Major Edwards High School - Mesa Yearbook (West Boylston, MA)

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Barbara Spencer was the new Junior who joined us at the beginning of January. She proved to be quite as cheerful and jolly a member of the class as our class jester, Jim Bristol. During the year we purchased our class rings. Our next great task was that of the Junior Prom. After much planning and decorating, we succeeded in changing the auditorium on May 20 to a gay, festive sidewalk cafe scene with bright colored streamers. Couples danced to the music of Russ Holland ' s Orchestra. Despite the fact that the weather was another liability to our class, the prom turned out to be a great success. As the year came to a close, we eagerly looked forward to a much-needed two months ' vacation. SENIOR CLASS And now came the year which was the culmination of the last eleven. In September of the year 1948, we once again entered through the doors of Edwards High, knowing that this would be our last and final stay here. For we were now Seniors, and as members of the highest rank of upper classmen, we were determined to be treated with the respect due our position. Much to our delight we found that Mrs. Severance was to act as our class advisor and vneroom teacher. We settled down and elected the following class officers: President . Vice President Secretary . Treasurer . Howard Johnston James Bristol Jeanette Deschenes Richard Bonci We knew that this was to be our busiest and most important year, and we resolved to make the most of it. With the help of Mrs. Severance, plans soon got under way for our Senior Annual. As the end of the year drew nearer to a close, we realized that soon w© would go out the doors of M. E. H. S., never to return again as students. Yes, too soon we would say good-bye to our classmates and friends, and turn our faces to what the future held in store for us. We would say to each other as the Spanish do, Buen viaje — Pleasant journey.

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In the weeks that followed we found that the amount of homework given us differed greatly from that of our freshmen year. Although we were busy we did find time for a few activities. Rumors were that the Freshmen were to be initiated by the Seniors. We were relieved to know that initiation plans had not been prepared for us while we were still freshmen. Later on we found out that we were expected to put on a Harvest Dance. Since this was to be our second project, we were determined that it would be successful. November 8 found couples dancing to music provided by Russ Stone and his Orchestra. To our dismay we found that Ray Merrill was leaving to make his home in Lexington. This made us a class of sixteen. Early spring found most of us suffering from a slight case of spring fever, but this was somewhat diminished when Mr. Namen came forward with an idea for a class hike. Although the hike consisted of a few minutes walk to Miss Nutting ' s back-yard, we had a wonderful time. June was drawing near and the class decided to have a class party. With everyone in favor we went to White City Park and Tatassit Beach for a day. This party completed our second year at Edwards High. JUNIOR YEAR On September 6, 1947, we returned to Major Edwards High with the realiza- tion that this was to be our busiest year thus far. To our surprise we found ourselves directed to the upstairs corridor from which we were quickly ushered into Room 4 by our class advisor Mr. Eaton. It was at this time that we lost two of our members, William Teachout and Barry Whitman. This left us with a class of fourteen. Much to our dislike we found that part of the sophomore class was to share Room 4 with us. After being given school supplies we quickly settled down to electing the following class officers: President . Vice President . Secretary . Treasurer . Howard Johnston James Bristol Jeanette Deschenes Richard Novia Knowing that it was the custom of the Junior Class to put on a play, we soon got under-way with rehearsals of a play entitled This Ghost Business under the direction of Mr. Stubbs, a member of the faculty. This play was presented on December 5. Despite the fact that oL man winter was doing his best to whip up a good snow storm, This Ghost Business proved to be a huge success. We didn ' t have any class parties this year because the Junior Play and Junior Prom took up most of our spare time, to say nothing of the homework thqt was hqnded opt most generously by the faculty.

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A LETTER BACK FROM THE FUTURE International Airport West Boylston, Massachusetts The Year — 1959 Dear Students of M. E. H. S.: I must tell you about the wonderful experience I had a few days ago. It really was the climax of my career as recording secretary at the West Boylston Airport. A huge rocket was in position for the take-off and the large crowd that had gathered to watch the spectacular event was patiently awaiting the distinguished passengers and the crewmen. It was the first rocket to the moon that had ever been shot from the newly-constructed West Boylston Airport. I was one of the group making the trip, because I had been appointed to go along to record the observations of the two very eminent scientists who were passengers. As their identity had to date been kept a secret, we were, of course, anxious to find out who they were. Within a few moments we observed a man and woman approaching, and as they drew nearer I was delighted to find that they were both well known to me. One was Capt. Stubbs, who, as a member of Uncle Sam ' s reserve, was going along to prepare a report for the army. The other was Mrs. Severance, who, since her retirement, had become interested in inter-stellar research and had written many books on the subject, and was now making the trip to acquire data for her next volume. Of course, they recognized me, but we had only a few moments for reminis- cences about our days together at M. E. H. S. before we boarded the large rocket ship for our journey into the stratosphere. With a loud roar the rocket ship shot off into space, leaving a trail of smoke behind it. When the rocket landed on the moon, after a fast and thrilling trip, Capt. Stubbs and Mrs. Severance decided to explore immediately the silent, eerie, Planet. Donning their space-suits, they stepped out into a fantasia of huge shapes and shadows. Capt. Stubbs took from his pocket his powerful little portable telescope. He set it up facing the Earth, and found he could see the Earth and everything on it very clearly. After looking through it for a few minutes, he asked Mrs. Severance if she would care to look. She then took over and here are some interesting sights that she observed. First she saw a man with a brief-case, looking tired and disheveled, travel- ing along a country road and going from house to house, obviously trying to sell his products. The look on his face told her in an instant that business was not very good that day and that he ' d have to try again. Yes, her deduc- tions were correct. It was Howie Johnston, the insurance salesman of her Class of ' 49. As Mrs. Severance turned the telescope in another direction, she saw a terrified man running at full speed down the street, with a man in white chasing him. She remembered the pursuer well. Evidently he was in business for himself. Who else could it be but Dr. A1 (Hopalong Cavity) Anthony, a dentist! Refocusing the telescope she made out a large man upon a house top. She finally realized, through the flying sparks and tangled wires, that it was Dick Bonci, first-class electrician. Boy, I ' ll bet his fingers got tired of shocks after a day like that! Probably he had grown accustomed to shocks from standing next to Derrah during lab. period. As she looked around again, she could see a tall young woman seated at an organ in a large church in New York. As the girl ' s fingers flew over the keys, Mrs. Severance realized that it was Winifred Hubbard, the pianist of the Class of ' 49. She was now an organist — choir director at this church and an instructor at the Julliard School of Music. Mrs. Severance remembered that at school Winnie had always been very busy playing for all school qctivities. It seemed that she was still busy.