Maynard High School - Screech Owl Yearbook (Maynard, MA)

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THE SCREECH OWL takes in the past, we hope to make the “Screech Owl” of tomorrow far better than the “Screech Owl” of yesterday or today. Edward C. Feams. Their Extraordinary Legacy There was a great commotion in the little white cottage. A large box had arrived for the twins with a letter accompanying it. “What do you suppose it is, Don ?” Peggy asked, running around excited- ly for a hammer. “Can’t find out until we open the box,” Don answered drily, neverthe- less feeling just as excited as his sister. “Well, let’s read the letter first,” Peggy said, “then we’ll know what is in the box.” But after reading the letter, the twins looked at each other dumbly. For a moment neither spoke. Then Peggy said in a small voice. “I guess we’d better wait until Aunt Kate comes home, to solve this queer message.” Aunt Kate completed the family of three who lived in the little, rose- vined cottage. The twins didn’t re- member their mother but there still lingered a vague memory of a tall, silent father with sad, brooding eyes who left them when they were eight years old. So, Aunt Kate their father’s maiden sister came to live in the little white cottage and take care of two children. Nine years had elapsed since that time and the twins were now in their late teens and were Seniors in the Mayfield High School. “Here’s Aunt Kate now,” cried Don, who had been looking out of the window. But it was not the Aunt Kate that they knew who met them at the door. The dear face that was usually so cheerful and ga y was pinched and drawn with sorrow. The gay greet- ings died on the twins’ lips as they piloted her to a chair. After a few moments Aunt Kate said in a shaky little voice, “I’m all right now.” She took a letter from her pocketbook. Don and Peggy looked at each other fearfully. What did the letter con- tain and if that was the cause of their aunt’s sudden grief. “I received a letter from your grandmother.” Gaining courage from the sound of her voice Aunt Kate continued, “She wants you to live with her.” Immediately Peggy and Don burst into violent protests. They didn’t want to go away and leave Aunt Kate. She tried to make them see what the change would mean, but all in vain. The twins knew their grandmother was wealthy. College and travel would not be a dream but a possibility. But they also knew that their grandmother was selfish and cruel. She didn’t want them seven- teen years ago. Then she certainly could get along without them now. “And furthermore,” Don said firm- ly, “we wouldn’t leave you for a thousand grandmothers.” However, the twins had to give in to their aunt’s will in the end. It was a very dejected and silent group who sat around the fireplace staring into the fire and avoiding each other’s eyes. Peggy was sobbing softly and declaring over and over again that she didn’t want to go. After listening for a few minutes Don decided to go into the kitchen and get a drink. Gosh what a lump could rise in a fellow’s throat, it seemed like a mountain when you tried to swallow. On his way out he stumbled against the box. Immediately Peggy stopped crying and screamed instead, “Oh, we forgot all about the box.” An excited ex- planation followed and in the end Aunt Kate was no wiser than she had been in the beginning. “Let me see the letter,’ she said after trying to listen to both of them at once.

