Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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i ■ in i ism [i by MARY MACKENZIE In September 1945 we, as others before us, approached high school with shaking knees. We renewed old friend- ships and made new ones in the strange halls of I. H. S. Of course, we made the same mistakes as those recounted in past class histories, such as getting into the Study Hall seats the wrong way, going up the wrong stairs, and being caught by Mrs. Lord. But it didn ' t take long to get used to the high school, and soon we got down to business and elected our officers as follows: President, Ernest Nikas; Vice-President, Jean Poirier; Secretary, Ann Robertson; Treasurer, Kay Lang. In the middle of the year we were joined by Sue Bear who came to us from Hamilton. In March we held a social for our class only and found a good deal of hidden talent. Stanley Bolt was the top attraction with his accordion. As early as this, our first year, Mr. Chadbourne recog- nized in Prisby those traits which won for him the title of class girlologist. On day in drawing he remarked that Wolf Prisby seemed to be out with a different girl every night. The days passed quickly and soon our first year at I. H. S. drew to a close. Following the summer of 1946 we again entered the portals of I. H. S., this time as freshmen with a little more assurance. Our class had increased considerably with the girls and boys from Rowley. We were also curious about a certain blonde girl, who seemed to be bubbling over with laughter and friendship. It didn ' t take us long to find out all about her. For Robby , who hailed from Beverly, would make herself well known in any group. We also welcomed a fair-haired boy who even then showed traces of becoming our class blusher. His name was Alan Turner, who came to us from Canton. For every gain, however, there is a loss; we, however, had two: first, Jackie Manzer left us for Florida; then Johnny Wilson moved to Wakefield and was missed greatly by the class. At our second class meeting we elected our new officers as follows: President, Tarshy Nikas; Vice-President, Jean Poirier; Secretary, Mary Mackenzie; Treasurer, Jane Mul- holland. Our class always with a desire to be ahead of the game chose class colors, maroon and white, as freshman instead of waiting for our senior year. Though we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, not all was fun. We were introduced to Latin, ancient history, Mrs. Lord and her number system. Many a morning found us shaking violently while she slowly pulled out the fateful number. Nevertheless, we had many a pleasant period in Latin Class learning about the latest antics of her grandchildren. We were also introduced this year to the fundamentals of football, basketball, baseball, and the painful art of cheerleading. Another vacation over and with heads high, for we were almost uppelclassmen, we reentered school. Among the new faces were Jenny Lindberg ' s and Thais Bruni ' s. But we missed Stanley Bolt who had moved to Salem. As class officers for this year we elected as President, David Player; Vice-President, Ernest Nikas; Secretary, Mona Gill; Treasurer, Amber Knowles. There were a few veterans of Latin I who ventured back into Mrs. Lord ' s den as we called room 104. It didn ' t take long to realize what a life saver Jean Johnson was, for she and Mrs. Lord has something in common — trips to the mountains. And many a morning found them talking about them while we sat idly by. Speaking of Latin, we had a very successful Latin Club that year and many an enjoyable time including a picnic at Crane ' s Beach. After one of our vacations we returned to school only to find a horrible odor in 204. It took the whole year to wear off. Mr. Moore said there were worse smells, but nobody agreed with him. This was the year also of water pistols filled with strong perfume, Wallace Lane and Paul Lord heading the list of pistol-packing boys. On December 5, we had our class dance which proved to be quite a success, increasing our treasury by thirty dollars. On January 19, we gave our first play, High School Daze, before an assembly. It proved to be quite hilar- ious. We shall never forget the bright color of Kay ' s and Bob ' s faces at the close of the play. They were supposed to kiss and make up, but all they did was make up. Filled with excitement over increasing activities, we again returned to school, only this time as full-fledged upperclassmen. We were joined by a petite dark-haired girl, Ruth Coughlin, who interested us all with her hobby of shell jewelry. As our leaders for this year we chose as President, David Player; Vice-President, Harrison Tenney; Secretary, Charlotte Fryddrych; Treasurer, Amber Knowles. Inci- dentally they did so well that we elected them again for our senior year. In chemistry class Phil Publicover made use of his long legs in pulling the chairs of Jean Johnson, Lorraine Greenleaf, and Amber Knowles out from under them. His legs were put to a better purpose, however, this year on the basketball team. I might add here that a great number of our boys were out for sports and did a good job. We were very much startled when one day Alan Turner brought a little box which contained, he claimed, a Japanese finger sent to him by his brother. After many shrieks and groans we later realized it was his own stuck up through a hole in the bottom of the box. In English in a discussion of hobbies, Steve Marvin proved to have an odd one — math. He showed us many complicated methods and problems which had us all fas- cinated and stumped. This was for us an important year. We received our class rings early and began planning our Junior Prom. It seemed doubtful if we should ever have one because no one seemed to be going. However, after many weeks of planning, the big night arrived. The boys were all dressed up in suits and the girls in many beautiful colored 19

