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

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Patricia Mock, Edith Rennie, Lora Lyman, Peggy Quinlan, Norma Parrott, Mary Byron, Dorothy Mock, Audrey Mace, Ruth Eaton, Cathleen Blanchard, Bill Smith, and Bernard Dwyer were others of the supporting cast. In March along came the annual Watson Prize Speaking Contest and since this was for the most part a Junior affair, a large number were invited to participate. Lora Lyman. Caroline Cameron, Helen Coffin, Robert Stockwell, and Bernard Dwyer made us proud of them, but it was Susan Wright with her yarn about “de bear” and “de alligators” who took the second prize. About this time there appeared, again, the Fidac Essay Contest of which Leon Earnham was the very fortunate winner, for he received not only the local recognition but the state as well. But all this was as nothing when honorable mention in the national contest came why, we were even known in W ashington! Leon’s essay on National Defense also came in second. How’s that for a magnanimous record!? It was about the time that these awards were presented when thoughts of a Junior Prom began to unfold. Surely so much work must be balanced yet such questions arose as: “Would we have one?” “Could we afford it?” These were only a few of the many questions which were brought before us. Then came the annual “W hat if we go in the hole?” But at last the night came and believe it or not there was a profit! a substantial one, too. The music furnished by the Barbarv Coast” Orchestra with its “Waltz You Saved for Me” and the jazzy “()ld Apple Tree” appeared to be a sensation. It was a successful Prom in spite of all our worry. 11 was in the early spring when the Sportman Show was held over in Kendall’s Oarage. We decided that perhaps we might make money again, this time in a refreshment booth. Again Dame Fortune smiled as Leon eagerly counted the dimes and nickels which meant just so much more for us and for our future. At last came the end of our third year. On the night of graduation we took our places soberly as we led the Seniors down the middle aisle. W hy were we sober? I doubt whether many asked, for we knew that in one year’s time, twelve flying months (if nothing happened , we would be following in their footsteps. Marie de Roche, the valedictorian of the graduating class, presented our president, Leon, with a cap and gown and a golden key. It wouldn't have been human to be unimpressed bv this ceremony which brought us at last to our Senior year. SENIOR YEAR This last fall when our footsteps led for the fourth consecutive year, to Hartford High, we found again a changing world. The seniors were given the old assembly hall for a home-room, a room rich in tradition, with its memories of many graduations, senior plays, and prize speaking contests. I he stage with its blue velvet curtains and wee ante-rooms lined with books beckoned us “home. Hartford had at last the ideal senior room. We also found that, to some extent, faculty changes had taken place. Miss Ainsboro was replaced by Miss Rowley and Mr. Allen was succeeded by Miss iken in the music. Mr. Allen was now the principal of the Quechee grammar and Junior High school. Mr. Freitas took charge of the history classes and Miss Young, the work in French; Mrs. Ryan, the English instructor in the Junior High, also had one of the sophomore classes. Miss Burmaster was the junior-high mathematics teacher and Mr. Witt, had mathematics and social science in both the Junior and Senior High. Much to our joy, we didn’t lose very many students this year. Helen ( offm and Helen Burnham, I believe, were the only girls and Lawrence Adams, the boy, who did not return. It was with enthusiasm that we greeted Marjorie Adams

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ulty,” a sketch which we can proudly say came in second as far as the judges were concerned. The sports followed up as usual! Several of our hoys went out for football but Harold Rising was the only one who made the first team. When winter came, basketball came. Not (|uite so many girls went out for it this year, although some did stay in training in hope that before long their baskets might be winning ones. Baseball found several of our boys on the field running, not for dear life, but for dear old Hartford High. In the winter of this year Miss Oakes chose certain students of the class to participate in the Fidac Contest. It was almost unbelievable and too good to be true when it was clearly announced that Cornelia Cushing was the second winner! At graduation a selected few ushered with great pomp and ceremony. The looked very dignified as they showed the parents and friends of the graduates the few waiting seats. Lake Morey again attracted our attention after graduation and all those who the year before had enjoyed themselves in this outdoor life repeated the trip with as much vigor and enthusiasm as before. With this expedition to the north our second year ended. JUNIOR YEAR In 1937 most of us returned to venture into the so-called hardest year. This time we found only one change among the teachers. Miss Winn, who had struggled to get some of us through “Caesar” was now replaced by Miss Van Deusen, a former teacher here. We were also pleased to admit into our class Claire Marshall from Lancaster; Ralph Wright from Lebanon; and Dorothy Moore, Lucille Wood, Helen Coffin and Kingston Packard from the Ouechee Junior High School. There were, however, those who did not return, among whom were Cornelia Cushing, Arthur Judd, Ralph Rose, Richard Rosenbeck, Fredrick Southwick, Lena Gallo, Marion Punt and Elizabeth Cone. During the course of the year Helen Hathorn, Lawrence Adams, and Doris Companion also left. On election day, under the supervision of Miss Kelleher and Miss Kingsbruv, we elected our officers even more carefully than before. Here it was our third year and what did we have to show for it! Not much. What we needed was more money in the treasury because the next year we knew wouldn’t leave much time for earning any; therefore, we needed someone who most certainly would be able to help us meet the rainy day. Leon Farnham seemed to us to be worthy of the leadership and as his backer and assistant, the vice-president, Harold Rising, seemed to meet the requirements. Francis Standish was voted secretary and Norma Parrott, treasurer. I am proud to be able to say (in fact we all should be proud to say) that these officers co-operated extremely well to make that year one not to be forgotten. Their work as leaders of a large class is to be commended. Next came the rumors of Stunt Night, that event which always seemed to appear when we didn't have any thoughts or ideas in our poor little heads. A bright hunch came, however, and we decided that we’d have a hospital scene. With Bernard Dwyer and Henry Lewis as the internes with their hammers and saws and with Norman Beliveau, Dorothy Moore, Lawrence Adams, and Geraldine Churchill as patients, and Caroline Cameron as a nurse, we managed to take away the first prize. From third to second to first we were improving! Mr. Allan, head of the music department, staged in December Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H. M. S. Pinafore.” We can picture now our Susan Wright with her lovely songs to Charlie Snow of '38. Caroline Cameron, Geraldine Churchill,