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8 THE SCREECH OWL sistant business manager; Ernest Holt, alumni editor; Ruth Foster, literary editor ; Edward Fearns, Waino Sjoblom, Jane Boicourt, assist- ants ; Margaret Moore, French editor ; Lawrence Lerer, assistant ; Phyllis Naylor, John Horan, joke editor; Walter Carbone, art editor; Irma Ryssy, assistant ; Sylvia Ahola, Annie Lehto, exchange editors ; Tyko Siipola, Henry Grandell, Florence Wilcox, Ruth Moynihan, athletic editors. Miss Walsh acted as faculty advisor. Before the first issue, Ruth Foster resigned as literary editor, and Tyyne Lahti was chosen in her place. After an immense amount of work for every member of the staff, since none were experienced, the first issue appeared on February 25, 1927. Needless to say, our first attempt was far from perfect. After the magazine was published, we found a large number of defects. However, since this was our first try, we did not become discouraged, but bent our efforts toward improving the maga- zine for the second publication. Previous to the second appearance, several new members were added to the staff. Walter Carbone was elected science editor, with William Niskanen as his assistant. Hazel Priest was chosen commercial editor, while Helen Salo and Ellen Jaakola were appointed typists. Our second issue was much larger and was a great improvement over the first. In spite of this improvement, several changes were still necessary. Since the last edition of the “Screech Owl” was to appear just be- fore graduation, it was decided to make this a “Senior Number.” This edition had a great many special features, with two full page plates, special individual write-ups, year-book style, as well as a review of the school year activities. During the summer, the members of the staff were disappointed to hear that Miss Walsh was not to return in the fall. Miss Walsh was the main factor in starting and helping the “Screech Owl” and every member of the staff appreciated her work. When school began, last fall, the remaining members of the staff met and chose Leo Mullin, Editor and Miss Thompson, Faculty Advisor. They met and appointed a staff, as follows. Leo Mullin, editor ; Sylvia Ahola, as- sistant editor; Maurice White, Sam- uel Gilman, business managers ; John Horan, circulation manager; Bernard Green, publicity manager ; Edward Fearns, literary editor; Helmi Hiip- pakka. Salmi Wirkkanen, Jane Boi- court and Catherine Coughlin, assist- ants ; William Niskanen, Francis Led- gard, Lawrence Lerer, Jeannette Johnston, Hulda Hill, department edi- tors; Wilho Frigard, joke editor; Samuel Bachrach, Helen Nee, athletic editors; Florence Wilcox, alumni editor. In October, our first issue for this year appeared. Maintaining the most rigid economy practicable, the busi- ness department was able to build up a strong surplus fund for the year’s work. During the fall, the staff considered the advisability of converting our magazine into a newspaper. However, it was decided to retain the “Screech Owl” in magazine form, improving it along those lines. On our second issue, several much needed improvements and enlarge- ments were made, under the compe- tent direction of our able advisor. Miss Thompson. All of the depart- ments were consolidated into a strong literary department, and the members of these departments were added to the literary staff. This has reduced waste space to a minimum and results in a better magazine. As we approached our first birth- day, the members felt that an anni- versary number would be extremely appropriate. We now look forward to a better “Screech Owl”. Profiting by our mis-

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10 THE SCREECH OWL The letter was very short and con- cise evidently the writer didn’t be- lieve in beating around the bush. My dear niece and nephew : I am sending you each an opportun- ity to realize your ambitions. You never get anything in this world for nothing and though I am sending you the prize first, it is going to take time and wits to earn it. Your uncle, Robert Whetherhill. T can see that you are puzzled,” Aunt Kate said with an amused smile, “but that is just like your Uncle Robert. Open the box, Don, while I give you an idea of him.” “Of course he is very wealthy and maybe you think he is eccentric after reading his message. But I have a hunch that he knows about your grandmother’s plan to take you away and because he dislikes her he doesn’t wish her to be successful, so he is sending you something which prob- ably will aid you so you will be inde- pendent. You see he had to live with her several years and he never forgot it.” “Aw, look,” Don said in disappoint- ment, taking out what appeared to be a vase. It was about two feet in height and a little more than one foot in circumference. It was made of clay and covered with a weird oriental de- sign. Two little iron rings hung on opposite sides of the neck. After examining them thoroughly and finding nothing of value either in- side or outside, Don muttered, “Op- portunities, ambitions — never get anything — etc.” “They’ll make pretty good orna- ments, but that’s about all,” Peggy said, “I don’t see any prizes concealed in them.” “Of course you won’t find the prize if you give up before you begin,” Aunt Kate said reproachfully, “you have three months to solve the mys- tery.” So with a great deal of enthusiasm for they loved mystery, the twins plunged into the task of solving the mystery of the vases. The future didn’t seem as dreary and dark as it had before. But it wasn’t as easy to solve the puzzle as it seemed. After two months when the twins were no nearer to the goal they began to feel discouraged. Aunt Kate helped as much as she could but though the three studied, thought, planned and worked no one could find the solution. One evening about two weeks be- fore the unhappy day of parting, the twins were sitting down together on the sofa discussing the vases. A neighbor came over to see Aunt Kate and ask her advice about decorating a booth. “I can’t think of another idea,” she declared, “and I’m getting tired of having my booth decorated the same every year except in different colors.” “Well, I have an idea,” Don said thoughtfully. “Bright boy, you may never have another so hurry up and tell us,” Peggy said patting him on the head. Don grinned, “Speak for yourself, smartie.” Then to the Mrs. Heeney who was waiting patiently. “Why don’t you decorate it in an oriental fashion.” “The very thing, oh thank you,” Mrs. Heeney beamed, “and I can have some incense burning and every- thing.” “Why you could take our vases,” Peggy chimed in, “they’re certainly designed in an oriental style.” Mrs. Heeney thanked them all and de- parted saying she would send her hus- band over for the vases the next morning. “Maybe you shouldn’t have offered the jars to Mrs. Heeney,” Aunt Kate said afterwards, “they might be broken.” Don said nothing but in his heart he fervently wished that the old vases would be lost or shattered in pieces. For it seemed hopeless now to think of solving the mystery.