Holbrook High School - Echo Yearbook (Holbrook, MA)

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12 THE ECHO set the pigeon loose and follow the string; this might have worked, but some wildcat got hold of the pigeon, and Alan had been wandering around ever since, kept alive only by his out door knowledge acquired by being a Boy Scout. Arriving in Holbrook, he was quite amazed by the changes that had taken place. Marie Leitch, always a progressive girl, and influenced by the sights she saw in New York when the class went on our trip, persuaded her multi- billionaire husband to finance the construction of a skyscraper one storv higher than the Empire State Building. Of course this brought fame to Holbrook, and it had grown considerably. 1 asked Alan if he wouldn’t like to lour the building as most of our old classmates were employed there in some capacity or another. The door man, dressed in a most striking uniform, was none other llian Robert Anderson. You remember he entered the Navy before scliool finished and with his valiant work obtained so much gold braid that after the war he just couldn’t get used to being a civilian and no uniform. Alan was just about to speak when a taxi pulled up, driven by Margaret Sullivan. She also while in New York became infatuated with those Brooklyn-accented taxi drivers and so went back to pick up an accent as well as to learn the essentials of cab driving. Now she can say “Thoirty Third Street” with the best of them. Her passengers were Paul Benvie, Arnold Soule, and Russell Tilton, president, vice-president, and senior adviser respectively of the Holbrook, Soule Co. They are now doing a rushing business and were on their way to a rehearsal of the program they sponsor, “Helen Penwiper, Steeple Jack Girl,” starring Betty Hayden with Gloria Hagerty singing the catchy commercial. Richard Hadfield with his knowledge of electronics, radio, etc., was trying to contact Betty Hanney who used to star. We do hope he succeeds, for what would Holbrook be without Betty? Alan decided he’d like to start from the top and work down, so entering the elevator, run by Claire Haskins, who always liked to travel, and who does plenty of it here, we sped up to the top. Out on the platform was W ilfred Mackie watching the maneuvers of a Spitfire, and mumbling something about its being a “tin Lizzy.” Alan was just about to stand up for his favorite plane, not that it would have been much good, for you remember how Wilfred could argue, when a whir and a zoom were heard. It was the new P-139F designed by W ilfred and the test pilot none other than Colena MacLeod. Alan was speechless for the first time that I can remember. We remained just long enough for me to point out the estate where Dorothy Pawlowski now lived, and the hotel managed by Jackie Ford, Geanne Ellis, and Betty Houser. Of course I explained that the hotel was on the verge of closing, for Jackie and Geanne were married and Betty engaged; so if they couldn’t find anyone else to take over the job, that was the only alternative. Going down to the next floor, we visited the news department. William Clifford has taken over Walter Winchell’s and Lowell Thomas’s programs. He really does well, and his subtle predictions aren’t often wrong. While there some vital news came over the teletype. It seems as if Lawrence McGaughey had pitched a no-hit, no-run game, plus a home run in the ninth with the bases loaded; this clinched the world series for the Red Sox, now coached by Patricia Allen. In a different office was Blanche Been who took over Dorothy Thomp- son’s column.

