Vergennes Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Vergennes, VT)

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BLUE AND WHITE 21 CLASS PROPHECY It is ten years since graduation and I have taken our Senior class picture from my album. There’s been quite a change in all the members of the class since that time. Many of their occupations are interesting and some amusing. Maybe as I look over this picture I can recall to mind what happened to all my classmates. Most of them are scattered in various places and I may have trouble relating all their adventures to you, but I’ll try, anyway. Edmond Atkins is one of our real old-fashioned Vermont farmers, and word has it that he is running his father’s farm now. He must believe in large families, too, because he’s married and is the father of seven children. It was always Alan Holmes’ ambition to be the clever manager of a dice hall. He established one in Reno. Nevada, a few years ago. He’s willing to plav any game with anybody, and when he does, he usually come out on top. Sidney Barnard is the one who used to dash around town in those hot-rods of his. He used to go so fast even the State Police got out of his way. Sidney is working out west now at an air base where they try out jets. His favorite pastime is to go for a ride in one of the slower travelling jets that goes oidy about 2000 miles per hour. He says it seems a little slow, though. Francis Hoose used to have fun tickling the ivories in school. He’s having more fun now. He's pulling ivories, but they aren’t the piano’s. They’re the ivories of fine, upstanding citizens of Vergennes. Francis is now the local dentist. Roger Gibeault is the principal of Vergennes High School now. He encourages all his students to laugh heartily. It seems that when he was in school, teachers didn't appreciate his laughing ability so he has instituted a new course for students in every grade. It is entitled “Advanced Jokes’’ and is taught by Mr. Gibeault himself. Since the sad passing of Hedda Hopper three years ago, Alan Russett has had a column in the Los Angeles Clean Sheet where he records all the latest romances and break-ups. He is noted all over the United States for his marvelous write-ups and nose for news. James Hanna has all the bobby-soxers swooning since he is now exercising all his charm and ability. His dainty feet carried him west soon after graduation from aggie school at UVM. He was looking for work as a western cowpoke but was discovered by a talent scout while surveying the Chicago stock yards. He is one of the top actors in Hollywood and his latest movie is a revision of his old favorite “We Shook the Family Tree. George Rose is president of the Rose Model Agency of New York. He is a much sought-after gentleman now for judging beauty contests. He modestly boasts that he received most of his experience from standing on Fishman’s corner in Vergennes, many years back. He has developed a very shrill wolf whistle with which to voice his approval of bathing beauty contestants. Janice Clark is head telephone operator at Vergennes. She is still giving wrong numbers to a lot of people. But, strangely enough. Sonny always seems to get the right number. Jack Stebbins started his political career at Vergennes High School with White House Conferences and debates. He first became mayor of Vergennes and then was elected Senator from Vermont. His debates on the Senate floor have caused nation-wide comment and a few demands for another Vermont senatorial election. Since the Stebbins Crime Investigation Committee has been televised, the sale of television sets has gone down, and the number of television viewers has decreased. After graduation, Elaine French went to legal secretarial school and got a job as secretary to Senator Stebbins. The lovely diamond on her third finger, left hand, seems to bear out a prophecy