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AS D. P.s SEE AMEHIEA by MARCIA CAVERLY Now that we have heard America ' s opinion of D. P ' s., let ' s consider for a few minutes what D. P. ' s think of us. Sometimes in our concern over our own problems we fail to see the other person ' s point of view. I thought it would be profitable, therefore, to assemble the reactions of D. P. ' s to us and our way of life. The thousands of demoralized refugees, formerly scat- tered helter-skelter over Europe say that in spite of a few difficulties their life is better and happier in America than in the old country. This freedom, in some cases much wider than they had known before, is an abrupt change for these D. P. ' s. Many times it is difficult to become adjusted to the habits of this way of life. In the Hotel Marseille in New York, a haven for D. P. ' s from American Occupied Zones in Europe, there are people who are afraid to venture outside the hotel for fear of the Gestapo. After a meal in the dining room some are found trying to hide bread in their clothing because there may be none tomorrow. Recently the young son of a D. P. family entered a a police station to notify the officers that they were mov- ing into a new home. You don ' t have to tell us, buddy, said an officer. You ' re in America now. Go ahead and move. We hope you enjoy your new home. Simple inci- dents like these happen everyday. While talking with many D. P. ' s I have found that some expected to find better jobs. Houses were imagined large and beautiful. What they found was, perhaps, not exactly the paradise they expected. Some of the homes were not as attractive as their former ones. Furniture, however, is much to their liking, clothes are better and cheaper, and money is more plentiful. The intelligent, skilled D. P. ' s, trained for a job in some specific field, are dissatisfied with farm and servant work. Some, however, do find work as tailors, stone- masons, miners, and lumbermen where there is a labor shortage. Working conditions are not always ideal; in fact, in some Southern states they are deplorable. Some D. P. ' s find it necessary to work in unhealthy conditions for very poor pay. Many costly purchases are made for these D. P. ' s and charged to them — thus putting them in debt and making it impossible for them to release themselves from these intolerable conditions. Several D. P. ' s say that our tempo of life is much faster. The American people do not walk; they run, said one — and we are also too much after the dollar. Also what is more serious; some find a lack of culture and spiritual quality in this country. So much for their dislikes. In answer to the question, What do you like best in America? the responses were quite varied. The children liked especially television, ice cream, corn flakes, movies, skating, and no school on Saturdays. The good food, the eight-hour work day, the money, and the beer are among the preferences of the adults. In Poland during the war there were no good times, no money, and no factory work. When the Polish people were taken to Germany by force, they averaged eighteen hours a day working on farms. The only food was pota- toes and sometimes a little celery and cucumber. Sunday for a few hours, they would go off into the woods to dance and play the violin. When the Americans entered Germany, their former freedom was restored. Here in America they don ' t mind working, for they are not forced to do so. These people are on the whole, happy, thankful, and optimistic in their new freedom. One D. P. at a New Year ' s Eve party, remarked, God love America on this New Year. Another introducing a somber note, said, There are others just like us, still waiting on the other side. In a recent article by Ewald Mand, a D. P. from Estonia, Rev. Mand stated, To be a stranger is a sorrow- ful and depressing experience. To be taken in is a Christian experience to be remembered forever. Rev. Mand gives an account of his family and also writes of some experiences he had before entering this country. He seems to typify the sincere gratitude felt by all D. P. ' s. We are, to them, friendly, light-hearted, gay. They ' re no longer displaced, a North Dakota com- munity writes of D. P. ' s. They ' re in the right place — • they ' re new neighbors. These D. P. ' s, naturally feel the loss of racial and family ties very deeply. However, there is some force which keeps them here in this country, and which inspires them to look forward proudly to citizen- ship, a feeling which Archibald MacLeish has so ably voiced in his poem, It Is a Strange Thing To Be An American . This, this is our land, this is our people. This that is neither a land nor a race. We must reap The wind here in the grass for our souls ' harvest: Here we must eat our salt or our bones starve. Here we must live or live only as shadows. This is our race, we that have none, that have had Neither the old walls nor the voices around us. This is our land, this is our (ancient ground — The raw earth, the mixed bloods and the strangers. The different eyes, the wind, and the heart ' s ch ange. These we will not leave though the old call us. This is our country — earth, our blood, our kind. 18

