Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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THE STONEITAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHENTIC master, we gathered to enjoy the last get-together before graduation. Because of the bi-centennial anni- versary of Washington, Mr. Thibodeau, our noted Czar, has this year colored and made more interesting our history work by introducing projects pertaining to the customs and incidents surround- ing Washington’s life. Another inter- esting feature of this same type was the recent World Peace Plssay Contest, and happy to say, Eobert Thompson bore off the laurels of the day. Our Commercial Club has been most prominent in its recent undertakings. With Miss Bullukian as a guide, we have enjoyed numerous socials and trips to selected Boston Business houses to ob- serve the office management. Toward the latter part of the year the club held quite an unusual assembly. Its pur- pose was to award type honors, to pre- sent a stop-clock to the Commercial de- partment, and most important of all, to announce the newly founded scholarship fund that is to be given by this organ- ization to business students for future study. Another assembly most interest- ing to the seniors, came with the re- vealing of class honors. To Lewis Parks I and Gertrude French, the winners of the | MacDonald medals, we extend our hearty congratulations. Other honors were bestowed as follows: Graduation Address, Eichard Hunt; Class History, Mary Bickum ; Class Prophecy, Carleton Connor; Prophecy of the Prophet, Thomas Finnegan; and Class Will, Helen Brown and Sidney Allen. One of the finest traits of Washing- ton’s character was his keen desire to perform his duty to the utmost. After he had given all that could be reason- ably expected, he gave more. The mot- to of our class, “Plus Ultra — this far and farther,” is in accordance with that trait. We, too, have tried to give our utmost and then give more. Even though Ave may have fallen somewhat short of our goal, v e still have had the joy of trying to reach it. Now we are ready to face the serious business of life with the courage and faith given to us by our teachers, who have carefully laid the foundation for our future lives. May each one of us attain the heights of greatness and bo roAvarded as Washington Avas bv a rich and honorable life. Thus this school phase of the class of ’32 passes into his- tory. Claes prnplp ' cg Carleton June 1950. I step to my front vesti- bule to pick up the morning paper and mail. I hurriedly glance over che paper, then turn to my mail Avhich at the first glance appears to contain for the greater part advertisements. One letter, however, attracts my attention and arouses my curiosity and interest; the postmark is Stoneham, Massachu- setts, and as all letters from Stoneham, my old home town, are Avelcome, I pro- ceed to open this one, although it bears every outward appearance of an ad, even to the one and one-half cent stamp. Perhaps it is from one of my old class- mates. Quickly removing the contents I find it is a letter from my old pal, LeAvis Parks, who appears to be as Scotch as ever, even to the restricted postage and hotel stationery. But noAv let’s see what LeAvy has to say for him- self. S. Connor New Stoneham Hotel, 1,500 Eooms Avith Baths, Proprietor Eobert E. Thompson. (Well, good old “Bob” Thompson is noAv a hotel proprietor, possibly he sings the guests to sleep, ’cause “Bob” could sing if I remember correctly.) Dear Carl: It is a long time since I have seen or heard from you, but as I haAm been very busy (yes, that ahvays was Lewis’ big line) it has been impossible to write you. I am Avriting noAv to tell you of the 225th Anniversary of the founding of Stoneham which is June 15-20. If it is possible for you to attend the anni- versary celebration I Avould like very much to have you spend that week visit- ing at my home Avith my Avife and me. (What! Leway married. I Avonder who the lucky belle is!) If you plan to i come Avill you please drop me a line as 8

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GRADUATION NUMBER which resulted in the formation of a class spirit that has existed ever since. Toward the latter part of the year we made a trip under the supervision of Miss Smith to various places of inter- est in Boston, including the Ginn Pub- lishing Company, the Market District, which, as I remember it, seemed miles long, and the Arnold Arboretum. The next fall saw us really establish- ed officially as high school students. Richard Hunt led in presidency with Miner Taylor as Vice President. Paul- ine Miller still kept the class records, while Muriel Berry took over the finan- cial duties. Carleton Connor varied the social activities that year when he and his committee suggested and carried out the idea of sport socials and novelty dances — a truly bright idea, Carl! We also took part in the operetta, “College Days,” and contributed greatly to the Carnival Fund and Fun, receiving as a reward the class banner, home-room banner, and other individual prizes for ticket selling. One of the high lights of the second quarter was our trip to the Repertory Theatre with Mrs. Mil- ton where “Julius Caesar” was being played. It was then that we realized that an education is gained through other mediums than that of the printed page. This, coupled with the presenta- tion of “The Taming of the Shrew” in our senior year, not to mention our struggles with Mr. Reed, laid the founda- tion for an appreciation for the beauties of Shakespeare. As all good things are bound to cease, the girls of our class had to accept a substitute when our beloved Miss Frazar decided that housekeeping was a far better career than teaching. But, as Washington said when once confronted by a sudden disappointment, “What must be, must.” Therefore, the year drew to a close, a successful year, well spent in making us more capable of taking up the com- ing station of upper classmen. We entered our junior year with an able staff of class officers. This time Miner advanced to the office of Pres- ident. The other executive members took their positions for the first time. Muriel Berry was chosen Vice Presi- dent; Dorothy Tble, Secretary; and Maryalice Newhall, Treasurer. Robert Parks, after a lapse of one year, again resumed his place to lead the social program. Aside from the usual two socials, an operetta, “Miss Cherry- blossom” was put on under the capable direction of Mr. Dalglish. This turned out to be a most brilliant success. In the leading role, Ethel Cameron, one of our classmates, proved herself to