Stoneham High School - Wildlife Yearbook (Stoneham, MA)

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Abraham Lincoln in 1 86 1 in answer to a request from a lady for jobs for her two sons. The letter, addressed to Major Ramsey, ends with these words: “Set them at (work) if possible. Wanting to work is so rare a want that it should be encouraged.” The class of 1947 must go out with an eagerness to work. We have to go out and forget petty prej- udices and deal with principles. Only in this way can we really amount to something. We have to learn by seeing what makes others fail and profiting by their mistakes. The world will be only as good as the people who live in it make it. Unless one is a teamworker, he has little chance of succeeding. A good worker can get along with other people. One Cla33 yUemorieJ Time - 1957 Place - Stoneham High School Characters - Marge Marshall, head of the Depart- ment of English Jeannie Jackson, successful concert singer visiting the school Marge — It seems as if it were only yesterday that we were being taught in this same building. Let ' s take a tour around the building and see what past experiences we can recall. (They start at room 7 on the first floor) Jeanie — Isn’t that the room where we were taught parliamentary law? What unusual subjects we us- ed to debate! Marge — We were even going to buy a policeman’s suit and club, too. (They walk on) Jeanie — What a wonderful time we had electing our sophomore officers. When our adviser, Mr. Richardson, introduced a new way of election by nomination papers and campaign speeches, no one thought it would work out very well; but it turned out to be very successful. We were all happy to have Don Dewhurst elected president; Jack Don- aghey, vice-president; Tony Rotondo, treasurer; and Barb McGilvreay, chairman of the social com- mittee. Marge — Yes, and that was also the year that Jeanne Murcell came through with flying colors at the Boston Herald Spelling Bee finals. She won a beautiful silver cup for the school. Jeanie — Our sophomore year marked our first par- ticipation in the Carnival Ball activities. We re- ceived many compliments on the singing of our glee clubs even if it did seem as if the members would never stop coming through that little side door near the stage. How they ever managed to ar- range three hundred of us on the stage, I ' ll never business man has said. “Ninety per cent of the people who lose their jobs, do so because of a lack of ability to get along with people, not because of a lack of a- bility to do the job.” If the entire class of 1947 is to succeed and is willing to work to obtain that success, there is no end to the opportunities available. Our horizons are unlimited. Each of us should echo the thrilling words found in the diary of an American soldier who died at Chateau-Thierry : “I will work; I will save; I will sacrifice; I will endure; I will fight cheerful- ly and do my utmost, as if the whole struggle de- pended on me alone.” Walter M. Johnson know. (They start upstairs) Marge — In our sophomore year, many historical events as well as successful school affairs took place. First of all was the important conference at Yalta, the last conference that President Roose- velt attended. Then we were all saddened by the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Soon afterward we were electrified by the news of the surrender of Germany on V. E. Day, May 6, 1945. The conference at Potsdam ended with the plans for the division of Germany into sec- tions. Jeanie — Then came our junior year! That was a year of more substitutes than in our sophomore year. Oh, here’s the lab where we had our chem- istry class flood. Naturally, it was during 11C1 per- iod. Those faucets simply wouldn’t turn off. I had visions of a teacher strolling peacefully under one of those open windows from which we threw the water before Mr. Lund came to our rescue and shut off the water. Miss Finn ' s room was dir- ectly underneath the lab so we had a slight shower from the ceiling the next period when we went to English. (They continue, through the assembly hall.) Marge — I wonder how many rehearsals have been held in this hall? We certainly had a grand time with Miss Drago and Mr. Arkwell at glee club practice. We added some songs well worth know- ing to our repertoire through them, too. Jeanie — That was the first year we put on a Spring Concert, wasn’t it, Marge — Yes, that was a most successful affair. Weren ' t our marshals at graduation that year Jo Koprek and Ray Iverson, Jeanie — Yes. Remember the big turnout we had at our class dance that year? Let’s see — it was call- [ 2 7 ]

