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

Page 17 text:

With the passing of sports came graduation of the das of 37, and for this affair a group of us sophomores were chosen to don party gowns and Sunday suits to act as ushers. As the seniors inarched down the aisle, we knew that another parting had arrived, and that before us were still two unconquered years. Junior Year In September, 1938, we returned to enjoy our third year at Hartford. It was good to he hack and see familiar faces once again. To our class we were pleased to welcome, Hally Littlefield, from Concord; Gerald Tenney, from Randolph; Bella Corbin, from Lewiston, Maine; Erva Doyle, from Sharon; jacauelyn Boivin, from Bratlleboro; and June Hadley, Irene Packard. Jeanette Wood, James Howard. Marion Punt. Vera Perkins, and Pauline Hudson, from Quechee. Marjorie Andrews, who had been ill during our sophomore year, and Eva Williamson, were the only ones who did not return. Pearl Cashman and Lucy Drew left us during the latter part of this year. There were changes in the faculty. Miss Rowley, a graduate of the University of Vermont, replaced Miss Ainsboro: and Miss Aiken, of New York University, succeeded Mr. Allen as director of music. Mr. Allen had now become the principal of the Quechee Grammar and Junior High School. Miss Young took charge of all French j-lasses, and Mr. Freitas, the history classes. The addition of the Junior High also brought new teachers, some of whom were to have both Junior High and Senior High School subjects. Miss Burmaster became the mathematics teacher; Mr. Witt, mathematics, general science, and physics instructor’ Mrs. Rvan a teacher of English; and Mr. Peterson, instructor of social science and physical training. The annual election day seemed more important than ever, for we wanted to make this year a smash hit. a big vear! We wanted to become an outstanding class, a clas we could he proud of. a class that could and would accomplish good aims! Alexander kontos. who had displayed such fine leadership during the previous year. was re-ele-ted president. Dean Reynolds was made vice-president; Pauline Wienka, our secretary; and John Sawyer treasurer. Our first, hut not too impressive start was at Stunt Night. For our program we had a scene taken hv our curly-headed Hollywood cameraman. Frank DePalo and directed hv none other than that voung. dashing, but doubtful. Dean Reynolds, our real Hollywood director. We had our own actors and actresses. Our blond-headed Pearl Cashman impersonated Mae West; Armine Wood, the stupid Charlie Chaplin; Irene Packard, our Shirley Temple: June Harley, a temperamental child; and that hillarious. rollicking trio of Phillips. Whitney, and Smith were the Marx Brothers! Yet. this stunt failed to suit the worthy judges, and we were awarded last prize, the fourth one! In March the annual Watson Prize Speaking contest was held. Only contestants from the Junior and Senior Classes were allowed to participate. This gave a chance for the elect to display their talents in dramatic interpretation. From our class, Alexander Kontos. Ernest Stockwell. and Armine Wood, were our representatives. We rvcre pleased when Alexander Kontos, with his fine interpretation of “The Dentist and the Gas”, was awarded the second prize for the hoys—and yve yvere not a little proud of the others, too. [15]

Page 16 text:

Oil ihe football, basketball, and baseball teams were found several of us tiny freshmen. We did not have many outstanding players at that time, but later on we would show our ability. We were only freshmen; what could anyone expect? Our first year came to an end as all first years do. Nor were w'e entirely original in taking a trip to Lake Morey for a grand finale. There we swam, rowed, and fished in the clear cool waters: there we last “held forth” as a Freshman Class. Sophomore Year In the fall of ’37 we gathered once again to face another year, a year of many changes. We found that many of us needed to change our courses; new subjects in French, world history, bookkeeping, geometry, etc., were offered. Which ones would we take? We were definitely out of the freshmen stage, but we had more confidence in ourselves to forge ahead. We found only one change in the faculty. Miss Van Deusen, a former teacher here, returned and succeeded Miss Winn as the English and Latin teacher. Nor did we have with us any longer Aline Brouilette, Robert Kirkwood, Hilda Judd. Norman Fournier. John A. Sawyer, Jean Jockel, Janies Curtis, and George and Dewey Varney. To our class came Carman Hefflon, from Lebanon; Gregory MeCanna, from New Brunswick, New Jersey; Teresa Jackson, from Windsor; Enid I,eavitt and Lorrain Stockwell, from Quechee; and Armine Wood, from Concord. Ida Broughton and Clifton White left us during this year. (.lass officers were soon elected. Alexander Kontos, our small hut able leader, became president; Ralph Regione, vice-president; Ramona Hathorn, treasurer; and Elaine Mock, secretary. These were the officers of our sophomore year, the chosen ones who surely took responsibility in an efficient and trustworthy manner. Stunt Night approached us for the second time, and we wanted to acquire a higher ranking than that of the prc ious year. But to no avail! Even with our Alexander Kontos, “The Great and Petite,” and Pauline Weinka presiding as the “school mam” of a fantastic school, we were again awarded third prize. Ah! hut the Future, we knew, would be ours! A little later for a real social affair, we gave a “Scavenger Hunt”. And w'hat an affair it was! Looking for bricks, hair pins, old telephone directories, engravings on gravestones, and getting autographs of movie ushers constituted the hunt. Frank DePalo and George Stanley went into the hunt in real fashion and emerged triumphant, winning the grand prize of a box of chocolates. What hunters! What a time! W hat a “Scavenger Hunt!” Many of us, as in our freshman year, went out for the various sports of football, basketball, and baseball. Many were the times that we sat on the bench, looked on. and waited for a chance to get into the games. Signs of improvement brought many into action; in fact three of our classmen, Frank DePalo, Ralph Regione, and Deaii Reyonlds, were placed, at times, on the first team in basketball. Richard Whitney, Alec Kontos, George Stanley, Ric hard Mock. Robert Smith. Lester Jones, and Armand Dionne also showed good promise on the football field. Gregory MeCanna and Thompson Close were promising candidates in baseball. On the girls' basketball team. Helen Jogenson, one of the team’s outstanding players, found a place. Marion Miller and Virginia Napolitano, substitutes, also saw action. We certainly did have many promising athletes, even then. What would they he in two more years? The future would soon tell. ] 14. [

