Silver Lake Regional High School - Torch Yearbook (Kingston, MA)

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OUR HERITAGE As one of the oldest in the United States, the community of Silver Lake is rich in historical lore. Within a short distance of our school stand houses which were new in Colonial times, when the region was a flourishing industrial center. From the upper windows of our modern school building the ob- servant student may drink in the sparkling beauty of Silver Lake, with its blue waters shimmering in the sunlight. On a windy day tiny whitecaps break the silvery surface, accented by the tall, dark pines along its shores. On Lake Street is the site of the oldest anchor forge in America. Many of the great anchors used on Revolutionary War ships, including the anchor of the frigate Constitution, were forged here. Iron ore was dredged from the bottom of Silver Lake, then known as Jones River Pond. The house standing opposite to the athletic field, built in 1772, housed an old store and post office. The principal commodities sold in the store were rum and molasses brought in by ox carts which carried the anchors out to their historic destinies. Another house in the neighborhood contains a fire- place taken from the Boston Tea Party House when it was torn down. The ambitious members of our Dramatics Club may well gain inspiration from the fact that Ethel, Lionel, and John Barrymore spent several carefree summers along the shores of Silver Lake. They enjoyed the friendship of a neighbor. Even Plimpton, well-known Shakespearean actor. In a grove of fine trees near the railroad depot was located, in the late 1800 ' s, a thriving amuse- ment park from which a motor launch took parties on the lake. However, this type of amusement was brought to a tragic end when the launch exploded, killing many passengers. Not too many years ago the children of Silver Lake rode to school on a streetcar which followed the same route over which some of our fleet of buses now transport students to Silver Lake Regional High School. Here again tragedy struck when a streetcar became charged with electricity, electrocuting several children. To relate the exciting history of Silver Lake would consume much more space than we have at our disposal. We are not advocating that our student body spend its time in math class staring out at the shining surface of Silver Lake, but we would like to suggest that occasionally we may find inspiration in the realization that ours is a rich heritage and that as the latest actors in the panorama of Silver Lake ' s history, we have a responsible part to play. We, too, are building a new and better community, a united community, dedicated to scholarship, loyalty, character, and service. Because we feel that our basketball team, through its outstanding display of loyalty, good sports- manship, and co-operation, has carried us one step nearer to that unity without which we cannot progress satisfactorily, we have chosen to salute Mr. Killilea and his boys throughout The Torch. The editors

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DEDICATION It is with great pleasure that we dedicate the I960 Torch to Mr. Robert J. Andrews. In his work as our art instructor Mr. Andrews has shaped the artistic talents of many seniors, and even more he has imbued us with a true appreciation of all that is beautiful. To him most seniors owe an everlasting vote of thanks.

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SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS VOCATIONAL PRINCIPAL .»- :a,-csi - MR. CHESTER T. RAY MR. FRANCIS M. MORAN SCHOOL COMMITTEE ROW 1: Mrs. G. Holsworth, H. Wood, R. Hammond, Mrs. S. Peterson, Mrs. M. Schindler. ROW 2: J. Durgin, M. Toabe, H. Bryant, B. Flynn, B. Dalton.