Holten High School - Onion Yearbook (Danvers, MA)

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18 THE I-IOLTEN ing his school career. Henry Wallace has helped the team for two years with his good pitching. Grabowski is no doubt our bunting star. Basketball was started this year in our new gym. Because we were a little late but few games were play- ed. Tad King acted as captain. Mr. Jenkins volunteered to take charge of the track team and the Fleet-of- foot boys are coming back into shape. Last year they ran in the Essex County Interscholastic meet. This year the track team under Mr. Jen- kins won their race in the state meet at Boston by defeating Charlestown, Beverly, and Weymouth. Hockey has not had a fair show during the last few years. Florida weather seems to kill the ice. Many candidates reported out for Hockey. Captain Bishop led the team this year with but three games. These were two ties and one defeat. The next picture represents the Holten Suscription Party. Everyone is lined up in a grand march led by Editor-in-Chief of The Holten, Eliza- beth Merrill. As the marchers pass, they form the word Holten . Santa Claus fCurtis Kingl presents each one with a Holten . The class of 1931 has been a loyal supporter of the school magazine in all its acti- vities. We still wish it luck. This picture represents a dance. Not an ordinary dance by any means but an unusual one. The Senior Dance, of course. Everyone knows how hard it is to sponsor an unusual dance but the class of '31 just glories in hard things, therefore ours was an unusual dance. It wasn't unusual in the sense that it was odd. Just unu- sual in the fact that an unusually large crowd danced unusually Well to an unusually good orchestra. And the dresses of the girls were unusual too. Although they wouldn't admit it, most of the teachers had a better time than the pupils. In some cases, in fact, it was difficult to distinguish teachers. This next picture by George Dan- forth must remind one of Agnes Mul- ry's Chemistry drawings. On second thought it looks like a fire drill but books carried by the students dismiss that idea from mind. What student so queer as to Wish to save books! No, it is moving day. What a day that was! Even the sophomores were con- sidered important that day. The Se- niors led the procession and no group of people could have done better. You see whether it is in leading proces- sions or winning shields or in cheer- ing football heroes no class excels the class of '31. However, one of our members was nearly overcome with excitement. Poor Pickering was un- able even to carry his own books. Miss Crocker obligingly walked be- side him carrying his books and giv- ing him encouraging glances at fre- quent intervals. Right through Dan- vers Square we went. It must have reminded spectators of the American Legion parade in Boston last Octo- ber. Eventually we arrived at the new school and disbanded, each pupil heading for his respective room. It is said that a petition circulated by the boys resulted in the seniors ac- quiring rooms next to the cafeteria. It took some time for us to accustom ourselves to desks on which the names of our ancestors were not carv- ed but eventually we became used to the grandeur of the place and grate- ful to the same ancestors for such a Wonderful school. Now for a big surprise. I say a surprise and I mean it, because April Fool's day has at last come. On April first almost everyone gets fooled fteachers includedl. This year April F0ol's day was different. In times

