Methuen High School - Memories Yearbook (Methuen, MA)

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History of the Class of 1928 By GEORGE CHURCHILL WHITNEY The record of the Class of 19 28 is in many ways unique. We find that we lack outstanding- stars on the athletic field, in the class room, and in our class activi- ties. We notice a significant thing, however, that ouir class is larger, better, and greater than any which has preceded it, and has, we hope, set a new scholastic record for succeeding classes to attain. Far be it) from my purpose to indulge in mock heroics and in glittering generalities. The purpose of an historian is to write history — true and unbiased facts. We may be indeed great but let our own virtues: pro- claim us so; let the light of our own achievements shine as a perpetual memorial to our undying fame. But to my subject. We find inscribed in the school records the fact that in September of nineteen hundred and twenty-four there were assembled some three hun- dred odd graduates cf the three junior high schools of the town at the Searles High School to be regularly enrolled as students in the Freshman class. Owing to the new system of junior high schools, an opportunity had been given to pupils in the eighth grade to enter the ninth, thus bringing up the total graduation number to a new high mark, and incident ally lowering the graduation age by a year. Thus we are one of the youngest classes ever graduated. The Class of 192S first met officially in the assem- bly hall to be assigned to our home rooms. But we had met before — at the gate. And we had also met another clafs, who, with the lust of battle in their eyes and the spirit of revenge in their souls, were determined to implant in the Freshman heart the fear of God and of the Sophomore class. Of the bloody days that followed I dare not speak. It was too gruesome for words. SOmc- of us have memories of flustered Freshmen running around striving to hold on to shoes and stockings, and meanwhile endeavoring to reach the fifth period class before it was too late. A week of confusion followed our matriculation, a week in which bewildered Freshmen scampered from room to room and period to period. The strong hand of Martin F. Goodwin brought order out of chaos, how- ever, and soon things were running as smoothly as the proverbial clockwork. On October 28th we held our first class meeting. The newly elected president, Arthur Jackson, presided. Committees were elected to look after class rings and class colors. The colors chosen by this committee were blue and gold, the blue and gold of the Class of 1928 which throughout our four years have seemed so beautiful. The first big event of the school year was the Freshman Reception. I quote from the class records: On Friday evening, October 3, 1924. we, theii Freshmen, experienced perhaps the biggest thrill of our lives when the Class of ' 25 of the Methuen High School tendered a Reception (reception is capitalized) to the Class of ' 28 in Nevins Memorial Hall. The plans of the Sophomores and Juniors earlier in the day to kidnap the presidents of the two classes had been frustrated.

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Hope and Appreciation It is the hope of every class and especially of every edi- torial board that its Year Book will prove equal to and bett if possible, than those which have preceded it. It is with cuch hope that the Class of Nineteen Hundr d Twenty-Eighl presents this Year Book. We wish to thank Principal Thompson and Mr. Buchanan for their well founded suggestions and help. We also appreciate greatly the co-operation of the mer- chants of Greater Lawrence who have advertised in this book.

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The address of welcome was given by James Fag- giano, president of the Senior Class. At the end of his speech a large box of carnations was presented to Arthur Jackson, president c ' f the Freshman class, who responded fittingly. The Freshmen were then introduced to the mem- bers of the faculty. After this presentation, the march took place. The only thing to mar the evening was the fact that the hall was too small to accommodate such a large freshman class. However, it gave many of us a never-to-be-forgotten thrill of our first real grand march. We dug into our studies with energy thail fall. Many of us, newly introduced to Latin. French, Alge- bra, and other such bug-bears, burned not a few quarts of midnight oil. it was a novel experience, this stu ly- ing, but we took to it like a duck to water. The rest of! the school year passed tranquilly enough The iboys, introduced to military drill, performed squads right and left with a vim and vigor that hats been lack- ing ever since. We Freshmen used to wonder how ii was thait the upper classmen failed to become enthus- iastic oiver drill. We found the answer. We had no Freshman party, for it was found im- possible to secure an open date agreeable to the faculty, June came quickly and with it Senior Chapel. Sen- ior Chapel was once an ancient and sacred inslitutioi sanctified and solemnified by long usage. Of late years. however, due chiefly toi the Sophomore class, it has degenerated into more or less of a circus. But it was no circus for us that year. We were on the receiving end. Upon returning to begin our Sophcmore year, W5 found that with the elimination of the Freshman el i s we t|m plitus of Jlliit . wer.- .main the lowest class in sc qrI, ;hat is, s,uc;ul)y. Scholastically we were the hlghi ' ttt- To retrieve s mewhat our wounded sense of dignity, and to placate our desire tor revenges small sorti.s and skirmishes were made on the Freshmen, safely entrenched in the Central School, but Mr. Elwell gallantly came to tin .r rescue and put us to rout. Studies came easier that second tall. Perhaps wc ha l gotten the habit. Mr. G lwm bad left us and in his place came Mr. Conant. We all regretted Mr Goodwin ' s departure. His prowess In subduing unruly and belhgerenl freshmen had become traditional. The Athletic Association Hallow en Party and Stunt Night na • us our tiis. ehance tu carv a tl ' lchi lor ours -Ives m the hill of fame. We Sophomores pre sehted as oui offering a one-ad piaylet, A Night a: an inn. it was a i -triLb- tragedy, only the audienci ill, not 6 ,1,1 I,, realize this lor they laughed at the mOS: tiagic parts. Although we failed to receive ' he prizi we gained experlenct in acene shifting and stage car- pentry whieb stO ,1 us in good atead lor the Junior play . Ask .Mr. Pipei he know.-. The resl of our Sophomore year was spent in studs Ing that is. we managed to keep up with our work. just how we managed being one of our great s?crets. .Mr. Tenant bad introduced several new systems about the school and it took u aomi tune to gel used to them. We held our first real soei.d function in the form of a class hop m March. We came out on top. betti i die record of a uood many classes, but the lack of a party the first year had its effect. We had not then reached that stat ■ of efficiency for which w - have been ncted in the past year. Again came June. Although we were one year nearer graduation, we. were still the last class to go