Norton High School - Sojourn Yearbook (Norton, MA)

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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

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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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But wait! ! Wasn ' t something cut out of that reel? Surely such light pass-over of the trip is going to bring clamors for the facts. A week so appropriately spent in modeling her for the equally hectic life she will spend after her production is released. No tears, no sighs — for her emotions have been made to be used only when the director shouts tears. No, she doesn ' t even feel slightly homesick but don ' t you when you remember CLASS OF 48 TRAVELS The Seniors and chaperons, Mr. and Mrs. Yelle, awoke early April twenty-fifth to meet at Norton High School. The first warning of our perennial headache on the trip reared itself when one group arrived five minutes late. By auto, the class was transported to the station in Providence for the take-off, at 7:55. Boarding the train, everyone settled themselves in the few, widely-scattered seats available and pro- ceeded to. be entertained by means of magazines, crocheting, cards, and talking. Excitement ran rampant when a telegram for Miss Geraldine LeClaire was announced over the loud-speaker. On arriving at Grand Central Station, we were greeted by Mr. Beckham, the B. O. representative, who, by ferry and bus, got us to Jersey City where we continued our trip to Baltimore, Maryland. Our running mates, Topsfield High School Seniors, boarded our semi-private car at Philadelphia. Lunch on the train was fun, but the bottoms of the N. H. S. feet can vouch that the distance to the Club car (first car) was at least two miles. Bud Skipper transported the group from the train to the Hotel Hamilton in D. C. via his bus and left us with the soon-to-be perpetual warning, Be on time tonight. After a delicious dinner of creamed chicken, Bud rushed us off to the Congressional Library, and later, we passed through the city and viewed the illuminated Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Capital. Monday night leaves memor- ies of window-hooting, pajama trotting, mysterious burglar alarms, patient waiting for lost members and don ' t come in here, I ' m dressing! ! After a suprisingly short night, we were awakened by Ding-a-ling. It is now 6:30. The Bureau of Printing and Engraving, the Smith- sonian Institute, White House and the Washington Monument all felt the sensation of a visit from us, and our tired legs bear witness to the fact that there are too many steps in the Washington Monument. After