Farmington High School - Student Yearbook (Farmington, CT)

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FARMINGTON SSQTUDENT Summarizing statistically all available records regarding the history of this institution since its founding, we find that of the 670 graduates, 49 are now dead, the greatest toll of lives having been taken from the class of '97, which has lost half of its members. For three years, namely, 1883, 1887, and 1900, no commencement exercises were held. While the smallest class was that of '89 with three members, the largest up to date is the class of '31, with thirty-five. However, it is expected that the fiftieth graduating class will outnumber all others, having incidentally a total of about fifty students. For Farmington High School we prophesy a continuance of the already high position it holds scholastically as ranked with other institutions of its kind: an increasing interest in sports and social life which is necessary as a basis for contact with others later in life: the continuance and rejuvenation of the alumni association: and finally, fifty more years of successfully preparing young men and women for life. HELEN HARTIGAN, '32, Class Prophecy S I sat in my New York office some weeks ago, a Western Union telegram was handed to me saying I must return to Farmington for two weeks for jury duty. The missive was signed uludge Henry Dobrynskif' My consternation diminished, however, when I read the little note at the bottom, MClass reunion, Alumni Rooms, Iune 15, 1942 Besides performing a service for my little town, I would have the opportunity of seeing or hearing of my classmates. With my Packard fully overhauled, I left New York Iune 1. Approaching Farmington early in the evening, I maintained a steady watch for a sign reading Tourists Accommodatedf' lust over the town line. a sign 'ACarol Skoglund's Boarding House, illuminated in blue and white lights, attracted my attention. Carol in her high school days had had a reputation for good cooking, and I knew she would have something tasty. This milk is very good, Carol. Do you get it from Bryant EH Chapman? A'No, from a West Avon milkman, Richard N. Petersen, who has been giving fine service for eight years. So Pete's a dairy farmer? She nodded and to my further questions about the class, I found that Carol was still one hundred per cent. in woman's special art-giving informa- tion. Carol indeed had kept in touch with the class and offered me some pleasing as well as startling information. William Toth took Miss Bowers place in F. H. S. in the mathematics department. Is Helen Hartigan, our valedictorian, still picking peaches in Burling- ton? was my query. Helen's the editor and owner of the Morning Review, in which Harry Wells, the winner of last year's Pulitzer Prize, has so many articles. His 'Romance of Philosophy' was a wonderful seller. Helen has George Schultz as the chief reporter of her daily edition. GeorQmust have secured his experience standing on Hackney's corner morningsf ll

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FARMINGTON STUDENT Up to this time the high school curriculum had included merely the classical course which fitted students for college. But in 1892 two students received diplomas under the so-called English course which appeared at this time. The classes of '93 and '94 abounded in doctors, lawyers, engineers and teachers. Of the latter let us make special mention of Elizabeth H, Hafey, who for so many years as primary teacher in the Union District was the medium through which so many boys and girls acquired the foundation upon which they built their futures. '94 also boasts of the only movie actor in the history of the institution, Iulius Cowles. As we near the end of the nineteenth century we notice material changes in the scholastic atmosphere. In 1899, a third teacher was added to the faculty, which up to that time had consisted of but two, the principal included. To make room for the additional teacher, Miss Ives, a partition was put up to make a third recitation room until some years later, when the whole building was taken over by the high school. In 1900 no graduation exercises were held. In 1902 still greater changes took place in the school routine. The Senior class went as a body to the school board seeking one session and secured it temporarily with this one restriction: that if seen on the streets between 2 and 4 P, M. the offender must remain in school all day for a month. This group is also credited with having the first class emblems in the history of the school and with being largely responsible for the custom existing today of presenting a gift to the school upon leaving, for, previous to this time, it was customary for each class to flaunt banners. bearing the class colors and date, at graduaf tion time. In 1902, also, we have the first class to hold their commencement exercises in the new Town Hall. In recording the names of former students of Farmington High School we must mention the Honorable Frank lones, a member of the class of 1904 and at present a lawyer in Hartford, who has taken a very active part in alumni work. We cannot pass by the class of 1906 without pausing a moment with due reverence to Louis C. Hanrahan, who was the first boy from Unionville to enlist in the great World War and the first to :make the supreme sacrifice over there. The classes of 1913 and 1920 produced the Hrst two professors in Elford Lounsbury and loseph Burns, while '21 graduated the Rev. lohn Delaney, '26, Robert Crowe, a teacher at Holy Cross, and Bernard Flynn, who is at present studying for the Priesthood. A decided metamorphosis took place in the fall of 1928, when the institu- tion was transferred to the new high school building. More teachers were added to the staff. New subjects, including Domestic Science, Manual Train- ing, and Commercial Law were given a special place on the high school curricu- lum. A cafeteria service was organized. An athletic field and spacious gymnasium assured the students of plenty of activity, and brought new life into sports. Nothing which might in some way benefit the students and make them better fitted to bear their share of the country's burden as citizens in the years to come, was neglected. 10

