Wells High School - Crimson and Gray Yearbook (Southbridge, MA)

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In September of 1949, we superior seniors had the privilege of ridi- culing the freshman, humiliating the sophomores, and ioshing the juniors, lest the ti tle of upper classmen inflate the latter. Led by Raymond Casa- vant, Connie Matys, Kae Hyland and Jimmy Athanas, under the guiding hand of Miss Troy, and the co-operation of the senior class, we set forth on the last year of our high school education. Our first senior activity was the sale of doughnuts during the milk period. Ann Maloney, our selling agent, thanks the early morning appetites of the student body for this source of income to our treasury. After a week of initiating the freshman in a truly brutal fashion, we, along with the sub-upper classmen — the juniors of course — threw a party for the newcomers so they would not be too angry at their treatment during the week. Football season under our new coach, Mr. Paul Duhart, found start- ing positions for many of the seniors. Ken Boland blossomed as quarter- back in the T formation with his magnificent handoffs and accurate passes. The pony backfield and the hard-charging line had plenty of heart. Its excellent season ended by defeating the Green and White 23-6. The Diane Poirier-led band and the cheerleaders-sponsored victory dance added extra festivities to the affair. Our class will always have pleasant memo- ries of the turkey day classic because we triumphed three out of four years. Also in November we put on our senior play, You ' re Only Young Once. No one will forget Gilly ' s mustache or John Fish ' s derby hat. Then, too, Ted Hong ' s rifle, Kae Hyland ' s crown, the love life of Cynthia Mattson and Lord Tolloler Clifford leave pleasant memories of Iolanthe. We also had excellent representation in the Talent Show and Dramatic Club. Because everyone was endowed with the Christmas spirit during De- cember, we decided to run a Christmas Capers dance. Amplified advertis- ing by Harry Chapell was instituted for this affair. The familiar Christ- mas tree, the yuletide atmosphere, and the group singing blended together to form a successful dance. It was during these cold winter months that we appreciated our basketball teams. Gerry Lizotte ' s height, Tarkie ' s set shots, Tom Michael ' s all around play, and Lefty Varin ' s ball handling were very encouraging to Coach Duhart who is still unhappy because Andrea is the last of Periklis whom he will coach. Captain Louise Perron, Wanda Bernard, and the Castruccis were seniors of much value to the female sextet. During this season, our school politicians, Ann Maloney, Gilly Chrisi- kos, Paul Woodbury, and Tom Michael, asked for our support for good government day. Kae Hyland was our D. A. R. representative. This is an opportune time to thank Mr. Arthur Lane for pinch-hitting for Miss Troy during her convalescence. We grinned our prettiest for the class photographer and turned our attention to the class trip. Although some wanted to go to Bermuda and others thought our finances limited us to Washington, Gene Dudek and Ann Maloney, our steering committee, decided upon New York. Norman Dumais, the student manager of the magazine campaign, lorded it over Arthur Coderre, his super salesman. With that money, plus the doughnut sales funds, we finally reached our destination and enjoyed four hectic and educational days. Now, as we await graduation we look back upon the past four years spent here only to realize that, although it may have seemed like a long time, it really wasn ' t. Class Historians Frank Grandone Cynthia Mattson Anne Maloney Jordan Zack