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improved equipment, and more scienti fic methods of treatment have brought about almost unbelievable results. More people have become health-minded be- cause they have been making more money. This has caused a great strain on the various medical in- stitutions. Many advances have been made because of the war. In order to treat all these patients, new and faster methods had to be found. In comparing the mortality rates of the first world war and the second, it is found that a great improvement has been made. Ninety-six per cent of the war casualties of this war returned to action, larg- ely because of the finding out of more about blood plasma. This is an astounding record. Today people generally are living longer than they used to. The infant mortality rate is much lower than ever be- fore. Some diseases than were once considered in- curable are now curable. Medical treatment is easier for the poorer people to secure. Many owe their lives to research which has made it possible to combat diseases with new, fast-acting drugs. Penicillin, used to allay infection, is now al- most routine treatment in all hospitals. Streptomy- cin, a much newer drug, also counteracts infection. The army and navy made frequent use of sulfa drugs. The government is building some fine hospitals and setting a good example to the communities. The hospitalization of veterans is going to be a problem that will be before the public for many years to come. Psychosomatic medicine is being needed more every day. The number of veterans that need this type of care is increasing all the time. Lately many civilians have also been requiring this treatment. Medicine has advanced to the stage where every phy- sician has to have a psychosomatic point of view. In consideration of all these problems, the grad- uate of today can find many places in the world of science into which he can fit himself. Some of us will have part in the practical application of these new developments. Others will step into the research laboratories and continue the work already started. Still others will work into the administrative posit- ions open in all these fields. All of today’s graduates, however, will not be interested in science as a career. The opportunities in business for an ambitious young man are unlim- ited. Opportunities increase in direct proportion as knowledge increases. The only people who make satisfactory use of their opportunities are those who are willing to work for them. Some people never hear opportunity knocking because they are too busy knocking the other fellow. Opportunities have been abundant for every generation, but just notice how few people make use of them. To put it in a simp- ler way — if we can serve each other, or make life more comfortable or pleasurable, we have found an opportunity. “Take advantage of the little oppor- tunities and you won ' t need to wait for a big one.’’ Business today wants people who are willing to work. It wants people who are willing to cooper- ate. It wants people who are willing to follow in- structions. Most people never stop to think that an employer has to make money on them; otherwise there would be no point in hiring them. An employ- ee has to make money for the institution or com- pany for which he is working. If more people would realize this and try to make as much profit for their employers, they would probably get that raise without any trouble and maybe without asking for it. The world is too full of time-servers — or per- haps you call them clock-watchers. From the time they arrive at work in the morning they start watch- ing the clock. This causes time to drag and leads to grumbling. Soon all kinds of troubles arise in the person’s mind. Fault-finding follows. There is a saying that goes, “Happiness is that peculiar sensation which you acquire when you are too busy to be miserable.” It seems that some persons work only when they are being watched. Another saying reads, “Some are bent with toil and some get crook- ed trying to avoid it. Sometimes it seems that the world has advanced faster than man’s character. One way to eliminate clock-watching is to do something that we like or are interested in. If the work is worth while, one can afford to work his fingers off for it; if it isn’t, forget it.” People today are afraid of doing more than their allotted work. Life is too easy for them and they don ' t see any point in working. They are too afraid of doing anything that someone else is being paid to do. As one business manager says, “The fear of doing something that someone else is being paid to do, has prevented many people from being paid more for what they are now doing. People aren’t careful enough of the little things. Man never reaches his highest efficiency until he loves his work more than he loves his pay-envelope. Big jobs usu- ally go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow the smaller jobs. Here’s something that was written by Senator Arthur Capper about a man’s job: “A man’s job is his best friend. It clothes and feeds his wife and children, pays the rent and supplies them with the wherewithal to develop and become cultivated. The least a man can do in return is love his job. A man’s job is grateful. It is like a little garden that thrives on love. It will one day flower into fruit worth while, for him and his to enjoy. If you ask any successful man the reason for his making good, he will tell you it is because he likes his work; indeed he loves it. The attitude toward work of the average person today is not too different from that of years past. Many of you are familiar with the letter written by [ 26 ]

