Sharon High School - Marsengold Yearbook (Sharon, MA)

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14 1940 YEAR BOOK During the first part of December, we had several class meetings to decide the question of class rings and pins, the final selection of which has proved very satisfactory to us at least. Class meetings in Room 12 were a novel experience for the class of 1940, who, at first, did not realize their importance. A great deal of noise and confu- sion was noted by the rest of the school during activity periods when “those Juniors” were having a session. During the winter and early spring months of the year, several Junior mem- bers of the Physics Class began to use the laboratory as a study hall. I ' he practice was so prof itable that soon other students in the Physics and Algebra II class fol- lowed the example. As spring approached, class meetings again were on the Junior’s schedule. This time for the greatest event of a Junior’s year, the Junior Prom. Original, as usual, the class of 1940 based the decorations on the theme of the New York World’s Fair. The refreshment table was styled as a concession booth from which refreshments were served throughout the evening, and on May 12, 1939 with the Senior Class as guests, they presented their Junior Prom, a socially and financially successful evening. According to custom the Junior Class decorated the auditorium for gradua- tion, provided boys for ushers, provided the class marshal in the person of Richard Spaulding, and gave a reception to the graduates, looking forward to the day, a year hence, when all of these things wouh! be done for them. Three members of the class of 1940, John Bradford, Virginia Hare, and Douglas Kitterman, who had been elected members of the National Honorary So- ciety, were awarded their membership keys and certificates vidth the Senior mem- bers at graduation. Our goal was reached ! At long last, after three years of watching, waiting, and working, we were Seniors. The greatest class in Shlaron High School — in size at least. Miss Crocker and Miss Newton again had the pleasure of having the class of 1940 as their homeroom members. The first activity of the Senior Class was a food sale of which ' Barbara White was in charge. The next venture was the Harvest Dance, the music for which consisted of recordings of the popular swing bands, transmitted through the ampli- fier. This, combined with delicious refreshments and festive atmosphere, made pos- sible a fine Harvest Dance. Our next financial enterprise was the dances after the basketball games. The fact that informal dances were very popular with the students, reassured us as to the worth of them. Next on our program were class pictures. After several meetings we decided to patronize Purdy’s of Boston. Of course every one has seen, since then, these classic photographs and heard of the film offers to several members of the class. The Senior Play was the crowning glory of the year. Townspeople agreed that “Growing Pains” was the finest Senior Play ever presented in Sharon. The corsage and candy sale as well as the sale of tickets combined to make an excellent profit. Every one of the Seniors feels proud indeed of the production and is grateful to Mr. Brosnan for his untiring and capable direction.

