Oxford High School - Ravelins Yearbook (Oxford, MA)

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RAVELIN 'S Shorty from our class and we hope they were appreciated. Robert Helliwell, Gordon Shortsleeves, Viola Lyman, Sophia Nesta, and Elsie Willey kept in touch with the honor roll almost all of that year. They must have been thoroughly ac- qua'nted with it by that time. At this time we had to stop bf-ing jolly and settle down to be dignified seniors. So after a short vacation we met again, on the twelfth of September, for the first time as seniors. Yes. this year we would have to set a good example for the freshy freshmen and jolly juniors. Our class adviser that year was Mr. Sannella, and our officers were: President, Robert Helliwellg Vice-President, Gordon Short- sleeves: Secretary. Edith Munn, and Treasurer, Hazel Stoll. We also had a student council during our last year and we were represented bv Harry Jcllv. Eldora Javery, Elsie Willey, and Peter Beliauskas. That year Lymert Balcolm, Gordon Short- sleeves, and George LeClaire were members of the track team, and did they run! Knute Har- rington was captain 'of the boys' basketball team and Harrv Jolly was again manager. El- dora Javery had worked her way up in sports so that she was captain of the girls' team, and Blanche Clark. another member of our class, was cheer leader. On November first, a Hallowe'en party was held at Huguenot Hall which both juniors and Where did it go? seniors attended, and guests were invited. It was a fine party even though some of the food was missing when it was time to serve it. On November eighteenth, the play, Sonny J ane, was given with a number of our fellow classmates taking part. Miss Lupien coached the play and helped to make it a big success. From January on, preparations were under way for our graduation but first there was one more event. The senior play, Meet Uncle Sally, was given on the nineteenth of May. This play was very humorous and it kept the audience in stitches It proved to be a great success due to the excellent actinq, and Miss Lupien's coaching. Miss Lupien will cer- tainly be missed next year, for our play was the last one she will coach in Oxford High as she is leaving us. Now we must turn from the past and face the future Cwhich you will hear about in the prophecyl. Our school life is ended and all that is left is happy memories, but when our tasks become too difficult we must remember our class motto: The Beginning, Not the End. CLASS PROPHECY By Marjorie Davis N the evening of June 23, 1945, the class of '33 of Oxford High School held a reunion in Oxford's beautiful new hotel. Only mem- bers of the class and their wives and husbands were present. Before I tell you about the party, let me say a few words about the new hotel. It was locat- ed in the same place as the old one but it ex- tended to Charlton Street. Vllords cannot ex- press the beauty of the build'ng. Upon enter- ing the hotel, the first thing I noticed was the walls. Thev were of cream color background with beautiful Mural painting. At the right was the manager's office and as I entered he looked up from his work. He soon rose and I recognized him as George LeClaire. I walked into his 'office and immediately a conversation started. He asked me what I thought 'of the building and then informed me that the interior was all done by Viola Lyman, the famous interior decorator. Tootsie's one desire was always to be an interior decorator- Her second was to be married. ' Gecrge also informed me that Robert Helli- well had financed the building of the hotel and that Bob possessed a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. Not long after my arrival, the party began with a short program. The first to appear on the stage was Edith Munn. Everyone expected to see her start dancing, but she was there only to announce the presentation of ten little tap dancers whom she had very efficiently taught. The second on the program was the greatest surprise of the whole evening. A young man and woman appeared before us. The woman sat down at the piano and as she smiled down at us, We saw it was Hazel Stoll ready to ac- l35l

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RAVELIN 'S was so riotous that the teachers thought it ad- visable that thereafter, each class conduct its own party. More members of our class joined the basket- ball force that year. Gladys Stone joined El- dora. showing her skill at the game, and Knute Harrington was adopted by the boys' sfiuad, with Harry Jollv as manager. Vile certainly are getting up in the world-4or should I say school. On November twentieth the Athletic Asso- ciation put on the play called Here Comes Patricia. In this play Eldora showed her abil- itv to act, while three other members of our class proved to be fine salesmen at the candy table. Then came December with the Christmas party and our long anticipated report cards and vacation. Even if some of us did Het poor marks on our 'report cards we all had a 5116 time enjoving the gifts and looking forward to our vacation. On March seventeenth of that year an 'oper- etta, The Glass Slipperf, was given bv the school, under the supervision of Miss Colby. Viola Lyman and Charlie Farrar took part in this entertainment. At this time the school or- chestra made its first appearance and was ouite a success. Carlson did his best to make it that. In May the baseball team was organized and three of our boys made the team. The school year was coming to an end and before vacation presented itself I must mention that those who were on the honor roll most of that vear were Robert Helliwell, Viola Lyman and Elsie Willey. The term has ended and with it 'our lives as sophomores but we looked forward with pleas- ure to our lives as juniors. It was the ninth of September that we en- tered school as jolly juniors. That year we had a room all our own and were We proud 'of it! We had other things to be proud of too that year, for many of our classmates had been elected to be on the Ravelin's board. Miss Lombard left and Miss Lupien was our class adviser. Our class 'officers were: President, Wilfred Marcouxg Vice-President, Viola Ly- mang Secretary, Helen Daley, and Treasurer, Harry Jolly. Soon after school started a track team was organized with Lymert Balcolm as representative of our class. Five of our girls were on the basketball team that year and Knute Harrington still kept up his good work on the boys' team. Early in October we re- ceived our class rings. Soon after, many of us got detentions because of the commotion caused when we tried to make the pupils in other classes believe that our rings were better than theirs. On October twenty-ninth the Athletic Asso- ciation presented a play called Cat O' Nine Tails, in which Viola Lyman, Eldora Javery and Sophia Nesta took part. VVe certainly are finding' hidden talents in our class. A Hallowe'en party was given by the juniors and seniors. on the second of November, at Huguenot Hall. Guests were invited and we all had a good time-even though some of us had a rather hard time getting home. That year the orchestra improved with the help of two more people from our class: Hazel Stoll as pianist and Richard Olney as trumpet- er. On December twenty-fourth we had a Christ- mas party in the assembly hall and at this time report cards as well as gifts were given out. Some of us hurried home with our gifts. while others walked home with lagging footsteps. Early in March a number of our fellow stu- dents received awards in commercial subjects and so were invited to join the Commercial Club. Knute Harrington, who had the honor of naming the club, was also invited to join. On March tenth an operetta, Sailor Maids, was presented in which a number of our class took part. The first week of February was an anxious one for us, for the mid-year examinations were held. But while we dreaded the exams some of us found them quite convenient for we could remain at home on the days that we had no exams. At this time the girls conducted inter- class basketball games, and who should be champions but we, the juniors of that year. Those on our team were: Hazel Stoll, Gladys Stone, Eldora Javery, Sophia Nesta, Elsie Wil- ley and Helen Daley. Finally, on April tenth, our Junior Prom was held. Now we are getting down to business. The hall was decorated in pastel shades with the stage banked in artificial roses. Vile hope the seniors enioyed the dance, for we spent many anxious hours planning it. In the spring the baseball team was organized again. Vile donated Knute, Lymert, Pete, and l34l

