Rowe High School - Viking Saga Yearbook (Lakeville, OH)

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Last Will and Testament of Class of ’40 We, the Seniors of the fourth graduating class of Rowe High School being of sound mind and body, do bequeath the following most-prized possessions to our beloved classmates: To any Junior boy who might find it alluring, I, Louis Palagyi, will my guardianship of the Junior Paper Sales Table hoping that he might find it as attractive as I have during the past year. I, Peggy Kennedy, bequeath my penchant for frequenting West Springfield to Mae I awrence, under her premise, which is supposed to be reliable, that she charm all the males of the district, with the exception of one marked “reserved.” To Tony Hall, I, Donald Cline, bequeath my companionship with a certain blonde Sophomore with the stipulation that he dees not copy any of my various methods of chivalry and does not monopolize her after-school hours. I, Deris Thompson, will my marked affection for bashful boys to Beatrice Kirkingburg, hoping that she will profit from her observations of my technique. To Flora Langdon, I, Leonard Christopher, bequeath the cute, all-suffusing glow of my gorgeous blush as well as my much prized memory for definitions in Chemistry. If she be found unworthy of the latter, she receives one of my scornful “zorts.” I, Marjorie Wright, with much heart-rending agony, leave my beautiful, white socks to Pauline Ring, with the warning that she must be ready to receive a great many verbal comments, complimentary and otherwise—but usually otherwise. To Bill McMullen, I, Earle Poole, will my excessive height. To him also, goes my mathematical ability at counting tax stamps. May he count stamps instead of sheep to woo the god Morpheus. I, George Rector, bequeath my dashing, man-about-town manner to Raymond Kostura. To the president of the forthcoming class of 1941, I bequeath the honors and various duties ascribed thereto. To Elizabeth Schmidt, I, Helen Hirsimaki, will my athletic ability and my alluring blonde curls. I, Clara Kellogg, bequeath my freckles to Francina Seibert. She may also have my fiery temper, as I feel I shall have no need of it when I take my place in the world. After great consideration, I. Melvin Barker, will my ability to portray Clark Gable to Roland Fisch, but first he must learn the knack of acting Shakespeare on the stage. Thereupon he shall be deemed worthy of such a prized heritage. I, Phyllis Whipple, will my love for typing to June Britton. If she be willing to accept my first request, she may have a second gift—the little curl that bobs in the middle of my forehead to the distraction of the stronger (?) sex. In return for his promise to use it to good advantage, I, Marvin Andes, bequeath my favorite expression “What’s it to you?” to John Liimataine. He is to consider it a privilege and a trust and use it only when an inquisitive freshman becomes obnoxious. My passion for giggling, I, Josephine Prolong, will to any Junior whom Mrs. Kitchen may designate. I suggest Elsie Shultz. Ella Poole, Marjorie Cook or Bernadene Dewey as the beneficiary. I, Henry Brooks, leave my physiognomy, which is of such manly pulchritude that my fellow students deem it fitting to place my photo in various conspicuous places, to Marjorie Montgomery. May she blush as becomingly as I did. My poetic talent with my popular half-pint meat truck included for good measure, I, Fred Ollila. bequeath to Lois Bagnall or any other Junior who would like to Continued on page 16 15

