Higgins Junior High School - Tatler Yearbook (Thompsonville, CT)

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The Tatler (Cksa Will Dear Friends — You have been called together here to witness a solemn cere- mony, — the reading of the last will and testament of the Class of 1937 of the Alvin D. Higgins Junior High School of Thompsonville, Connecticut. As a repre- sentative of the law firm of Bonk and Kamaros, I shall now proceed to read to you that document. We, the Class of 1937, being in full possession of our well known and un- usual senses, and feeling sure that we are soon to come to the end of our happy existence in the A. D. Higgins School, desire to dispose of such worthwhile things as we possess before the time of our departure arrives. First of all, to the Class of 1938 we wish to give our excellent record for good behavior. We know that they will never be able to live up to it, but may they do their best. In this extraordinary Class of 1937 there are some who have certain posses- sions which we feel may be of use to the eighth graders of next year. Showing our great generosity we make the fol- lowing bequests: 1. Warren Bomely leaves his ever- present camera to Roland Lambert. 2. George Danforth leaves his popu- larity with the girls to William Desso. 3. Barbara Magill and Nancy Knox leave their giggles to Marie Gatto and Florence Franciamore. 4. Frank Russotto leaves his ability as a barber to Clifford Riley. 5. Edith Cote and Iris Yaenicke leave their chattering to Eleanor Colby and Janet Frew. 6. Betty Wishart leaves her dancing toes to her sister, Josephine. 7. Curtis Most leaves his picture de- veloping to Charles Stewart. 8. Joseph Kozacka leaves his joke cracking to Stanley Ragion. 9. Marcello Trigona leaves his ath- letic ability to Joseph Scavotto. 10. Felix Duda leaves his ability to ask questions to Marvin Neiman. 11. Barbara Guerrandeno leaves her voice to Charles Crem ona. ences, operettas and minstrel shov s, athletics, and student council. From these activities we have learned much that will help us toward successful liv- ing. We must now say farewell to the Higgins School and our last words are ones of grateful thanks for all that it has meant to the Class of 1937. Jerry Lepore. 12. Tony Sevarino leaves his fond- ness for skipping the 5 o’clock room to anybody in next year’s class who has to go as often as Tony should. 13. To Helen Zekowski, we leave Rose Gallo’s history ability. 14. Vito Tollarito leaves his job as baseball manager to Martin O’Brien. 15. Helen Pierog leaves her ability in printing to Joseph Basile. 16. Jerry Lepore leaves his knowl- edge to Mario Palmieri. 17. Edward Young leaves his person- ality to Edward Hoersch. 18. To Frank Zawada, we leave Frank Horton’s silly questions which he asks Miss Woods. 19. Margaret Renals leaves her shy- ness to Carol Beeman. 20. Nicholas Padrevita leaves his re- ducing tablets to Tony Calcasola. 21. Betty Snow leaves her curls to Claire Carmel. 22. Norma Allen leaves her tomboy ways to Janice Landers. 23. Eleanor Bak leaves her dramatic ability to Jackie Dineen. 24. To Emil Jasiminski, Frank Cook leaves his ambition and love of work. 25. Alphonse Misuraca leaves h’S good humor and his wise cracks to Norman Richards. 26. Agnes Zito leaves her liking for the boys to Helen Wrona. 27. Thomas Casarella leaves his con- tinuous question “May I get a drink” to Bertha Barscz. 28. To Helen Krajewski, Margaret King leaves her paints and brushes. 29. Sam Lauria leaves his bashful- ness to Ignario Rinaldi. 30. Gladys Depka leaves her blonde hair to T.ioris Fitzgerald. 31. The librarians leave their duties to the seventh grade girls chosen by Miss White. 32. Lena Rossi leaves her ability as an end man to Mary Mancini. 33. Mary Parvelac leaves her fond- ness for gum chewing to her sister, Eleanor. 34. To Shirley Harrison, Rose Bruno leaves her dimpled smile. 35. Frances Castoldi and Sophie Markowski leave their dishwashing abil- ity to the next year’s girls who will help Miss Ryan. 36. Raymond Halstead leaves his air- planes to Hurlburt Frew. 37. Sylvester Bottone leaves his curly hair to Benny Porcello. 38. Geno Santandrea and Walter

