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

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during the school year. Then too, a number of fellows were to join up on the inactive list of the Army Air Force. As Willy wandered up the center aisle he drew near a knot of his pals. Horning in on the conversation Willy was just in time to catch Stan Wright’s description of what he, Jimmy Clayton and Stanley Joy did at Boys’ State in the early part of the summer. Willy also gathered by the conversation floating around that a lot of the fellows had worked here, there and everywhere during the summer recess. However the first bell brought them all to order as it had in those dim and distant years way back in 1938. But it was Miss Urie and not Mrs. Ryan who introduced herself as their home room teacher and class advisor along with Mr. Currier for the forthcoming year. The class of ’44 distinguished itself during its senior year in the field of dramatics and music. The Music Field is a class of ’44 specialty. The Boys’ Quartet, Band and Glee Club are all heavily sprinkled with '44 talent. In the absence of Miss Hill “Stan” Wright put the Glee Club through its paces at the Christmas assembly. Jimmy Clayton romped the band through a few numbers also. The whole was a satisfactory assembly. “Burt” Shepard and Violet Pierce won first place in the Watson Prize Speaking Contest, Jimmy Clayton and Mafelda Iz .o came in second. Few wilj .orget Dick Wood and Betty Densmore as L'il Abner and Daisy Mae in the Senior Stunt. That was a rootin’, tootin’ and SHOOTIN’ little sketch about the Hill Billy's, Revenooers and the Martins and the Coys. That was a night of high suspense until the final results were announced. The Seniors had to content themselves with a lowly third. Oh, well, it was a lot of fun. Tre Dramatic Club entered the “Powers That Be in the District One Act Play Contest. Hartford High School got third place in a field of three. Members of the cast were Norman Fortier, Alice Puller, Roberta LaPlante, Betty Densmore, Marjorie Gauthier and Peter Perry. “The Saturday Evening Ghost a three act play presented by the Senior Class was well received by the audience. Chief mystery about the play was Stanley Wright’s disappearance up the chimney. C hief interest lay in iolet Pierce’s love for a ghost in an old English Castle. Added items of note were Vernon Osgood’s performance as an American Soap King, filthy with the old lucre; his wife, Beverly Greenwood; a pair of brats by Norman Fortier and Rosie Morale; an eccentric young Englishman by Peter Perry; the ghost and an Eng-lish Lord by Stanley Wright; and an old English nanny by Charlotte Lyman. Not to be forgotten was the Senior Ball. The first at Hartford High for many a year. After sweating out the obtaining of a band. The Royal Barons from Randolph furnished us with a very acceptable platter of music. Looking backward over the years to that day in 1938 when the l eginnings of the “Class of 1944” first met in rooms 12 and 14, later added to in force by the Wilder, West Hartford, North Hartland and Quechee contingents, it is rather unbelievable that we should have progressed so far in what seems to be a short time. Probably every class has felt and will feel that same emotion, but that feeling is there nevertheless. Those six years spent in Hartford High school weren’t wasted. We learned a lot and had a lot of fun doing it. 16

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Oakes and Marion Mooney; and he took his first date to the Junior Prom. It was a rather painful affair for him at first, but after awhile he lost himself in the spirit of things. Burton Shepard was elected President. That was the year “The Army Has Us Nailed Up, But They C an't Keep Us Down” won second prize in Stunt Night. Came the Junior Year. Willy was sixteen now with a job working nights in the baggage department at the railroad station. It was hard going at first but after awhile the four hours didn’t bother him at all. During the Christmas season he held down an eight hour trick, frequently stretching it to twelve hours. The class of ’44 moved from rooms 6 and 7 to 4 and 3; Miss Kingsbury and M iss Kelleher respectively. Miss Coleman took Miss Kelleher’s place in the middle of the year. As Juniors we brought home the first prize in Stunt Night with a sketch about the villain, the hero, and the farmer’s daughter. That year the Juniors elected Marjorie Gauthier president; threw a successful Junior Prom under the capable direction of “French Inc.” Willy will never forget the work he put in that Prom just decorating. Evergreens after evergreens were hung in a solid bank all around the walls of the gym, on the stage, on the balcony and on the score board. Evergreens that wouldn’t have existed had it not l een for Stanley Joy’s, Dennis Hoisington’s and Tuffy Wright’s efforts along the foresting angle, Willy shared a lot of people’s sentiments “I don’t care if I don’t see another spruce tree the rest of my life.” Anyway, the Prom went over swell. The chairs and tables around the sides of the gym added a nice exclusive touch. And we lost only SI.50. Willy got to know some newcomers to the class. Barbara hite from North Hart-land, Erma Summarsell from Woodstock, Mafelda Izzo, Marbara Burke, inona LaRock, Ruth Mclnnis and George Adams all from Queehee and vicinity. Another big event of the year for the Juniors was the Operetta, Hats Off.” A large majority of the speaking parts were held by Juniors, l esides, the class was well represented in the extras. Marjorie Gauthier and Hartley Thompson shone well in the Watson Prize Speaking Contest. “Gauchv” won first place for the girls with Hartley picking up second with a mighty deliverance of “The Third Olympiad.” Come the Senior Year At last the glorious day arrived, Willy finally achieved his life long ambition: on the morning of Septeml er 7, 1943 Willy entered the High School building and wralked confidently into room 5. He was a Senior. It will lie a day to l e remembered. Looking around that first day of school in Septemlwr 1943, he saw that a number of his pals were missing. Gone were the laughing countenances of Leonard Jacobs and Raymond Byron. They were in the Navy and Army. Leonard Timmons after attending Boys State in the summer went into the Army Air Force. Missing also was the granite profile of Hartley Thompson. “Hart” was in the RCAF. incent Agan had also gone into the Army. Leo Fitzmorris and Billy Kontos were both to enter the Navy 15

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Boys in the Armed Forces Hartley Thompson. Pilot Officer in R.C.A.F. London. Ontario. Canada Leonard Jacobs. MoMM 3 c U. S. Navy Overseas Raymond Byron, F rivate Army Air Corps Kcisler Field, Miss. Vincent Agan. Private Army Overseas William Kontos. S 2 c U. S. Navy Portland, Maine 17 Leo Fitzmorris, S 2 c U. S. Navy Overseas Leonard Timmons, Private Army Air Corps Clovis, Mexico Ralph Coutermarsh, TM 3 c U. S. Navy Overseas