Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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GRADUATION NUMBER our class officers. Richard Johnston still hold the presidency, while Ed- ward Bugbee was elected Vice Presi- dent; Dora Sheridan, Secretary; Phyllis Potter, Treasurer; and Ruth Brawn, Chairman if the Social Committee. This was our first year in varsity spoi ' ts. Several of our number receiv- ed letters, while others were well start- ed toward success in that direction. Class basketball was organized for girls, and many of the class of ’30 received tlieir numerals. It was during our sophomore year tliat we were pleased to welcome Miss Gladys French to the teaching staff. The longer we knew her, the better we liked her. In case you do not know of wliom I speak let me add that last June she became Mrs. Milton. Two more socials were held that year, and our treasury was swelled to some extent. Another June drew near,and our sopho- more year was over. The Junior year was our next step. Miss Reed and Mr. Al- den were honored with our presence ; or, if they weren’t, they should have been, for we really were something in Stoneham High now. Agai]i changes occurred in our executive board. Fred Corcoran became our President ; Ed- ward Bugbee, our Vice President; Ar- thur Theroux, Secretary; Norman Downes, Treasurer; and Phyllis Potter, Cliairman of the Social Committee. Tlie new football coach was the talk of the school that September. Before many days he had become one of the favorites, for “Doc” Gordon started tilings spinning in Stoneham High. He not only made champion teams and en- thusiastic rooters, but he supervised a winter carnival which, as you know, was a great success. We juniors were hap- py to have a part in carrying out “Doc’s” i)lans. The next important event was the Junior Prom; and, with the exception of our financial problems, this, too, was a great success. The closing of our junior year brought several changes in our faculty. We all regretted to see Mr. Frederick W. Porter, our superintendent, leave, and also our beloved French teacher. Miss Moore. Miss Reed, although she had only been with us a year, v» as also missed that following September. At last we were to occupy these im- portant seats in Room 13 with Mr. Thibodeau, who is an old favorite with seniors. There was not enough room for everyone there, however, so the classical boys went to Room 18 with Mr. Hoyt, while the girls in the business course had Miss Nesbit in Room 12 as their teacher. Fred Corcoran, once more, took the lead as senior class president, with Law- rence Buck serving as Vice President. Gordon Marston was elected Secretary, and Arthur Theroux, Treasurer. Phyl- lis Potter still held the social chairman- ship. We were pleased to welcome Mr. Var- ney as our new superintendent. Al- though our acquaintance has been a short one, it has shown us that Mr. Var- ney is a true friend of Stoneham Sen- iors. We leave him with best wishes for many happy years with other sen- ior classes. Miss Spinney, who filled Miss Moore’s place, has proved to be another favorite in Stoneham. Miss Johnson was also very welcome in Room 8. We mustn’t forget our own latest innovation. Bob Sheehan’s trio. If you haven’t heard them, you have missed some real music. They were publicly introduced at the theatre on High School Pep Night. Another big event of the year was the Senior Hop and shortly after that came the second winter carnival. This one was even better than the first. The seniors felt honored to have Mina Gray elected carnival queen. In the hands of the senior class the “Authentic” has not lost its position as a good school paper. We hope the class of ’31 will find as much pleasure in edit- ing it as we have during the past year. The class voted a change in the style of its rings. A very good looking ring has been selected and, we hope, it will remain as a standard in Stoneham High. In May, much unknown talent was discovered at the presentation of “Ap- ple Blossom Time,” the annual Senior Glass play. The crowning event if the year was our banquet at the Hotel Kenmore. We shall never forget that evening’s pro- gram in the Crystal Ballroom with “Ne- mo” Downes as our efficient toastmas- ter. This graduation and senior reception bring our history to a close. The class if 1930 will make no more history as a group, but each will go his own way so much the wiser and better fitted for life because of these four happy years spent together. [ 9 ]

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THE STONEHAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC desire for improvement, for, as we have seen, they immediately set to work to make New England habitable. Their visions have never ceased, for each gen- eration has received them to increase and to widen them. You have but to look around you in your daily life to see what those visions have produced for us. With that quality of vision, the ele- ment of perseverance must be coupled. Had the Puritans merely wished that their conditions were better, and had failed to attempt their self-improve- ment, their cause would have been lost. Quite to the contrary, however, they set out to conquer the unknown. When they had reached this country, their | spirits were high, and they set to work with a will. At the beginning of win- ter, however, when the food supply was diminishing, it was sheer pluck and perseverance that enabled them to win out. At the approach of spring they set forth with iron will to conquer the opposing forces of nature. The strug- gles of these people have proved to us iiow important is that quality of per- severance. When the Puritans succeeded in their endeavors, there came to them what might readily be called the joy of ae- chievement, a joy that kindled an ar- dent zeal to accomplish more. When success came, it enabled them to perse- vere even more, for they then realized i what success meant. It filled them with optimism, a splendid quality in itself. They soon found that optimism, makes a person indomitable, and so with the aid of optimism, the joy of achievement, and perseverance the Puritans progress- ed rapidly. As a step in their development they realized at once the importance of edu- cation. The lesson that the Puritans learned then is beginning t o be appre- ciated in our school of today. Educa- tion is not merely the acquiring of knowledge. It is instruction in the art of