Shelton High School - Argus Yearbook (Shelton, CT)

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Except for one social event, the Kickolf Dance, this phase of our travel was uneventful. It was the gumchewers, however, who enlivened the scene the most when they were invited by Guide Finn to display their musical talent to their fellow travelers. Eva Ramia and Shirley Cremoni gave the hilarious Andrew Sisters version of Sonny Boy. In general, it proved to be a difficult period, and our assistants-Robert Didsbury, John Peterson, Libby Labowski, and Esther Honas-were glad to relinquish their duties. Then we camped for several months before attempting the more strenuous part of the journey. IUNIOR YEAR After resting through the summer of '47, we gathered our equipment together and started on the third year of our trek toward the land of gold and opportunity. After two years of struggling toward our goal, we were much better equipped to carry on than when we started. Some had already dropped by the wayside, but those of us who remained, knowing the journey to be half over, pushed on with renewed courage. During this stage of our journey, our leaders were William Fitzgerald, Melvin Den- inger, Libby Labowski, and Mildred Hollingsworth. As in the past, our trip was occasionally enlivened by fun and frolic. At Thanksgiving time we held a Turkey Hop at which we were entertained by Cornelia Vicidomino and Patty Moore. Some of the more hardy pioneers, who kept up the spirits of their fellow travelers by their sparkling performances on the gridiron, were joe Devonshuk, Melvin Deninger, Ted Vincent, and Louis Pepe. The latter won the award for the most valuable player in the game with our traditional rivals. Those who participated in varsity basketball were Ted Vincent and Louis Pepe. That year the players entered the tournament competition. Ted Vincent was elected the most valuable player in the tournament by the C.I.A.C. officials. There were other gifted individuals making the long hard trek with us. Rudy Bennard and johnny Tomko took part in a debate with the representatives of the older and more experienced group of travelers preceding us. The topic dealt with universal military train- ing. Rudy and johnny proved to be the golden tongued orators and we won the debate. Our daily classes, the most essential factor in paving the way toward progress, were often humorous as well as instructive. In biology class the courage of our pioneer girls took a sharp downward trend when Mr. Finn passed around a cow's brain on a platter. April Fool's day brought out the pranksters among us who generously passed out pepper flavored fudge to the less alert. Another pause in our line of march occurred with the presentation of the junior prom, the theme of which was Maytime. Trellises of roses and figures in silhouette decorated the gym. About 90 couples danced to the music provided by john Beatrice and his orchestra. Our Student Council members were Eddie Manion, Charles Clark, Gordon Bauer, Albert Sheehy, and Robert Didsbury. They did much to build up the Housatonic Valley League of Student Councils. We welcomed june and with it the end of the third lap of our wearisome trip. 28

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CLASS HISTORY FRESI-IMAN YEAR In this year of 1949, exactly one hundred years after the gold rush to California, another group of treasure seekers, upon completion of four years of struggling across the deserts of study and climbing almost insurmountable mountains of examinations, has reached the promised land. We stand now on the threshold of life where persistent effort and constant striving will lead us to the golden nuggets of success. 1 Our struggle to reach the land of opportunity has been long and full of strange and interesting experiences. We began our journey in September of 1945, following three different trails-the college, the commercial, and the academic-across strange and unfamiliar regions. There were both adventurers and outlaws in the crowd. There were those whose eagerness to gain all they could from the adventure made them tarry by the wayside, there were those whose impatience drove them on ahead, and there were a few who were satisfied to lag behind. It was to be a long, hard trip, and it demanded, as well as developed courage and endurance in each individual. Guides led us along the strange and bewildering paths of Latin, algebra and civics. We were especially intrigued by the scien- tific knowledge we gleaned in that early part of the journey. Assistants to our guides during this first year were Ted Cocks, jean Zeuren, Anna Mae Radcliffe, and Louis Pepe. Weekly rest periods were establishd in which we seized the opportunity to relax and refresh ourselves with activities that daily travel would not permit. We met in organized groups for sewing, handicraft, and dramatic projects. While most days were devoted to tedious routine tasks, we often found them enlivened by humorous incidents. Once fun seekers were responsible for setting clocks ahead, so that the Ferry School groups mobbed the detention room before the closing bell had rung. Our big social event took place under the Western Stars and was enjoyed as a refreshing interlude in the journey. Thus, the days went quickly byg and when the summer's heat caught up with us, we gladly paused for awhile. SOPHOMORE YEAR In the autumn of '46, our thoughts turned again to our journey. Getting our equipment together, we gathered on the hill, prepared for another winter of work and study. We had a knowing, self-assured air and tended to dominate the newcomers who followed us. Unfortunately there were a few travelers who were willing to allow others to bear their burdens. Little did they realize that the gold would not be available to them except by their own efforts. Early in the trip a new project, the glee club, was undertaken. The gold seekers assembled in the gym during the recreation period to listen to classical music and to take part in singing. Sports were our major interest, and many of our group were on the football and basketball teams and made creditable contributions in this Held. 27

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SENIOR YEAR Having refreshed ourselves through the summer of '48 and with the promised land in sight, we gathered in September for the last stage of our journey. All that remained was to push on resolutely a little longer. Once again the group was called upon to choose leaders. They were William Fitz- gerald, William Dubrava, Libby Labrowski, and Jean Patterson. The high ranking officers in the Student Council were drawn from our ranks-Albert Sheehy, Presidentg Robert Didsbury, Vice-President, Mildred Hollingsworth, Secretary, and Theodore Cocks, Trea- surer. On February 5, the Student Council play, That Girl Patsy, was presented. This time we discovered new talent in our midst when George Thompson and Alice Cremin as the gardener and maid respectively, Arthur Willoughby as the professor, Gordon Bauer as the father, Anna Breyan as the daughter, and Robert Didsbury as the blackmailer took the spot light. In April our class presented Going On Seventeen. Every group must have its pranksters. One day in chem. lab., Mary jane Curtiss put her finger under a water jet and turned on the faucet. Water, water everywhere-on tables, on skirts, and trousers. Mary jane got the worst of it. Mrs. Simon walked in on the fluid uproar and ordered us to report at 1:30. Bennard and Bleston, the mad scientists, were more in evidence around the building on jobs requiring the services of electricians and handymen than in the regular line of work. The travelers who won high honors for their scholastic ability were Libby Labowski, Robert Didsbury, Jeanne jones, and Betty Bondos. Libby and Bob tied for first honors. We think it is the first time in its history that Shelton High School has had co-valedictorians. After four long years we have at last reached our objective. For some of us it is the end of the trail and search, but for others of us it is the beginning of new and brighter horizons. This group will continue the search for Knowledge and shall find many large and bright nuggets. For all of us it is a pause in the journey of life when we look back on four years well spent. If the journey has seemed hard, and the way rough and stormy and beset with difliculties, it is well to remember that the harder it is to achieve success, the more we appreciate it when it is within our grasp. CLASS HISTORY COMMITTEE Doms REYNOLDS LIBBY LABOWSKI JBANNE JONES ANNA MAY ,RADCLIFFE FACULTY ADVISOR ,X -2 y rss Um Er: as an Q M R A. L -. I 29