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RAVELIN 'S company the young man who was the very pop- ular crooner, Phil Fales. We wondered if his voice had suddenly changed or if he was only joking back in high school. At this point of the program, everyone turned around to acknowledge the arrival 'of a very thin, well dressed woman and her husband. Suddenly someone shouted, Well, it's Claire Perry and so it was, but her name was Perry no longer for the man was her husband. The program continued. A comedia 1 entertained for the next five minutes. He was supposed to be Eddie Cantor but in reality it was only Henry Dalhec still running around with a pocket full of jokes, pranks, and-Jews harps. A very eflicient acrobat who was none other than Blanche Clark, showed us her abilitv in walking ropes and such. Blanche always liked to take chances in school and here she was still taking them. A tap dance by Lymert Balcom ended the program. We thought our eyes were deceiving us as he stepped but a few years will make a big diiference. The next hour Was spent in conversation. Little groups were formed as each 'one was de- sirous to know what the other was doing. Elsie Willey was the first one I dashed to. Vllhen I asked her what she was doing for a liv- ing, she replied that she was Miss Burke II in O. H. S. She said that Charles Farrar WHS also back at O. H. S. teaching geometry. I don't blame either of them for going back to the place. Eldora Javery came over to speak to us. Dora looked very nice, but why shouldn't she. She had become secretary to the president of Tuft's Dental School. Dora always was inter- ested in dental work. A group of men stood near by and so we joined them. In the group there was a cowboy from out west, a farmer, an aviator, a plumber and another good looking man. Peter Beliaus- kas, the cowboy, was telling stories 'of the west, Louis Malkowski, the farmer, was mourning because he couldn't get more money for his produce, Raymond Porter, the plumber, was relating one of his experiences of last winter, and Joseph Prunier was telling about his life as an aviator. The good looking man proved to be Karl Cheney, who had become manager of the First National Store in town. I 36 As we approached two women, we found that it was Helen Daley who had become a seamstress, doing business with Gladys Stone, dean of women at B. U. Suddenly three men talking very loudlv at- tracted our attention. We immediately knew the cause of all the noise when we saw Gordon Shortsleeves. He was trying to get an ad for the Telegram and Gazette from Edward Robi- doux. a dealer in radios. The third gentleman was Harry Jolly, Eddie's most ambitious sales- man. .lust before lunch was to be served another man and woman arrived. Thev were Mr. and Mrs. Dr vid Barr. Mrs. Barr was formerly Dor- othy Eames. I wondered whv they were late and soon I Found out when I heard Dot sav to Blanche, Oh, those kids will never go to sleep when we want to go out. At this time lunch was served. We were led into a wonderful d'ning room. At the head of the table stood a very attractive young girl dressed in black and white. It was Mary Vit- kus and believe me, she certainly did her part at that party. Mary asked if she could have charge because she was expecting a position at the Hotel Statler in Boston, After lunch we sat around. the boys smok- ine' a new brand of cifrarettes that Carl Carlson had a patent on, and the girls spoiling the looks of a dish of candy that was given by Sophia Nesta. Sophie told me later that she had es- tablished a candy kitchen in town and was do- ing very well. Perhaps that was due to the practice she had in the candy counter at school. Wilfred Marcoux was called upon to speak and the minute he began, we knew he had suc- ceeded in being the politician he had always said he would be. After his address, Norman Lovett, tax col- lector in town, rose and said he had two letters he would like to read. The letters read as fol- lows: I will be unable to attend the reunion on the twenty-third because of a serious operation that I must perform. Sincerely, Merritt Harrington. I didn 't think it was possible for Merritt to become a doctor but I later learned that he was l