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from Barre and Herbert Stanley, and Clifton Valley. We also found that little Cornelia Cushing had returned. During the course of the year came Johnny Warne who played on the football squad, and was such an all-round good sport that we were truly sorry when the call of the West came and he left our school. Muriel and Raynold Corbin came from Lewiston, Maine, and Jean Thompson joined us from Springfield, Mass. In the latter part of the winter we regretted losing Dorothy Quintin who had faithfully stuck by her class, attended the dances, ushered at the basketball games, sold tickets up on the athletic field, and in short, had created a warm spot in the hearts of us all. In October we held our annual election at which time Leon Farnham was reelected to the presidency. Robert Stockwell was made vice-president; Caroline Cameron, secretary; Dorothy Moore, treasurer; Leo Chabot, sergeant-at-arms; and Harold Rising, class attorney. These we felt were most worthy of their positions, and have they failed us? Our answer is unanimously No! It was not long after this when we carried out the usual tradition of seniors giving freshmen a reception. With “Lawyer Rising, “Judge Lewis, “Sheriff Jandro, and “Policeman Jarvis as the most spectacular characters of the evening, the freshmen watched members of their class being convicted to twenty thousand hours in the much used “detention room.” The evening was concluded with dancing, the music being furnished by the school victrola. This year at stunt night we presented a book entitled “Our Impressions of Life by A. Senior, a stunt which stood third in the rank of prizes. We tried in our feeble way to show the audience a modern orchestra; modern language, as is; modern dancing, and modern traveling; but somehow no one seemed to “get it” and the third prize somewhat lowered our dignity. In the fall our football representatives consisting of Harold Rising as captain and Ira Coutermarsh, Kenneth Carey, Leo Chabot, Roy Plummer, ('lair Lovell, met with a tough season in which they unfortunately tied one game and lost the others. The basketball season proved to be better than the one of football. The boys’ team starring Leon Farnham and Anthony Martello, from our class, won 9 out of 18 games. Our girls’ team, starring Norma Parrott, Dorothy Mock, Patricia Mock, Peggy Quinlan, Florence Adams, and Betty Bean, walked away with 11 out of 14 games. As spring began to approach us our thoughts deepened for well we knew that it wouldn't be long before we would be------- where? Some of us would go on with a college education, some were filling out nurses’ applications, and some- what were they to do? It was a deep mystery, a mystery for many of us still to be solved. Plans were made for the yearbook. We hoped to have a fine one! Leon chose as an able committee for this book, Caroline Cameron, Virginia Close, Susan Wright, Henry Lewis, Harold Rising, Helen Perdelwitz, Dorothy Moore, Lucille Wood, James Donahue and Robert Stockwell. What couldn’t we expect from such a group as this—Nobel prize prospects, all of them. In March, again came prize speaking and indeed we were proud for Norma Parrott took first prize with Ruth Eaton close at her heels, and Henry Lewis, with his Congo poems, entranced the judges into awarding him the first prize for boys. Virginia Southwiek, Cornelia Cushing, Alta Carlisle, and Lyle Davenport were the other members to do themselves proud. Cathleen Blanchard and Robert Stockwell presided with their usual charm and grace. During the interminable hour which follows the speaking, while the judges are reaching a decision, the class in dramatics presented “The Revolt of the Morons” with Bernard Dwyer, Harold Rising, and Dorothy Moore all leads. It was the best crowd of “Morons” we ever saw.