Fallsburg High School - Focus Yearbook (Fallsburg, NY)

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1 Washington Trip Practically every Washington Trip started the same way, and we were no exception. VVe were oif at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April lb, with Mr. and Mrs. Mercurio and Mr. Longo checking students, students checking suitcases, suitcases checking elbow room. The interior of the Altman bus took a severe beating that morning. However, the atmosphere was one of gen- eral gaiety and hilarious laughter. There was not a boy without a cigar, not a girl without a hat, not a heart without some happiness. Lunches of chicken and matzo sandwiches tumbled about the place, suitcases following, on top of which could be heard shrieks of The chicken! The suitcase! General con- versation ran as follows: I went to bed at 12:30 and woke at 6:30. Boy, am I tired! I took 15 rolls of film. You're crazy! Watch ing through a microphone. Throughout the tour we had witty jokes combined with On the left you will see. . . Wfe soon arrived at Annapolis, visited the beautiful Chapel and tomb of John Paul jones, skimmed over the Museum, saw mid- shipmen on parade, and arrived at the Hous- ton, our hotel in Washington, at 6:30 p.m. There was a hasty inspection of the rooms, unpacking and eating were quickly over with, and at 8:00 p.m. we were on our way to visit the unforgettable Lincoln Memorial. From there, we proceeded to the Congressional Lib- rary, one of the most beautiful structures in Wfashington. Back at the hotel, we ran riotous. There were parties in every room. Mr. and Mrs. Mercurio and Mr. Longo were busy shooing everyone into their own rooms-only to have the chicken! Go 'way with that CIGARV' XVe were indeed off to an enjoyable start. Before very long we boarded the special train at Middletown which was to take us to the Capital. We discovered that the Roscoe senior class was sharing the car with us. Curiosity led many to make a tour of the train, which seemed endless. Classes from many schools and of course Fallsburgh, were all making the trip to Washington. VVe made friends right and left. Back in our own compartment, glee ran wild and mayhem came near to being com- mitted. Cigars and cards were Hashed in nearly every seat. John stepped out on the platform for some fresh air, and returned to say that he had lost his voice. General hilarity followed. The boys put the cards away and said they had lost money. General sadness followed. And so we arrived at Baltimore, where we met our bus driver, Hank, and our tour rep- resentative, Mr. L. F. Fox. YVith a Right Oh , Hank glided us around the city narrat- them escape again. The manager honored us twice with his presence that evening. Film was exposed everywhere-some zany shots were taken. Vfhen lights were finally all out. many a pillow light was waged. Tiptoed foot- steps and hushed voices haunted the rooms until sheer exhaustion put a stop to the fun. The seventh Hoor was quiet at last. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, at the unreasonable hour of 7:00 a.m., we were awakened for breakfast. After which we visited the Treasury Department. We would have liked to take home some souvenirs, but the building was too heavily guarded. From there we proceeded to the Pan- American Building, and took pictures, in the Council Room. Once more, we occupied the bus, and rode up Constitution Avenue, past places such as the D.A.R. Memorial, Conti- nental Hall, the National Red Cross, the Archives Building, and finally at the White House. The old boy who lives in it was not around, but we admired his mansion, and the Blair House, and took endless pictures. 0 twenty-foe

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Washington Trip From there we went to the Capitol. Upon approaching it, -ludy Pugatx asked X'Vl1at's 'l'H.'X'l'? NVQ: laughed, naturally. lVe explored the Senate chamber, the House of Representatives, and Supreme Court. Wfe rode back to the hotel, and after lunch and a reasonable facsimile of a rest, we were off to visit the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. There we witnessed the changing of the guard. Allen and Harry marched behind the guards-much to our amusement. NVe also sat in the big marble amphitheater. From the cemetery we rode to Mount Vernon, home of George XVashington. Mr. Longo took one group, while another group decided they would refresh themselves at the soda fountain. Mr. and Mrs. Mercurio's entreaties to leave the fountain and visit the estate went unheeded. After what seemed an endless interval of soda, ice cream. and candy, we were ready to go. During our wait Elly asked in a thick southern accent How 'bout some service, s'il vous plaitl At the gate, the guard asked for either our chaperone or our money. Someone went back for Mr. and Mrs. Mercurio, but our naughty chaperone said Good for you! Confusion and sorrow broke out. Richy grabbed the oldest looking spinster he could find and posed her as our chaper- one, but she told the guard the truth, so the idea Huled out. Someone went for Mr. Longo, and after a long wait, he arrived and convinced the guard of our honesty? XVe were admitted entrance. P. S. Nlr. Longo made two trips around Mt. Vernon that day. Wle arrived at the hotel, tired but happy, and prepared for dinner at the Casino Royal. X'Ve took taxicabs and went there in style, as is befitting the Seniors of F.Cl.S. Wie spent a delightful evening, had a fight. with the Chinese waiter. enjoyed the lloor show immensely, and danced a bit after dinner. Before long, Mr. Mercurio took a group of boys to a baseball game. Mrs. Mercurio and Mr. Longo took some others to a movie and still others went back to the hotel. There, another whacky evening was survived. Some ptanksters from Massachusetts threw water out of their window at the head below them, namely us. Doc llirted with some girls while leaning out the window. Later that night, Nlichael's bed broke down, and in the attempt to take a photograph of it the structure broke up even more. Michael slept on the floor that night. XVhat a pity-but what a laugh! Thursday morning-how anyone got up is still a mysteryfwe ate a hasty breakfast and shoved off to visit the X'Vashington Monument. Mr. Mercurio and a few hearty souls climbed the 898 steps to the top. The rest of us weaklings, all took the 67-second elevator ride to the top. X'Ve had beautiful views of the city from four directions. From there we went straight to the Smithsonian Institute, a very interesting establishment. In it we saw, among other things, the origi- nal Wlright Brothers' airplane, and the gowns worn by each presi- dent's wife at his inauguration. .-Xfterwards. some small groups began meeting at the bus to wait for the last members. The time was spent being entertained by two small boys who gave us song-and-dance in ' ltzeeaziy-si.:-