Page 18 text:

Weeks later at an assembly, prizes were awarded to Hally Littlefield and Virginia Napolitano for their excellent essays on National Defense. Thompson Close received honorable mention. The Daughters of the American Revolution awarded Ramona Hathorn the second prize for her essayr on “Florence Nightingale . Howard Logan and Ralph Regione received honorable mention. In another assembly Mr. Holland awarded Virginia Napolitano with a medal for being the all-round student in history class, and one to Frank DePalo, for his fine work in industrial arts. Were some of us good? We thought so! It was also a real honor for Ernest Stockwell, Richard Mock. Dean Reynolds. Lester Jones, and Alexander Kontos, to be chosen by the faculty to attend the Roys State in Northfield, Vermont. The purpose of sending these boys there was to learn the procedure of state, town, and county government. We were glad to have these five juniors represent our school in Boys’ State. It was in April that the auditorium was elaborately decorated for the much awaited Junior Prom. It was a gala affair! Girls in lovely gowns, and boys in dark dress-up suits danced to the tunes of the Green Collegians, who gave us swing in real fashion. Did we enjoy this prom? You bet! A week before graduation marching rehearsals were called for us juniors. After days of drilling land I do mean drilling) graduation day came, and once more in colorful gowns and dress-up suits marched we proud juniors down the aisle to lake our place as the future seniors. Alexander Kontos, our president, was paged by the president himself, that dictator of 1939. and presented with the huge golden key. which was almost as big as our own Alex. Draped on bis small body was a long, dark gown, and on his head was placed a weird square cap. What a man was our little Alex then! And what a class would we be!! Why, this was the key which could unlock all doors! All the barriers were down!!! Senior Year 1939, found sixty-six proud seniors back at Hartford. There were no changes in the faculty this year. Only three of our classmates did not return: Urlyn Berry. Arthur Cowles, and Erva Doyle. Marion Punt left us during the fall term. To our class we gladly welcomed Clyde Curtis, from Lebanon; and Beulah Martin, from Rochester, Vermont. In October the senior class met in Room 5 to elect class officers. Ernest Stock-well. who was elected the class president, has show n throughout the year, his fine loyalty and leadership, alwavs trying in every way possible to serve us well. Other class officers elected were Thompson Close, vice-president; Helen Dustin, secretary; John Sawyer, treasurer; Alexander Kontos, class attorney; and Rodney Tardie. sergeant-at-arms. We also wish to pay fitting tribute to these officers of our last year at Hartford. In late October we gave a reception to the freshmen. The reception opened with the grand march, seniors parading with freshmen around the hall. In old-fashioned tuxedos and dresses of a dav gone by. waltzed forth our antiquated waltzers. Dean Reynolds. Pauline Wienka. Enid Leavitt, and Robert Couterinarsh. Then from the soft swaying tunes of old to the jazzv craze of the day. danced our jittery-jitterbugs. Edgar Aldrich. Irene Packard. June Hadlev. and Ralph Braley. Pecking, trucking, jiving, jitterbugging for all thev were worth! Next, from the tongue of President Stockwell came the address to the freshmen. To be sure, no one could understand it (no one was [16]