Schuylerville Central School - Schuyler Yearbook (Schuylerville, NY)

Page 25 text:

MUSIC OF TOMORROW Tired after a day of general duty at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where I had been working hard on the case of a superannuated schoolteacher, I hurried home to set my mind on pleasanter matters and to take a good rest. 1 set my alarm clock and lazily crawled into bed. In the background, I could hear the sweet melody of that favorite song, “As Time Goes By ’ and presently I found myself listening to the famous opera singer, Doris Bean. She and Frank Swoonata held the top bill- ings. Doris’s singing brought about as many masculine grunts of approval, as they applauded her, as Frank’s brought feminine shrieks and sighs. I was so excited after hearing Doris that I rushed to her dressing room in hopes that we might reminisce about our high school days. She told me that Doug had profited through his participation in plays at high school and was now co- starring with Shirley Temple in a famous Hollywood production. I accepted an invitation to spend the night with Doris with the promise that the following day we would continue our recollections while touring the city. The next morning I was awakened early by a startling noise and was curious to know what it was. When Doris told me it was the milkman, Ronald Hunt, 1 asked the maid to have him wait. Ronald didn’t seem to mind this as the maid was just an unsophisticated person whom he would like to take back to the farm with him. In no time at all, I found myself asking numerous questions. Ronald said that he and Joe Biss owned a large dairy just outside of the city which supplied thousands of people with the necessary amount of milk. Joe was also very handy at repairing machinery and as a result had established a machinery clinic. Farmers from va- rious parts of the state patronized him, and the business proved very profitable. Ronald told me that Glen LaBarge had secured a patent for a new five piece orchestra. It consisted of five instruments centered about a piano. When the notes were played on the piano, the same notes were played on all the other instruments. Ii was a very complicated invention, the principles known only by Glen. We came to the conclusion that he obtained these elaborate ideas while dozing in history class. After Ronald left, I went with Doris to have her hair done. It was Doris’s first visit to this particular beauty salon, and one could imagine our surprise when we discovered it was owned and operated by Jacky Drew and Betty Brewer! Jacky, we discovered, was excellent at designing new hair styles while Betty’s manicuring ability proved to be superb. They said that they often dined with Muriel Germain and Caroline Pechette. Muriel was now a dress designer, well-known by many of the celebrities of New York. She often designed clothes for the various stage plays. Caroline, an interior decorator, planned decorative schemes for many prominent places. One of the most exciting incidents of her career was when she was asked to decorate a “swanky” night club. Upon her arrival there, Caroline discovered the proprietor to be none other than Steve Oslica! His place was very successful and was one of the main centers of attraction in the big Metropolis. By that time, Doris was ready to leave, and we said “goodbye” and hurried on. We soon approached a library, and immediately Doris had a desire to get a book. We were amazed at the thousands of books inside this huge building and didn't know quite which way to turn. Suddenly, we heard a soft voice, “What kind of a book would you like?” We turned quickly, and there before us, stood Dorothy Rus- sell. Doris completely forgot what she was after as we talked on and on, asking hundreds of questions. Dot told us how helpful her membership in the Library Club back at good old S. H. S. had been. “By the way,” she continued, “I hear that Wilma Phillips and Walter LaVoy are back there teaching. The first graders just adore Wilma for her patience and interest in them. Walt is conducting an art class which he always thought was an essential. He is teaching it in coordination with the study cf English as he always felt the necessity of dual work in classes.” Time passed quickly, and soon Doris and I found ourselves on the go again. As we walked down the Library steps, we met a familiar figure. We quickly decided

Page 24 text:

At this time our country was facing a critical paper shortage, and our school participated in a paper drive. Keen competition arose, and everyone excitedly watched the numbers grow until the fight remained between grade 8 and the Sopho- mors in room 15, under the direction of Miss Healy. Each pupil worked earnestly, and the day before the winner was to be announced all practically tore up their books to add a few extra pounds; we must admit that a few welcomed this as an excellent excuse for accomplishing a past dream. The winner was announced, and we lost by about 500 pounds which was definitely a blow to our 10th grade vanity. Soon June arrived, and we again “crammed” and pushed our way a little farther up the scale of knowledge until we could be called Juniors. September 1942 came with a rush of gay sunshine, and assigned to rooms 15 and 14 under the leadership of Miss Healy and Miss Duby respectively, we eagerly continued our studies in the third year of high school. The first great event of the season was the choosing and purchasing of our Junior rings. There was much con- troversy over the style to be chosen, but we finally agreed to have two different rings from which to choose. A great interval of eager waiting elapsed until the anticipated rings arrived, but when they finally came, we thought they were the best ever and still look at them with pride and joy. The school had decided to purchase a motion picture camera, and each class was asked to contribute its share. As a means of attaining our goal we undertook a Minstrel Show, both written and produced by the class. Much preparation was made for this event, and the da'e was set for March 17th. At the last moment an epidemic of colds grasped the cast, and the show had to be postponed until the fol- lowing week. Finally, the night arrived and we presented the minstrel. The audi- ence was great, and I imagine some are still wondering how we persuaded the black coloring to come off. Th;s event more than produced our quota for our contribu- tion and added a little more to our funds. The next plan we undertook wa? a Junior Prom with Richard Townley chair- man. We followed no definite plan for our decoration scheme but used flowers that were in season. The Stephen Gitto orchestra played; the dancers and the guests enjoyed a colorful and pleasant evening. Our class slowly dwindled this year, and it was at this time that we learned that we were going to lose one of our best friends, Miss Healy. It was then we realized that she had seen us through all our troubles as a class, and wc knew that she would always live in our memory as a grand teacher and friend. 1944 saw our class of 32 veiy nonchalantly enter room 15 as the present seniors of Schuylerville High School. We had reached our goal! Our final chapter of class history was to begin, and we immediately made a new friend in our adviser, Miss Sickler. George Canzeri soon left our class and joined the United States Navy. We regretted his going, but we all wished we had the chance. At present we are making plans for our greatly anticipated graduation day. We realize that very soon all of us will be going into the world, some to serve their country until we again have a full and permanent democracy, and yet others to begin a chosen vocation. However, we have the consolation that we are leaving behind four grand years of “S. H. S.” together, years which will remain as a guide to our future accomplishments as the Alumni of this fine school. 20 —Doris Bean ’44