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FARMINGTON STUDENT Why don't you stay until tomorrow noon? she went on, I expect Mildred Roncaioli and Catherine Gurovich out for luncheon. They have been very successful as nurses and often visit Catherine Onidi's 'Hosiptal for Destitute Dogs and Cats.' They say that Charlie Cadwell is one of the trustees. Whether his interest is in the dogs and cats or the owner, I cannot say at this time. Carol yawned and I knew she had finished for the evening. In my dreams that night, I saw members of the class all extending welcoming hands to me and when I awoke the next morning I felt sure that the reunion would have some happy moments. But that necessary evil A jury duty. As I entered the jury box at 9:30, I met the prosecuting attorney, Donald Bowler, who warned me that Iustice was the supreme command. I readily saw that Donald had kept up his argumentation and debating to attain this successful position. The first case was of local color, that of Amy Farry against the defendant, Edmund Penny. Edmund, in one of his tender moments, had promised to marry Amy. You must remember that Amy had f'p50,000, so don't be too harsh on Edmund. lack Clifford was the star witness for Mr. Penny and through his splendid testimony saved Edmund quite a sum of money, money which he immediately invested in more chicken houses. Court duty proceeded monotonously for two weeks and happy indeed was I when the spring session was over. The Alumni reunion was my next objective. In what way would my classmates have changed? Would Edith Anderson be as lively as ever? When I entered the cafeteria the next evening I found many changes among my classmates. Irene Campion I hardly recognized, for she now weighed 200 pounds. Instructor in the Y, W. C. A. gymnasium was Irene's occupation. Nellie Zurles was singing a ditty called If I Were a Bird. Nellie was very successful in teaching music in the Burlington schools. A dark complexioned youth approached me and offered his hand. The handclasp nearly broke every bone in my arm. Who was this Hercules? Gege Lauretti, of course. I-Iis moustache puzzled me. He was in training for the 1942 Olympics in Turkey and expected to win recognition through his ability to toss the shot put. Bert Peltier was toastmaster because it was in keeping with his position of entertaining the movie magnates when they visited the Paramount studios on Long Island. Bert told me that Mildred Wiiialski was doing well for Fox since she had obtained Frank Cadwell for her leading man. Suddenly Bert wrapped furiously on the table for order. Somebody was creating a disturbance. Doris Buteau never acted that way in our school days. But now she was fiery and eloquent in her demands to have Farmington I-Iigh School establish a club for contract bridge. Doris was our local representa- tive in the Senate. Edward Ryan had become a strict vegetarian and lived on the income of his farm in Scott's Swamp. Monoog Bagdigian had a flying field close to the farm and he and Ed. had come to blows one day when Monoog in a very low flight had knocked the chimney from Ed.'s new home. Of course Cupid had a high score among our class and as a result Marie Derby, Marie Stieg, Margaret Mack, Margaret Rossvall, and Gertrude Flood were now bearing changed names. 12