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

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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

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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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germ puffed to monster size, the siren who drove boys mad, I have almost for- gotten to mention, skiing. Into the valley of Cranwell swooped the mad hundred, some to end in a graceful pose, others just to end, but all try again. The Juniors boasted the European champion Billewicz, and the raw pluck of Jim Connor, the polish of Bill May and the doggedness of john Tweddle. Their wildest was Peter Hamilton, who earned the title of one arm Cuntil the cast came offj. The year waxed calmer than any previous. Slowly time was sapping the weakness and childishness from the group. Intellectual activity was not looked upon as poison any more, while some even found it nectar. They had their debat- ers and a hardy few whose haggard mein and flinty eye betrayed them as actors. Their productions ranged from imitations of A1 Jolson by Bill Hassan through locker room quartet to the gallant drama of Arsenic and Old Lace , as nobly created by Shafter, jim Kay, Chris Nelson and Larry Rowe. As inevitable as the axe-fall on the guillotine, exams came and ended. The summer danced her beauty before us in the joy of another year ended. The boys departed to effect the metamorphasis that summer brings to Seniors. They returned. Senior', didn't glow in large letters on their foreheads, but their state was obvious. They hadn't suddenly become model boys, serious book- worms, or full-fledged men, but they had learned that they had a new responsibil- ity. Their Senior year I can honestly claim was their best. Teachers noted with joy and surprise their goodness, ability, and talent hitherto unknown. john l BERCHMANS' HALL 1'-HWIRHQ . X 'IQQQ' lagf llcenty-six 46 44? g' Q Sv , Q, Q N E3 +0 ez , s O 2 V E . Q fl 'ahve