Southington High School - Chronicle Yearbook (Southington, CT)

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.Y V 4. f--fr-f-f1-.1--ff . ,.L Q, L.H.S. CHRONICLE The success of this dance filled us with conHdence and we eHgef1Y aeeepted lfhe opportunity to sponsor a Christmas dance. Almost magically the HY7, became Chflst' mas land, and, amidst the Christmas tree, wreaths, and mistletoe, there was an over- fiowing abundance of Christmas spirit. When Santa arrived to join the fun, the Peak of perfection was reached. Two months later, in February Mary Benson and'Earle Cooley were chosen to represent our class as the Sophomore pages for the SCD101' Sf- Valentine's Dance. Our one big social fling of the year was the Gay Nineties Review Dancel' WC gave. The hilarious time we had, plus the oh-so-needed profit we grOSS6d, Seems almost too good to be true even today. And then after a long delicious', summer vacation came our Junior year! It was really funny to see us trying to appear suave and nonchalant about being Juniors while we were so excited that it stuck out all over us. Most of our classmates were still with us, but a few, like you, had moved away. At long last we were no longer 1'I10I'C Freshmen or Sophs but upper classmen with enough authority to boss those lowly Frosh.', Joe Sabatella was put in as president. Chuck', Carbone decided she had guarded our wealth too long and we happily promoted her to Veep. Gladys Di1C1Z1k, after a year's rest, took over keeping our history again. Earl Schabel got the Job of guarding our vaults and we hired Earle Cooley as professional Junior snoop for The Emblem. Our social doings really got big that year. At last we were allowed to sponsor three dances, with the long awaited Junior Prom heading the list. Sebby White's orchestra supplied the music and tho' it took place in the Y we know so well, it seemed as if we were really dancing under a Southern moon. Once more the Seniors allowed us to select two pages for their traditional St. Valentine's Dance. This year Carolyn Thayer and Jerry Kelly were our snappy envoys. Shortly after this the faithful sons of Ireland among us voted to hold a St. Patrick's Day Dance. We dressed the YH up in green and white streamers with shamrocks all over the place. It went over big because of the support given by the O'Tomasiewiczskis and other sons of Dublin. As usual the Junior Recital rolled around again, only this time we sat up and took notice for we were the Juniors. Tommy Andrews carried away the boy's prize and Phyllis Chestler the girls, award, Not much later we got a brainy idea and sponsored a novel Lolly Pop Hop with the music by Vic Trola. After that the time just melted away and before we knew it, it was time for the Seniors to graduate and our turn to bid farewell. As a last salute to them we held a Senior Farewell Dance. After it was over we all felt funny inside 'cause we know that our turn was next. The summer days never passed more quickly. Suddenly out of nowhere came Labor Day and - you guessed it - school! Returning seemed no different from other years except that we were older. Nothing had changed much 5 even the creak in the stairs near the oflice remained the same. And yet, somehow, we all forgot to do the usual back-to-school griping. Then it dawned on us! At long last we were the big wheels among the student body. It felt good to know our way around, even to acting bored about the first day to impress the Freshmen. Elections were old stuff by now. Since Miss Halloran, who had been our class advisor for our first three years, had left, we were faced with the problem of securing another advisor as capable as she. This turned out to be a relatively insignificant problem when we heard that Miss Hannifm had returned after a two year leave. We elected this unlucky object of our affections to succeed Miss Halloran. The year started off with a bang! While the Freshmen were still bewildered, we gave them a bang up welcome dance. It was fun not to be on the receiving end for a change. The Frosh', were good sports and the dance was proclaimed successful by all. 22

