South Kent High School - Yearbook (South Kent, CT)

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1935 SOUTH KENT YEAR BOOK 1935 r ists. This latter group took quite a beating from the conservative element, the Republif can Party. They claimed that the Wood' ward's announcement of a Socialist tea influf enced a number of rightful Republicans to take a radical outlook. Naturally, the Socialists would have nothing to do with such a theory, and they refused to commit themselves. However, the biggest surprise of all came from the Hoogendunkers. Placards bearing the pictures of jacob Hoogendunk were borne around school. During the elections members of the various parties practically threw dust' pans at one another. The Democrats were disgraced by inviting their mascot in to par' take in the celebrations. The noise proved to be a bit too much for his delicate senses, and he was very promptly ejected. Soon snow appeared, and winter had set in. Ice was on the lake when we got back, and hockey was once more taken up by practically everyone. McCoun and Merrell made the first team, the rest of us stuck to the good old leagues. Arty Turner and his cohorts won the series. That term talkies came to South Kent and were hailed a great success. Before the opening performf ance some were inclined to be skeptical, but Smoky we were all completely won over by the end of the evening. Many of us still remember our fourth form banquet. After a large and satisfying meal, we retired to the Old Man's to smoke pipes. The rooin became dense with smoke and soon some of us had to bid a hasty goodfnight. One of our members still tells the story of the boy who was sitting next to him on the couch, literally blowing wreaths of smoke around the room. Suddenly his complexion turned from red to white, and then from white to green. Very calmly he ARCH pulled out his handkerchief and, covering his page thirtyfonc

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1935 SOUTH KENT YEAR BOOK 1935 ances the schoolroom was the scene of great activity. Benches blocked the front of the room to form the stage, and down in the old chapel three or four people wrestled with the organ trying to get it upstairs. In the evening the schoolroom would be filled to overflow' ing. The result was always worth the work, and everyone was left full of just that much more Christmas spirit. The winter was very unseasonable. We did not have much ice, and soccer leagues were organized to keep us busy. There was a good deal of digging going on, for the chapel foundations were being laid. When that was T Hnished, work was discontinued because of lack of funds. g Shortly after our return from spring vacaf tion we held a class meeting and nominated Newhall, Gildersleeve, Pullman I, and Thomas as candidates for fourth form council members. The fateful day arrived, and Newhall and Gildersleeve won the elections. That spring two of our mem' bers, McCoun and Gildersleeve, were on the baseball team. Prize Day arrived in no time at all, and at last we could say that we were honest to goodness upper formers. Ik if if ARTY Six new boys joined us when school ref opened. We were sorry to see that Gilder' sleeve did not return. His place on the council was not filled. During the summer a new wing had been added to Father Robert' sonls house, and Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, who had been married in june, were living there. Barnacle Moore, Pud Thomas, and Pop Mc' Coun got their letters in football. On the eve of the HooverfRoOsevelt elections the school was the scene of a very bitter cam' paign. Besides the Republicans and the Democrats, there was a large group of Social' DUTCH page thirty

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1935 SOUTH KENT YEAR BOOK 1935 mouth, walked out sedately. We always have admired his ability for pulling himself through embarrassing circumstances with such ease. He was not the only one, though. A good many found themselves suggesting that they step out into the cool, clear air. In spring term we started work on the chapel. Father Sill came down from Kent to conduct the service at the laying of the cornerstone. Some of the hardier ones in our form were allowed to help with the actual work of constructing the chapel. The fact that we had a share in building it makes it mean twice as much to us. Those of us who worked there were favored with the acquaint' ance of Mike Choppenblok . His use of the Kings English proved to be most enlighten' ing. From our nominees for the council, Pull' man I and Barnum were elected. We had rep' FRITZ resentatives in each one of the spring sports. Allen Merrell and Pop McCoun received baseball lettersg Arty Turner got his in crew. Tommy Townsend and Freddy Milne were on the tennis team. Two weeks before graduation Miss Dulon, our housemother, died. Her death was a shock to us all, and the school has felt her loss terribly. We feel privileged to have known her. On Prize Day, the grad- uating class received their diplomas in the new chapel. Ik ik ik Two new members joined us in the fall, although several Old Ones did not return. Starr Barnum's position as council member was filled by McCoun, Of course all of us inf spected the chapel as soon as we arrived. Q Doc Williams had given us a new organ, and ' one of our form, Whittemore, played it. Our football season was goody Baker, Cowan, McCoun, Townsend, Turner, Thomas, and Manager Whittemore received their letters. At the annual football banquet, Tom was elected captain. For the first time, the Nativ- ity Play was given before the altar in the new chapel. The new setting made all the differ' ence in the world. It was not only more Q N appropriate, but it also gave us plenty of room A to spread the thing out in. Sam page thirtyftwo