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We must not forget Coach McMahon ' s baseball team because one of our sophomores, Biddy Jalbert, handed Jackie Lonergan of St. Louis High his only defeat in school-boy competition. In addition to Biddy, Frank Kaitbenski and Tarkie Materas helped to bring Wells a successful season. The last notation on the agenda for our sophomore year was the Class Picnic. Although it rained for several days before the picnic, we were very optimistic. After all who would dare to interfere with any plans made by the Class of 1950? The day of the picnic arrived damp, foggy, and rainy. After many class meetings we decided to cancel it, and there was a mad rush to refund money to the students. The year expired on this frantic note, which was overshadowed, how- ever, by the thought that in September we would be full-fledged upper- classmen. JUNIOR YEAR Entering Wells High as seasoned upperclassmen, we Jubilant Juniors understood that we had to buckle down to work ; and we also realized that our junior year was going to be packed full of exciting activities. To guide us through the year we again called upon popular Ray Casavant, with vivacious Connie Matys, ever-teasing Jimmy Athanas, and delight- ful Kae Hyland. Our first important business, choosing the traditional class rings, took a great deal of thought and much controversy. The outcome, how- ever, was pleasing, for on receiving the rings everyone seemed well satis- fied. On Thanksgiving Day, we thoroughly enjoyed our turkey, for the Crimson and Gray proved victorious over the Green and White by a score of 25-0, only accomplished by the able assistance of George Perikli ' s catching many passes, as well as Bill Martin ' s and other brilliant Junior stars ' work. One of the highlights of the year was our successful dance, the Janu- ary Junior Jubilee. Who could ever forget the jitterbugging contest, won not by a member of our class, but by Hugo (and his turtle neck sweater) DeAngelis, who wowed the girls with his peculiar rendition. After mentioning our football team, we must not neglect the basket- ball team, which, with the help of such members of our class as Tarkie Materas and Jerry Lizotte, had a very successful season and played in the Assumption Tournament. Along with the boys we also gave Wanda Ber- nard, Louise Perron, and the Castrucci twins to the girls ' team. After who knows how many Thursday morning sessions with dif- ferent photographers, we unanimously chose our class photographer with hopes we would all be made beautiful. Spring brought the presentation of our class play. Directed by Miss Tait, A Connecticut Yankee, with its beautiful costumes competed with the local Strand ' s movie of the same name. Very successfully helping to make our play a huge success were Jerry (Clarence) Tavernier, who de- lighted the audience with his long black tights, and Red (Sir Lancelot) Coderre. The end of our Junior year brought with it the most outstanding event of the year, the Junior Prom. It is certain that Wilma Swirbliss, Millie George, Ninfa Ricci, and many others saw white paper roses in their sleep long after the eventful evening; and who will forget the last minute dash to Betty Lou Hart ' s house for more flowers to make the chaperone ' s corner entrancing. We helped the seniors on their merry way by decorating for grad- uation week activities. We realized on graduation night that when we next roamed the halls of Mary E. Wells High School, it would be as seniors.

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CLASS WILL We, the class of 1950, in order to form a more perfect union between teacher and student, establish justice in school, insure scholastic tranquili- ty, provide for the general entertainment, promote the students ' welfare, provide and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our former fellow students, (especially for those detention servers and the 8:00 A.M. reporters), do ordain and establish our last will and testament. To Miss Troy, the class of 1950 leaves orchids in gratitude for guiding us through our four most successful years. The class of 1950 assures Mr. Robertson peace, prosperity, and happi- ness now that we are leaving. Period 4 Machine Practice class leaves Miss Howe a happy birthday song at the right time. Arthur Coderre leaves a bushel of apples to Miss Fitzgerald in compen- sation for all the irritation he caused her with his constant changing of his homeroom seat. William Martin leaves his football undershirt to Coach Duhart. Bernadette Baybutt leaves her pull with the Southbridge News publicity department to Miss Tait for the Talent Show of 1950. To Mrs. Adams, the class of 1950 leaves the promise of 103 seniors re- turning for nostalgic reminiscences. Robert Jones leaves his stride to Nelson Horr so he can outrun Charles Cook. In order to aid any sinking Junior, Frank Kaitbenski leaves his water- wings. To compensate for the vast amount of energy that is used by students do- ing homework, Donald Peloquin leaves his meal ticket. Ninfa Ricci leaves her alertness to Thomas Howarth. Stella Bournelas leaves her finger nails so that students under pressure may have something to chew on. Theresa Bourassa leaves her keen smile to Claire Jarry. Norman Dumais leaves his bookkeeping ability to Billy Welch, the Fresh- man treasurer, so that he may know if he and his class are making money. Nancy Bousquet inherits Madelene Proulx ' s sound argumentative quali- ties to help her win debates on women ' s rights. Paul Woodbury inherits Evelyn O ' Donnell ' s cherry red cheeks. To towering Shirley Agard, Lorraine Lucier leaves her diminutive height to elevate Shirley to even greater heights, if possible. Jane Calcutt leaves her numerous A ' s to Louise Tanca in case Louise ever runs out of her own. To Pat Johnson, Marilyn Thompson leaves her sweet smile, to make Pat ' s own smile still sweeter. To Rita Perazzola, Diana DeAngelis leaves her smooth creamy complexion. Irene Clements leaves her piano playing to Richard Knowles to carry on at future assemblies. Nancy Czyzewski leaves a recording of her chatter so that the next year ' s Seniors won ' t be overcome by the stillness in the room. Pat Welch leaves her secret formula for red hair to Jean Nichols who will just love her for it. Gladys Thompson passes on her long-distance phone calls to Colleen McGann. To quiet Barbara Mitchell, Shirley Bruso bequeaths her gift of gab so that Barbara, in turn, may hold an audience enthralled for hours. Barbara Poirier leaves her gay spirit to the future boy or girl who will be elected to the last seat in the last row of 104. Frank Grandone leaves his split second entrances at 8:04% to Frank Deignan.