Gloucester High School - Flicker Yearbook (Gloucester, MA)

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THE SENIOR FLICKER 31 Marion Proctor, who represented the class. On Field Day, Eliot McLaugh- lin had the honor of being presented with the junior Haskell Medal. Being a bit timid, and also being desirous of gaining high scholastic standings, the boys practically remained out of athletics this first year. As a result of his earnest efforts, Thomas Healey was presented with the boys’ Sawyer Medal, while Louise Alden received the girls’. At the end of the first year, Mr. Kimball foresaw that in later years, he would be unable to manage such a class, and so decided to resign, much to our sorrow. But at the beginning of our sophomore year, we returned to find a new principal fully capable of handling any class. He was welcomed with great enthusiasm, and has since remained in our midst, being a friend to the class as a whole, and always willing to give advice to any individual. This second year had hardly begun when laurels were placed upon our heads. One memorable day, Charles Gregory Hemmer was presented with the Carnegie Medal for bravery in saving the lives of two boys at Mill Pond in 1918 — “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend.” — A typical example of American youth and manhood. This year, the school magazine originated, and two members of our class were elected to the staff. Thev were Alice Ehler and Elizabeth Frost. M iss Sullivan, our singing instructor, undertook the task of presenting “Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast”, and a large number of our class helped to make this affair the success that we all remember it to be. But all can not run smoothly, and one must expect sorrow as well as joy. One morning our class was saddened at learning of the death of one of its most promising members, Robert E. Hodgkins. We shall never forget his pleasing disposition and his desire to assist those with whom he came in con- tact. His spirit helps us to carry on the work of helping others. The boys, no longer being timid, and feeling that they would be able to attend to both athletics and studies, entered the athletic world. We were well represented in track by Arthur Healy, Hemmer, Hodgkins, Blatchford, and Joe Martin; in basketball by “Charlie” Ehler; and in football by Hemmer. Once more the girls showed their colors, and came out on the winning end of the gym meet. A peculiar incident accompanied this victory. In former years, the winning side was usually picked by the victory in the relay race. Our class was defeated in the relay, but the judges felt that the gymnastic exhibition of our class, excelled by far anything ever presented be- fore, so that we were pronounced the winners. The class cup was presented to Alice Sponagle, while Ida Frederickson won the coveted G. H. S. for ex- cellency in apparatus work. At City Hall a prize speaking contest was held where Frank McNamara and Nellie Lorman deserve much credit for rendering their selections in such a fine manner. The Presentation brought medals to more members of our class. This year Stuart Hodgkins and Esther Syrjanen were presented with the Sawyer medals. For the third time we returned to school, but oh so much wiser and so much better acquainted with the customs of the school. From the very be- ginning we had something to look forward to. Preparations were being made for a new high school, and although we were obliged to contend with many difficulties, the visions of new surroundings helped the worthy cause along.

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30 THE SENIOR FLICKER Andrews with her benovolent smile was as interesting and amusing according to tradition. Speshal! John Garland put on long pants at this point. This year Flivver is as lovable as ever and Charlie Pew made his brilliant entrance. Of coarse we had to have class ossifers and being the enlightened desperation, elected a woman for president, thus extinguishing all boresome arguments. Evelyn Wilkins belongs to this handle with Harriet Fall, vice- president, Frank Jenney secretary, and Vilbert Giator, treasurer. Mr. Par- sons is the illuminator of the meetings. Maggie Nunes suggested the design for class rings, most of the boys wanting pins for utility. They will be had by all this year if they ’re willing and since you’re willing we’ll see you next year. — Margaret Greenleaf, ’24 HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1923 Last year as I was glancing over the “Times”, an interesting item caught my eye — Explorers Return From North Pole — Reveal Clue To Long Lost Arctic Explorer — Reading through this item, I discovered that it concerned me and some of my friends, so I read on. — Upon graduating from G. H. S. in 1923, Joseph Z. Martin, the now famous Arctic explorer, who had always expressed a desire to visit the north pole, was given an opportunity to gratify his wish. He sailed from Gloucester harbor, July 4, 1923, on the good ship Pauline. Since then very little has been heard of his whereabouts, until the year 1925, when various advertise- ments were published requesting the return of some valuable documents. Re- ceiving no answer to these advertisements, Martin returned to the United States to begin life anew. Eight years later in the winter of 1933 Brick Robinson and Jazz Mc- Laughlin set out for Alaska to look after the interests of the Robinson, Mc- Laughlin Ice Co. This experience was looked forward to with much en- thusiasm by both men, as they never had cut any ice while students of G. H. S. Upon their arrival they were set to work removing ice cakes. On the afternoon of the third day of work, an immense ice cake was reached. A fel- low workman explained to them that no human being had ever been able to move this huge cake of ice. Thereupon with one move of his brawny arm Jazz easily pushed the cake aside. Brick’s eyes were quick to detect, and it was not long before he had discovered some neatly folded manuscripts lying under the ice cake. Upon close examination they found that the clue to Martin’s long lost documents had been revealed. These documents con- tained the history of one of the most famous classes to graduate from G. H. S. Being members of that class, Brick and Jazz returned to their hut, and read the following account : In the fall of 1919, much to the amazement of Mr. Kimball, a very lively class entered G. H. S. From the beginning, the students of this class were loyal rooters for their school. Toward the middle of the year honors began to appear, and our class was well represented at the presenta- tion by Charles Hemmer and Ernest Devere. Not to be outdone, the girls entered the gym meet with the determina- tion to win, and win they did. A beautiful loving cup was presented to Miss

