Southington High School - Chronicle Yearbook (Southington, CT)

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L.H.S. CHRONICLE lass istory On September 5, 1945, the 49'ers began their trek for gold, which was to lead through four years of work and study - four years of friendship and fun - four years of a high school student's life. Those who had journeyed the trail before inspired us with tales of the wealth to be found, and those then traveling the trail some distance ahead of us sent back word of the hardships and perils of the route. For an under- taking of this sort, a great deal seemed to depend on our choice of a guide. We were fortunate in selecting one both capable and understanding, Miss Elizabeth Hannifin. For two and a half years our problems and our triumphs were to be hers also. Our first year enroute was one of learning the 'ways of the trail and becoming acquainted with our course. Our blunders and missteps were numerous, but as we look back now, far more humorous than serious, they were only what was to be expected of a tenderfoot. To head our caravan for this year we chose Robert Liguori President and Allen Potter Vice-President. Betty Wright kept our records and Frances Riera, our wealth. Kathleen Iannueci reported our activities for publication in the Emblem. It took so much of our time and effort to become acquainted with our new way of life and keep up with the rush, that we made but one side trip into the social world. On December 7 we took time out from the press of our journey to sponsor a sport dance, which was well attended despite the apparently low social rank of us Freshmen. By June our saddle stiffness had begun to disappear and we really seemed to be en- joying the whole thing 3 but we found we had already come a year's journey, and we pitched camp for the summer. When we broke camp and pushed on in the fall of '46 we found to our relief that, although we were still traveling in the wake of two caravans ahead, we were no longer last on the trail, the class of 1950 had taken over that lowly position, and we were quick to tell them the same frightening tales of hardships ahead which we had heard the year before. For this quarter of our journey we chose James Mongillo as our President. He was backed by Vice-President Francis Cari, Secretary Lois DeVries, 'Treasurer Dorothy Sabecki, and Emblem Reporter Lorraine Wendt. I I Since we were now accustomed to the routine of high school life we enlarged the scope of our activities. A cake sale and a Christmas dance were held in the fall and in the spring another dance, In the Pink. We camped that summer of '47 exactly on the halfway mark of our journey to the gold of '49. In the fall we moved on, now second only to the omnipotent Seniors in importance. In preparation for a big year we chose Joe Lippia our leader and Rit D'Angelo his assistant. jean Hayward kept notes on our progress, which Rit D'Angelo wrote up for the Emblem, and Tom Pedrolini watched our store of nuggets. Tom was replaced on January 22 by Francis Cioffi, who carried the saddle bags of gold for the remainder of the year. Our main project was a candy concession, which unfortunately was not the financial success hoped for. However, November 22 of '47 was a gala occasion-our never-to-be-forgotten Junior Prom. The fellows in their'tuxes may not have looked quite like the guy in the ad, but there was evidence that we were growing up. Tommy Martin's music, one's favorite fellow or girl, and a festive Mardi Gras theme spelled a memorable evening. K By this time we had come to rely a great deal on Miss Hannifm - perhaps we even took her for granted. But now, just as we were approaching our really, big year at Lewis, we learned she was leaving our faculty at the endsof the fall term. Things looked gloomy, but once again we were fortunate. On January 22, 1948, we chose 21,

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Q. fr? , ,.-,-. '2-4, . .1 X sf e--- ,. -f ,fi , V V fy, ' K 5-'1 '3g,:E1'i:.ff,4. 125' i ij? ' L.H.S. CHRGNICLE FACULTY First row left to right: Miss Dorothy Halloran, Mrs. Alice Prior, Miss Madeline Collins, Mrs. Mary Armond, Mr. Martin Phelan, Miss E. Mildred Bedford, Miss' Elizabeth Shorey, Miss Mary Barry, Miss Marion Walsh. - Second row left to right: Mr. Andrew McSorley, Mr. Carl Small, Mr. Joseph Fontana, Mrs. Rita Powers, Mr. Raymond Joyal, Miss' Barbara Beach, Mr. Robert Boland, Mr. John Rathbun, Mr. Lawrence Mucci, Mr. Lawrence D,Ange1o. .Not pictured: Mrs. Anna Fontana. 20 .a W I ,. ip iff- v .iSijx'f3