citizenship. W ' e are daily being taught that we may intelligently take our places in America’s great democra- cy. We haA e learned that success comes, not through selfish standards but through service to others. We are be- ing shown the great possibilities that America has for those v ho are soon to carry her responsibilities. Our history shows us the many examples so that we may be inspired, so that we may be filled with confidence to face our tasks. Thus we see that merely to sympa- thize with the Puritans’ vision and to laud their perseverance is not enough. It is our task to visualize America’s fu- ture and to persevere in that task of bettering America. America will bo just what we make it, and Avith the in- spiration that Ave have gained from our forefathers we surely can make of it a nation over greater as the years go by. Ollass istory Clare Walker Before you this evening is the first class to have completed the six years of Junior and Senior High School in the new building on William Street. As seventh graders this fact filled us with pride. Our eventful career really began when we became freshmen. We, how- ever, were seldom called freshmen. Our superiors in Senior High called us ninth graders; Avhile Ave, ourselves, selected Seniors of the Junior High as our title. During the first week of school the sen- iors could not carry out the usual cus- tom of sending “fresliies” to the third floor when they sought a room in the first; for Ave, having been in the build- ing two years, kncAv the location of every room. Being freshmen, we were privileged to elect our class officers. The folloAV- ing people received the honors: Presi- dent, Eichard Johnston; Vice President LaAvrence Buck; Secretary, Norman Downes; Treasurer, Fred Brouilliard; Chairman of the Social Committee, Nancy Patterson. Two socials were held that year, and with them Fred’s duties began. On the last day of the school year we regretted leaving our Junior High teachers and friends, but our hearts thumped for joy as the bell signaled us to our sophomore home rooms. Now we Avere “sophs” and had the tAvo largest rooms on the first floor, Eoom 4 with Miss Davis, and Eoom 7 with Miss Gar- land. There Avere several changes in [ 8 ]

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THE STONEHAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC Class ropljecg Lawrence Buck Homeward bound again! Only one who has traversed the lands of China and India can appreciate my feelings. Eight years — yes, eight long years with only an intermittent letter from my folks. And these letters contained very little news outside the family circle. Homeward bound — to the hand-clasps of ‘‘Nemo,” Freddie, Eddie, Bob, John- nie, and all my old pals of 1930. Business had necessitated my report- ing to the London office of the Orien- tal Importing Company, whose affairs I had been managing in China ancf In- dia. This was my last day in London, then Southampton and home. A good dinner at the Trocadero would be a fit closing for my London visit. As I entered the foyer, the band was playing and people were streaming in. The head waiter showed me to a rather in- conspicuous corner. After ordering my dinner I glanced around to see who might be there. At a table next to me were two ladies apparently alone — one rather young, and the other about thirty. It was the older one who claimed my attention. She was small, dark, almost unattractive. I noticed that she wore glasses that were so strong that her eyes seemed uncannily large. As I gazed — yes, I almost gaped at her — she beckoned for me to come to her table. “She doesn’t interest me so why should I bother,” I thought. Yet her personality and apparent un- derstanding made me go. No sooner had I seated myself when she said, “Give me something that you are wearing.” I was astonished and a little amused. This was an odd request. “What do you want and why?” “I can tell you all about your friends.” she said, “and you seem most anxious to know about them. Let me have your ring.” “What’s all this?” I asked, “magic stuff or something like that? What do you take me for?” “Let me show you,” she said, and held out her hand. So I gave her a ring — a heavy signet, and wondered what she would do with it. She let it lie in her hand for a moment and then overcome by the strain of deep conceniration, placed it between her eyes. “Water,” she exclaimed. “A ship plow- ing on full steam ahead is going to take you home.” “Quite true,” I said, and wondered a little on her strange power. “For many months you have been lonely and you have wondered much about your old classmates of Stoneham High School. Now you shall know.” I knew nothing of clairvoyance and had made it a point to avoid unnatural things all my life. Hence, I was some- what surprised and startled as she con- tinued : “I see at once a strong-willed and of- ficious person, one who was used to run- ning things. I believe his watchword was ‘Let little Charley do it.’ It’s your pal, Freddie Corcoran. He is now run- ning a second hand book store in South Boston. His shop is one of quaint charm and interest. Mary Ferguson is his chief assistant. Mary’s charm and great domestic ability have helped the sale of books tremendously. Just at this time Mary is absorbed in a new book, “A Bill For Every Mary.” Dur- ing the last week, however, Freddie has been pushing forward a book entitled “The World Without Men” by Doris Hunt. Miss Hunt has cited herself with many others as splendid examples of spinsterhood. Her book has been en- dorsed by several prominent women of the time. Among them is Phyllis Pot- ter, ingenious interior decorator and ar- tist. (I always thought Phil to be quite apt in domestic problems.) Lulu Wil- kins, Elizabeth Whitcher, and Mildred Thayer strongly agree with Doris Vir- 1 ginia. These last three ladies are run- ning for clectiin to city offices next fail. “The janitor of the quaint shop is none other than Bob Doherty. Bob is industrious but nothing pleases him more than to settle down in a quiet cor- ner with a funny sheet. “The scene is changing now, my friend,” said my informer. “I see now a large theatre. The Consolidated Stonehamite Stock Company is playing an opening performance of “Hamlet.” Arthur Clark is filling the title role. Ophelia is played by Anna (Squeak) Pickens. It has been said that Miss Pickens does the floating scene very at- tractively. The brutish king is charac- [ 10 ]