High School of Commerce - Caravel Yearbook (New York, NY)

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LOOKING BA CK With our knees knocking and our eyes popping, we entered the massive doors of Commerce to begin our high school life. At our first assembly, we met the Acting Principal, Dr. Arnold, and the new Mayor, Robert Lockwood, who im- ' mediately explained the do's and don't's of Commerce. We were a bit awed at the description of the term's budget and the amount it came to. As the term went along, we became accustomed to the hustle and bustle that occurred when the bells rang, an- nouncing the change of classes. Green with envy described our feelings exactly, when Red Letter Day came around. Those Seniors went to town, that being the first Senior Day in twelve years! Before we knew it, the term was over and we were beginning to make some headway. ff -12: fix Fi- X 3, ax inf' 7' A ro Q Q 1 - , g cg Q gif School took on a new thrill when we got our first chance to vote the following term-Don't know but we might have made up that three-vote plurality that the new Mayor, Paul Belleu, held over his nearest rival. As October was fast disappearing, Dr. McNamara, Principal and friend of every Commerce student, retired after having served the school for twenty years. Dr. Arnold continued as acting principal. As our first year was finally coming to a close-three to go, we hoped-the Rodeo fminus horsesj came to Com- merce, under the direction of Captain Iohnny. Every one had a real fine time. We were at last juniors-at the crossroads-and the Civic Community budget was being explained by a young man named Alfred Bolan. The War was over and the Vets were returning to Commerce to complete their studies. The Veterans Patrol was organized. The Music Department welcomed a new member when Mr. Chusid, a Veteran himself, joined the faculty. By this time we were getting somewhere. It was the fall of '46 and those months brought many changes to our Alma Mater: Harold Spencer, popular choice of the students was our new mayor. Mr. Vincent McCarrett was our new principal. Alas and alack! Mr. McCarrett changed some of our ways of doing things, such as our leisurely progress through the halls. We were given just four minutes to change classes. No more chatting with our friends. Qlt was fun while it lastedj Open School Night came and the first evening Senior Dance. The music was so out-of-this-world that the Seniors might have been dancing on Starlight Roof. We also witnessed the return of the Rodeo, the defeat of our arch rival, Clinton-46-43 in basketball, and the yearly loss to the Lafayette Soccer Team. fWe'll beat 'em yetlj 12

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LOOKING BACK g ,I ln September '47 the Veterans Party produced a very if - e 4 in capable mayor, whose name was Ernest Daniel. Commerce , gl Q i, had a new feature added when the Dance Band was formed. A- 4 4 , It made its initial appearance on the night of the Senior 7 Ti ki-4 Dance in November '47. The music was real great. During X J' thc baseball season we had Iackie Robinson talk to us from 3 ' our school stage. Iackic told us many things about himself and his experiences in the sports world. This was a rare treat. He gave us some good advice on scholarship and sportsmanship, too. The bang of that season was a style that was called the New Look or Mary, where are your legs? The girls were becoming more grandma-ish and the boys were becom- ing angry. Our class witnessed the vanishing of our school paper, the Courier. We were sorry to see it leave, but it had to go-financial reasons. One of the sad- dest events in our school life here was our loss of a basketball game to Clinton in the Carden. We remembered, though, that there couldn't be two winners in one game. We vowed to beat 'em the next time. With the spring term of '48 came a jolly fellow who was our mayor. The name was Tony Canu. That term the girls-poor, frail creatures-had to stay in on their lunch periods, while the boys roamed about freely. Our class will never forget that act! But we had music with our lunch. We thought we were dining at the Waldorf at times. The mayor of our Senior term was none other than that polite, charming, all-round fellow, Garnell Smith. Smith was liked by all, especially the girls. fWe should know since we are two of them.j That term our Principal intro- duced a new program for a Commerce Honor School. CLook out, Hunter High! Here comes Commercelj The biggest thrill of our Senior term was the fact that we were given two very beautiful eafeterias, one for the Seniors alone and the other for the rest of the school. They are sound-proof and have tables and chairs. The service was quick and the atmosphere very pleas- ant. The Waldorf had nothing on us! In the course of reconstruction, the science labs were rebuilt, with modern equipment installed. f Hold on Ein- steinlj A new projection-room was also added. Although our class did not have the advantage of these conveniences during our four-vear stay, we are glad that ourvsuccessors will profit by them and we hope that as the years go by, Commerce will continue to have the best and latest equipment. The Class of Ianuary 1949 has enjoyed its stay in Commerce in spite of temporary inconveniences. ln looking back. we shall alwavs remember all those who played a part in our school life and development-principal, grade advisers, teachers .... We have experienced many changes in our four years here. At last we are young men and women eager to face the world, each with a certain part to play in life's drama. Now as we leave Commerce, we hope that we shall continue healthy, successful, and happy and that we shall always have that spirit of Commerce, a spirit that goes forward ever. LUCILLE IARVIS and ETHEL LANINIAN