Harbor Creek High School - Harborian Yearbook (Erie, PA)

Page 31 text:

Debate Mr. Chairman and Friends, The efforts and merits of the debate season have surely proven to you that this has been a successful one for the debate club. In summing up the evidence to this effect, there may first be pointed out that we have had Mr. Rose as adviser and coach to help us over the hurdles. Then too, through the exertion of good judgment at election time, Carroll Blackwood has led us as president with Shirley Saltsman ds secretary. The question for debate this year--Resolved: The United States Should Form an Alliance with Great Britain-was discussed pro and con in the club meetings until opposing factions of opinion were gradually formed. Various material was accumulated and read, and after further discussion speeches finally began to grow out of the chaos as firm ground was found. I The debaters first trial by fire came eventually and this and the fol- lowing engagements found Donald Larson, Pearl Zawadski, Dick Bierck, and Phoebe Riley upholding the affirmative end of the question with Marie Allen, Barbara Luce, Carroll Blackwood, and Charles Bendig charging negatively into the thick of the fray. The contenders will wear the tinty debate pins as a badge of their efforts. ln the debates, the orators had seven minutes in which to deliver their arguments. Then each member of the opposing team was allowed to ask the speaker one question which he was given two minutes to answer. Our secretary always on the job and our scheduled league debates with Millcreek, Girard, and Lawrence Park were arranged smoothly as well as further debates with North East, Strong Vincent, and East High. The actual participators in the debates were staunchly backed by Shirley Saltsman, Norma Bonniger, Gertrude Novet, Gladys Renner, Millicent Ren- ner, Howard Hill, and Mary Schaaf. The final point in our behalf is the climax of the debate year-April 29, when the debate leagues have a day on the campus of Allegheny College. As representative for the group, Carroll Blackwood will complete for the de- bating cup of the league. Therefore, in view of all this computable evidence we feel confident that the debate stand may be pushed away in a corner with the feeling that it has served well a worth-while purpose. I thank you. twenty-seven

Page 30 text:

Senior Dramatic Efforts The 1939 graduating class of H. H. S. presented two eminently success- ful plays in this, the last year of their fast-fading cosmic splash of high school life. Both were unfolded to the public eye through the capable direc- tion of Mr. William H. Cleary. TAKING THE COUNT Taking The Count , a farce comedy in three acts, presented Decem- ber l5 and l6, was their first offering on the altar of dramatic achievement. The Cast: John Allison-Robert Stanley, Dr. Langford-Roy Zaun, Emily Allison -Jane Blackwood, Thomas Dumont-John Edler, Joy Allison--Phoebe Riley, Augusta Dumont-Audrey Meadway, Mrs. Laura Howard-Mary Anthony, Phyllis Dumont-Doris Wood, Jimmie Howard-Louis Rakavage, Jennie-Marie Allen, Eddie Lester-Donald Swanson, Count Nicholas Rinaldo-William Mikoda. The story gave two hours of fun with the Allison family and the com- plications which ensued when they decided to entertain Count Nicholas Rinaldo, an Austrian nobleman. EARLY MOURNING On April l3 and I4 the curtain again rang up-and down-on the light- ed stage, this time on the last dramatic success of their high school years, the comedy, Early Mourning. As the cast came before the audience to take their curtain calls, Donald Wagner stepped from the part of Don Alcott, the dashing movie star, Don's fiancee became Doris Wood, and the talkative Evelyn was Audrey Meadway. Similarly the others stepped from character to reveal: Selma, the colored maid--Aline Yarbough, Joe Lincoln, Selma's boy friend-Donald Swanson, James Clark, an absent-minded professor- Richard Knecht, Judge Sewell-Robert Stanley, Commanding Verona Smylie-Marie Allen, Asher Crump, Verona's hen-pecked boy friend-Louis Rakavage, Doris Hull, a girl friend of Don's--Jane Blackwood, Mrs. Fanny Hull, who set her cap for James-Virginia Parker, Amos Comstock, a small- town horse-faced undertaker-John Edler, Heinie, the undertaker's assistant -Elwin Batts, Hector Minneau, an insurance investigator-Richard Sieber- krob, Cuthbert-a small dog. As the lights go up, with all work and effort gratified, the casts may well see the end of play life with the' contentedness of achievement. twenty-six

Page 32 text:

Girl Reserves The Girl Reserve Club has drawn within its circle the largest number of members in several years. Under the leadership of Doris Wood and our capable adviser, Miss Woods, we have many interesting and entertaining meetings. Various acts take place behind the closed doors-some problems, some fun, and some instructions, all of which leave the girls with something to think about-perhaps benefit by. The official acceptance of new members by the club was the Recognition Service and Tea which was held on February l5. In response to invitations many of our mothers at- tended. After welcoming our mothers the solemn service began, followed by a program including many of our members. The graduating members of the organization hope that next year will find the club as successful and cooperative as the past year has been. The officials of our club: President-Doris Wood Vice-President-Virginia Parker Secretary-Harriet Bower Treasurer--Isabelle Hetherington Program Chairman-June Norcross Assistant Program Chairman-Margaret Katzenberger Hi-Y The Hi-Y opened the '39-'40 club year by the election of officers. After nomina- tions, ballots, and confusion were over, the results were announced. Roy Zaun was to hold the reins in the driver's seat, Ralph Erickson was chief assistant to our president, and Dick Shaner held down the office of Secretary-Treasurer. All went well for about three months, speakers were obtained, movies shown, dances held, while peace and co-ordination held sway. Then, like a bolt from the blue, we found none were truly members of the club as no one had ever been initiated. Alas! Alackl What to do? Ah! To our adviser, Mr. Cummins, a light shone. We would have the seniors initiated by alumni members and they, in turn, would haze the underclassmen. This, one might say with a touch of irony, happily transpired. Once more the club settled down to business-the active business of competing in the Hi-Y basketball tournament at North East. The team of Zaun, Edler, Blackwood, Stanley, Mikoda, Rakavage, and Riley victoriously met Springboro but were crushed by Girard in the finals. Our social functions were few and far between toward the end of the year. We did, however, sell magic slates and sponsor a skating party to buoy our sinking fund. All good things have an end and the Hi-Y was no exception. We said finis to this year's activities with the coming of spring after making plans for the further advance- ment of our club next fall. twenty-eight