Page 26 text:

it was Dick Townley, and there we were, talking to h m. Dick, we learned, had followed in his father’s footsteps and was now the principal of a large high school in New York. When he told us that Marjorie Allen was a very competent secretary at the same school, we were somewhat astonished. It seems that several of our classmates were putting to good advantage the cooperative spirit that had developed as classmates in old S. H. S. He told us, too, that Therese Cormie was manager of “The Cormie Hotel” over on 42nd Street. So off we went to see Therese. Both of us were tired from walkinr; so we decided to hire a heliocopter which had now taken the place of taxicabs. We were seated, waiting for the driver when we heard a couple of people talki g. Neither of us seemed to have forgotten vhe voice we heard, and glancing up, saw Vernon Towns as he jumped into the helio- copter. In no time at all, Vernon was telling us about his experiences and some of our school friends he had seen recently. We could hardly believe our ears when Vernon said that Bob Phillips had pevfec'ed a way of making synthetic rubber and was arriving the next day at Vernon’s heliocopter garage to demonstrate its use for making tires. Soon we found ourselves ascending in o Ihe air, and Vernon decided to take us for a little ride before taking us to the hotel. We flew over a large park where we saw a group of horseback riders. Vernon satisfied our curiosity by telling us that the journalist, Mary Lon Dolan, had written a long article on its importance for exercise. On recalling English classes, we knew full well that Mary Lou pos- sessed the ability to write interesting accounts. Doris and I were both veiy skeptical about riding in a heliocopter and jokingly asked Vernon if he had good insurance. “Sure,” he answered, “Bob Fremont fixed me up with an excellent policy.’ Shortly, we foun 1 oursel es at ‘ The Cormie Hotel” and having said goodbye to Vernon, dashed in to see Therese. On entering the door, whom should we meet but hostess Violet Johanson. She said Therese would be in shortly and would we have lunch with her while we waited. Doris and I read the menu which, to our surprise, stated that Winn'e Brown, famous dietitian, had prepared it. Theiese arrived and happily announced that she had just seen Mildred Whiting and Margaret Natale. Peggy was si.uated at the city’s leading information bureau. Thus we discovered that her friendly nature and natural talkativeness she revealed in school was a great advantage in her position. Mildred was there seeking informa- tion as to where the Metropoli an PlaygT uni was located. She had just arrived from Schuyler.ille to take over the supervis on of it. After visiting with the gills, Doris and 1 shopped until it was time for dinner which we had at Doris's apartment. We only had time for a “Dagwood” sandwich as Dor's had to go to rehearsal. As I picked up the jar of “Two Catherines’” salad dressing, I noticed in big letters the names 1 Hewitt and Moody.” I was not sur- prised to see that they were still together and had devised this delicious dressing. Doris turned on the ia lio for a little luncheon music, but instead, we heard a voice, accompanied by a banjo and singing something about “Doggie Woggie Flea Soap.” The announcer said that the program had been presented to us by Vernon Miner under the sponsorship of the “John Nevins Soap Company.” I wearily strolled along the street after leaving Doris at rehearsal when someone shouted, “Hi there.” There sat Don Hathaway in front of the fireman’s station. He proudly showed me the equipment and announced that he was Fire Chief. I was not too surprised at his becoming a fire chief for didn’t he show a remarkable interest in fiances way back in Schuylerville High? lie was just askirg me about my work when the alarm rang. I was all set to go to the fire with Don when I discovered it was merely my own alarm clock. My dream was shattered, and it was just the beginning of another day’s work at ihe Johns Hopkins Hospital. —Velma Galusha ’44