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',IIIIMWIIElfllllllilllillllliwlliltlIW lunnn il fl L.H. S. CHRONICLE lass isto ry Lewis High School 1950 Dear Mary, You should have seen how surprised I was when I came home from school today and found your letter waiting for me. As soon as I saw it, the handwriting looked familiar, and yet, for a moment, I couldn't quite place it. After I'd opened it and found that it was from you, I wondered how I could ever have forgotten your writing. But it's been a long time now, almost two years since you moved away, and much has happened since then. You asked about the kids and school. Well, the kids haven't changed much since you left except that we're all older, and maybe, just a mite more serious. But, on the whole, we're still the same kids you knew when you were one of us. As for the activities, I'll try to give you a brief picture of what has happened. I'm including the two years you spent here, too - I'm in a reminiscing mood - You don't mind, do you? It seems only yesterday that we set forth as frightened Freshmen and suddenly here we are, rushing to finish The Chroniclef, making plans for class night and graduation, and, most important of all, having our troubles in trying to balance our budget. Every spare second of our time is so crammed with last minute preparations that we don't have time to keep up with the calendar. I'll bet that most of us still don't realize how close graduation is. Remember our Freshman year? That was the life! Nothing can top the fun we had at the g'Welcome Dance the Seniors gave us. I'll never forget the torture they put us through, and yet, looking back now, it doesn't seem half bad. The shoes! ,Remember how they put all our shoes in a big heap in the center of the dance floor? ' I still have the pathetically mismated pair I got back instead of my own. y .Tommy Andrews, our perennial favorite, was elected president and Carolyn Thayer was unanimously voted into the vice-presidency. Mary Carbone got the job that offered the best chance for improvement - the task of guarding our bulging treasury. Gladys Dudzik was the official scribe and kept records in our new log book. The great Seniors condescendingly honored us lowly Frosh by allowing us to choose two pages for their St. Valentine's Dance. Gladys Dudzik and Edgie Knapp were the lucky ones. Remember how nice they looked? And then, not too long after, came Spring and our May Day Dance. You were on the committee with me, weren't you? The theme, of course, was gay and lovely Spring. We sure were proud of our first dance, weren't we? Nancy Rodriguez did a super job writing up us poor Frosh,' for Ye Olde Emblem while we got our bearings and a little self-confidence Sophomore year, when we were formerly ordained uWise Foolsf' Jerry Kelly was elected Chief Wise Fool and Edgie Knapp backed him up as our vice-President. Amy Wendt took over the record book from Gladys .Dudzik and since Chuck Carbone hadn't lost or stolen any of our class wealth, we unani- mously elected her to guard our money bags again. Jean Beck was voted in to steer the Emblem column. The Heavenly Dance we gave in November was really heavenly. Remember how we danced dreamily 'neath the paper stars in the Y while Miss Halloran, our advisor, had a hectic time trying to guard the floor lamps? 21

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Y lH1IWIt4l,lMCl11!N1Wililumuuv :uv nn 1- . 1 as 'J , r - - .4,5,.a,x.,,a,' ' - Q rs-ar w.-v-1,-W T-,rm ., ...f L.H.S. CHRONICLE For quite some time then strange noises were reported coming from Lewis High at night. Then we found out why. The kids who were in the Senior Play had been practicing it there. Finally, on January 6th and 7th, they presented their play, The Time of Their Lives, to two packed audiences at the Falcon Hall. It couldn't have turned out better. Joe Yurcak was responsible for all the props and gave the cast the perfect setting it needed. Patty Baehr as Gladys, and Norman Matthews as Archie Weston, with the support of an excellent cast, did a de-luxe job of it, And I don't think those who saw it will forget for a long time, Tommy Supercalafagilistic Andrews' antics as Junior Allslap. February came quickly with its chill winds and freezing snows. Our general at- titude was, Ho hum, time for the Seniors to give their St. Valentine's Dance. Then suddenly, Hey, wait a minute! Weire the Seniors! we remembered. We began immediate preparations. Cupid was in his glory amidst all the hearts and streamers at the Y this Saint Valentine's Day. No longer were we bothered with choosing pages. That was for the lower classmen. We had the bigger doings of choosing a king and queen to rule the court. Although it was close, the royalty was selected. Rit O'Hala reigned as King of St. Valentine and Lois Gemmell was his queen. Although it seems only a short time since then, it is over a month. The days are passing faster and faster. Before we know it, Class Night and Graduation will be here. Kay Hayes, our senior Emblem reporter, is already preparing her column for the last issue of the Emblem. Miss Hannifin, who, since we elected her advisor, claims that she does nothing but see, hear, talk to, help, and even dream about seniors, seniors, seniors! ll - will soon be rid of us. Looking back, it has been a good year. The senior fellows like Kucinskas, Albrecht, and Fortier were priceless in helping our football team win the state championship. Knapp, Fusco, and O'Hala are doing a commendable job on the basketball court. We still have the Senior Farewell Dance for us Seniors to look forward to. In a few more months we, the last class to graduate from Lewis High School, will leave these halls. And sooner than we realize, the secret motto we made up for Lewis, Abandon ye who enter here all hope for leisure, will soon be a fond memory. We leave satisfied in knowing that next year Southington's new School, the one we just missed, will officially be born. Well, Fm all tired out from writing you this long letter, Mary, so I'll close, not for now, but forever. Your classmate, SAM MYJ' 23