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

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26 VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL Clark and Lucille Wood. Helen Hawkins, Marion Moorby, George Moorby and Edmund Atkins had charge of the lighting. The services of all these committees proved very valuable. Gwen McGrath Class of ’51 CLASS POEM As we look back across the years— The years so swiftly flown. We see the treasures they have brought. Which truly are our own. Gladly we’ve studied without complaint Through many a tedious day, Endeavoring to absorb deep inspiration To broaden and brighten life’s way. We live again the years gone by Realizing our work is just begun, And ever bright in memory keep The class ties of Fifty-one. Alan Russett Class of ’51 CLASS HISTORY (Continued from page 19) For a fitting climax to this most memorable year we held a picnic at Bayside. where a good time was enjoyed by all. The senior year got under way by electing the following class officers: President, James McNulla; Vice-President. Helen Field; Secretary, Elaine French; Treasurer, James Hanna. On November 22, we held our Senior Play, a three act comedy “We Shook the Family Tree,” which, under the direction of Miss Moulton was a great success. Everyone in the class contributed to the producing of the play. We journeyed to Burlington on November 21 to see “Hamlet,” starring Laurence Olivier, and later in the year we had the opportunity to see the movie “Macbeth.” Since we had just finished the play of Macbeth, this movie was very interesting to us. Orson Welles did a splendid job in portraying the title role. To raise money in our senior year we sold soft drinks and candy at all of the home basketball games. The former patrol room was converted into a concession room, an electric refrigerator was installed, and we were able to sell candy and soda at recess, also. We sold Christmas cards and wrappings to defray the expenses of our trip to Montreal to see the “Ice Follies” on February 4. We journeyed to Montpelier on March 28. We were shown through the National Life Insurance Building and the activities of the various departments were explained to us by the guide. We visited the House of Representatives and watched the procedure while they were in session. We also went through the museum of the Vermont Historical Society. Helen Field was chosen as Good Citizenship Girl from the Senior class, and was also chosen to visit the United Nations. Many of the seniors have participated iti the music, sports, and patrol activities. We have all enjoyed our period of education at Vergennes High School and hope we have contributed as much to it as we have received from it. Our appreciation and thanks go to our teachers who have helped us through our four years here. Sidney Barnard ’51 A GLANCE FORWARD As graduation time draws near, We think of all those seniors “dear” Who are ready to leave old V.H.S. And begin the career which they think best. The teachers will be relieved, I guess, But as a junior, I must confess That we are just as noisy. I fear As those seniors whom we’ll replace next year. Joyce Larrow ’52.

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BLUE AND WHITE 25 SENIOR PLAY The night of November 17, 1950, brought to the senior class the culmination of weeks of studying lines, days of painting scenery and lugging furniture. At precisely 8:20 the house lights dimmed, the curtain slowly ascended, and the audience got the first glimpse of the Senior play, “We Shook The Family Tree.” This rollicking play kept the audience laughing from that moment on. Hildegarde Dolson, played by Gwen McGrath, is desperately anxious to attract some eligible male for the dance Saturday night. For, in the words of Hildegarde, “It's almost Saturday night and no one has even hinted.” She wins the school debate with an impassioned plea against drinking, but instead of attracting the boys, she succeeds in convincing everyone her father is a drunkard. Sympathetic women call her mother (Carolyn Cowles) and ask if Father (Jack Stebbins) beats them very often and one even suggests sending him to Alcoholics Anonymous. Despite all this Mother realizes Hilde-garde’s plight and decides to take action in procuring for her a date for the big dance. Mother says she knows one of the nicest boys in town and immediately goes off to call him. Of course Hildegarde is in ecstasy at the thought of going to the dance. Using her vivid imagination she tells her friends. Ellie-Mav and Jill (Alma Danyow and Marion Moorby) about her “secret admirer.” She really exaggerates, the result making her secret admirer sound better than a Broadway idol. Poor Hildegarde ! How could she know that the boy Mother had called was Freddie (Jim McNulla), the only boy in school who wears knickers. In a screamingly funny scene. Hildegarde finds out the truth in front of everyone. She pleads with her father to break the date, but Father is mad, for everyone is convinced now that he is a drunkard. Furthermore. Freddie is the son of his boss, Mr. Schermer, and it would be best not to antagonize him further. Meanwhile, Hildegarde has given a little girl she was supposed to watch. (Helen Field), some envelopes to play mailman with. But the envelopes that get distributed to all the neighbors turn out to be her father's old love letters to her mother. That settles it! Hildegarde can expect no mercy from her folks and she’s in despair. Hildegarde reads about Beauty Mud and sends her sister (Elaine French) out to buy some, in hopes that it will help her to cause a stag-line stampede. While all this has been happening. Father has invited Mr. and Mrs. Schermer (Alan Russett and Dot J acjuith) over to tea in an attempt to prove to him that he has a very normal familv. While they are there Hildegarde rushes in, her face covered with beauty mud. screaming that there is a “bass in the bathtub.” Her brother Jimmy (Roger Gibeault) has placed it there in want of a better place to keep it after he had caught it. Of course the boss is shocked. Then Freddie bursts in wearing long pants. He has borrowed them from Hildegard’s brother Bob (Jimmy Hanna) without his knowing it. Then her brother rushes in and tackles Mr. Schermer, thinking that he is Freddie. This really looks like the end but of course everything comes out a'l right. Freddie gets a new suit by selling his graduation present, a watch, and he and Hildegarde finally leave for the dance. The seniors could not have produced the plav without the able direction of Miss Moulton. We also wish to express our thanks to Mr. LaPorte for the use of the furniture. Those who did not have roles in the play, served behind the scenery by helping to make the actual production possible. Francis Hoose acted as stage manager. Roger Gibeault. George Rose and Grace Hawkins handled the advertising. The properties were in charge of Alan Russett. Sidney Barnard and Regina Yattaw. Costumes and make-up were in charge of Joyce Tracy, Janice

