Laurel Valley High School - Laurel Yearbook (New Florence, PA)

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Class History kl lUL TV-t) i— 3 uj u Just four years ago twenty-four brave souls decided to try their hand at mountain climbing. The peak they chose reached from 1944 to 1948, a pretty steep struggle for these inexperienced climbers. However, fastening ropes securely about their waists, arming themselves with supplies (books, pencils, and chewing gum), they set out early in Sep- tember of '44. Taking the lead was Miss Mary Elliott, the head of this expedition, and following close behind were Claire Sutter (president), Louise Moore (vice-president), Joan Caldwell (secretary), and Don Shannon (treasurer). Struggling along valiantly for about four weeks, the little party soon wearied and stopped for a wiener feast at an obscure inn called the Town Hall. Then for a little exer- cise they explored the surrounding territory a bit. During their stay at this resort the climbers participated in a few contests and distinguished themselves by selling the most subscriptions of the local paper, the KEYNOTER. After this exploit the group decided to continue their climb while the weather was still favorable. So upward they went with only minor mishaps until they reached a cliff where they decided to camp for three months. Some yellow cards distributed to them by Miss Elliott and covered with letters of the alphabet gave them permission to stop without danger of trespassing. After halting for three brief months on the 1945 mark, the adventurous group again stocked their knap- sacks and continued their climb. Miss Elliott decided her task was a little too strenuous and willingly turned the job of guide over to Mrs. Montgomery. For the next 180 miles Don Graffius, Duane Rager, Louise Moore, and Cora Boring took command. (As president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer). This year when the group de- cided they were hungry, they stopped at the summer home of Bob O'Shell, a member of the expedition. Since Mrs. Montgomery wanted to scout around to see what was n store for the next 120 miles, she did not attend. How ever, Mr. Tom Heming, the caretaker of O’Shell’s Haven, was chaperon for the group. Moving on for twenty more miles, the class stopped at a little native village where a magazine contest was being staged. Having all the necessary qualifications, these Sophomores, as they now called themselves, competed against the native Juniors and took the laurels (worth eighty-eight dollars). After the contest was over, Mrs. Mont- gomery returned and was so pleased by the results that she borrowed a tractor and a wagon and took them on a hayride. During their stay in this village, the boys became interested in a local sport, football, which was just being reorganized by a man named Osterwise. Bob O'Shell, Duane Rager, Charles Bennett, Roy Richardson, and Don Shannon were accepted for the team. Finally the class remembered they were trying to reach the 1946 mark and so they moved on. Mr. Oster- wise thought he would stick with the group for a few hundred miles though. And he proved he was pretty good at overcoming the obstacles that confronted them on the Mountain of Learning. When Christmas came the Sophomores made camp again and presented an assembly program to end all assemblies. The play contained every nationality from German to Irish and revealed some acting talent that came in handy later. After six more months of patient struggle over cliffs, rocks, and rivers, the energetic class reached the 1946 mark, all well and happy and eager to rest in the summer camp situated there. Once again September found the class (now with twenty-one members) anxious to continue their climb. The altitude and the pace set by these Jolly Juniors were too much for Mrs. Montgomery so she turned her leader- ship over to Miss Florence Sabitino. This year Mr. Osterwise turned his football team over to Chuck White and sent Duane Rager, Charles Bennett, Don Shannon, Don Graffius, Roy Richardson, and Bob O'Shell out to fight for their school. Frank Rehn and Wayne Gable were managers of the team; Cora Boring and Mary Galbraith helped to cheer them on; and Charles Galbraith, Nancy Kirschner, Joan Caldwell, Mary Boyle, Barbara Martin, Anna Grace Killen, Dolores Winebrenner, Emma Rummel, Marilyn Rehn, and Claire Sutter watched from the sidelines. As officers of this company Don Graffius, Roy Richardson, Charles Bennett and Bob O'Shell spurred the group on to all sorts of activities while they climbed ever upward. continued on page 89

