Stevens High School - Red and Black Yearbook (Claremont, NH)

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By now members of our regiment were represented on the gridiron and the baseball diamond. The talent of our group was spreading out, including the red-coated band, the orchestra, and the chorus. Our advance was a complete success, and the ice on the upper classmen's shoulders began to melt. We were now in the gang. However, our ranks were constantly growing smaller, for Uncle Sam was playing soldier too. All too soon furloughs were passed out, and we headed to summer jobs and vacations, all the while keeping a close watch of the papers, for the war in Europe had already ended. The atomic bomb burst, the Japs surrendered, and the war was over. Our was over too, for we were now upper classmen, and we stood straighter and our noses rode a little higher until we found out there still were seniors in the school, and, after all, we were only juniors. Not even MacArthur out- did us, for we immediately set up an occupational government headquarters with Irving Pullen in command, aided by Alan Marek. With Robert Bonneau collecting the taxes and Joyce Wheeler keeping the books, we distinguished ourselves in two ways. One was the Junior Prom, which showed everybody the glory of the junior class, when we brought forth a Spanish setting to beautify the Stevens gym. All hailed the dance as a great success, and we gave a clap of approval to the committee. The second achievement was in June when the Senior Reception rid us of our upper class competition but also a swell class. Our first occupational year was a never-to-be-forgotten one with mem- bers of our force represented in all the school's activities and even adding to them by creating the Junior Dramatics Club with some of the school's best actors and actresses putting on two great plays: Pop Reads the Christmas Carol and Paul's First Tux . The great shower of approval encouraged them to continue into l947 and their senior year. Summer came and summer went, and here we were back in school. But this time we were in full command for we were the seniors. Careful considera- tion brought us to elect Richard Bailey commander-in-chief of all Stevens' forces, with Bernice Cahalan next in command. The historian's job fell to Phillip Balch and the collections to James Emanuel. Fresh troops were added to our forces when over twenty veterans of foreign service with Uncle Sam joined our occupation detail. They all took hold and really were an asset to our class in extra-curricular activities and the steady hum of recitation. Having a small force as compared to preceding years, every member took hold and did just a little more than usual. To the delight of everyone, the Football Dance went over with a bang. The year was brightened by a benefit vic dance and a great Home Ec dance. After wearing the soles off our shoes dancing, we came to realize that seniors have a few other things to take care of. How we ever kept up with fill

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l ' C1Uj1z280YdbJ5 l i f My Clafsza Wet: 5 I 445.1 7? ' .Arms wggi uumz W 'Ya' 7440 ,..- '.E. ,-5 .-L .,. V By Donald Richmond September 8, l943, is a never-to-be-forgotten date for the class of '47, On that day the surrender of ltaly was announced, and also another sur- render took place. We, the members of the class of '47, gave up the out-of- doors for the classrooms of Stevens High. lt was a great event entering basic training under the leadership of the gold braid up front. We were ably led by General Richard Kennell, Personnel Officer Barbara King, Finance Officer Theodore Ellis, and Executive Officer Hannahbelle Heller. On we went through our first tough workout, the Freshman Reception. The generally accepted theory of brutality and bad use was anything but true, we found. Soon after, our freshman vic dance strengthened our ranks but weakened our treasury. As we became better trained and more familiar with the rules and regulations, the going became easier. By the time we had become familiar with regimentation, we had completed our basic training and were sent home for the summer to take up the fight from behind the counter or the plow. The high command changed leaders in Europe, and we followed suit by appointing new officers for our campaigns in the fall of '44, Up front were General John Skewes, Personnel Officer Alan Marek, Executive Officer Ruth Purinton, and Finance Officer Howard Brooks. We advanced into battle in fine spirits and subdued the freshmen at a freshman reception that really set the communication lines ahumming. HOD

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V v 0 4? L this modern age, putting out an issue of the Eagle , defending our football record against Towle, entering into a Christmas concert put on by the school's musical groups, putting out the Voice of Stevens , and getting out this Red and Black that you see before your eyes, is more than we can tell. Not only did we fill the ranks of these activities, but we encouraged and breathed oxygen into three new activities: the a Cappella choir, the ski team, and the track team. We also revived interscholastic girls' basketball with great success. A three-act play entitled A Date With Judy , with Bob Bonneau pro- ducing the laughter, put us down on the films as having a noteworthy senior play. All agreed that Mrs. Bucko had again hit the jackpot with a wonder production. Our crowning achievement is the presentation to the town of Claremont of over ninety true Americans. Our class was born in wartime and survived the battle. Overburdened by after-school jobs and added war activities in school, the class really had a war of its own to wage during the four years of study. To Stevens' seventy-eighth class, the class of '48, we issue a chal- lenge to carry on equally as well the work which we now turn over to you. i H25