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

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THE GOBBLER-1946 JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL these people would obtain an income, and so, a land of starving people is depend¬ ent upon stronger nations. Hungry farmers cannot work. The life of the Euro¬ pean peasant is a hard one, and requires plenty of basic, body-building foods. The farmer is unable to till his soil, plant his seed and reap his harvest; and so, there is no food. Starvation takes with it a nation’s pride. Hunger reduces the people to scavenging in garbage containers for rotten, smelly left-overs. Hunger forces them to beg. Hunger makes them steal and even kill! And so, the morals of a starving country drop, and its dignity is sacrificed. The United States of America is the most powerful nation in the world. It has wealth beyond the conception of a starving European. With the American people lies the power to save a dying civilization. We have only to make up our minds to do something about it and then put our shoulders to the wheel. So, come on, let’s do it now. Remember, “Use it up; do without; make it do; never throw it out!’’ Gloria D. Bottai CLASS HISTORY T HE time has come for the soft velvet curtain, heavily laden with memories, to fold gently down on the final scene of our four high school years. We have listened endlessly to older folks telling us that they were the happiest years of our lives, and before long we will realize the truth in the meaning of that phrase. No matter what our future plans or positions may be, we will always look back to the many happy times we had together. The curtain swung open for us in September, 1942, as we bravely, yet shyly, took our place as the new students at Johnson High. At first we found the system of changing rooms rather difficult, and were quite bewildered when we accidentally walked into a class of haughty seniors. We soon discovered that being a high school student wasn’t as glamorous as it was cut out to be and found ourselves studying rather than attending parties and dances. When these differences were settled, we buckled down to real business and elected our leaders at a class meeting. Nicky Evangelos was chosen president, Norman Campbell vice-president, and Rita Mulchahey was to be our secretary- treasurer. Since this was a war year, and everyone was doing his-bit to help, the school declared a holiday so that we could have a scrap drive. It was extremely success¬ ful and an amusing time was had by those who participated. In February we were honored with a visit from an Indian Chief who dis¬ played his talents and did an Indian war dance to the accompaniment of music provided by Oscar Soucy, who nearly died of fright on the stage while the chief swung a mean-looking club over his head. Gym classes started this year with Miss Howe and Mr. Lee as instructors. When we returned in the fall, we felt like very experienced individuals as we stepped into our new role as sophomores. Officers were elected immediately, and Nicky was again chosen to be our 25

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THE GOBBLER-1946 JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL It is hard for us here in safe, happy America to realize it. We complain about shortages; sugar is scarce and butter more so; but, there are honey and oleo¬ margarine to substitute. Yes, we have our struggles and shortages, but we are not starving! It is easy to be a little selfish when our larders are full to the brim. A trip through our local market would be a voyage into fairyland for the children of Europe. The bananas, oranges, grapefruit and tangerines would doubtless be strange, new wonders to them. The heaps of fresh vegetables, lettuce, spinach, asparagus, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, string-beans, would be unheard of. The shelves of canned goods with tempting labels, and the glass jars from which gleam carrots, beets, apricots, prunes, golden corn and peas are a sight they have never seen. And what an impression the tempting and beguiling forms of grain cereals would make upon a child who has difficulty getting even the most essential grain food—BREAD! It is natural to assume an air of indifference. Europe is many thousands of miles away. We have just finished sacrificing our men and materials to save its civilization from a war that we did not want. Many parents have lost sons; many wives have lost husbands; and brothers, fathers, and sweethearts are con¬ spicuously absent from American homes everywhere. These people are bitter toward the unknown nations who claimed the lives of thei r loved ones for their defense. In their bitterness they are likely to take the isolationist’s attitude, “Let them shift for themselves!” Little do they realize that in their blindness they are punishing the Europeans who did not want war any more than we did; mainly the children, and then the women and the old folks who knew freedom and peace, perhaps, under an old regime, in a generation when Hitler and Musso¬ lini had not cast their sordid shadows on the history of the world. Perhaps some of us cannot find the reason why we should take food from our mouths to feed someone we don’t know, that we’ve never seen, that a few months ago was hated and feared as an enemy. You are not being asked to deprive yourself of food; merely to conserve. Use up your stale bread in puddings, sauces and casseroles. Don’t over-buy. Purchase just what your family is able to consume, and don’t throw away any single thing! It is unbelievable that the growth and living standard of future Europe lie in our hands. Every day men are fainting at their work in factories and shops. Every day essential workers are being confined to their beds. Every day farmers re dropping behind their plows. All this for lack of proper nourishment! All this because you threw away a crust of bread tonight, or last night or last week. It is impossible for the people of Germany, Italy and other occupied countries to carry on the vital work of rebuilding a civilization that was torn down by the ravages of war if they haven’t the fuel that will give them the energy to carry on. That fuel is our staff of life—BREAD! With the civilizations of these countries too weak to rebuild their essential industries, the burden of supporting them falls twice as heavily upon our shoul¬ ders. Starving people suffering from malnutrition cannot work. That means factories are idle, which, in turn, means there are no goods to be sold from which

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THE GOBBLER-1946 JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL leader. Phil Long took over the vice-presidency and Howard Doherty was our new secretary-treasurer. These offices were held by this group for the remaining three years. Since the war was still raging, and many Johnson seniors and graduates were fighting for us, we formed a student council and began selling war bonds and stamps. Next, a service flag was purchased, dedicated, and placed in the hall for everyone to see. Miss Glenna Kelly was replaced by Miss Sheridan, and Miss Theresa Kelly took over Miss Howe’s duties. Trouble was brewing over the cafeteria and finally the students boycotted it. The difficulty was soon settled and we were allowed to eat again. In September of 1944 we entered Johnson as “upper-classmen” and were quite proud of the fact. Miss Bascom was added to the faculty and we lost Miss McAloon to a lucky captain in the army. Our friend “Joe Kemm” originated this year, and created quite a sensation for some time. We held a very successful magazine campaign for the Curtis Company which increased the sum of money in our class treasury. On May 8th the war in Germany ended, and after a solemn talk by Mr. Hayes which quieted many of us down, we were dismissed for the day. In June we were given the T. B. Patch Test and all felt greatly relieved by the fact that we had no sign of the dread disease. The prom was the highlight of the year, since it was the first for many. When we returned to school in September, 1945, the world was at peace, since the fighting in Japan had ceased during our summer vacation. The following new teachers were welcomed to the school: Miss Callanan, Mrs. Manson, Miss Gillen and Miss James. The lunch-room was now under new management; Room 2 was converted into a dining room and hot dinners were served. Stunt night was held in place of the Freshman-Senior dance, and this new plan proved to be both entertaining and successful. The idea of noon-day dancing was presented by the student council to Mr. Hayes who followed the plan through. The Prom-Benefit Dance was livened up with a skit by Nicky, Chief, Bob Skinner, Howard, and Bill Driscoll, who gave a splendid performance of a ladies ' sewing circle which everyone heartily enjoyed. There are many personal memories which are not listed in this history, and some which we would just as soon forget; for the memories which will stand out in our minds as we travel the hard, rough roads to success are the happy ones which brought pleasure and laughter with them, and no matter how far away we may travel, these thoughts will draw us back to “the happiest years of our lives,” which were spent with classmates we learned to love and understand in four memorable years at Johnson High. Alma Sanford Bill Gosselin 26