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gowns. Roland Russell ' s Orchestra furnished the music and brought a seventeen-year-old vocalist, much to the delight of the girls and anguish of the boys. The whole evening proved successful and to the surprise of everyone a large crowd remained until the end. Although we lost $14.92 we had a good time. At the end of this year we were saddened to learn that Cynthia Raupach would not be with usjin our last year, but was leaving for Arcade, New York. We all missed her gay chatter and merry laughter. The long awaited moment finally arrived, and we marched proudly into chapel and took the prize seats. Thus we began our senior year. There were more new faces among us belonging to Bud Billings, Peter Hawkins, Bill Pescosolido, and Dotty Jackson who had left us previously but whom we were glad to welcome again. Under the leadership of the same officers we quickly got down to the numerous jobh which confronted us. Our first social affair was the senior barn dance held on Halloween Night. Although we took charge, the Booster ' s Club paid for everything. The hall was deco- rated appropriately with witches, cats, grave stones, and a huge spider web covering one door complete with an enormous black spider. This dance was open to all Ips- wich teen-agers and proved a great success. Shortly after this came the Christmas holidays and Senior Day. The Senior French Club entertained at an assembly by presenting The Birds ' Christmas Carol , which launched Phil Publicover on the road to becoming class actor. He played the five-year-old son and though he didn ' t say a word, he had everyone laughing. Then we all dressed up in comfortable kids ' clothes for Senior Day. The most humorous person was Marcia Killam. She wore a Mariner middie , black skirt, striped knee socks, her hair in braids, her old glasses and carried an oversized lollipop. Don Souter proved a very merry Santa. Too bad Mrs. Santa didn ' t sew up his pants before he started, though. Sonny Lane and Bud Billings supplied cider for us all. We also enjoyed dancing after which we all joined hands and marched through the halls, sing- ing Christmas carols. In January we chose Loring as our photographer al- most unanimously. We also decided on caps and gowns without the traditional argument, there being just two against them. We then chose for our D.A.R. Citizenship Girl Marcia Caverly, who was very deserving of the honor. This choice is based on scholastic record and leadership in school activities. Maybe all our activities got us confused or maybe there was another reason why one of our Marcias, Marcia Ready, came to school one Wintry morning with two different shoes on. In March we began preparation for our class play. After a great deal of hard work on the part of the cast. Miss Allen and Miss Blodgett, and Mr. Burgess and Mr. Chadbourne, who co-operated in producing very effective scenery, the Dlay was ready. On March 31, 1950, The Three Bears was presented to a packed hall and met with great success. Harrison Tenney, LLewellyn Chad- bourne, and Phil Publicover starred in the title roles with Mary Mackenzie playing Sylvia Weston, and Kay Lang, Sue Bear, Ernest Nikas, Alan Turner, Russell Davis, and Wimpy, my dog, completing the cast. Immediately following the play, plans were begun for the operetta, Peggy and the Pirate. The leading roles were sung by Bill Pescosolido, Dotty Knowles, Marcia Ready, and Robert MacKay. Thus we bring up to date the activities and events which we want to remember through the years ahead. Tomorrow night we shall graduate and the next night we shall hold our reception. After that each will go his or her own way, and we shall miss the many happy days spent at I.H.S. Some will further their education; others will go to work, but whatever we do we shall never forget the patience and understanding of the faculty throughout these five short years and the lasting friendships we have made. CUSS MMlin TIME: Summer, 1970. CHARACTERS: Jean Johnson and Harrison Tenney. SCENE: A New Hampshire farmhouse. A doorbell is sounded and Harrison answers the door. Jean: Hello! Are you the proprietor of these cabins? Harrison: Yes — Jean: Have you one available for tonight? There are three others waiting in my car outside. Harrison: Yes, of course — right over there. Jean: We h ave come from Ipswich today and we ' re very tired. Harrison: Ipswich? Ipswich, Massachusetts? Jean: W-why yes! Do you know the town? Harrison: I went to high school there. Jean: You did! So did I — I graduated in 1950. Harrison (Gazes into her face): Why you couldn ' t be Jean Johnson, could you? Jean: That ' s exactly who I am! And you ' re Harri- son Tenney! Harrison: Right! Who ' s out in the car waiting? Jean: Sally Landry, Russ Davis, and Llewellyn Chad- bourne. We ' re traveling together on our vacation since we all teach at god old I. H. S. Remember Chad wanted to be a physicist? Well, he ' s gone dow a step — 1 teaches the Lindberg bomb — an invention by one of our classmates, Jenny. Russ teaches history — his old am- bition, and Sally teaches English composition. She be- came an expert from writing such long letters to her sailor friend. 20