Mansfield High School - Hornet / Green Years Yearbook (Mansfield, MA)

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Me He SY HARS BOOK The reception we tendered the senior class in June will long be remembered as an outstanding social event of Mansfield High School. For weeks we labored in preparation, many times running over the five- day limit, but in the end we were fully rewarded. The transformation of the drab interior of the Town Hall into the delightful atmosphere of a for- all de- mal garden, the enchanting music, the lights, the general spirit served the praise they received. Once more we won laurals in athletics. Joe Stachelek, Milt Ripley, ‘Tete Gillespie, Bud Bartlett, George Santucci, Newell Eames, Joe Lucy, Tony Farinella, Al Ferzoco, Mike Piasecki, and John Unger represented the boys. The girls’ teams remained unchanged. Several scholastic honors also were awarded. Margaret DePrizio and Marjorie Woodbury won prizes in shorthand, Margery Bessom in Latin, Veronica Smith and Margery Bessom in homemaking, and many received pins for typewriting. Thus ended our second year, another stepping-stone in the path to graduation. The following September, assuming the cherished title of seniors, we entered Mansfield High School for the last term. Regretting the resigna- tion of Mr. Green as principal, but glad to learn that Mr. Mattoon was to succeed him, we began the busiest year of our school life. Miss Shepard and Miss Jones became our advisers. True to tradition, we got under way early in the fall by holding our class election. So successful had Joe Lucy been in superintending our five- day plan in previous years, that we chose him as our president for the third time. Thomas Gillespie was elected vice-president, Edward Corey sec- retary, and Marjorie Woodbury treasurer. Acquiring a business-like spirit, immediately eight of our members— Edward Corey, Milton Ripley, Henry Steele, Tony Farinella, James Fletcher, Ruth Griswold, Mary Pellegrini, and Margaret DePrizio—joined the Green Parrot staff and proceeded to issue eagerly-anticipated publica- tions. Meanwhile rehearsals were well in progress for Junior, our class play. On Thanksgiving night, because of the fidelity and diligence of its entire cast, the comedy was a “smash hit.’ Who can forget Celenie’s winsome blushes, Charlie’s fatherly sterness, or Ernest’s captivating flattery? Quite appropriately, after such conscientious work on everyone’s part, we broke our tradition and had a three-day week with a real Thanksgiving. As spring approached, we modestly displayed our class pictures to our friends. Sentimental exchanges ensued. In March we decided to follow a newly-begun precedent by voting to wear caps and gowns at our baccalaureate and graduation exercises. We also chose to publish a yearbook. [ 26 ]

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M. H. 8. YEAR BOOK During the year we established an enviable reputation in the field of sports. In fact these months marked the discovery of many famous athletes who were testing their skill in football, basketball, and baseball. Newell Eames, Tete Gillespie, Joe Stachelek, Bud Bartlett, Milt Ripley, Joe Lucy, Tony Farinella, Al Ferzoco, George Santucci, and Eddie Foy upheld the honor of the boys, while Eleanor Williams, Doris Santucci, Eleanor Scato- lini, Frances Shepard, Margaret Day, Elia Ferri, and Margery Bessom worked admirably for the girls. Five days make a week! “A week of pleasure?” you ask. Ah, no! Marjorie Woodbury and Joe Stachelek were awarded prizes for excellence in typewriting. Clayton Cate and Henry Steele distinguished themselves in the art contest sponsored by the New Century Club. Even in these anti- classical days, Edward Corey gained fame as a Latin student; and Angie Scialoia, Alberta Salls, and Margery Bessom won honors in domestic science. Two of our members, Raymond Tillotson and Celenie Caron, found time to participate in the annual prize speaking contest. In reviewing this first year in Mansfield High School, one can truth- fully say that the goal sought in September had been justly attained by June. And one would, no doubt, add that it was well worth a two months’ vaca- tion with a transition from the five-day plan of those engrossed in the prob- lems and techniques of schooling to the common seven-day week. The next fall, impatient and eager, we began our junior year with five fewer members than at the beginning of our sophomore year. Under the able leadership of Mr. Green, our principal, and Miss Pope and Miss Henchel, our new class advisers, we anticipated, with no little excitement, a busy and happy ten months. The boys ran away with the honors in our class election. Joe Lucy became president, Tony Farinella, vice-president, Thomas Gillespie, secre- tary, and Edward Corey, treasurer. With true intentions of adding spice and variety to the Green Parrot, Marjorie Woodbury Bertha Gross, Milton Ripley, and Alfred Carbonetti pledged their allegiance to its staff. For a second time we had two entrants in the speaking contest, Alberta Salls and Al Ferzoco. Despite the short five-day week, we still had time for invention. To our class goes the honor (we hope) of origina ting the Junior Social. During October and November we fairly bubbled over with suppressed excite- ment—we were about to stage our first dance! The affair was a huge success socially, if not financially. It did not create a deficit, as many projects are apt to do, but netted us two dollars plus for the treasury ! What junior ever forgets when he received his class ring or pin? Ours came in January and for many days were the subject of interest to envious sophomores, polite seniors, and proud juniors. P2534)

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M. H. S. YEAR BOOK In April Mr. Mattoon satisfied our ever-increasing curiosity by an- nounced that fourteen of us had received the coverted honor of becoming members of the Pro Merito Society. They were Harold Bartlett, Margery Bessom, Charles Colella, Russell Cooper, Tony Farinella, Thomas Gillespie, Bertha Gross, Mary Lane, Joseph Lucy, Austin Smith, Marian St. Cyr, Antoinette Tessier, Ernest White, and Theodore Wilson. It soon became time to discuss graduation plans. Harold Bartlett and Austin Smith had attained the highest scholastic honors, but the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian were abandoned. Marian St. Cyr and Tony Farinella were selected to present essays as part of the graduation exercises. The history was assigned to Margery Bessom, Bertha Gross was chosen prophet, and Thomas Gillespie was entrusted with the drawing up of the class will. The music for the class song was to be written by Ruth Griswold. We chose as our motto, “We Strive to Conquer.” Our class flower was the white rose and our colors were silver and blue. Our last year in high school brought crowning glories to our athletic reputation. [he boys were undefeated on the gridiron. “They won seven- teen out of twenty games during the basketball season, and had a banner baseball year. “The girls won the interclass volleyball tournament and gained second place in the basketball meet. Our star athletes included Al Fer- zoco, Mike Piasecki, Newell Eames, Joe Lucy, Milt Ripley, Bud Bartlett, Tete Gillespie, Joe Stachelek, Chuck Unger, Ernest White, Eddie Corey, Jim Fletcher, Al Delliacano, and Marian St. Cyr, Frances Shepard, Eleanor Williams, Mary Lane, Eleanor Scatolini, Thomasina Flammia, Doris San- tucci, Enis Blandori, Elia Ferri, Margaret Day, Aurora Albertini, Blanche Damato, and Margery Bessom. Had any stranger arrived at school one day in early June, he would have been quite dumbfounded. ‘To the amusement of all, we were observ- ing Tramp Day and the ridiculous garbs we wore will never be forgotten. Our last week together was truly an impressive one. On Sunday we attended Baccalaureate services in the Congregational Church. The solemnity of the occasion made us realize more than ever the step we were about to take. Tuesday evening we were graduated from Mansfield High School. The deep, sincere feelings of mingled gratitude, joy, and sorrow that we experienced that last night together can never be erased from our memories. Five days make a week. Thus ended three years of the happiest weeks in the lives of the sixty-three members of the class of 1937. [274