Cranwell Preparatory School - Bell Tower Yearbook (Lenox, MA)

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Jim Kay, joe Kirby, and Mike Downey confirmed New Englanders all. Larry Rowe, adding a touch of Big Cityv savoir faire, came to grow with the original group. I found them still boys as carefree as ever. Only a light shadow of change lurked in an occasional word or deed. My, the years 1946 and 1947, I shall never forget them. We had an unusual amount of snow that winter and I,m afraid the boys employed it to the detriment of anything presenting target surface, including a few windows. I watched for weeks their smug smiles after the snow war they thought escaped the notice of the faculty. The Sophomore class went on quite a bridge spree, too. They even held a tournament. I shall never forget the day that Fathers Burke and Cunniff had a perfect score in apprehending the culprits in an unofhcial excursion to Pittsfield. I don't think they enjoyed those extra two school days they thought theyld never have to suffer. I was glad they had Mr. Coughlin as Prefect. His firm yet gentle sway proved a great prop in their difficulties and a help in their successes. They were not wild boys, but one and all seemed to contain the very essence of energy. This energy flowed through everything they did from the hard honest play on the sport Helds to the labor Fr. King demanded in class. The same boys, as in the previous year, represented their class on the sport- ing field, heroically so, as in the case of john Higgins, who sacrihced a tooth to the greater glory of football. I noticed that quiet joe Kirby and Larry Rowe of the facile face took to the basketball court as a type of fowl takes to water, and earned a permanent roost on the squad. The hockey team was undefeated, the same two earning praise for themselves and their class as in the previous year. The baseball team with its same followers had a splendid year. In intra- murals the Sophomores won the school championship. ST. IOSEPH'S HALL XQWKRE Page Twenty-four v9,,,f ,A,- Q Q 'iw f e I if-E E . Ja Q'5bgL, E!f.2ig-?i 'hI9:xQ'Q

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the old timers' Billy May, Paul Printon, john Burns and John Driscoll. They hadn't changed. All things considered I found them a scraggly bunch to mould, but then all Freshman classes are a scraggly bunch. All shapes and sizes paced timidly about from little Artie Carr and Chris Nelson to big Ned Curly. Poor Fathers Burke and Cunniff, what pains I saw for them. Awed by the splendor of Fr. Maxwell's office they wondered what the coming year held. They found their responsibility a little troublesome at times and often fell into the role of prank-filled youngsters. The body of the class met for the first time and swiftly they were buddies , a real Freshman class. They plunged into the mysteries of Latin for the first time and made the acquaintance of a high school course. To the surprise of all they found it possible to master the secrets. Sports beckoned as usual. Football made its claim. Jack Higgins led the J. V. along with Rod O'Neil. Paul Printon held the line and Billy May and John Burns rounded out a promising backf-ield. Some of them entered a varsity game. The J. V. had an undefeated season and Fall ended with the Freshmen well rep- resented in the football world. Winter came only too soon, and with it came hockey and basketball. Frenchy Fleurant, the flying Freshman from Woonsocket, won a place on the second line in Hockey He teamed with Billy May in a scor- ing line which has lasted until Senior year. Basketball won more adherents as Jim Mahony took the floor accompanied by roomies jim Gill and Fen FitzPatrick. The knowledge that room 45 was a perpetual basketball court might explain their ability. Between Latin, sports, and blizzards, the third floor of St. Joseph's battled the second floor in the most exciting pillow fight in Cranwell history. With football helmets and pillows the second floor stormed the heights. Only at the approach of the Prefect did the affair cease, leaving many headaches. The origin of a certain immortal pie will forever remain a mystery, though I could tell. Mr. Sullivan will ever wonder. Spring washed into Cranwell and by May it had stopped raining. When the sun did come out the boys had the usual cases of Spring Fever. When the lake subsided and the diamond was revealed many were called to the new field across the road. Paul Printon secured a varsity post. Billy May grew faster but control was his trouble. jack Higgins proved his mettle and Artie Carr proved a fancy Helder, the mainstay of the j. V. The links were not deserted, Jerry O'Connor and Phil Haggerty could usually be found diligently working on their scores. Always at twilight one could enjoy those unforgettable softball games. The tennis courts were always active and in between times they studied. They took the acid bath of final exams, the most diHicult week of the Fresh- man year. I watched them eagerly depart for the summer vacation. Some of them returned during the summer for a repeat performance, but everybody can't be a genius. The warmth of summer still lingered in my carved figure as I watched car after car emit the noisy horde that meant another school year had begun. This class was Sophomore now, but the honor weighed lightly, like a thread on their coats. New faces I soon became accustomed to flowered in abundance. I recall the fiery mop of John Tweddle, the twang of Indiana clinging to Al Larson and .5 zbsixzwi fi ,wg Page Twenty three

