North Andover High School - Knight Yearbook (North Andover, MA)

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JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL wonderful event. There was a record-breaking attendance of over four hun¬ dred. The players were taken to a hockey game in Boston by the cheer leaders. December 7, 1941, is a date which will never be forgotten. We were at¬ tacked by Japan while her ambassadors were here on a peace mission. Every student sat in awed silence as the radio transmitted President Roosevelt’s speech to Congress, in which he asked for a declaration of war. Our courses were rightly upset and the faculty did a wonderful job in preparing Johnson students to face this situation confidently. Balloon rhymes with June and the first week of that month held nothing but balloons for many of the juniors and seniors. Tommy Sousa’s band played for the prom and the balloons were used as souvenirs. September 9, 1942, meant the start of a new and final year. The same dances and usual affairs were kept, but many new things had been added. The seniors upset the usual procedure by having a barn dance before the Senior-Freshman dance. It was a huge success with loud shirts, dungarees and square dancing. Campaigning began soon after for a victory dance. The dance was held, but the victory, at least in points, was enjoyed by Punchard. The Johnson eleven was undefeated with the unfortunate exception of one game. The football players were once more entertained at a party by the cheer leaders. The announcement that we were to graduate June 4 brought tears to eyes of the faculty, and extreme joy to the seniors. We voted for a class supper and plans for it and graduation outshone everything else. Some day, somewhere, each one of us will look back over the four years spent here and wish we were back. Little by little, the teachings, warnings and predictions of our teachers will become real, and will, inevitably, pave the road to a better life. And so, small in number, but mighty in memories, we will go our separate ways. There are things, however, that will keep us to¬ gether, no matter how far apart. We leave, with a prayer for peace, everlasting peace, and a hope for happi¬ ness. Virginia Aponovich CLASS WILL r the denouncing of the “Emancipation Proclamation’’ by the Johnson High School faculty for the past four years, do hereby make our last attempt to bestow on the deserving juniors our magnetic, overpowering charms, our bril¬ liant minds and our great leadership in this last will and testament. Francis Driscoll conscientiously bequeaths his famous football tactics and his “precise” senior social science notebook, to John Cyr and Alan Armstrong. Marcella Lyon leaves her Boxford accent and quick speech to Wanda Stefanowich, who probably will thank Marcella for giving to her such a gift. Charlie McCarthy gets Jackie Stewart’s technique on “How to handle women as cheaply as possible”—the lucky fellow! 27

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THE GOBBLER - 1943 CLASS HISTORY LjlHE doors reluctantly swung open, the stairs groaned sorrowfully, and even J U the teachers were a little downhearted. They shuddered to think of the noisy, ill-mannered freshmen disrupting the now quiet rooms. There was no getting away from it, it had to be faced. The clock could not turn back the time, the doors could not lock them out, and the faculty had to accept, at least momentarily, the abuse forthcoming. The noisy, bubbling freshmen of 1939 were quickly taken in hand, lectured and cautioned by teachers and upper classmen. To say we settled down would raise the anger of the shaken building, but we did start off on the right track. We held elections (here I question the use of that word), and chose Leo Lafond for president, Jimmy Allen for vice-president and Betty Kreusel as our secre¬ tary-treasurer. Clubs were renewed and for days the old school chuckled at the sight of pigtails with odd-colored ribbons, and large bows bedecking heads of members. The aprons worn were as amusing as the dolls carried about in loving arms. Leo performed his first official act at the freshmen debut by thanking the seniors for a wonderful dance and a warm welcome. The rally dance came next. Spirits and hopes were high but to no avail. The Thanksgiving game ended in a win for Punchard. 1940 rolled around, but we were still the foolish, note-passing freshmen. Contests were started to sell tickets for the annual play. The return Fresh¬ man-Senior dance was enjoyed. The prom came and went, affecting but few of the freshmen girls. Then our worshipped seniors left, and now we were sophomores. The fall of ’40 we came back because we felt it our duty to help the faculty tame the freshmen. Yes, we were now supposedly subdued sophomores. Leo held his presidency and the next two offices went to John Farrell and Barbara Earl. America in miniature was seen at the polls of the mock election, in which every student took part. We, too, chose President Roosevelt. John¬ son’s undefeated football team of 1940 was something to marvel at. Soon after Thanksgiving, students and players alike trudged the icy miles to Ando¬ ver to ask in unison that Punchard reconsider their refusal to play us and carry out the scheduled plans. Unfortunately, this was to no avail. Our hall was filled to the nth degree at the presentation of the play “What a Life.” The prom indirectly announced the end of a year of fun and then the seniors took the spotlight as they prepared for graduation. The summer of ’41 gave us a well-deserved rest. The inadequate summer holiday didn’t quite heal our scarred and overworked minds, but nevertheless, we went back to work gracefully. Slacks boldly appeared and aroused a great deal of discussion. They won the right to be worn to school, but not the boys’ approval. The memorable happening of our junior year was the defeat of Punchard by a score of 8 to 7. The first in twenty-eight years! The Victory dance was a carry-over from this 26

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THE GOBBLER - 1 943 Jimmie Allen donates to Robert Gray and George Casale his hidden person¬ ality, which is amply displayed in the physics class—due to Miss Chapman’s disarming questions. Barbara Dandeneau, who no doubt will appreciate this, inherits Ruth Whittier’s vivaciousness, and her eighteen inch waist. Pauline Dainowski and Dot Winning, the famous duet, grant to Phyllis Dearden and Audrey Stewart, their everlasting friendship along with the Johnson Jottings.” Eileen Driscoll hands over to Claire Driscoll her devoted attention to the stronger sex, but fears that Claire will be overwhelmed by such a prospect. Perley Rea leaves his copy of How to Win Friends the Right Way and How to Influence Teachers the Wrong Way” to Douglas Lee. Puckout Walsh leaves to Paul Hulub his list of conquered hearts—if Paul will have room enough to add them to his. Dot St. Louis and Jean Gordon inherit Ann Chase’s complimentary remarks along with her ability to drive a car with one arm. Carmela Cuomo leaves to her sister Louise her charming qualities and her quiet ways. Charlie Dutton gets a teddy-bear” for the purpose of giving his startling red hair to Gaspar Balsamo and has plenty left over for Eligio Forgetta and John Warwick. Viola Ruess is left with Peggy Dempsie’s beauty to add to what she already has. Chester Cramton generously bestows upon Harry McPherson his back-seat artistic execution. We have no fear that he will refuse it. (How about it, Harry?) Ruth Cohen bequeaths to Frances Payne her contagious giggle. John Hinton Farrell passes on to Lefty Thomson his political views and insubordinate attitudes. Any connection between this statement and that of Miss Kelly’s is purely coincidental. Bernice Lefebvre gives advice to Doris Stewart as to how to keep the wolves howling and still remain aloof. Leo Lafond leaves to Ray Sullivan all his abilities, football, making speeches and parlor tactics, in the hope that Ray will further the cause. Josephine Guerrera receives Gilda Detora’s stunning hats and her charming ways. We grant Anne Agey the lovely voice of Barbara Finn,—need we say more? Billy Hayman leaves to Freddy Crosdale his life-like photo from Esquire, which so sufficiently covers the otherwise dull title of his pre-flight book. Jimmy Cunningham is the lucky boy who inherits George Barker’s haunt¬ ing—but do we dare say slow—manner. Barbara Earl bequeaths her excellent leadership as class secretary, as head cheer leader, and as the basketball captain, to anyone in the junior class who can do the impossible. To Claire Lewis, Dot Doiron leaves her one-man complex with rules as how to keep them hooked. 28