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ed the Junior Personality Dance”. The hall was gaily decorated with purple and pink streamers with different colored balloons attached. There were elimination dances, prizes, super records, and a big grand march. It seemed as if the whole school turned out that lovely spring night, and everyone had a grand time. Marge — Let ' s go down to the gym. I want to see if it has changed any. How thrilled and excited we were at our first basketball tournament in our sophomore year. We lost by only one point. That s the closest any sophomore class has ever come to winning. In our junior year we won although the odds were against us, and we came back with flying colors in our senior year to win again. Jeanie — Another proud sport event came in our junior year when our hockey team walked off with the championship. Our football team was good that year too. Marge — Remember how gallant our officers looked when they gave their campaign speeches. President Ray Iverson, Vice President Bob Page, Secretary Joan Severance, Treasurer Jack Donaghey, and Chairman of Social Committee Ginger Martin served us well. Jeanie — Our high school days were happy ones, but our senior year was the best of all. That’s nat- ural, I suppose. Marge — That year, we were all very happy to see many of the teachers return from the armed ser- vices. They were Mr. Lamson, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Elerin, weren’t they? Miss Alger married and did not return. Mr. Higgins, who had been away during part of our junior year, also returned. Many G. I. ' s returned to our classes; but we also lost some of our classmates. Ray Iverson, Fran- nie McDermott, and Bob Masi joined the Navy, and Leroy McHale joined the Army. Jeanie — I remember the Senior Tea Mr. and Mrs. Nadeau gave us, and what a grand program was planned for the girls and their mothers. Mr. Tap- ley played his violin, and Miss Drago gave us sev- eral selections on the piano. The tea will remain in our memories for years to come as an outstand- ing event. Marge — Another of the highlights of the tear was the athletic banquet sponsored by the Booster’s Club and given for the members of the field hoc- key and boys’ hockey team. Beautiful melton jac- kets were presented to all the members of the squad by this organization composed of many interested people who backed the athletic teams of Stoneham High. The Booster’s Club will be remembered by all for their wonderful work and generosity. Jeanie — Our Carnival Ball was a big success that year, too. Don Dewhurst and Wanda Kenney were elected king and queen. The Girls’ Trio and the S. H. S. Specials sang, as well as the combined glee clubs. Didn ' t Bud Strobel, Dot Mahoney, Ken Gelineau and Claire Dinan present an excellent program! We’ll never forget our Lord High Chan- cellor, the one and only Frankie Brown. Marge — The senior play Ever Since Eve” was one of the best — a complete sell-out! Claire Dinan and Frankie Brown were just made for their parts, and they were supported by an all-star cast which included Jean Vogler, Larry Gregg, Alan Hanson, Mary Hogan, Barbara Farr, Jimmy Brown, Lizzie Morse, Alvin Bears, Ed Harrington, Gerry Har- ington, and George Patton. Jeanie — We elected grand officers that year. Re- member? Bob Page was president; Bill Buckley, vice president; Jo Koprek, secretary; Larry Gregg, treasurer; and Frank Brown, chairman of social committee. We also had a series of assemblies in our senior year, the first series we’d had. We had such famous artists as Nelkanth Chavre, a lectur- er on India; Piero Pierotic, the operatic baritone; Geoffrey F. Morgan, an inspiring lecturer on the subject “What’s the Use”; and Grace Walpert Keene, the dramatic reader of I Remember Ma- ma.” Marge — The band made excellent progress and were presented uniforms by the Masonic Club. This was the first year that Stoneham High ever had a band. Many thanks were due Mr. Fern and Mr. Jordan for their untiring efforts. Jeanie — We really shook the timbers when we had our football rallies led by our spirited cheerleaders. Pat Nelles was head cheerleader; and Dot Mahon- ey, Ginger Martin, Bobbie Lee, and Claire Dinan helped make up the squad. Marge — We also had many magazine rallies. We received a per cent of all the subscriptions we sold for the school and prizes besides. Jeanie — What a busy year that was! Never a dull moment. The Spring Concert, our Junior - Sen- ior Prom, Prize Speaking, Baccalaureate, Senior Banquet ! Goodness, when you look back at it now, it was just one thing after another, wasn’t it? Marge — It was fun, though. Then came the day that we had all been looking forward to with such pleasant anticipation. Graduation had come and as it came, it was gone, leaving just one thought for us to remember. “Our future lies before us Like a path of driven snow Be careful how we tread it. For every step will show.” [ 28 ]