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

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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]

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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]

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meant to) ; even our Ernest himself was nonplussed. The great multitude of freshmen were then ushered to the Senior Shrine of our talented Helen Dustin, where they reverently knelt and hailed the Senior Class. Thus, the formal initiation was brought to a close. It was not long after this that we ! egan making preparations for our stunt in the annual Stunt Night Program. The day came; the hour arrived: and seniors revealed their conception of ‘The World of Tomorrow”. Marjorie Harvey, and Alex Kontos made dutiful wife and husband to their commanding son, Rodney Tardie. and their daughter. Helen Jorgensen, in their version of “The Home of Tomorrow”. Our second scene took us to the great and glamorous city of Washington, where we found “President Hoosevelt and Her Cabinet Members”. A happy Washington this, with its knitting husbands, and its garrulous women discussing the affairs of state. We brought our “World of Tomorrow” to a close by presenting “The Last of the Nazis”. One quotation from the scene will surfire,- I quote the last nazi, (The I ast of the Nazis), “1 have been taking candy away from babies: I have been sticking pins in their balloons; I have been hitting widows over their heads!” Little wonder that our “World of Tomorrow” won for us the first prize—at last! At the Alumni Reception, which was given in honor of Miss Reagan, the English III-A class gave a one-act comedy entitled “The First Dress Suit”. The cast, with the exception of one, was a graduate of the class of 36 at the White River Grammar School, and was composed of Helen Dustin. Jacquelyn Boivin, Alex Kontos. and John Sawyer. Again we might say well done, thou good and faithful Seniors. In the Watson Prize Speaking Contest four of the five members from our class who participated were winners. Helen Dustin’s fine interpretation of the humorous monologue. “The Widow Bedott’s Visitor”, gave her the right to win first prize for the girl Bella Corbin, with her Canadian dialect poems, won second prize: and Jacquelyn Boivin won the third prize for the girls. Ralph Regione and Gregg McCanna were the male con'estants. the former winning the third prize for the hoys. After the contest the one-act plav. “Submerged”, was presented with the following cast of seniors: George Stanley, John Sawyer, Ernest Stoekwell. Alex Kontos, and Armine Wood. Many from our class were placed on the athletic teams. The football season proved to he better than that of the previous vear due to the hard efforts of Richard Whitney. Robert Smith. George Stanley . Alex Kontos. Armand Dionne. Richard Mock. Dean Reynolds, and Clvde Curtis. The hoys’ basketball season proved to he a long and successful one. The team, which was composed of Frank DePalo. Richard Mock. Ralph Regione. Gregg McCanna. and Dean Reynolds, became the first champions of the neyvlv formed Southern Vermont League, winning eight out of ten games in the league, and seventeen out of twentv-two diirin® the entire season. The first five were ably assisted by I-ester Jones and David Wright. The girL haske'hall team featuring Helen Jorgenson. Teresa Jackson. Virginia Napolitano. and Ramona Hathorn proved also to he successful, winning nine out of the fourteen games played. We certainly did have many outstanding athletes in our class! In April we presented the lively three-act comedy. “Ratehelor Born . Among the seniors to make their debut yvere Dean Rey nolds, who had all feminine hearts aflutter as he enacted the rob of Phillip De Pourville: Hoyvard Logan, yvho plaved an inimitable “Crump”: Estelle Labhie. who impressed even the cast with her matronly dignity, and Dick Mock, who helped to make the “monastic establishment seem all the more a boys’ school. The old timers in dramatics to appear were Ralph Regine. the headmaster: Erne«t Stoekwell. the subma«ter: Thompson Close, the man who loved kissing little girls goodnight”: Helen Dustin. Gregg McCanna’s sweetheart (believe it or [17]