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BLUE AND WHITE 27 STUDENT VOTE Most Popular Girl..........Helen Field Most Ambitious Girl........Helen Field Cutest Girl ..............Janice Clark Best Looking Girl .......Florence Poulin Biggest Wolfess....................Alma Danyow Best Sport.................Helen Field Quietest Girl ..........Helen Hawkins Most Cooperative G;rl......Helen Field Best Personality........Dorothy Jaquith Best Dancer....................... Alma Danyow Wittiest Girl ....Gwendolyn McGrath Most Studious Girl ........Helen Field Least Studious Girl.........Alma Danyow Best Disposition...........Joyce Tracy Most Likely to Succeed.....Helen Field Least Conceited .......... Helen Field Best Dressed Girl.........Elaine French Most Popular Boy...........James Hanna Most Ambitious Boy.........James Hanna Best Looking Boys, John Stebbins, James McNulla Biggest Wolf ...........James McNulla Best Sport ..............James Hanna Quietest Boy ..........Sidney Barnard Most Cooperative Boys, Francis Hoose, James Hanna Wittiest Boy ............John Stebbins Best Personality........James McNulla Best Dancer .............John Stebbins Most Studious Boy......Sidney Barnard Least Studious Boy.........George Rose Best Disposition..................James Hanna Most Likely to Succeed...James Hanna Least Conceited..........Francis Hoose Biggest Flirt...........James McNulla Best Dressed Boy.........John Stebbins FACULTY VOTE Most Popular Girl.........Helen Field Most Ambitious Girl...Marion Moorby Cutest Girls,....Janice Clark, Helen Field Best Looking Girl....Florence Poulin Most Likely to Succeed....Helen Field Best Sport........Gwendolyn McGrath Quietest Girl ....... Helen Hawkins Most Cooperative Girl ..Marion Moorby Best Disposition..........Helen Field Wittiest Girl....Gwendolyn McGrath Most Popular Boy......James McNulla Most Ambitious Boy.....John Stebbins Best Looking Boys, James McNulla, John Stebbins Biggest Wolf...........Jolm Stebbins Most Likely to Succeed....James Hanna Best Sport .............James Hanna Quietest Boy .........Francis Hoose Most Cooperative Boy.....George Rose Best Disposition......Sidney Barnard Wittiest Boy ..........John Stebbins THE NEED FOR A HIGHER EDUCATION In our great grandfather’s time the only education needed was reading, 'ritirg and ’rithmetic. The only reading in the earlier time of America was the BIBLE and PILGRIM’S PROGRESS and a few letters that were oc-casionallv received. The ’riting was for keeping in contact with friends and keeping journals. The ’rithmetic was for adding and subtracting accounts at the general store. In our grandfather’s time an eighth grade education was necessary. If a person had successfully completed the