Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

Page 29 text:

There was little else of importance that happened in our sophomore year and before long we were off again on our summer vacation. Election of officers for our junior year saw our president of the previous year returned to office, but as vice-pres- ident we elected Gardiner Wood; as treasurer, Walter Machaj; and as secre- tary, Marion Ciolek. Since we had now been in high school for two years, the time was drawing near for us to assert ourselves in a big way with rings, prom, etc. As part of our growing class consciousness we felt the need of identifying ourselves by a choice of maroon and white as our class colors. Soon after, heated debates on the sub- ject of a “prom” were the order of the day. Though Mrs. Merson’s fingers may have been worn thin by constant repetition of “Our Director” and other familiar march tunes on the piano and though we ourselves were footsore and weary from marching around the audi- torium, the prom, as usual, was a suc- cess both artistically and financially. Clashes of opinion a tended the choice of a class ring also. But finally, in the traditional American democratic way, we chose a tiger ' s head for the design, leaving it to the individual to choose between a ring with or without a stone. The junior year slipped quickly by and soon we were returning again for our summer vacation for what was, we hoped, our final year of high school life. For class officers we kept our president for his third successive year. We also elected as vice-president Muriel Hors- man, who had held the same office in our sophomore year. Other officers elected were Russell Wile as treasurer, who had held the same office in our freshman year, and Marion Ciolek as secretary for her second successive year. We now as seniors took upon our- selves the responsibility of starting the social ball whirling by giving a Hal- lowe’en barn dance. Cart wheels, pump- kins, etc. furnished the atmosphere, a nickelodeon supplied the music, and everybody contributed to the fun and entertainment, with honorable mention going to Mrs. Lord and Mr. Conary for their share in providing the latter. Although Eddie Blaisdell, Everett Smith, and I, made up three quarters of the cast in a Christmas assembly, the next event of real importance to the class as a whole was the senior play, “Button Button,” a comedy in three acts presented March 28. The leading roles were taken by Everett Smith as the psychopathic “Button” and Cecelia Sikora as Josie, the maid, who was in love with and finally got the “Button.” Gertrude Barney played to perfection the role of Mrs. Woodhouse, the wife of “Button’s” half-brother George, who was por: rayed by myself. Mrs. Wood- house had a unique system of her own 27

Page 28 text:

CLASS DAY PARTS HISTORY OF THE CLASS OF 1940 (By Richard Weagle) I N September of the year 1936 ap- proximately one hundred and twenty- five of us could be seen making our way toward what was then known as the Manning High School. After hanging up our coats and hats down stairs in the basement, we, who have now grown into the strength of man- hood and womanhood, climb ed our laborious way up several flights of well- worn stairs to that historic gathering place of all freshmen, the Study Hall. After taking time to get acquainted with our school chums and the high school way of doing things, we held several class meetings, the results of which determined our class officers for the year. Fred Emerson was our pres- ident; Everett Smith, vice-president; Russell Wile, treasurer; and Theresa Martel, secretary. Being modest and retiring freshmen, we did not, according to our class records, sponsor anything in the way of social activities. About the only thing of interest that happened to us was that in January, 1937, we made our eagerly awaited move from the an- tiquated Manning building into the new, modern Ipswich High School and spent the rest of our first year getting used to our up-to-date establishment. It was indeed soothing to our vanity to realize that for a ' ; least once in the high school history of Ipswich, freshmen were no greener than anybody else in school. Returning to school as sophomores after a short summer vacation, we held class elections and, with the exception of class secretary, we elected all new class officers with Steven Budzianowski, president; Muriel Horsman, vice-presi- dent; and Stuart Mansfield, treasurer. During our sophomore year we be- came a little more alive to the school events and elected for our representative as Queen of the Snows at the Snow Carnival Theresa Martel. Though we didn’t win the contest for snow queen, we gave the winning juniors quite a run for their money. We did win, however, through the efforts of Everett Smith and Muriel Horsman the plaque signifying winter sports supremacy. We also had a sophomore picnic in June at Sandy Point and though the water was extremely chilly, some of the braver members of the class went in swimming while the rest lolled about the beach, played games, and enjoyed themselves generally. Everett Smith brought down upon his head the wrath of the chaperons when he announced that he had instructed the captain of the boat not to return for us until late that evening. 26

Page 30 text:

for curing “Button’s” insanity, and to help her in this she enlisted the aid of Rita Weed and her daughter Phoebe Weed. Rita, an “antique nut,” was well characterized by Grace Jahnke, and Phoebe, a “horribly modern girl,” was played by Eleanor Wallace. The parts of Maude and Emery, the maid and the chauffeur respectively, were played by Helen Column and Charles Ar ' .hur, while the parts of Ed and Al, a pair of teamsters, were well interpreted by Ar- thur Oliver and Edward Blaisdell. There were some minor mishaps. The antique chair broke before it was supposed to even though Smitty had taken a day off from school to work on the problem over at shop. (We suspect collusion.) And no one could blame Eddie Blaisdell for grumbling a ' : Smitty for cutting him out of a good share of his few speeches. The play also proved to be the downfall of Ar- thur Oliver, for ever since his heavy role — he had to bring in the wash stand — he has had aspirations to tread the boards and become a real actor. After the play was over, the cap and gown fight, which itself is fast becom- ing a tradition in I. H. S., started. The opponents of the idea were again out- voted and so we appear before you today in the academic robes and mortar boards. We hope they are as easy on your eyes as they were on our pocket- books. And now that we have come to the first great milestone of our career, though saddened by the thought that we are cutting loose from old ties and friendship, we are consoled by the thought that these days have not gone irrevocably but that they can be, and often will be, retrieved in memory. So much for the backward view. Let us look ahead now to the future. CLASS PROPHECY Time: 1960. Place: Insurance office in Boston. Characters: Theresa Martel. Russell Wile. Theresa Martel is discovered busy at desk. Russell Wile enters and goes to desk. THERESA. Good morning, what can I do for you? RUSSELL. I’d like to speak to :he manager. THERESA. I’m sorry but Mr. Barnes hasn’t been in all morning. But if you wish, you may leave your name for a definite appointment. RUSSELL. Thank you very much. My name is Russell Wile. THERESA. (Thoughtfully) Rus- sell Wile. You wouldn ' t by any chance be “Bo Bo” Wile of the class of 1940 would you? RUSSELL. Why, yes, I am, but I didn’t expect to be called by that nick- name here. How do you happen to know it? 28