Pittsfield High School - Yearbook (Pittsfield, MA)

Page 83 text:

History of the Class of 1940 N irretrievable loss was suffered by the junior high schools of Pittsfield one beautiful day in june, 193 7, for it was at that time that the Class of '40 moved toward its new home, the million-dollar high school. But it was not until a marvelous ten-week vacation was succeeded by a delightfully cool, invigorating September that that memorable class of brilliant students, with radiance beaming from their faces, with chests swelled to the limit, with shoulders straightened - and with quaking hearts - marched up the wide staircase and entered the portals of Pittsfield High School. Immediately there was a tragic, amazing transforma- tion. The former lords of the junior high school succumbed to the trembling in their hearts. just a number of meek, insignificant sophies huddled together in that large auditorium, awaiting their instructions. With watering mouths the hungry juniors and seniors had looked forward to this day. This was their day, and they immediately took advantage of their supposed superiority. They scoffed at the very apparent bewilderment of the newcomers. And when the trusting youngsters who made up the sophomore class asked the upperclassmen for directions, you can well imagine what happened. However, as the noble juniors and wise seniors gradually came to realize and appreciate the abilities of our illustrious class - for, incredible as it may seem, this is a portrayal of our class - the scoffing and teasing ceased. With notice- able sighs of relief we settled down to enjoy the many opportunities that the school offered. Our activities were diversified indeed. Several of our classmates found room for themselves in the many athletic projects open to them. Others of us flocked to the Debating and Glee Clubs, the staff of The Student's Pen , and the newly organized Motion Picture Club. No matter what our individual talents, we found that there were clubs and activities for everyone. Time passed quickly, so quickly, indeed, that it was not long before the budding of trees and the twittering of birds heralded the coming of spring. Spring fever was upon us, and rare was the sophie who could shake off the inertia that benumhed his senses as the spring term slipped away. Thus, almost without the sophs' realizing it, the days ofjune, 1938, became history. Suddenly it dawned upon us that no longer would we be associated with the lowly worm - not at all - now we would be the monarchs of all we surveyed fexcept seniorsj. Elevated to dignified rank, the following autumn we returned to P. H. S. as juniors. Our most pressing and serious task was carried out when we elected class officers. john Grady was elected president. Robert Wood became first vice-president, Delores Dondi, second vice-president, Barbara Myers, secretary, and Mary Ann Carnevale, treasurer. At the same time, Mr. james A. Conroy was chosen class adviser. Soon after the election of officers we agreed upon monthly dues of twenty-five cents. No doubt it was our eagerness to cooperate which prompted us all Csome of us, anywayl to pay those dues regularly. 79

Page 82 text:

S uglw .-3 JA,1.,i I , muy 1 ,,.. un , 324041 0 A ai- ' 'W SS . we' x aa! f 45'1 Nw 5, , , Q n......9 I gm X, -. .- ,fm ,iv uv' ww we , x, -- N, Q fil- :,f ,Ss , ,w B-,I Jw, ,S , - is..

Page 84 text:

At this time a very heated argument in the Debating Club kindled the spark of student self government in the school. There followed articles on the subject in both The Student's Pen and the local paper. Needless to say, the leaders of this idea are to be found in our ranks. As yet, however, student government has not passed beyond the consideration stage. During the winter of 1958 and 1939 two clubs were formed which have since been exceedingly popular and active. To further their knowledge and enjoyment of the king of hobbies , several of our number turned to the Stamp Club. Stu- dents with an interest in all phases of radio technique were invited to join the Radio Guild. Besides the organization of these clubs, two other very noteworthy events took place. One was the voluntary construction of a good hockey rink by boys interested in the sport. This was at once hailed as a laudable achievement and a remarkable credit to our school spirit. The other event was a contest spon- sored by the school in search of an Alma Mater Song. Over five hundred students entered the contest and submitted praiseworthy contributions. The job ofthe music department and the teachers chosen to judge the winners was far from easy. Although the winner, chosen after much deliberation, was a senior, the two entries next in line were composed by members of our class. For several weeks previous to the well-remembered evening of May 20, 1939, it would have been difficult to convince a casual observer that we were not prepar- ing for Baby Day but for thejunior Prom. As we had dedicated that gala occa- sion to the child-like sophomores, dolls, doll carriages, kiddy cars, and other toys were the theme of our Prom decorations. When the evening finally came, the affair was certainly a credit to all the Prom committees. The evening was not only successful, it was refreshingly unique and picturesque. The reaction of the sophs? They were thrilled when they feasted their eyes on the numerous toys. And perhaps even more interesting than the toys were the cleverly designed posters depicting many well-known nursery rhymes! The Prom represented our class's greatest effort and crowning achievement in its junior year. It practically ushered us into the twelfth grade. And did we take advantage of our ascendency when we returned to school! We were no longer mere students, now we were seniors, and we demanded fof the other students onlyj that we be treated like the nobility of which we fancied ourselves members. The novelty was shortlived, however, and once again we resumed our studies in earnest. Our class activities began to function more normally. Almost unanimously we re-elected our class officers, various committees were chosen, and the ponderous wheels of the biggest event of our senior year slowly began to turn. ,.i...-1...-.-i-.. Our senior year was crowded with noteworthy events, and at least one of them is quite interesting in that it brought the European War and its effect upon world trade much closer to us than we might have anticipated. The company from which we bought our rings encountered considerable difficulty when it found that the blockade of Germany had efficiently closed the ports of that country, whence came the stones for our rings. The company was forced to turn to the very 80