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Donai.d Shannon Grandpa A sunny smile ... a popular laddie . . . drawls his words . . . takes Sun day hikes with his yO'g'g'y walk . . . future ... a Rear Admiral in the Navy. Football. 4V 46. '46-‘47. 47’48; Com mercial Club. '4S '46. 46-‘47. '47-'48; Class Treasurer, '44-’4 ; Junior Play; Senior Play Clairf Sutter Clem” Call Cover's and see about those pic turcs . . . “Is that KEYNOTER news ready yet? . . . “Mr. Holliday, may I call the printer? . . . that's our editor . . . very busy girl . . . plans for the future undecided . . . Boys . . . Oh, for corn sake! Class President. ’44-'45; Forensic. 46 '47. ■47- 48; Chorus. ‘44-‘4S. ‘46 '47; Press Club. 46-'47, ‘47- 48; Home Ec. Club. 44-'45; Junior Play. Senior Play. Dolores Winebrenner Lome Oh. brother . . . A tendent ice cream cone please. . . . Such is the iiie of our Dairy Nook waitress . . . hates to iron . . . loves to go to movies . . . football games . . . Life will be spent among thermometers and band- ages ... as a nurse. Forensic. ‘46-'47. ‘47- 48; Home Ec. Club. ’47-‘48; Commercial Club. ’47-’48; Secre- tary of Commercial Club. 47-'48; Junior Play; Senior Play. 17

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Class Will We, the Class of Nineteen Hundred and Forty- eight, of the New Florence High School, City of New Florence, County of Westmoreland, State of Pennsylvania, being not less than four years of age, of sound mind and body, of amiable disposition and fair character, and realizing the inability of the under- classmen to travel the road ahead of them unaided, do make, declare and publish this, our Last Will. Item I. Advice to all underclassmen: Never play hookey unless there is no one at home. We have tried it much to our disappointment. Item 2. To the teachers: We leave pleasant mem- ories of the Class of '48. Item 3. We will to the Juniors . . . the window blind, candy stand, monopoly on all money- making activities, and also our treasured P.O.D. books. Little do they know what they contain. (Neither do we.) Item 4. To the Sophomores we leave our individual initials which, of course, are on all desks. Item 5. We bequeath our dignity to the Freshmen. We honestly hope they will have the honor of being Seniors within three years. Item 6. We, as individuals, wish to will the following personal traits to show how much we love each and everyone of you. Mary Elizabeth Boyle: Her ability to play volley ball to Alberta Boring. Dolores Winebrenner: Her beautiful, black hair to Jean nine Adams. Anna Grace Killen: Her ability for secretarial work to Joan Overdorff. Charles Galbraith: His small, but mighty, features to Francis Deyarmin. Nancy Kirschner: Her supposed ability to bluff the teachers to Neil Killen. We hope that Neil will appreciate this act of kindness. Donald Graffius: His vocal talent and acting ability to Lois Wallace. Barbara Martin: Her business tact and humor to Olive Martin. Mary Galbraith: Her means of transportation to Skip Mack. Charles Bennett: His special technique” with the girls to Bob Brant. Robert O'Shell: His dexterity to aim paper wads to Robert Shannon. He also wills his special pronunciation of such words as can't (cain't), and squirt (squoit). Roy Richardson: His ability to pick up any instrument and really play you a song to Duane Carney. Claire Sutter: Her intelligence and originality to Dallas Caldwell. Robert Conrad: His ability to sleep on hardwood desks to Ray Boring. Louise Moore: Her clever tricks to Joker Haire. From what we hear he needs these. Emma Rummel: Her best wishes and hopes that some day in the near future his dream of cooperation will be realized to Mr. Young. Cora Boring: Her ability to keep her hair just so” to Sally Trexler. Wayne Gable: His shoes to anyone who can wear them. Duane Rager: His perfect posture to Winifred DeWitt. Frank Rehn: His excellent position at T. D. Loves to Philip Cramer. Donald Shannon: His excellent blocking methods in football to Larry Cavanaugh. Having left all our valuable treasures behind u s for benefit of others, we the Class of '48, hereby set our hand and seal to this document this nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and forty-eight. Signed: 19 CLASS OF '48