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THE HOLTEN 17 our first social omore hop. It was event and we put it over with great scare from our success, despite the fellowmen of higher classes, who re- fused to buy tickets till the last min- ute and who would call our Hop a Flop, However, a gay time was had by all, even those shy little fellows, for our class adviser, Mr. Fowler, talk- ed them into a few games to get them better acquainted with social affairs. All joined the grand march which was led by the Class President, New- ell Griffin, followed by our other ofli- cers. Music was furnished by the Rainbow Orchestra. Balloons were distributed for favors and the noise of their bursting, together with the chuckles and gay voices of the group proved that everyone was mer- ry. To our regret eleven bells tolled and we had to hustle home to snuggle into bed before Jack Frost could nip us, for it was a November eve- ning. The next scene is a gathering of a happy and joyous crowd in the as- sembly hall. A large thermometer on the stage registers nearly five hun- dred. What does all this mean? Why it is our party held the night of the band drive in 1927. As the different teams came in with their reports, the mark rose on the thermometer regis- tering' the money made. It was two months after this party that the school had a fair sized band organiz- ed with several members of our class participating. The next picture displayed yards and yards of chiion and tulle draped about the girls of Holten High. One dress of lavender lace took us back to the days when grandmother was a girl. No need to ask What is it? Of course, it's the Junior Prom, and what a dance that was. Everyone who attended put the memory away for future reference. It was the kind of memory which sort of balances memories of terrible report cards and final exams. As usual the girls were decked out in as many colors and styles as would be shown at a fashion show in Gay Paree. How proud their escorts were of them! All too quickly however eleven o'clock rolled around and everyone headed for home think- ing that the world-was a pretty good place after all. Another gay picture: The Band is playing, the cheer leaders, Dorothy Nimblet, Blanche Clark, Mary Con- way, Rita Kirby and Louise Mans- field, are in motion yelling out the Danvers Locomotive. The crowd is very enthusiastic as the Blue and Whites wearing new hoods come trot- ting on the field, led by Captain French. The picture tells us of the Thanksgiving game of '31 the last football game for the Senior boys of Holten High. Each year the team has been represented by several can- didates from our class. Captain French made his letter as a Sopho- more with the honor of starting every game. Lewis King, our broken field runner has been honored by scoring the most points for us. George O'Rourke played m-any a good game for the school. His punting was superior to any of our opponents. Bob Bishop held down the center position as a veteran. Many opposing teams realized this fact. C. King and H. Dwyer played several positions in the line while Grabowski barked the signals. We regret the resina- tion of Coach Crosby in our Sopho- more year. We have much reason to be grateful for the work of Coach Ayres. In Baseball Mel King was elected as Captain and has piloted this year's team with fair success. He has played remarkably well dur-

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THE HOLTEN 19 past it was called Freak Day but in the future it will be entitled Se- nior Day. Glancing at the picture in front of us we shall try to describe the events painted on this piece of canvas. Massive brick walls of the gym form a background. Coach Ayres as master of ceremonies seems to be having difficulty in making himself heard. How we enjoyed that day. The first game played was some sort of indoor ball in which a volley ball is used. Later we played Going to J erusalem . Finally all danced to the ever entrancing music of Dump GrifTin's jazz band. Two o'clock end- ed a very enjoyable Senior Day. This is what the next picture shows us:-A tall young fellow has just passed beneath a ladder and in his hands he carries a mirror. He is a- bout to step on a banana peel as a black cat crosses his path. He car- ries a smile on his face at all times, for he is the enemy of superstition. Are you superstitious? If so we sug- gest that you forget the nonsense. The class of 1931 is not superstitious, Why! We even picked a Friday the thirteenth for our Senior Play, a play crowned with the name, A Lucky Break . It was presented at the Pea- body Institute and was a great suc- cess. We are very grateful to Miss Dow for her assistance and to our ex- tremely fine cast. One more bit of luck -the money receipts were larger than those of any previous Senior Play. Oh! Look at this picture down here at the farther end of the gallery. It was sketched by our famous cartoon- ist George Danforth. Why, that's Ed- ward Putnam seated before a camera. The photographer seems to be wait- ing for something. He must be wait- ing for Edward to obtainra satisfac- tory pose. What an ordeal that was! And how disappointing were some of the proofs. We all had hoped to be so beautiful. This picture looks like an old Eng- lish print: The sun is beating down upon three busses packed with joy- ful seniors of Holten High. What a happy time this picture recalls. For our class day ride-we went to Pine Island Park in Manchester, New Hampshire on June 3. It was a long but enjoyable ride to Pine Island Park, a beautiful place. All enjoyed the day even though they were tired when they reached home. Miss Dow and Miss Wadleigh together with Mr. Dunn, Mr. Smith and Mr. Coates accompanied us as guests. Only one picture remains and this portrays a sweet girl graduate look- ing at her diploma much as a miser looks at his gold. She is tripping lightly but not literally across the stage, arms outstretched, preparing to make a final dive for the much coveted paper. CBy the way, the fig- ure looks very like Clara MacFarlaneJ Commencement! Eli French iiatly re- fused to come, we remembered, if we did not provide refreshments. He was not accustomed to going too long without food and more often than not during his five months at the new school he was forced to cater to his delicate constitution by sneaking down to the cafeteria between the second and third periods for a bite to eat. But on being assured that it would be perfectly right and proper for him to carry a knapsack he agreed to attend graduation. There we all stood knees knocking until we were sure the audience could hear them, teeth chattering with fear, hands clammy, and a prayer in every heart that we'd get across the stage safely. Then before we knew it everything was all over, and queer as it may