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

Page 29 text:

M. H. S. YEAR BOOK we were no longer insignificant first-year students. When we returned the following September, we felt completely acclimated and with confidence took upon ourselves the duties of our junior year. Having been duly warned by the Class of 1938 of the increased de- mands that would be made upon us this year, we immediately settled down to. business. With Mr. Mattoon as our principal, and Miss Pope and Mr. Robinson as our new class advisers, straightway we proceeded in a very eficient manner to elect our class officers: president, Albert Zaffini; vice- president, Emma Gross; treasurer, Ruth Benjamin; and secretary, Oma Marshall. In athletics we were represented by Kenneth Chapman, Albert Zaffini, Albert Childress, Tony Pellegrini, Chester Moore, Ernest Corbett, James Sullivan, Francis Gallipeau, Joseph Belcher, John Liberatore, Robert Baxter, and Joe Cutillo. The boys were sorry to lose Coach Carnie, but they were soon well acquainted with their new director, Mr. Buhl Bassett. In the month of November excitement ran high. The seniors were very busy preparing their play for Thanksgiving evening, but more interest- ing to us was the fact that we had chosen our class rings and were eagerly awaiting their delivery. Despite our usual business-like attitude towards work, we must admit that our routine was somewhat disturbed in December by the thoughts of our Christmas vacation and especially by the arrival of our rings. And why shouldn’t we have been excited and thrilled! For each it was his first class ring; moreover, as we pointed out to our admiring friends, our ring was the first to have a gold shield on a black onyx background. In April came the first important undertaking of our career, the Junior Social. It proved to be a real success and our schoolmates began to realize our potentialities. From then on life moved swiftly towards the glorious climax of the year—the reception which we tendered the seniors in June. It was indeed a gala event. Brilliant red and white awnings, silhouettes of brightly- lighted skyscrapers, and gay summer furniture turned our sober Town Hall into a festive New York penthouse. “The venture proved successful beyond our fondest expectations and we felt that we had well earned the vacation to follow. ‘Thus ended our junior year. Omniscient and omnipotent in the eyes of the underclassmen, we hoped, we returned for our senior year. We were sorry to hear of Mr. Mattoon’s resignation, but it was not long before our new principal, Mr. Hays, had won our regard. We knew what we wanted and how to proceed. At our first class meeting we elected the following officers: president, Albert Zafini; vice-president, Pauline Hudson; treasurer, Ruth Benjamin; secretary, Oma Marshall. This year the number of boys taking part in sports increased to four- (250)

Page 28 text:

M. H. S. YEAR BOOK CLASS HISTORY. by Jennie Cutillo History has been defined as the story of life as it is lived from day to day by some group of people. It is made up of the ambitions, experiences, comedies, and tragedies of human beings. From time immemorial man has desired to preserve the account of his struggles and achievements in perma- nent form. Moved by this common urge, the Class of 1939 of Mansfield High School appointed me to compile its history. Tonight I have the pleasure of presenting the facts which I have gathered. In September, 1936, a timid band of one hundred and three boys and girls entered the portals of Mansfield High School for the first time. How abashed we felt! Seniors to the right of us! Juniors to the left of us! But we were determined that we would make a place for ourselves. In October, under the guidance of our principal, Mr. Mattoon, and our adviser, Mr. Robinson, we proceeded to show the upper classmen how promising we were by electing for our president, the able Norman Vickery; for our vice-president, talented Ruth Benjamin; for our treasurer, witty Regina Bellew; for our secretary, charming Oma Marshall. Later in the fall we impressed our associates still further. In sports, nine capable athletes from our class did their part in upholding the honor of the school: they were Kenneth Chapman, destined to become a Big Leaguer, Francis Gallipeau, Ernest Corbett, John Wills, Chester Moore, Albert Zaffini, James Sullivan, and Tony Pellegrini. The girls, no less than the boys, showed their mettle in basketball by winning every game in the season. All honor to the members of this team: Captain Anna Prohodsky, Regina Bellew, Doris Nordberg, Marjorie Pit- man, Eugenia Blandori, Ursula Monty, and Gertrude Bernier. While some of us were participating in sports, others were busy with the Green Parrot. Marjorie Pitman and Ernest Corbett reported the interesting happenings in the school. Francis Gallipeau entertained us with his wit and humor, while Regina Bellew efficiently handled the finances. During our sophomore year we did not sponsor any important event, but we showed our aptitude for social life by joining the various clubs, and — attending such important functions as the senior class play and the Mardi Gras. In June we were greatly impressed by the commencement activities. We shall never forget how imposing the seniors looked as they received their diplomas at the graduation exercises. At the senior reception we were en- tranced by the realistic atmosphere of the nautical decorations. We were affected most of all, however, by the class day exercises. As we sang “Where, Oh Where, Are the Gay Young Sophomores?” we realized that { 24 ]