be a star of considerable magnitude. The Junior Prom which followed, al- though a social success, was in a finan- cial way very discouraging. The class thought itself to be at the end of its resources. But here the undaunted cour- age of Washington came to our aid, for the thought of the man who could win- ter at Valley Forge and still win through led us to believe that out of failure often comes victory; in our suc- ceeding events this proved to be true. If I have seemed to stress the social events of our class, it is because they, second only to athletics, have been such a factor in developing solid organiza- tion and team work. The time came at last for us to be- come the leaders in Stoneham High. It has been said that to set a good ex- ample you must be one ; therefore, we lost no time in our first class meeting in making ready for the year’s work. There were only two changes in the of- ficial staff. Thomas Finnegan became Vice President, and Margaret McLaugh- lin, Secretary. The outstanding social events of the first semester were the Senior Hop, the operetta, “Jerry of Jericho Road,” -with Alma Patch and Robert Thompson in the lead, and the Winter Carnival which turned out to be the best ever despite the untimely warm weather. The coro- nation, the most delightful part of the program, added much pleasure to the carnival ball when William Chase pro- claimed Gertrude French our popular queen. We paused at the close of the first half of our last year to pay reverence to a teacher who had inspired and brought forth the best in us. Miss Da- vis left us this valuable thought, “What is worth doing, is worth doing well, and anything worth doing well is gained only through hard work.” We thank her ! The excellent production of the sec- ond semester, “The Old Grouch,” our senior play, co-starring Evelyn Lamb and Robert Thompson, brought out new dramatic ability in the class. Then, with the arrival of May, all thoughts turned to the banquet. Longwood Tow- ers seemed the destination, and on the twelfth, with Jimmy Clark as tcast- 7

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GRADUATION NUMBER soon as possible? During the week there will be held the 18th reunion of the Class of 1932, which is in charge of Helen Brown Pierce, to be held at her beautiful gar- den. Yes, Helen always was interested in flowers. This will afford you a chance to meet many old friends. The hostess- es are to be Muriel Berry Taylor, Vir- ginia Tolman Lovering, and June Yea- ton Barton. (Aha! I see all these school day romances have become permanent ones.) As for myself, I am a professor of English at my Alma Mater, Tufts, and live here in Stoneham, the healthiest city in Massachusetts. I have enclosed an advanced program of the celebra- tion including the pageant program which I thought would be of interest to you. Closing for the present, I re- main. Your friend, Lewis Henry Parks. Well, that certainly was an interest- ing letter. I shall certainly try to take advantage of Lewis’ kind invitation. It is time for me to leave home for my day’s work and I place the program in my pocket. After reaching my seat in the rapid transit I draw it forth to read and on the first page of the pro- gram I find the following statement : “This program was made possible through the kindness of the advertisers. Please patronize their establishments.” Surely some of 1 932 have entered the business Avorld. Now let mo see. Yes, the first ad to meet my eyes was one announcing the drive for a hundred thousand dollars for an addition to the new Memorial Hospital. The staff of that hospital appears to contain many of my old friends, including Richard “Dick” Hunt, house doctor. “Dick” has made quite a name for himself in the world of surgery and medicine. Mary Maguire, Superintendent of the Nurses, and Marion Gilson, dietition, are other members of ’32, and on the list of nurses I find Phyllis Watts, Ethel Cam- eron, Dorothy Lawson, Clarice Varney, Elizabeth Clark, and Elizabeth DiPetro, all former classmates at S. H. S. Please address all correspondence to Gertrude French Hunt was the note at the end. The last I knew of Gert was v hen she w ' as writing her latest book which woas entitled “Hunting the Dicky-Bird in the Wilds of Congress Street,” The next ad is startling to me, “The Quality Lunch,” under the new ' manage- ment of Christine Perry and Robert Parks. My, there must be many an ar- gument between the proprietors if Christine tries to make sandwiches the way Ann O Connor made them back in 1932. “Bob” never could find one of her sandwiches he liked. Glancing down the page I find that Catherine Jackson is now running the Adelaide Gown Shoppe on the corner of Lindenwood Road and Main Street, which is now the downtown district of Stoneham. Directly below this I find a space which reads “With the Compli- ments of Taylor and Taylor and (er) Son. Ah! Yes! I remember reading in the papers a year ago that Miner and Clip had been hired by a man and wife to argue eases against each other at a divorce trial. Miner brought victory to his client W illard Eldridge who was su- ing for divorce on the grounds that his wife, the former Mildred Dempsey, never had his meals ready on time. It seems to me “Milly” used to be late back in 1932 and was almost divorced from Room 13 by Czar Earle T. Thibo- deau. On the second page I find the roster of the parade to be held June 17th. At the head of the line will be the city police force including three of my form- er classmates, namely Captain John Mc- Kinnon, who has followed in the foot- steps of his father ; Edward Haradon, and Milo Temple, the last two men- tioned having finally joined the police force to keep from being arrested for speeding. The marshal of the parade is to be none other than Charles Frost who finds no other w ' ay to keep in the limelight, having failed to become a sec- ond “Shires” on the Stoneham Cubs. It seems that Raymond McKinnon holds the managerial reins of the Cubs, hav- ing received valuable experience back in 1932 and is now being hailed as the Connie Mack of Minor Leagues. The band which will furnish the mu- sic for the parade is under the direc- tion of Bernard Roche of 1932 fame w’ho if I remember correctly was a whole band in himself. Members of the group “Bernie and His Boys,” who were class- mates of mine, are George Adzigian. bass horn, (“Adzie” always had lots of extra hot air and is now putting it to work); William “Red” Brooks, fluter; Eugene Hovey, drummer (yes. Gene al- ways was the big noise of Room 13) ; his side-kick, William (call me Vs illie) McDonough, trumpeteer, and Harold Q