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XX I 1 Y L.H.S. CHRONICLE Miss Hannifin's successor on the teaching staff , Miss Marion Walsh, as our new advisor. For the remainder of our journey Miss Walsh has been our guide and our comrade. Now that we again had a capable guide to lead us, we sponsored a dance in Janu- ary, one in March, and the Senior Farewell Dance in June. Although we really were sorry to see our friends in the class of '48 leave our midst, we couldn't help thinking that just as soon as they did leave, we would be the leaders- the Seniors of LHS. The site we chose for our summer camp in '48 was a beautiful spot, in the distance shimmered the mountains we were aiming for, and between lay a fertile green valley of a year's activity and fund, and - for the Hrst time - there were no other riders before us! In September we broke camp and moved into the valley, we found it fully as wonderful as it had looked in the distance. After the bustle of setting out for our final year had abated a bit, we gathered around the camp fire to elect our leaders. To cope with the increased activity of our Senior year it was decided to choose a Senate of ten members to serve for one half of the school year. Their first duty would be to nominate a slate of oflicers, thereafter they would direct class activities, appoint committees, and assist the President. The members chosen for our first Senate were: jack Clark, Kathy Cockayne, Rit D'Angelo, Florence Dubicki, Carl Hall, Jean Hayward, Marguerite Napolitano, Mary Nigro, Mary Snow, and John Tacinelli. After a close contest on the ballots the following officers were elected: President, Allen Potter, Vice-President, Bob Warner, Secretary, Alice Terry, Treasurer, Sue Adams, and Emblem Reporter, Matthew Dashukewich. We started off our year by welcoming the Freshmen at a dance held in October. A committee was appointed to conduct food sales at school each Thursday throughout the year, as a source of revenue for our never-amply-filled treasury. Our next side trip was conducted on December 3 and 4 into the land of make- believe. On those two evenings we presented our Senior play, H onor Bright. Given by an all-star cast of thirteen and produced by a capable crew of technicians and workers, it was an instant hit, and only the press of school duties prevented the ,49'ers from a longer run on Broadway. Again we owe Miss Walsh a debt of gratitude, this time-.for her fine performance as director. When the calendar turned from the last day of 1948 to the first of 1949 a new Senate came into office to serve for the remainder of the year. Those previously elected to this group were Dorothy Atwater, Francis Cari, Francis Cioffi, John Ferrucci, Barbara Heise, James Mongillo, Frances Riera, Dorothy Sabecki, Betty Wright, and Caesar Zobbi. V Now the end of our journey was in sight, and we found ourselves welcoming the social activities less because they offered a break from the rocky trail of high school studies, and more because they prolonged the little time we should be together. On February 18 Bob Warner and Ann Muus reigned as King and Queenbover the court pageantry of the annual Senior event - the Saint Valentine's Dance. On April 2 we sponsored another dance, this one built around an April F ool's theme. As busy as we were, we realized that we were nearing our claim in the gold fields. We would not be trail riders much longer. Our last big event was the Senior Prom, which was planned to be everything we could have dreamed of - a fine orchestra, gala decorations,,and an evening of happiness together. In June now that we 'hadreached the end of the trail we gathered together - and the thought occurred to some of us that it might be the last time we would all be there -for our Class Night banquet. The following Monday evening, June 20, 1949, we proudly received our diplomas from The Institution on the Hill and found that we are no longer '49'ers on the quest for hidden treasures. We will always be loyal '49'ers but our search for ore is over. We have struck gold, and we are rich - rich in lessons learned, experiences shared, and memories that shall live with us forever. 22