Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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TIGER ‘43 the final vote the ayes shouted joy- ously, “We shall have a Junior Prom 1“ The man-power shortage could have been no more acute in the United States Army than in our class. How could we have a grand march when the boys were outnumbered two to one, and what would the Prom be v ithout a grand march? One day the problem was solved by some master mind who had devised and formulated a “share the man“ proposition. Ah! the lucky boys: they were to have a girl on each arm. Under Miss Blodgett’s patient tutel- age the “share the man” proposition was effectively carried out, and the long awaited Prom, that almost wasn’t, will long be remembereed. At Miss Huston’s gym exhibi- tion in May, 1942, Jane Lathrop gave the audience a thrill when on the way out she flirted with the cur- tain string and got so tangled up that she was unable to extricate herself until the other girls had marched off and left her stranded like a lone wolf. After three years of hard work we finally attained the proud status of seniors and marched into the aud- itorium to the envy and admiration of the lower classmen. Marcorelle, who is about as un- stable in romance as in politics again received his old position of president: Joann Ross veas elected vice-presi- dent: Viola Mavraides, secretary: and Claire Gallant, treasurer. We started the social season off brilliantly with the Senior Barn Dance, following which things went along smoothly until we held our never-to-be forgotten dispute over caps and gowns. Everyone voiced his opinion simultaneously until the volume of noise produced at that class meeting sounded more like a machine shop working overtime for defense than a schoolroom. Where corrup- tion dwells, mercy is limited, and as you can see, we lost our caps and gowns. All senior English classes have been hard, to say the least. However, these rigid courses have had the most pleasant interruptions. In the early part of the year the IV. A class got off to an hysterical start when Sen- seney, taking the part of little John in “Robin Hood,’’ was described as “seven foot high, and ell in the waist, and a pretty sweet babe.’’ Then came the morning when we Wie e paralyzed with horror upon seeing the body of a tiny Ipswich youth hanging from the door knob of the classroom with an ice pick in his heart. Carol Harris was charged with the brutal murder but was finally acquitted in spite of Joyce Bousley’s vigorous and eloquent prosecution. Bamford’s convincing oratory evi- dently swayed the jury of lower classmen. Either that, or perhaps they 25

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TIGER ‘43 tame off second best, and genius re- ceived another setback. By the time we were adjusted to Mrs. Lord’s rules in Study Hall, Mr. Conary’s daily pranks, the dis- grace of dropping a milk bottle in cafeteria, and the proper stair-way to use, we held our last chapel where ' We assumed the dignified position of sophomores on the right side of the auditorium, and scon after — too soon for some of us — we were back in the same seats all tanned and ready for a successful sophomore year. Felix D’ Agnes left us early in the year to honor Lynn English with his presence. At our class meeting we promoted Marcorelle to the job of president. Celia remained vice-presi- dent. Joyce Bousley made an efficient secretary, and Jack Pickard, was our treasurer. During the Christmas season “Barby” Swain developed a sincere and practical interest in Emerson’s essay on “Gifts”. Remembering his insistence on useful gifts and mindfnl also of Lowell’s caution that “the gift without the giver is bare,” she knitted a necktie for Leo Marcorelle. No doubt he appreciated the thought fulness and the classic inspiration but concerning the gift itself we have our doubts. With the dignity and poise that was lacking in our freshmen year we conducted a successful sophomore social. In February many tearful blushes could be seen on the faces of the upperclass men. Why? — because the sophomores won the plaque at the snow carnival. May Mofin pulled over two thousand votes for Snow Queen, tying Helen Pickul for first place. We all grinned in truimph at the coronation though one lad grin- ned more broadly than all the rest of us put together. One guess -who? Finally reaching the elevated status of upper classmen, we started our junior year. Our president was Lewis Clement (a newcomer) and vice-president, Florence Mavraides. The other offices remained the same. To the great delight of the small male section in our class we welcomed some other newcomers during the year: Johanne Black, Rae Everitt, Eleanor Johnson, and Jean Perkins, all of whom have contributed no small part to the total success of the class of 1943. This being a busy year, we spent most of our time in class meet- ing taking a little time out occasion- ally for classes. Under Barby Swain’s keen management our rings arrived in time for the Prom. The Prom! That entailed more problems than even Doctor Anthony could cope -with. Should we have a Prom? What about black-out regulations? Were there boys enough in the class? Ques- tions like these and many others kept us anxious and heated for days. After 24

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TIGER ‘43 were reluctant to convict such an at- tractive defendant. Then recently in the same class some of the girls were rudely shocked when asked if they, like Tennyson, thought that it was better “To have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all”. With a note of melancholy in my voice, I must at this point ex- plain that although we were denied one of the most pleasurableexperiences of the senior year, a senior play, our regret is tempered with pride at the reason for this omission. The man power shortage grew even more acute as more and more of our boys left to work or to join the armed forces of our country, leaving an insufficient number to produce a worthwhile play. Here I should like to pause to pay tribute to the boys in the service who have at sometime been members of the class of 1943. James Hansen, Edwin Bailly, Allister Eraser, Clar- ence Henley, Walter Kozacki, Robert Marcorelle, Howard Martel, Robert Sheehan, Willis Lyman, Conrad Na- son, Lawrence Orsini. Jack Pickard, Joe Reilly, Russell Riel, Lawrence Sheppard, Chick Somers, Clifford Thomas are all serving with the United States Navy. Edward Later- O ' wicz is with the Coast Guard. Sam- my Blunda, Wendell Jean, Barry O’- Connor, and John Duff are with the United States Army. Phil Gillis, Eu- gene Kelley, Harold Kneeland, Arthur Woodbury, Nils Wemblad, Stan Putur, and Johnnie Martel are serv- ing with the United States Marines. We feel we have a right to be proud of these boys. Now with graduation upon us we shall be pleased to get our diplo- mas but none too happy to leave our high school experience ' s behind us. We have enjoyed our four years here. Our work has met the approval of the principal and teachers, as well it might with about twenty per cent of our class maintaining an average of eight-five per cent for the four years. Tomorrow we step out into the world and what a muddled, confused world it is! Although we might at times be tempted to cry with Hamlet: “The time is out of joint: — O cursed spite. That ever we were born to set it right!’’ we , on the contrary, ban- ish such a whining attitude and face the future courageously and confident that we can help to build a better world. CLASS PROPHECY Time: 1963 Place: North Station Characters: Rae Everitt, Thomas Bamford. (Bamford walks in reading newspaper, suitcase in one hand. Everitt is standing reading a time- table with suitcase on floor about 26