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SHARON HIGH SCHOOL 13 under Air. Avery’s supervision, not to be outdone by those in Aliss Chase’s room, also enjoyed a similar trip to Nantasket. Wishinft, however, to be different, they went by automobile. At the Senior Banquet that year, the Freshman Class proved their originality and ingenuity in the arrangement and decoration of their tables, ' he Coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth was the theme. The booth was the most effective of all the class tables. At the end of the year Air. John Hall, “Dapper Jack,’’ and Aliss AVellingtnn left Sharon High School for greater things. Therefore we began our Sophomore year with three new teachers: Air. Arthur B. Lord, Air. Clarence H. Pedley, and Air. Frederick G. AVard. Air. Ward was unfortunate, perhaps, in that he was assigned as one cf the homeroom teachers of the class of 1940. Fh s was our first year in the high school building as our Freshman home- rooms were in the Charles R. Wilber School. As our class was large, it was sepa- rated into three divisions and placed in three homerooms. Aliss Crocker, Aliss Frcrt and Air. Ward were afforded the pleasure ( ?) of our presence. During the winter of the year, the students in Room 3, Aliss Frost’s home- room, presented Jean Valjean as an asserrfbly program. Herbert Gross, one of our illustrious members, played the leadiing role. When, in February, it was borne in upon us that the Sophomore Class had not contributed noticeably to the social life of Sharon High School, we planned an informal dance for St. Pat- rick’s Day evening. However, when we presented our plan at the office, we were chagrined to discover that “It is not the privilege of the Sophomore Class to sponsor a dance in the evening. ITat power rests with the Juniors and Seniors.’’ .Naturally we were disappointed. Did this ston the class of ’40? Of course not! As usual we were not to be dissuaded. In lieu of an evening dance we originated the Sophomore Trot. During the interim Air. Ward organized an orchestra which was “tops” in the musical world and with the cooperation of the band, on Alarch 17, the Sophomore Class suece.ssfully sponsored a tea dance. Undoubtedly the refreshments were the most successful part of the dance. However, the finan- cial returns far exceeded our expectations and we were thoroughlv satisfied. It was during our Sophomore year that the divis’on under Air. Ward’s su- pervision decided to redecorate Room 6. The desks which detracted from the appearance of the room were removed; tables and chairs were put in their place; the walls and floor were refinished ; and the room became far more attractive than formerly. In this same year, Kathleen Curran and Rosalie Holman temporarily joined our class, but withdrew at the end of the school year. Juniors, at last! Room 12 was cur homeroom under the supervision of Aliss Newton. However, the class was so large that Air. Pedley found himself in charge of an overflow. In September of this year, 1938, we were all saddened by the death of Robert Davis who was killed while cleaning up debris during the hurricane. A Student Council Convention was held at Sharon High School during the autumn in which many of our classmates partic pated. It was a great success. The visiting schools enjoyed their dinner and the ensuing entertainment, while we all derived benefit from the entire convention.

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SHARON HIGH SCHOOL 15 ! I I I • Class meetings during our Senior year in high school are something to be I remembered. No parliamentary procedure inhibited discussion. Whenever anyone ! had anything to say, he said it, regardless of tlie consequences. Never was there a dull moment. Our last undertaking of the year was the yearbook. Our yearbook, we be- lieve, is far superior to any of the former ones and is a separate entity, having no affiliation with the “Voice” or an) other publication. Content and cover, photo- graphs and candid shots, are all finer than ever before. However, this would not have been possible without the cooperation of the faculty and iMr. MacNamara of Purdy’s to whom we are duly grateful. 1 hus we come to the close of our last year in the public schools of Sharon. We look back on our twelve years of work and play with many pleasant memories, but at the same time we look forward to the day when, in cap and gown, we ascend the platform to receive our diplomas and we look forward to whatever the future may ' hold for us, hoping that any undertaking we may attempt alone will be as successful as those which we accomplished together. Class Proptecy Cynthia Allman Ann Mullen Arlyn Nelson William Rockett Chester Stern Scene: Parent-Teachers’ Meeting. Time: Ten years Hence. Tonight as we look in at this happy gathering we find that Professor McGrath, the well-known educator, is lecturing on “How to Grow Old Gracefully.” We all remember him better as Herman, but he is certainly delivering an excellent lec- ture. True to form, the feminine members of the audience seem to be more in- terested in their own conversation than anything else. Let us ‘nisten in” on Mrs. Robert Kitterman, the former Shirley Nelson, who is having a very animated conversation with that great actress “Linda Lincoln ,” better known to us as Mary Crocker. “Well, Shirley, you and Bob certainly proved that childhood romances do flower. How are you?” “Oh, we’re fine; but is it true that you are currently playing opposite that ro- mantic lead and scenarist, Dtouglas Kitterman? What ever happened to Libby and him ?” “Let me tell you about all the members of our class that I saw in New ork. You’d never guess, I know. Bob Carter has epened a night club. Now, Bobby sleeps all day and stays up all night. The funniest part is that Janet Baker— she alw ays sang so well — is his singing entertainer. You can hear her almost any night, late, on WQLZ. By the way, JoelYoung is announcer for that station. Last year he received an award for his perfect diction. “Jay” King was orchestra leader at the club. He and Janet often sing very charming duets. Their most popular J