Hartford High School - Hartford Key Yearbook (White River Junction, VT)

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As before, the class membership was not the same as that of the previous year. We felt the loss of such classmates as Rachel Ricker, Irene Chabot, Wanda Rogenski, Irving Berry, Nathaniel Perry, and Rita Sanborn. We were, however, happy to welcome pupils from the Quechee Junior High School, among whom were: Helen Cole, Avis Leavitt, William Crosby, Robert Luce, and Daniel Brockway. Marie DeRoehe also came to us from the Danielson High School in Connecticut. Again it was time to consider seriously the question of class officers. With Raymond Lahar again president; Harold Jones, vice president; Madeline Moore, secretary; and Patsy Izzo, treasurer, the last half of our journey was begun. This year should bring the development of the class socially. Our financial reserve should reach a point sufficient to aid us in our last year. Yes, this was to be a grand year-—the best thus far. And it surely was! Juniors proceeded to bring home two prizes in the Annual Watson Prize Speaking Contest, first prize going to Charles Snow and second to Marie DeRoehe. Other classmates to appear were: Lois Jones. Gladys Couter-marsh, John Goss, Patsy Izzo, and Everett Whitney, who were, we thought, justly deserving of the liigh praise which Mr. Watson, the sponsor, accorded them. It was in the yearly Fidac Essay Contest, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, that Collamer Abbott brought us further victory in the form of second prize. Mayme Riley again did her bit by claiming the title of Most Valuable Player in basketball, an honor bestowed on her at the close of the Girls’ Tournament in the early spring. The Rotary club, to show its appreciation of the good work of the girls’ basketball team, sponsored a sight-seeing trip to Boston. Included in this party were Josephine Napolitano and Phyllis Beattie, two of our most popular players, who returned, wise and solemn, after visiting many places of historical fame. It was after our successful Junior Prom that we acquired the name of “the millionaires,” for the Prom proved to be one of the most successful events of the season. “Music arose with its voluptuous swell Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again, And all was merry as a wedding bell.” So it was! The auditorium, gayly attired in bright roses of our own making, resounded every chord of gay music by Doug Newton’s Orchestra, and carefree Hartfordians, young and old, mingled in the festive scene. The evening of graduation found us awed and impressed, as we slowly followed the Seniors down the aisle, Juniors together for the last time. Just one more year, and we would take their plaees. In the meantime, however, there was to be another June, another parting, another vacation. The Senior Yeah September, 1937, found sixty-six Seniors back at Hartford High School. There was only one change in the faculty this year, Miss VanDeusen returning after an absence of three years, in place of Miss Winn, now teaching at Thetford. Even in this last year the personnel of our group underwent many changes. There were three new Seniors among us, Jeanne Hawick, Amy Lang, and Edmund Freitas, who have added greatly to our success. Gladys Holbritter, Gwendolyn Smith, and Roger Renault, however, had left the fold. For the last time we chose class officers. With real foresight we elected John Goss president, and much should be said in praise of him. It was John who made plans in September for the Senior activities of the year. It was John who straightened out difficulties of every sort when we were at a loss as to which way to turn.

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The Sophomore Year When we returned the next September, after our pleasant vacation, we all agreed that it was good to be back! Good to be with schoolmates again! Good to resume our work and play where we had left it in June! With definite enthusiasm we accepted our responsibilities as worthy Sophomores. We would make this, we told ourselves, a year of hard work, with enough fun, of course, to keep us contented and happy. There were several changes to which we had to adjust ourselves. We began to be more conscious of differences in studies. We talked more definitely about being Commercials or Scientific! . We also found that we were to encounter new teachers, some of them not new to the school, but new to us. In place of Miss Thurston, the home economics teacher, was Miss Ainsboro, and later in the year Miss Kelleher succeeded Miss Jensen in the business department. Nor were all of our classmates back to school. Those who did not return were Ruperta Trottier, Arlene Driscoll, Marie Couture, Ula Miller, and Madeline Brooks. We were sorry to have them leave, for they were promising pupils. The newcomers consisted of Raymond Lahar, who came to us from Newport, Vermont, and Madeline Moore from Quechee, both of whom we were pleased to welcome. The enrollment for the class now totaled seventy pupils. Class officers were chosen in September, careful consideration being taken to elect those best fitted for their positions. Raymond Lahar was elected chief director. Everett Whitney became the vice president; Madeline Moore, secretary; and Patsy Izzo, treasurer. These were the competent officers who guided us through the Sophomore year. With the passing of a few weeks, the problem of a Stunt Night program again confronted us. We wanted first prize and we wanted it enough to work hard for it. (()ur Freshmen eclipse still lingered in our minds.) We got to work! Some unknown genius suggested a comedy act with the famous Dionne quintuplets as models, and the suggestion became a definite plan. Stunt Night found the Sophomores presenting an hysterical duplicate of “a day with the quints,” bottles and everything! In addition to this, an alphabetic advice line-up was given for the benefit of stumbling Freshmen, with the hope that they might, successfully or otherwise, follow it. The judges were kind and awarded us a prize. We were fast becoming, it was apparent, an important part of the entertainment life of the school. Day after day, rain or shine, would find John and Robert Goss dragging enormous cellos or over-grown violins through the main entrance of the building and into the small assembly hall. Here, with Robert Logan’s and Collamer Abbott’s violins, and Dorine Fortier’s trumpet, the boys left their unquestioning instruments for a quiet snooze, in preparation for the strenuous rehearsal to come later in the day. John Dutton became widely known for his flying fingers, and Virginia Renehen and Dorothy Swanson for their delightful harmonizing. Carl Regione and Mayme Riley already showed signs of athletic prowess, promising much for the class. But time does not stand still, even for Sophomores, nor did it for us. Before we knew it, warm spring days had come. We heard Juniors talking of the approaching Junior Prom, while Senior faces were already lined with care. Too young to understand all this, we went on as before. Foolish in our wisdom, we thought, “What wouldn’t we do as upper classmen, and what wouldn’t we be as Juniors!” The Junior Year In September, 1936, we took our place again, this time as the Junior class. The position of principal, which Mr. Parker had filled so ably for nine years, was-now occupied by Mr. Hilton Holland, who had previously been our popular coach, and Mr. Freitas was put in charge of the athletic teams. Miss Winn was the new Latin and English teacher, and Miss Leach had joined the Home Economics depart ment.