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THE ECHO 11 STATISTICS By Marie Leitch After much serious consideration, the cL»s of 1944 has by popular vote con- ferred the following titles upon its members who, it is hoped, will prove worthy of them. The honor of being the one considered most likely to succeed went to Margaret Sullivan, but it also seems that Margaret was tardy most often during the year. Russell Tilton was chosen as the class idealist; Wilfred Mackie, the class arguer and most scientific; and Arnold Soule, the class orator, the best dressed boy, the best boy dancer, the night owl, and the class Romeo. Dorothy Pawlowski was given the honor of being the most studious, the most conscien- tious, and the most businesslike. It was decided that Ramona Card was the most versatile, the most original, and the teachers’ pet. Gloria Hagerty and Dorothy Pawlowski vied with Ramona for the title of the most ambitious girl. Alan Higgins, however, carried away the vote for the most ambitious boy, the noisiest, and the class show-off. Claire Cote was believed to be the member with the most class spirit as well as the cutest girl. Jacqueline Ford was the choice for the best girl dancer, the class pin-up girl, and the best looking, with Richard Paul the best looking boy. William Clifford was considered the teller of tall stories, the nosiest, the class procrastinator, the pessimist, and inciden- tally the tallest. The titles of the man hater, the quietest, and the most artistic went to Claire Haskins. Melvin Iveson who was almost unanimously voted the class tease received also the title of the most romantic. Paul Benvie proved to be the most popular boy, the best actor, the class comedian, and the wittiest. Lawrence McGaughey was chosen the woman hater of the class and the most bashful. Betty Hanney was considered the best actress, the wittiest, and the noisiest girl. Colena McLeod received the vote for the most popular and the most sociable girl. Richard Hadfield and Wilfred Mackie tied for the first place as the most sociable boy. Being a very ingenious class, we discovered the following miscellaneous items and single honors to be in our midst: Class Giggler, Marilyn Smith; Class Hercules, Louis Baker; Gum Chewer, Betty Hayden; Shortest, Ruth White; Best Dressed Girl, Edith Bettencourt; Most Sophisticated, Marie Leitch; Best Singer, Gloria Hagerty; Most Athletic, Patricia Allen. Truly an interesting class! THE CLASS PROPHECY You’ll all remember. I’m sure, how Alan Higgins was a great one for camping out in the woods surrounding Cranberry. Well, soon after our graduation in June of ’44, he thought he’d really go camping and set out for the woods of Canada. Always a great boaster he went without a regular compass and took along one of his own original devices. Several years went by and no Alan; hence it was taken for granted that he’d found the girl of his choice and had settled down. Then one day, several years later, I was walking through the square and whom should I see but a thin, worn out, bedraggled character, and looking closer I saw it was Alan. It seems as if that compass of his was a homing pigeon tied to a string, so that when he was ready to go home, all he’d have to do is

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THE ECHO 13 W e skipped the next floor, for although I believe Alan would like to have seen Alice Andrew, Ruth Squires, and Gladys Bagley, who run a beauty salon. I’m afraid he would have been embarrassed, or at least bewildered, at the rigamarole women go through to be beautiful. The next floor was occupied by Madamoiselle’s, an exclusive hat shop, established by Helen Kayian. Harriett Eddy worked here and designed and modeled the hats. Alan said “hello” and dragged me off before 1 had a chance to try on that little hat that was in the window. Skipping two floors we got out of the elevator, and as I started to go through a door with this sign: “Do you want to be strong, and do you want muscles?”, Alan reared and asked if he looked that bad. I didn’t have time to answer, for out walked Louis Baker, owner of that enterprise, on his way to dinner. He asked if we wouldn’t like to join him, but we had much ground to cover so declined. Before going into another office on the same floor, Alan and I donned a pair of sun glasses. Alan was surprised and puzzled at first, but after we went inside, he understood, for there was Melvin Iverson, throwing together horrid colored dye combinations for those loud ties he manufactures. You’d be sur- prised how well he does, but confidentially his clients must be color-blind. About this time Alan was exhausted, so we stepped into a restaurant, managed by Alice Keating; Alice was so busy she didn’t have time to speak to us for more than a moment, but while there Madeline Polisson, who had just returned from India on a secret government mission, stopped to say “hello” and tell us what she could about her trip. She also mentioned that Ruth White had taken out papers to run for Mayor of Holbrook. Six flights down I showed Alan two broadcasting studios. In one was Barbara Smart, who had taken Harry James’ place after he went into the Army, and in the other was Claire Cote who now played the guitar in Phil Spitalny’s all-girl orchestra. On the first floor was a distinguished looking office with Adjutant General, Manager, Rent Collector, and Supervisor of Public Works on the door. After passing three most competent secretaries. Avis Atwood, Edith Bettencourt, and Connie Smith, we finally got in to see Richard Paul. He was extremely busy, so we didn’t stay long. Back on the street again we went around to the drugstore owned and managed by Mary Duggan and Marilyn Smith and had one of their world famed sundae-banana splits. Alan was amazed at the changes, and after talking awhile, he decided it was safer back in Canada.