Nottingham High School - Bulldog Yearbook (Syracuse, NY)

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and David Crossman were running for Nottingham on the track team, a championship one at that. It wasn't long before Soph biologists were tapping out Morse Code while dotting protoplasm to give their amebas a drape shape. In English we explored the innermost thoughts of Silas Marner while trying to memorize Geometry Proposition M, the shortest distance between two points is . . . is . . . ah . . . well, that was a long time ago. Suddenly, one drizzly day, we were alarmed by the fire bell, and taken out of our classes to the Nottingham Dust B--- oops, Athletic Field. There we saw Fiery Felix, a spectacular character who took great delight in making things hot for people. Spring was ushered in, bringing an answer to all our problems in the form of an assembly featuring Dr. Duvall. Few will forget the sad saga of Ann and the Unfinished Blouse, or the stimulating' dis- cussions on How to Get a Datei Too, there was D'Tasea's spring play, Meet the Duchess, where a romance between heroine Micky Levy and hero Marty Gussow almost didn't work. By this time, we began to tremble at the thought of our first Regents. Caesar crossed and recrossed the Rhine, and the question of the day was, What did you get for this answer? But even that torture passed, and we looked ahead to vacation and to com- ing back the following Fall as Juniors. BOOK III The third degree . . Nottingham became 25 years old as the Class of '5l entered its Junior year, and great was the cele- bration. A huge new trophy case greeted students returning in September, with a sign reading, Re- served for Football Trophy prominently displayed. Many were the disparaging remarks about these words. But to the surprise of all, it wasn't long before we heard Mully's famous exclamation, Ain't it a grand and glorious feeling? And it certainly was when we saw the Orange and Blue wind up a great season by replacing that sign with a golden football. Thanks to the victory over O.V.A., jerry Sackett was able to add another historic quotation- It was mighty quiet in the valley last night! It was just about this time that knitting argyle socks for their heroes was keeping the girls busy. On the hole, it wasn't bad. Another fashion fad was added when Pee-Wee Klein appeared displaying his new pink shirt. Ted Stoltz contributed a red shirt and yellow pants to the prevailing mode. During this year most of the class turned sweet sixteen, that precarious age when the Motor Ve- hicle Bureau issues driving licenses. Sweet sixteen and never been missed was quite appropriate con- sidering that most of the Junior class had been nearly extinguished by Mad-Man Louie Kupperman. That year the parking lot was redesignated the N.H.S.- M.A.R. or the Nottingham High School Museum for Ancient Relics. Proprietors were Carl Hughes, Phil Holstein, and Steffen Wolff. In contrast to the above, Rudy Graf and Ann Gardner were winners of a Safety Slogan contest. This book would be incomplete without mention- ing some of our famous assemblies during that year. Remember when Gordon MacRae came back to his alma mater and so thrilled Miss Durkin that she had to kiss him on the cheek before he left? Then there was Miss Gordon, the English school teacher, who made the girls feel mighty glad that in the U.S.A. they can entertain their fellas at tea parties without being chaperoned. An addition to Nottingham during the third year were the words of wisdom over the trophy case. And who can forget Miss Bush's class when Onnie Frank insisted that the House of the Seven Gables was a house with a broad door, through which the Gables entered, and had fights with the other Gables under the eaves. fThat's almost as bad as the one about Angry Raisinsf' It used to be Grapes of Wrath, but it was left out in the sun too long.l Nottingham, while celebrating its Silver Anniver- sary with a football championship and a mammoth alumni reunion, learned that from the wranglings of the Board of Education had emerged plans for a new East Side High School, and that Nottingham would revert to a Junior High. But, moaned a Junior, won't people wonder why I never got beyond the eighth grade ? Now on to the final book . .

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BOOK IV Point of no return . . lf in our Freshman year we were amazed when there wasn't school, conversely, as Seniors we were amazed when there was. What with assemblies, Sen- ior meetings, official conferences, examinations, trips, concerts, yearbook pictures, and anything else imagin- able, Miss McBurney sadly concluded: Why have school at all? Despite the confusion, however, Seniors hit the books harder than ever, realizing the truth of that ancient Chinese proverb-no tickee, no washee. Through the profound wit and humor of the team of Button and Borzelle, classes became more bear- able. Frying eggs, the life and love of the hydrogen atom, pennies disappearing in nitric acid, and all manner of nauseating odors greet one's entrance into room 114. The famous sign was lacking from the trophy case this fall, though each and every one of us was very, very proud of each and every member of the football team from the bottom of our hearts, they managed to lose each and every game. Nevertheless, we still had something to live for, as there were the 8 a.m. A Cappella rehearsals Qif one can call that livingl. Miss Kappesser advised the weary warblers that success depended on keep- ing the eyes closed in the Sackett manner. Seniors invaded the city's newspapers and radio stations with editorials and that's about all the news from Nott- ingham this week. Some translated the mighty Aeneid or memorized Ode to a Grecian Urn. Others stuck to more down to earth subjects as printing, shop, and foods 17. Nottingha.m's alert Student Council, inliamed by a proposal to name our prospective new home Chris- topher Columbus, promptly petitioned the school board to have the name William Nottingham transferred to the new edifice. Meanwhile, ground was broken and work begun on the magnificent structure. And back in the old building the plaster began to fall, much to the dismay of one young stu- dent who was under same. So eventually the plas- terers came to replace the ceiling. During the fall a new club opened its doors. Fos- tered by Miss Durkin's inventive brain, Club 110 was instituted among her classes. And, between first and second periods on many mornings, one could find Betsy Nelson conducting an impromptu meeting of the Girls' League Boys' Auxiliary Board-single- handed. After ejecting two cocker spaniels, a boxer, a dachshund and a cat, and sending President Nel- son to Miss Sanderson's oflice, the efficient corridor guides usually managed to quell the riot. Some order was created out of the chaos, however, when the senior class officers were elected following a restful Thanksgiving holiday. The peace and quiet was short-lived, though, for the problem of caps and gowns was soon raised. To wear or not to wear -that was the question, as Sid Weinstein and Amy Devorsetz modeled the latest creations. Despite the unbiased advice of Mr. Kane, the class adopted the proposal to wear caps and gowns. To collect the' stupendous dues and fees, Ann Bassett, our treasurer, began to spend eight periods a day in the vaults of room 132, and many were the impassioned appeals for money and more money that issued from her lips. And then there was some talk of a yearbook. The Spring term of 1951 found many changes in Nottingham, several of our contemporaries had de- parted for college, or jobs, while others remained for post-graduate work-otherwise known as the three- period day. February brought the last of 51,750 in Senior dues, while with March came yearbook sales, college boards, and the All-School Revue. The latter was emceed by Bill Veigel, attired in a bright royal blue shirt and dazzling red tie. Sid Dana's impro- vised piano features, Bob Evans' baritone and the Dance of the Seven Whales highlighted this gala event. There also was the debut of Nottingham's versatile gymnastic team. A glorious prom and picnic and finally graduation itself capped our four hard years of high school. We have had space in this book only to list a very few of the highlights of four eventful years. The complete record could fill a Britannica or two. The years have been all too short, but the memories are legion. We feel compelled to mention Miss Ayling's library, Westcott Street with its Ostrom's, Wittig's, and the Mohican, the parties, hayrides, Drumlins, seventh period, Hallowe'en carnivals, dances, Fred Carraugh and the custodial staff, the cafeteria. But we could go on forever. All in all, as we think back over our school days, we remember not the buildings nor the books so much as the friends we made and the fun we had with themg for these things consti- tuted the real Nottingham.