Riverhead High School - Blue Peconic Yearbook (Riverhead, NY)

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Class History As we entered Riverhead High Scnool in the fall of '36, we looked both admiringly and humbly at those tall sophisticated walking dic- tionaries, the seniors. We observed the peculiar strutting air they affected as they walked, but we did not envy them, for we were too proud and excited. What if we were wearing last year's plaid knickersl What if our hands and feet were two to six sizes larger than the rest of us! Some- where, either in the shiny new notebook, or mingled with our first lipstick, was that precious schedule card which told us when and where to go to get to — now what was it — some erudite course the name of which we could hardly spell, let alone pronounce. Seniors! Of course some day we would belong to the gradu- ating class, but who could think of the future when the present seemed so bright. As is customary, early in the year we elected cur class officers: President, the capable George Patton; Vice President, Norma Burgess; Secretary, Muriel Palmer, and treasurer, William Deme- triou. Then came the gayest, most stupendous event of the year — the Freshman Party. Here we found our timid boys too shy to ask the girls to dance. Perhaps the reason was, though we hesitate to say, they preferred playing with the cakes and lemonade to entertaining the girls. However, those few brave couples who found courage to stand the glare of the spectators, enjoyed dancing to the strains of the then popular Lights Out'' or When My Dream Boat Comes Home'' expertly played by George Demetriou's Orchestra. We had every reason to be proud of our school that year. On the championship football team were Mike McKillop, Walt Hogan, and Tuesday Boardman. We were also extremely proud of our” classmate, Louis Bush whose pitching won us six of the seven baseball games. Speaking of old times — remember the senior play of that year? A spooky murder mystery — The Leavenworth Case. When in June we left for les grandes vacan- ces, we left for all time the Roanoke Avenue Building. Never again would we be compelled to sit in the Gym balcony on rainy days, there to pass the time away with no amusements. Never again would we have to climb those three flights of stairs to arrive breathless at Miss Mac- Gillivrays Algebra class or was it Mr Millers General Science Lab? Willingly we left old R H. S. where we had so dilligently chewed, if not digested, our first bite of higher education. When in September of our Sophomore year we returned “as eager and ambitious as ever,” we saw before us a new R. H. S. standing majes- tically in all its splendor and immensity. We had come back — we thought — adjusted to High School, but here we were lost again in a maze of rooms and corridors. Where was that study hall anyway; where was the library? — By the way, we heard it took one of us two weeks to answer the latter question. We were a green group of Sophomores as we stood in the middle of the hall examining our schedule card or studying our hand made plans of this building. Gone indeed was any veneer we had acquired during our freshman year. Page Ticenty-eight

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But what luxury we were surrounded oy, radios and telephones at every turn! Our schedules listed new subjects and new clubs which would prepare us more adequately for our future life, be it further education, employ- ment or marriage: Radio, Science, Art, Math, Home Economics, Farming. Literature, Dramatics, Secretarial work, the Press, Choirs, Choruses, Bands, or Orchestras. Then of course there were ♦he sports: Football, baseball, track, tennis, vol- ley ball, basketball, field hockey, ping pong, etc. It was all very wonderful — this new school; yet it was surprising how soon we grew accustomed to our new environment and began to take our advantages for granted. We were soon sufficiently acclimated to elect William Demetriou as Sophomore President, and our ever faithful Norma as the Vice; Ann Slivonik as Secretary, and Walter Smith as Treasurer. Our Sophomore party was a memorable affair—punch spilled liberally. This year those at the party were tripping to the current hits— Harbor Lights, Lambeth Walk and Rosalie , played by Don Jackson's Orchestra Remember the Paul Jones Mr. Ward called, after which cne girl found herself minus a shoe? Of course you recall the first senior play to be sponsored in our new school, namely— Big Hearted Herbert' in which Bill Emerson played the part of the hero, and on three days' notice, Mrs. Irvin became the heroine. (Beverly Osborn had caught the measles). Next came our Junior year which literally flew by in spite of all its harrowing events, one the destructive hurricane. How well our school protec ed us through the raging tempest! The main feature—so to speak—of the year was the very successful and sophisticated Prom. Here the girls looked so quaint and dainty in their wasp waisted, full skirt gowns, as they danced to the tunes of Deep Purple. You’re a Sweet Little Headache or perhaps Alexander's Ragtime Band, which were played by Bob Dennis' Orchestra. This year the all important positions were held by the following: President, Michael Michaelson; Vice President, Norma Burgess; Secretary, Betty Warner, and Treasurer, Walter Smith. We all remember, with a smile, Benny Kar- lin as Andy Hardy in that comical comedy Skidding . At this time, as upperclassmen, we could wear our class rings with their traditional school seal. This emblem is appropriate for Riverhead in that it includes the plow at the top represent- ing the intensive agricultural districts in the township of Riverhead — the radio tower of the largest radio receiving station in the world— and the scales of justice of our county court. And now that we are Seniors, we have placed it with pride upon the cover of this book. It was hard to realize that so soon we had reached the pinnacle of our high school career. For the last time new officers were elected: Louis Bush. President; Norma Burgess. Vice President; June Cooke. Secretary, and Walter Smith, Treas- urer. What have we become? Just plain day dreaming, pleasure seeking seniors! Yes, but we hope too, that there are among us young men and women capable of assuming respon- sibility and leadership in the adult community of which they are to become a part. Page Twenty •nine