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In the usual pain they ran the gamut of exams. I often wonder if Mr. Churchill's Blood, sweat, and tearsn, wasn't coined for Cranwell boys with ink as substitute for blood. It was a good year for all and though the way was rocky at times, each boy developed greatly in mind, soul, and body. The September goal attained, every- one melted away before the summer heat and another school year had passed. As I felt September's cool breath on my sculptured face, the hills resounded again with the shouts of returning boys. This class returned with the proud step of new Juniors. I had to smile as their fresh poise floated off on the current of their hilarity. Many new forms seethed through the noisy pudding that formed the group of boys getting together . Larry Ambrosino with the omnipresent smile, Bob Shafter with that Long Island drawl , John Gaynor from Webstah , Bill Henry Aldrich, Shaun Trapper,' Viguerie, and Bill Hassan, always with a quip, along with Jack Toner with deceptive quiet, john O'Neill, their future bas- ketball hero, jim Connor with touseled hair and gay manner, Marian Billewicz, Europe,s contribution, Ed Fitzsimons, Peter tour guidel' Hamilton, and Paul Smith, always impeccably dressed, invaded the group of Old Timers . Johnny O'Laughlin, the lanky lad from Pittsfield, and Leon McClellan with Latin charm, proved other valuable additions. This group was the last, no more could swell the graduating ranks of '49. The annual retreat was held, and noble resolutions flowered, particularly among the juniors to whom college now was not a distant mirage but more of an impending reality. They went into the upperclass cottages and were divided for the first time. Bobola held some under the rule of Fr. Drohan, St. john's held more, and a mad lot turned the gym into bedlam until the wing of St. john's was completed. Pads and nonchalance characterized the junior year. Fm afraid I wondered a bit about boys who could enjoy a record that did nothing but laugh madly from beginning to end. I canlt recall the number of times I was startled to hear so many potential Peter Lorres practising their soothing art . Who could have thought that one trumpet would cause all the interest that jim Connor's managed. Poor Fr. Morris - I pitied you in your hard but well done job of tempering the pranks of all in that new wing. Wide was the range of interest in sports and other activities. Football was enriched by the splendid play of such as john O'Laughlin, Shaun Viguerie, Bill Hassan, john O'Neill and Marian Billewicz. Basketball, too, felt the impetus of such stars as John O'Neill and Bill Aldrich. In intramural basketball the junior class outscored the Seniors in a tight game 27-26. Hockey gained an out- standing performer when john O'Laughlin joined the team. Baseball claimed the same worshippers as in the previous year, but the spirit of change lurked about. Tennis suddenly appeared recognized as a team. john Tweddle and Al Lar- son were outstanding juniors who entered the interscholastic games. Fr. Drohan proved himself the proverbial jewel of many facets , our teacher, prefect, and golf pro. He formed a golf team gathering Juniors as a window gathers dust. Bob Shafter, Phil Haggerty, john Gaynor, Bill Hughes, Jerry O'Connor and Artie Carr carried well the junior banner on the links. The ruling passion, the mil Aiwa, Page Twenty ve