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A. D. Higgins Junior High School Again” Valedictory Essay We graduates have chosen for our Class Motto “Try Again ’ because we realize how many great men have reached the height of their ambition by persevering and trying again. This motto should help us also to be success- ful in whatever we do. In school we have seen that the pupils who get along well often have to try many times before they succee d. Of course we know from experience that one does not always do well in the first and maybe the second attempts, but if one keeps on trying hard enough he will finally accomplish what he aims to do. Why is it that some people are more successful than others? It is because they keep trying in spite of difficulties and discouragements, while others try once and give up. We all know that Babe Ruth did not hit many home runs when he first began to play baseball. The reason he became a great baseball player was because he kept on trying again and again to improve his record. What would our country be like if Washington had given up just because he had been defeated a few times by the British during the Revolutionary War? How could we communicate by cable with people in Europe if Cyrus Field had de- spaired of laying the Atlantic Cable just because it broke several times? How would we have airplanes today if the Wright Brothers had given up building them because their first airplane failed to fiy? Regardless of difficulties and fail- ures these men tried again and again until they succeeded. The two words to success surely are “Try Again.” The old proverb, “If at first you don’t succeed try, try again, is familiar to everyone. We respect people who keep on trying, and the greater difficulties and discouragements they overcome, the more we admire them for their perseverance. People who give up too easily are called “quitters.” They lack confidence and courage. This spirit of “trying again” is em- phasized in a poem by Phoebe Cary, called “Don’t Give Up.” “If you’ve tried and have not won. Never stop for crying; All that’s great and good is done Just by patient trying. Though young birds in flying, fall. Still their wings grow stronger; And the next time they can keep Up a little longer. Though the sturdy oak has known Many a blast that bowed her. She has risen again and grown Loftier and prouder. If by easy work you beat. Who the more will prize you? Gaining victory from defeat. That’s the test that tries you!” John D. Rockefeller, Sr., who died re- cently at the age of ninety-seven, was a good example of a person who put into practice our motto “Try Again.” Start- ing work at the age of sixteen, with nothing, his initial job paid him fifty dol- lars for the first three months’ work. By the time he had reached middle age he had amassed what many persons believed to be the largest fortune ever controlled by a private individual in the history of the world. He spent the first half of his life making money and the last half in giving it away. “I believe it is a duty,” he said many times, “for a man to get all the money he honestly can and to give away all he can.” He was a great benefactor of mankind throughout the world, having given a half billion dollars to universities, churches, benevolent corporations, and many other charitable institutions. John D. Rockefeller, Sr. used to say that the world is full of opportunities for men who have the determination to keep on looking for them. He gave some good practical advice to young men, when he said, “My advice to a young man is to go straight and to do the best you can to make a success for yourself and keep happy those who depend upon you. If you make a mistake remember, it is human to err, but try again and try harder. Above all be honest with your- self and with those with whom you deal.” Thus we see that John D. Rockefeller, Sr. affords a striking illustration of what energy and determination, and trying again will accomplish. Classmates, we must now leave the Higgins School where we have spent two happy years. This change from Junior High to Senior High is a new step for- ward in our lives, an adventure which we are eagerly anticipating. Before our days at the Higgins School are com- pletely ended, however, we should like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the many privileges we have so far enjoyed. We shall always have pleasant mem.ories of the Higgins School, our associations with the prin- cipal and teachers, our classroom experi-

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A. D. Higgins Junior High School Grenbien leave their catchers’ mitts to Sam Scalia. 39. Teddy Plizcka leaves his grin to Alfred Swentuickas. 40. Cyril Gordon leaves his job as Editor-in-Chief of the Tatler to one of next year’s pupils. 41. Frank Slapski leaves his short- ness to Mary Michelis. 42. Sophie Agrapides leaves her liter- ary ability to Rhodina Sisitsky. 43. John Wilby leaves his red hair and freckles to Sylvester Mangini. 44. To Vincent Vella, Madeline Christie leaves her wavy hair. The Class of 1937 leaves to the classes of the future the tree which was pre- sented by the Daughters of the American Revolution and which was planted in memory of Mr. King. As the time draws near for our de- parture from the A. D. Higgins School, we wish to leave our sincere appreciation and gratitude to our superintendent, Mr. Parkman, our principal, Mr. Davis, and to all our teachers for the education we have received and for the many kind- nesses they have showed us. Now that our final bequests have been made we wish to appoint our principal, Mr. Davis, executor of this document, and we make of him a last request that he see to it that fitting and honorable services accompany our departure from this school world. We hereby declare this to be our last will and testament. In witness whereof we, the Class of 1937 set our hand and seal this ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and thirty- seven. Signed: Class of 1937. Martha Graham, Esther Smyth, Lena Angelica, Witnesses. Attorneys : Jennie Bonk, Anna Kamaros. Atl|ldtra Boys The boys’ athletic program has con- sisted this year of a baseball and basket- ball league, comprised of ten teams from the following towns: Broad Brook, Hazardville, Suffield, Poquonock, Somers- ville. County Home and Brainard and Higgins schools from Thompsonville. In the basketball league. Broad Brook carried off the cup. This year the boys were coached by Ray Fisher, who started with a green group but won five of his league games, thus closing a good season. The baseball team has been coached by Francis Malley, who is attending Cathe- dral High in Springfield. So far the team is tied for the top honors with Somers- ville, each team having lost one out of five games. The following games have been played: Higgins at Somersville Higgins 2, Somersville 7 Somersville at Higgins Higgins 10, Somersville 6 Hazardville at Higgins Higgins 13, Hazardville 12 Brainard at Higgins Higgins 16, Brainard 2 Higgins at Brainard Higgins 13, Brainard 0 The following players have made the team and have been doing good work in all the games. Catchers: Grenbien and Santandrea Pitchers: Bottone and Scavotto 1st Base: Marcello Trigona 2nd Base: Locario S. S.: Nabonzy and Morris 3rd Base: Danforth and Morris Fielders: Boggio, Scalia, Scavotto, Bottone, Fede, Grenbien Manager: Vito Tallarita Girls After a rather late start on the basket- ball court, our girls’ team was made up of all new players, with the exception of Norma Allen and Amelia Duda. Out of the five games played the girls emerged the victors three times. Marion Purdy, a newcomer on the team, was the high scorer of the season. Our girls also had a baseball team this year. Although they didn’t emerge the victors very often they showed marked improvement as the season progressed. There are still four games to be played, at the time of this writing, and we hope to come out on the winning side.