Page 30 text:

MAH SEARS BOOK teen: John Liberatore, Kenneth Chapman, Chester Moore, Francis Galli- peau, Tony Pellegrini, Alexander Salachi, Robert Baxter, Donald Goddard, Louis Scaldini, Arlington Hudson, Albert Zaffini, James Sullivan, John Wills, and Joe Cutillo. Early in the fall we began to talk about the senior play. Excitement grew when we learned that we were to present Robinson Crusoe and pre- parations actually started. Everyone had something to do: while the actors were busy with rehearsals, the rest of us were selling tickets and at- tending to numerous details. “The play proved to be one of the outstanding accomplishments of the class. No one will ever forget James Sullivan as the kind-hearted Robinson Crusoe, Ruth Benjamin as the haughty Mrs. Pierpont Drake, or Albert Zaffini as the faithful servant Friday. Nor shall we forget the excellent performance of the other members of the cast: Winifred Ochsner, Marjorie Pitman, Winnifred Rogers, Regina Bellew, Janice Haines, Oma Marshall, Joseph Belcher, Earl Moorhouse, John Liberatore, Ernest Corbett, and Robert Baxter. Of the mid-year activities the most colorful was the Mardi Gras party, given by the French and Latin Clubs, under the direction of Miss Aurilla Shepard and Miss Mildred Jones. We enjoyed the Mardi Gras of 1937, but even more that of 1939, since the school chose the sovereigns -from our class. With royal dignity King Francis and Queen Pauline ruled over the merry-making. We were honored still further when Janice Haines was awarded a prize for her unique peanut costume. The next few weeks were filled with excitement! First we chose our class photographer; then we had the pleasure of going to Boston to have our pictures taken. But the most fun of all was exchanging photographs. Modest though we are, we were thrilled by the complimentary remarks passed by our friends. Late in March Mr. Hays called a meeting to announce the honors and to make arrangements for commencement. ‘Those attaining the highest scholastic ratings were O ma Marshall, Dora Baldini, and Jennie Cutillo. Twenty of us became members of the Pro Merito Society,—namely, Dora Baldini, Elizabeth Bartlett, Edward Beatty, Joseph Belcher, Ruth Benjamin, Phoebe Bessom, Christine Bruno, Margaret Clark, Ernest Corbett, Jennie Cutillo, Yolanda Falotico, Olga Fornaciari, Emma Gross, Janice Haines, Pauline Hudson, Oma Marshall, Winifred Ochsner, Marjorie Pitman, Anna Prohodsky, and Roberta Underwood. The class authorized Tony Pellegrini to draw up the will, and Jennie Cutillo to write the history. It commanded Betty Bartlett and Francis Gallipeau to unfold the mysteries of the future. Edward Beatty was ap- pointed Editor-in-Chief and Robert Baxter Chairman of the Business Board of the Year Book. Here let me pause to mention three members of our class who have [ 26 }