’s still a bunch outside. This was the desk sergeant again. Just at this moment I was startled by a crashing door. To my amazement the open doorway revealed a crowd of eager young ladies (?). They charged for my desk like a herd of buffaloes. There was an awful moh of them, hut amongst others I noticed Marie K asopsky, Stella Koronmewtcz, Hetty Ootavals. Olivia Lewis. Hu line Hil icki. Catherine Taa arogoski, and Clara Wienczek. Clara pleaded above the noise. We want our husbands back. You can’t draft them: they’re married to us, and we won't be without them just liecause you want them in the Army. I hadn't a chance to s| eak localise the noise had brought the Military Police to the scene and all those lovely little ladies were hurried out quite unceremoniously, with instructions to send appeals to their local Draft Hoard Offices. They made quite a mess of the room, but the recruiting went on as if nothing had happened. The next one up was a short, blond fellow. I well remembered Calain Hot R-GEALLT. Hello there, Cal in. What can I do for a on? I asked. I would like to know where to offer my services as an aeronautical engineer. he said. You go up to the fourth floor and look for a door with ’Specialists Recruiting Officer' on it. Co in there. By the way. Calvin, you’d be surprised at all the recruits that have been here today. Most of them are from our class. They must all he signing up. I heard him sa . Did oti know that that handsome. blond brute, Joe Szti binski. joined the Marines and is well on his way to an officer's ranking? Cood for him, I commented. Well, thanks for the information. See you again soon, he said as he left. So long, and good luck. I thought to myself as lie went out. retracing his steps. The next customer was a stout fellow. His name—of course I recall it—Robert Smith. Hello, Robert. Still driving around in that car of yours?' I asked. Oh. heavenly days, why did you have to mention driving to me? Now my day is ruined, he said with a deep frown. Why, what's wrong. Hob? I asked. Well, three years hack I had a brain storm and I contacted Emilia Hello and

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 Oil. just fine, thank you, spoke in her quiet, nonchalant manner. Bill, what’s this I hear about Consho-hocken umnopoli ing your paper?” I asked. Oh, it's not as had as all that. It's just that about 80 per rent of the employees are from the old Irontown. Why, just from the Class of ’42 there are Charles Jefferies and James Wool), distribution directors; Anna Frabezio, Mary Frabezio, Betty Schiltz, Anna I)i Rosato, and Jane Sti BINSkt, all typists: and there's Alberta Smith, our hest journalist, with I■ v Stem-porosey as her | ersonal secretary. That s cpiite a few from one class, don’t you think? he asked. I'll say, was my complete answer. Another thing—right here in the city we have a very good secretarial school, and who do you think owns it? No one else hut Kitii n Papiernie and Elizabeth Petri celli, with Doris Ingram and Lois Lebold as teachers in their own departments.” Me finished with a sigh. W ith my face all lit up and my mouth w ide open I gasjied. Smoley lloke! . . . Cee, I nearly forgot Carl and Albert are waiting for me. W ell. so long. Rill: and good luck to you both—you and your wife, I mean.” I ran hack to the two I'd left and apologized for keeping them waiting. Let’s go get those Zcps. said Albert leading us to his own private kitchen. In a flash two Zep sandwiches lay before Carl and me. I ate about half and just couldn t take another bite. I hated to let it go because it was scrumptious. Carl had the same difficulty and he laid his down muttering. Oh boy,” and I repeated the same. Boys, I suggest we go see the best show in town. It's at the Arena. Albert said. What is it?” asked Carl. I’ll save that. I promise you it'll be quite a surprise,” he said as we left his cafe and clambered into a cab. As we approached the Arena, I saw 30-foot signs— Stars Review — Stars from every walk of life.’’ Albert insisted upon paying our way, and after a little dispute be finally got his way. We entered and were handed programs beautifully embossed in a blue cover. I didn't bother looking at it until Al suggested 1 should. The emblem-eagle on my bat flapped its wings when I saw the inside of that program. On the inside front page was a large pieture of our own Aaron Zajag, president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer. director, producer, and owner of this magnificent show. As 1 went through the pages. I saw different photographs of such stars as AKTHl it Schlacel, world champion on roller skates: in | erson. that star of the silver screen. Jane Bergey; those two comedy stars. Farmerette M ary I’atzi k. and City Slicker Amelia he Margo; those devastating dancers, Eleanor Rinekk and Frances (Money) Wateins; the all-star feminine basketball team with two of the world s best record breakers. Ll ba PlLECKI and Clara Pi per; and those five beautiful models of the century, Mary Jane Din-levy, Alice Sieorsey, Angeline Si ter a. J aye Rodebage. and Frances Lasota. After seeing all this my head began to spin, and things all faded from view until it was all a complete blackout. hen things began to clear, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder and I could hear Mother ask me to get out of bed. 7 Joseph Bori sieavicz.