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20 VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL CLASS WILL We, the class of nineteen hundred and fifty-one, having sound bodies and minds and having attained the zenith of wisdom in the remarkable space of four years, do hereby bequeath to the worthy recipients the following priceless gifts: To the future Senior class of 1952, we leave a private study hall, equipped with plush seats, snack bar, radio, and a supply of your favorite records to play when you’re tired of studying. The teachers may use this room by special permission from the Seniors. To Robert Stebbins, Edmond Atkins leaves a pair of jet-propelled roller skates so that Bob won’t always be just two minutes late for school. To Helen Looby, Sidney Barnard leaves his limousine jalopy, with his apologies if it doesn’t prove to be a good taxi for the class trips. To Winona Little, Janice Clark leaves her position as fastest writer in the shorthand class. Just a little practice will do wonders, Winona. To Joyce Larrow, Alma Danyow leaves a book entitled “How to Do the Charleston in Fifteen Easy Lessons.’ Maybe you’ll decide to stick to the old-fashioned waltz when you see what Alma’s version is, Joyce. To Joanne Charbonneau, Helen Field leaves her position as head of the class. We know you’ll make it, Joanne, if you are as diligent as Helen. To Patricia Little, Elaine French leaves her clarinet. Maybe it’ll help you to get into the band at last. Pat. To Raymond Bodette, Roger Gi-beault leaves the English class in stitches. We hope you can keep it as lively as Roger did, Bud. To John Donnelly. James Hanna leaves a few inches of his height, to be used only on special occasions. To Joan Peabody, Grace Hawkins leaves her quiet, unassuming manner. Not that you really need it Joan, but it may help to keep the hallway quieter. To the Junior Class, Helen Haw- kins leaves a supply of handkerchiefs for the tears they will shed when the Seniors graduate. To Mike McGrath, Alan Holmes leaves a pair of crepe soled shoes, so that Mike can walk softy into the study hall. To Paul Ripchik, Francis Hoose leaves his quiet, peaceful manner. We understand that you’re not really loud, Paul. To Alice Tucker, Dorothy Jaquith leaves five inches of her long, blond hair. Still, it might look out-of-place on you. Alice. To Colleen Bargfrede, Gwendolyn McGrath leaves her place as class de-bator That is, if you can beat the opposition. Colleen. To Richard Tarte, James McNulla leaves his ability to boast about his basketball playing. You can use a little practice, Dick, but don't go too far. To George LeBeau, George Moorby leaves his ability to tease the girls and get away with it. Be careful though, George, when their tempers begin to boil. To Lucy Case, Marion Moorby leaves a few of her numerous boy friends and corresponding problems. However, try to keep just one at a time, Lucy. To the Blue and White Staff. Florence Poulin leaves a supply of French poems, so that the French editors may take it easy next year. To John Stephens, George Rose leaves a book entitled, “How to Win an Argument on Any Subject.” To use especially in American History class. To nobody, Alan Russett leaves nothing. because he says he needs everything he has. To John Fisher, John Stebbins leaves his loud colors. It may cover up for your shyness, John. To Raymond Plankey. Joyce Tracy leaves her drawing ability. You’ll make a fine artist, as we can tell by some of the work you have done for the Blue and White. (Continued on page 24)

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22 VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL that some of our class had hinted at several years ago—that she and Jack would eventually pair off. Grace Hawkins is now head-librarian at the Washington Congressional Library. One of her best customers in the research department is Senator Stebbins. It seems that he didn’t get enough reseach work in school, so he goes and sees Grace once in a while. Though she has had several romances, Grace insists on being the old-maid of the class. After leaving Vergennes High School Gwendolyn McGrath stayed at home to raise her little brothers and sisters. Finding her time somehow incomplete she built in her backyard a huge swimming pool where she teaches swimming-in the summer. Between dives she operate a concession there at the pool. During the winter she turns the swimming pool into a skating rink and teaches figure skating. From our last observation some ten years ago she must really cut quite a figure. Marion Moorby took the civil service exam before leaving school and then through good fortune the government offered her a position at a fastgrowing army camp—Fort Dix. New Jersey. Since her invasion of the office, activity and interest have speeded up considerably among her fellow employees. Joyce Tracy attended Castleton Norma! and is teaching 1st grade in the elementary school. She met and married a nice young fellow from Middle-bury and he's employed at Simmonds Benton. Dorothv Jaquith studied as a flutist at the Juillard School of Music for several years. She is teaching now in Oshkosh, Massachusetts, where she instructs an exceotional class of flutists called the “F 1 i m-F 1 a m Flutists.” They Ye a real razzle-dazzle bunch of musicians, too. James McNulla granulated summa cum lousy from the small boys school on the Onion River (St. Michael’s). He chose a career in the music field as a singer and is following closely in the footsteps of Margaret Truman. In the fall, if Harry permits, they will open in a new musical, “Tales of Otter Creek” which will open soon after the close of “Tales of the South Pacific.” Helen Field is one of the best nurses at the Manhattan General Hospital where she works since her graduation from Mary Fletcher Hospital. Of course one of her best patients is George Rose. It seems that he is susceptible to all diseases that come along. His latest and worst one is “heart” trouble. Alma Danyow is still a seaman in the Waves. Poor Alma has had a tough time. They've busted her eight times for doing her famous snake dance in restricted areas. George Moorby joined the army soon after graduation and after five long tedious years rose to the admirable rank of buck private. While serving in the Belgian Congo. George met and married a Ubangi named Bongo-Bongo and now George doesn’t want to leave the Congo. After graduation, Helen Hawkins attended Burlington Business College and took a Junior Accountancy course. She is now employed at the National Life Insurance Building in Montpelier. Florence Poulin is a private nurse in Boston, Mass. Her favorite patients are male. She has a special way of soothing her patients, she either sings or talks to them in French. It seems to have a quieting effect on them, too. Now for myself, I attended Albany Business College and took a secretarial course. I work down at Lake Champlain in the summer, and I am employed at a law office in Burlington in the winter. As I replace this picture to its customary place in my album, I wonder what will happen to our class in the next ten years. Some of our ambitions have been fulfilled, many have yet to be fulfilled, but we feel that we have really made a conquest of the big, wide world which we were warned about. We, (Continued on page 24) ■