Norton High School - Sojourn Yearbook (Norton, MA)

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There were four events in store for us this year, though only two increased the treasury for our Washington trip. They were: a dance entitled Junior Jive in November, a Minstrel Show in March, a trip to Boston to see the play Henry VIII, and the annual Senior Reception in June. After ample preparation, we docked on November 15 and held our dance which was a huge success. Shortly after Christmas, we started rehearsing for our Minstrel Show. We were rewarded by an exceptionally large and appreciative audience. As June approached, our Navigator sent individual notes ahead to the Senior ship inviting the passengers to a prom presented in their honor. Though this affair did not increase our treasury, everyone spent an enjoyable evening. Throughout these two years, Sophomore and Junior, the sailing was smooth and the air invigorating, and we looked forward to our last year aboard the U. S. S. Norton. Our Senior officers were: Captain, Geraldine LeClaire; Executive Officer, Nancy Foster; Navigator, Joan Ash; Pay-Master, Ruth John- son; and our faithful Admiral, Mr. Yelle. We tried very hard to raise money this year but with little success. Chronologically, our events were: a Dance in November, the selling of labels and post cards, our Class Play Act Your Age in December, a Card Party in February, and a Square Dance in March. Although these events were reasonably profitable, our treasury was affected very little because of our ever increasing expenses. Besides money-raising events, we were exceptionally active in gov- ernmental aflairs this year. Early in December, we were advised that the Chief of Staff of our particular fleet was setting aside a Good Govern- ment Day so that students from every ship could govern the entire fleet for one day. We set to work immediately and elected Joan Ash as Senatorial candidate ard Anita Roberge as Representative. Natalie Woodward and Mary Thomas were their two campaign managers. They and the rest of the crew had become so anxious that one day they boarded the U. S. S. House in the Pines, the U. S. S. North Easton, the U. S. S. Agriculture, the U. S. S. Dighton, and the U. S. S. Attleboro giving campaign speeches. The only ship that was unwilling for them to campaign on board was the large and stately U. S. S. Taunton who was absolutely sure of being victorious. On the contrary, we were the victors, and Joan Ash, accompanied by Mrs. Findlator, the advisor and Natalie Woodward her campaign manager, was sent to the U. S. S. Boston as Senator for the day. This proved to be a very thrilling ex- perience for our diminutive ship.

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CLASS HISTORY The U. S. S. Norton gallantly sailed out into the unknown in Septem- ber, 1944 with approximately forty eager passengers aboard, all anxious that their four year voyage be smooth sailing. The admiral of the ship was Miss Merritt who proved to be a fine advisor. The officers were as follows: Captain, Mary Thomas who was in full command; Executive Officer, David Clarke who assumed the responsibilities of the Captain in her absence; and Navigator and Pay-Master, David Dorothy who took care of the correspondence, re- ports of meetings, and the treasury. Because this was our first year on board, we were permitted to go ashore only once to hold a money-making event. After preparations were made, we landed on October 28 and held a Food Sale in the Uni- tarian Church Vestry. This turned out to be a fairly successful under- taking. During our second vear, David Clarke was Captain; Marguerite Watson his Executive Officer; and the position of Navigator and Pay- Master was filled by Geraldine LeClaire. Our Admiral, Mrs. Doherty was soon transferred to another ship and Mr. Henri Yelle took over her office. The year 1945 proved to be the most financially successful of the four. A profit of almost $200 was realized by the presentation of a dance in November and a Penny Sale the following May. The expert advice, given bv our Admiral Mr. Yelle, was largely the reason why we were able to arrive at such a grand total. This success was indeed encouraging for we were sure that the annual trip to Washington in our fourth year would now be possible. The class had become greatly reduced in number by the close of June 1946. A large percentage of the crew had been lured ashore to enjoy leisure with the mythical Sirens, but there were others, however, who left to serve their country. And so, with reduced numbers, our ship sailed on into the third year which was destined to be a busy one. Mr. Yelle was re-elected Admiral and remained so throughout the rest of our voyage. Anita Roberge was Captain; Harry Lane, Executive Officer; Joan Ash, Navi- gator; and Mary Thomas Pay-Master. On October 5, a representative from Balfour ' s in Attleboro came aboard for the purpose of displaying class rings. Our selection was a style quite practical and sedate looking, and we were promised them before Christmas.

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Now, after having studied the governments of our fleet as a whole and also that of our own small ship, we were interested in finding out how the larger ships, such as the U. S. S. Taunton and the U. S. S. Attleboro were run. So we were very pleased when the Captain of the U. S. S. Taunton invited us to abserve their methods. We accepted his invitation and for a day and an evening we held various posts from as low as a cabin boy to the highest office of Captain. Meanwhile, several students had been busy preparing for college. Five had taken scholarship exams and one had become alternate at Katharine Gibbs. The most exciting experience of the year was our Class Trip to Wash- ington, D. C. and New York chaperoned by Mr. and Mrs. Yelle. Mr. Beckham from the B. O. Railroad Co. arranged our tour which every- one enjoyed thoroughly. With the announcement of our two honor students, Anita Roberge and Geraldine LeClaire, we suddenly became aware that the time was fast approaching when we should bid farewell to the U. S. S. Norton. And that time was June 24, 1948 — Graduation. The voyage through High School is ended, but now we must sail our individual crafts into the great sea of life. Joan Ash