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▼ ▼ 1940 Class Prophecy ▼ ▼ Here it is 1950 and I find but little change in the cares of the world. The other day, however, I accidentally encountered many of the names of my companions in Howe High School’s graduating class of 1940. It was rather peculiar how I stumbled across them. Let’s see—it was Thursday and, upon entering the lobby of the building where I am employed, I heard the conventional greeting of the elevator boy, Earle Poole. I have always had a weakness for uniforms and his brass buttons, as well as his becoming blush, always fascinated me. I stepped from the elevator on the twenty-sixth floor, and hurried on to the door marked “Bureau of Census.” As my efficient secretary, Clara Kellogg, had not yet arrived, I sat down at my desk and carelessly glanced over the latest census reports from such metropolises as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Amboy. I noticed the general trend of information: Mr. Jones has a fur-lined bath tub; Mr. Doolittle uses Shabby Sham Shaving Cream and has a hound dog, et cetera—then I began to notice more familiar names. There was Bruce Clark, now a teacher of mathematics in Farnham Junior College. He spends his evenings in the bald-headed row at the Casino—and Oiva, the director of the Kangas Fanning Kompany in Konneaut—he’s still driving that old Buick that was so familiar way back when in our high school days. Then I noticed the name of Peggy Kennedy who has become a representative in Congress and is presenting a bill to have Leap Year occur every other year for the benefit of those girls who enjoy picking their own dates. A little farther down, the name, Helen Hirsimaki, attracted my eye. Why for land’s sake! She is the World’s Champion Woman Wrestler in Melvin (iMedicine Man) Barger’s Side bhow. And there’s Anowene uoldsmith, “Slug” for short, now a test-driver for Oldsmobile, for General Motors Corporation. In spite of her increasing years, she is a faithful attendant at the Odd Fellows’ dances. You wouldn’t miss them either if you knew that Harry Kirkwood’s three-piece jug-band is playing there now. Sure enough, there was Hank Brooks, still pursuing his career of portraying the villain, only now in Hollywood, and running close competition to Boris Karloff. Fred Ollila is now the number one “oomph” boy for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer! Little does he realize that his rise to fame is dated from his portrayal of Hugo in ’40 under Miss frown’s careful direction. I looked twice before I remembered the Human Interest Columnist who writes under her maiden name, Shirley Paananen, but who spends most of her time tending the gas station to keep peace in the family! And the well-known chiseler, Martin Ojajarvi, carrying on his prosperous and respectable trade of cutting epitaphs for tombstones. The primary stage of his career was cutting initials on desk-tops in school. I was elated to find that Regina Stephenson has finally realized her ambition as a nurse. She is nursing little peeps at the Andes Combination Chicken Hatchery and Fruit Farm on Daniels Avenue where Marvin and his wife, Charlotte, have taken over the old homstead. I was eaqually elated that George Rector has finally become a captain on a barge running up and down Conneaut Creek, smuggling tax-stamps and chickens for the class of 1950. Then I recalled the name, Josephine Prolong, now doing very well for herself, by posing for toothpaste ads in the Montgomery Ward Catalogue. There was also another of our talented classmates who had become absorbed in his work. It was Leonard Christopher, now employed at the Hartzmountain Canary Farm, teaching birds how to whistle. As was anticipated, Dot Bankston had abandoned the career of a sailor’s spouse and makes a very charming stewardess on a cattle train running from Conneaut to Ashtabula. Just then I was interrupted from my reminiscing by a loud commotion at the door. As I guessed, it was “Farmer” Wright returning with more census statistics. Continued on page 17 14

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▼ Last Will and Testament continued ▼ ride with a shy, bashful blonde. I, Dorothy Bankston, will my long, tapering finger nails to Voletta Lane, with the warning that they may not seem attractive to certain members of the male species. A dangerous, yet alluring weapon, Voletta. To Bob Glenn, I, Martin Ojajarvi, will my playful nature and my ability to make a general nuisance of myself. Such playlulness is to be exhibited whenever he does not happen to have his lessons, to bluff any teacher. I, Hugh Dixon, bequeath my hate of women, especially the blondes, to Tommy Schlaich. One misogynist may lead to another and certainly the Junior Class can profit by a few women haters.. I, Bruce Clark, will the entire Magnetic Field to Hal Baker, feeling sure that he will better understand it, if he has it willed to him by one who is as much in the dark as he. Hoping that she will charm all of the boys with them, I, Arlowene Goldsmith, bequeath my gleaming page-boy-bob and my bewitching eyes to Inez Ward. Not wishing anyone bad luck, I, Oiva Kangas, bequeath my shattered pieces of glass tubing, including the splinter I managed to break off in my hand to Alberta Bennett with the warning “to be sure the tube is wet before inserting it into a stopper. My passion for falling down, I, Margaret Langdon, will to Josephine Bennett, hoping that she finds it to her advantage to pick a conspicuous corner near Amboy for the afore-mentioned prone pose. I, Harry Kirkwood, bequeath my quiet dignity and my ability to grin and bear it to Reino Hill. May he profit by my quiet unassuming demeanor. I, Shirley Paananen, bequeath my favorite ventilated foot gear to Elizabeth Herman. I also will her my rapid-fire sneeze, which attracts a second glance and a sympathetic smile from the opposite sex. I. Regina Stephenson, bequeath my task of writing the Class Will to any Junior whose Muse will bring adequate inspiration for such a stupendous task. With a sigh of relief I bring to a close the compilation of these bequests. In Witness Whereof, the Seniors have hereto suoscribed their names this twenty-third day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and forty. SIGNED: CLASS OF ’40 ATTORNEY—Regina Stephenson. WITNESSES (SEAL) SENIOR CLASS PLAY The Senior Class gave its annual play on April 12th. This year the class chose a comedy in three acts, “The Merry Hares. The plot centers around the Hare family, which is an eccentric one but not in an obnoxious way. The younger daughter of the family is much taken up with motor boats in the first scenes, but after mistaking a noted young man for a mechanic she finds herself deeply in love with him. The father is as absent-minded as all professors are apt to be and the mother centers her interest in her appearance, although her real concern is for her children. The older daughter is set “on getting her man , while her twin brother amuses himself by selling stocks and getting into trouble. The able cast included Fred Ollila, Henry Brooks, Marjorie Wright, Dorothy Bankston, Hugh Dixon, Phyllis Whipple, Louis Palagyi, Margaret Langdon, Arlowene Goldsmith, Martin Ojajarvi, Shirley Paananen, Martin Andes, and Donald Cline. It was directed by Mrs. Kitchen. 16