Durfee High School - Durfee Record Yearbook (Fall River, MA)

Page 15 text:

For almost all of us, the Senior year has seemed to pass by in a rapid blur of good times besides plenty of hard studying for that diploma. The swiftness with which everything seemed to happen gave us little time for reflection and contemplation of each separate event, so let's look back over the school year 1948-1949 to see just what did happen at Durfee. The election of officers to lead our class, was one of the first things accomplished. Peter Collias was elected president of the class, Mae Shackleton, vice-president, and Nancy Scott, secretary. James Chace was chosen as S. A. A. president. The annual “Get Acquainted Dance” was held on October 28 under the sponsorship of the S. A. A., giving everyone who attended a good time. The football team provided their classmates with plenty of exciting games, winning 8 out of 10 and the Bristol County Champ- ionship. A vocational conference for all Seniors highlighted the as- semblies in November. After a general assembly for the class, each pupil went to a group meeting where the specific vocation of his choice was discussed by a guest speaker. The social activities at Durfee in the Fall were carried on with the Pigskin Hop and the annual Thespian show, T. N. T. After one term of hard work, nine Seniors were placed on the A11-A List. Before our Christmas vacation all the classes enjoyed a most impressive dramatic cantata, “The Christmas Story”, presented bv the music department. This program will be long remembered bv all those who saw it. The Senior Debate Tournament held the attention of all members of fourth year English classes for several weeks. On January 14th Good Government Day was observed by electing student State officers. The Gold Rush Dance dedicated to the “’49-ers” who have been digging for learning at Durfee was a great success in February, The end of the second term saw an increase of seniors on the All-A List to 12, and 69 on the Principal’s List. These nunils deserve much credit for their good work, especially those two members of B-»e first basketball team who were on the All-A List. The Durfee Dramatic Club entertained many of us with their performance of the play “Our Town” in February. With a record of 3 wins and one loss the varsity debating team in March began their second round in the Narragansett Debating League. The girls’ basketball team represented Durfee in the Narragansett Girls’ Basketball League by winning four games out of their six. Durfee again in our Senior year turned out a championship basket- ball team, which won the Bristol County Championship, and was squeezed out of the semi-finals of the Eastern Mass. Tourney after playing a superb game. The band, cheerleaders, and team were heartily congratulated for the fine appearance they made at Boston Garden.

Page 14 text:

Although September, 1947, sounds like just another date to Durfee students, it means the inauguration of a most fruitful year in Durfee’s long history. After an early season defeat by East Providence, the football team rolled on to annex its first Clatss C championship. Included among the gridsters were juniors Dick Mullen, Ronnie Lamarre, Joe Andrews, Russ Angelini and Tom Long. The Durfee Dramatic Club presented its annual play. Over half the cast of the presentation, “Junior Miss” was made up of ’49-ers. The players thrilled large audiences at both performances. When time for report cards came around, we found that Durfee had its full share of scholars. The surprising number of 36 pupils attained All A-honors, while 231 pupils made the Principal’s list. Durfee’s basketball team gave evidence of things to come by thoroughly trouncing Providence Central 64-32. Included on the varsity were Joe, Bill, Bernie, Chuck and Peter. The Hilltoppens traveled to Maine and defeated Bangor High School. The Hilltoppers appeared again in Boston to compete in the annual Tech Tourney. Competing against the best teams in Eastern Massachusetts, the Dur- fee ites won successive victories to cop the crown. Traveling once again to Boston, the boys culminated their efforts by defeating Hill- house High and becoming the champions of all New England. The athletes presented their annual Varsity Nite, thrilling sell-out crowds at both performances. At the first showing, Durfee’s head cheerleader for 1949 was chosen, “Do-Do” Abdallah receiving the honor. On the social calendar were the Midwinter Hop and the Junior Prom. The Prom committee headed by President Peter Collias ar- ranged an attractive affair. The D. D. C. set out for Gloucester to present scenes from their hit play “Papa is All”. The judges voted a rating of “good.” Twenty-six top-ranking juniors were inducted into the National Honor Society. With the battery of Andrews and Burton showing the way, the Durfee baseball team went through their season undefeated, term- inating the year 1947-1948, a year that will live long in the memories of Durfee’s students.

Page 16 text:

 $M§ksmi v W aipMi®gK 'w '- «T‘‘ y.,‘ •’•: iMili 111 MM C. 'iSP tt’fs x- pMi ■W$i r?v--rj y ; ; f»i