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THE SENIOR FLICKER 32 A few changes were made on the Beacon Staff and those selected from our class were Melvin Bernstein, Marion Proctor, James Carrigan, Maurice Jenney, George Tuck, Henry Bearse, Doris Nelson, Elizabeth Frost, Alice Sponagle, and James Lake. This year promised to be a glorious one. The class was organized and the following officers were chosen: Frank McNamara, president; Thomas Healey, vice-president ; Louis Gagnon, treasurer, and Bernice Ryan, secretary. One of the club periods was devoted to a spelling match and Esther Syrjanen was presented with the Roosevelt trophy, for the class. The boys exceeded all preceeding years in regard to athletics. In track Arthur Healy and Frank Chatterton won the state championship at Harvard. At one of the club periods, “Tony” Souza and Arthur Healy were presented with medals by President Downey of Boston, who resented the fact that the boys were disqualified in a track meet held at Boston. Other members of the track team were Hemmer, Chatterton, and Lake. In baseball were “Cy”, “Kid” Silva, Joe Martin, “Brick” Robinson, and Charlie Ehler, while struggling on the gridiron were: “Cy”, “Greg”, “Jazz”, Charlie Ehler, “Tom” Healy, Henry Bearse, Merrill McKown, and Eliot McLaughlin. On the basketball court were: “Cy”, Charlie, and Joe Martin. For the first time a girls’ school basketball team was organized, and Rita Silva and Louise Alden were chosen from our class. Various individual prize drills were held, Claude Bocken winning the medal at the City Hall, and Eliot McLaughlin the one at the Armory. On Field Dav, Merrill McKown was the proud recipient of the senior Haskell Medal. Toward the close of the school year Sawyer Medals were presented to Earle Havner and Bernice Ryan. Again the curtain closes upon the end of a perfect year. And now we enter up on the closing year of our high school career. It hardly seems possible that four short years have passed since we entered this life of good times and adventures. But what is this which we behold ? The result of three years of earnest efforts to convince the citizens of Gloucester of the necessity of a new school. A magnificent structure fitted with all mod- ern equipment. How easy to go about our daily work, and perform our duties with pleasure. Such a contrast from the environments of last year. Spurred on by these surroundings, the class set to, and proved themselves grateful to the citizens for such a gift. The class officers were re-elected, and the business and social activities of the class were immediately begun. For the first time, the class rings were purchased from a local dealer, and judging from the actions of the under-classmen, the change was a wise as well as a loyal one. The activities of the class were planned by a social committee, who worked hard and arranged a senior social. The affair was a great success, and every one was ready for another. (Martin must have been stricken with hunger about this time, because the account of this social, and the date of the next one had been strangely bitten to shreds). A Kid Day was planned, and Arthur Healy consulted Mr. Ringer. (This next is sort of blurred, where the ice cake had begun to melt, but a picture of Art on a stretcher can plainly be seen).