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It was John, in other words, who pulled the strings! Others cn our governing board were: vice president, Marie DeRoche; secretary, Louisa Kontos; and treasurer, Edmund Freitas. William Crosby was given the responsible position of attorney, and Everett Whitney became our sergeant-at-arms. For the Stunt Night program,.we chose a double mock wedding, entirely reversing the usual matrimonial scheme. The characters were: Robert Goss and Everett Whitney, the blushing brides; and Helen Cole and Gertrude Hathorn, the nervous bridegrooms. The charming little flower girls, Carl Regione and Angelo Seelza, strewed their paper flowers along the biidal path, as Collamer Abbott jauntily bore the ring (before lie swallowed it!). Preceding the brides, marched the somewhat more conventional bridesmaids, Jane Bixby, and Evelyn Adams. There was a tremendous hush as the procession reached the altar, where the Reverend Pasquale Izzo stood- waiting. This year we received second prize. In December, Hartford High School entered the One-Act Play Festival at Hanover, with the play, “Beyond the Alps Lies Italy,’’ starring Jeanne Hawick and William Crosby. Other characters were portrayed by Christine Robinson, Pauline Eske, Marie DcRoche, Helen Cole, Avis Leavitt. Gladys CYutermarsh, Patsy I zzo, and John Goss. On the whole, the Seniors have been very well represented in sports. Edmund Freitas, or “Benny,” walked off with the title of All State Quarterback and is also captain of the All State Team. In March, the Garboes and Gables, Seniors who had taken | art in dramatics and prize speaking contests, formed the first organized dramatic club of the school in recent years. The charter members consisted of Christine Robinson, Jeanne Hawick, Avis Leavitt, Helen Cole, Pauline Eske, Marie DeRochc, Gladys Couter-marsh, Everett Whitney, Charles Snow, Patsy Izzo, John Goss, and William Crosby, with Miss (lakes and Mr. )sgood as advisers. Marie DeRoehe was selected as president of the society; William Crosby, vice president; Gladys Coutermarsh, secretary; and Everett Whitney, treasurer. Junior members were admitted after Prize Speaking, in April, and members of the Senior Play cast early in June. The Prize Speaking Contest again showed winners in our class. Arline Parker and Leo Sawyer won first prizes, and Robert Goss second place. Other classmates to compete were Mayme Riley, Dorothy Swanson, Kathleen Hazen, and Stewart Smith. The name of Marie DeRoehe again appears in our history, for it was she who received first prize at the State Prize Speaking Contest in Rutland, and who ably represented us at Burlington. One of our latest events, the Senior play, “The Nut Farm,” which was presented in April, gave conclusive proof, we thought, of the real talent in the class. It also added another layer to the fund of “the millionaires.” We had known certain members to be really good, but Pauline Eske, Arline Parker, Christine Robinson, Madeline Moore, Charles Snow, Harold Jones, Kenneth Byron, John Goss, Robert Goss, and Raymond Lahar went far beyond our expectations. Raymond Lahar also deserves special mention for winning first prize in the National Defense Essay Contest, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and later first prize in the state. The second prize in the Fidac Essay Contest was also Mr. Lahar’s. The last few weeks have been busy ones. College catalogues have all been examined closely; normal schools, colleges, and hospitals have been duly visited, for the last few weeks of school never fail to bring Seniors face to face with that mysterious something which we call the future. So ends the history of the class of ’38. It has been a happy one because of the many good friends who have made numerous advantages possible for us. No sacrifice has been too great for our loving parents. Great has been their labor; great has been our reward. Gladys Coitf.rmarsh