Wells River High School - Chatterbox Yearbook (Wells River, VT)

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It was the year 1965. I was just getting out of my mink-lined swim- ming pool at my modern mansion in Fairbanks, Alaska, when my maid brought me a letter. I tore it open quickly, for it was from my dear friend, old schoolmate, and neighbor, Arvilla Boyce, who lived in Glacier Park, 20 miles south of Fairbanks. The letter read as follows: Glacier Park, Alaska June 20, 1965 Dear Harriett: My doctor has ordered me to leave Glacier Park for an indefinite vacation in a very quiet place to prevent an acute nervous breakdown. I have thought this over and am asking you to spend the vacation with me in a place which I know is quiet and peaceful—good old Wells River, Ver- mont! It has been so long since we’ve been there, but we’ve been very successful here by finding uranium, haven’t we? I do hope that your husband won’t mind your going, and will play nursemaid to my five dogs. As my plane is new, bring your’s over here and leave it in my hanger and we can fly to Wells River in mine. Let me know your decision as soon as possible. Your old pal, Windy” I talked Arvilla’s invitation over with my husband at the supper table that evening and he consented — finally — to taking care of Arvilla's dogs, five beautiful, friendly St. Bernards. Immediately following supper, I dictated a letter to my secretary telling Arvilla I would be over the following Monday in my plane ready to go to Wells River. The following Monday I climbed, bag and baggage, into my private plane and in ten minutes I landed in Arvilla's private air field. I left my plane in the hangar and we started merrily off in Arvilla’s. Although we'd probably scare everyone in Wells River half to death, we decided to try to land the plane in the baseball field where Dr. Rowe used to live, for it was the only place that we could think of. On the way Arvilla and I talked over old times and all the hilarious and wonderful times we had had there. We talked over the good old high school days and how we used to irritate the teachers — squirt guns were our specialty. We must have made the local stores quite rich from buying squirt guns for as soon as we would buy them, the teachers would catch us using them and take them away. Then we’d buy another and this process went on endlessly much to the teacher's dismay. What fun! We couldn't wait to get back to peaceful Wells River for our vacation. Finally, we came to a large city — this couldn’t be Wells R 'ver — IMPOSSIBLE! Although some ot the landmarks looked familiar, it was much too large. We radioed into the airport. Yes, it was Wells River and what a change!! Guess where the airport field was? Yes, on the old baseball field. We landed quickly after we had recovered from the shock. The airport was large and airplanes of all types were landing there day and night, from all parts of the world. We looked around in amazement. As we were looking

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name correctly—Ann—rather than Eeanne. Really, Scott, it sounds much better and I think you’ll find it’s easier to say, too. To Barbie Spear, I, Ann Sherwin, will my musical ability to play the clarinet. It’s lots of fun and I’m sure your mother will need you to keep the school orchestra in tip-top condition. I, Walter Bone, will my coin collection to Beth Evans. After all, most of it came out of your candy money. To David, I, Walter Bone, will my pitching skill to retain the stand- ing of the Wells River Baseball Team. I, Bob Murphy, will to Mrs. Gibson all my old Presley records. Now, you can be a cool cat, too. To Brian Andreoletti, Bob Murphy wills all his memories of Bromp- tonville. Think you’ll ever see that green sweater again, Brian? I, Sandy Roberts, will to Judy Evans my ability to get along with Mr. Griffith. Be calm, Judy, and he might give in someday. To George Murphy. I. Sandv Roberts, will mv abilitv to keep gum in my mouth all through English Class without chewing it. That way you don’t get into so much t-ouble. I, Teenie Kaiser, will to Ramon Andreoletti my pony tail. Now you can wear it down. I, Teenie Kaiser, will to Roeer Grenier mv alligator pocketbook. Now you can study it in detail and decide who it really looks like. I, Ted Clark, will to Ramon Andreoletti mv ability to ski. Just don’t try to stop the way I did. I, Ted Clark, will to Perl Tobin mv checkerboard. Now you won’t have to spend your noon hours chasing Wayne Gonyer around with a squirt gun. We, the Senior, will to all the other classes our ability to raise money. Then you could enjoy a trip to New York, too! Witnessed by: Virginia Henderson, Mary Rowe Signed by: Amalia Homeister ’57 Christine Kaiser ’57 24

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around the airport, I saw a rich looking couple waiting by the runway for their plane, probably. The woman was dressed in a black satin suit, mink coat and was wearing diamonds galore. Beside her on a leash were two big, black French poodles. The man was smartly dressed also. I pointed the couple out to Arvilla as they looked familiar, but I couldn't seem to place them. Oh,” said Arvilla, It's Mr. and Mrs. Spear!” We immediately ran over to the couple and sure enough it was. They told us that Mrs. Spear had won $1,000,000 on The Current Event’s Quiz and that she and Mr. Spear were going on their long awaited trip to Europe for four years. We talked for about ten minutes and then their plane arrived. We said good-bye and wished them an exciting trip. No sooner than we had seen the Spears off than a bright red taxi cab zoomed up in front of us and came to an abrupt screeching stop, nearly knocking us over. Iaxi, ladies?” said a dreamy voice, as the taxi driver leaped out of the cab. Why, it was Bob Murphy, an old class mate of ours back in W. R. H. S. We quickly got into the cab, and asked him to take us to our hotel. As we rode along, Bob told us that he and his wife, Sally, and their two sons had just recently moved to Wells River for the summer. He had previously graduated from U. V. M. and was earning enough money to go to Princeton in the fall and get a masters degree. What a driver! I don't see how he could manage to talk and drive at the same time for he went like he was trying to break a speed record — through red lights, around policemen, and in and out of traffic. We managed to reach the hotel safely, however, and paid Bob, and with shaky knees walked into the hotel. In the hotel lobby as we were registering, I noticed a woman who looked familiar. She was wearing a black tailored suit and coat and a large broadbrimmed hat and dark glasses — obviously she didn’t want to be recognized. I knew I should know the woman, but I couldn’t get a good enough look at her with the dark glasses and hat that she wore. Finally it hit me — why yes! It was Mali Homeister, another W. R. H. S. classmate of mine. Arvilla and I immediately got up and went over and said, Hi Hamster, her favorite nickname in high school. Then came a jam session that lasted for hours. She explained that she was traveling incognito for she didn’t wish to be bothered with any autograph hounds. She had become a world renowned author after writing her two famous books, INCIDENT IN A DOWNBEAT SOUTH RYEGATE SALOON and MY ADVENTURES AND FRIENDS IN THE GANGSTER UNDERWORLD. We talked until supper time, and then went up to our rooms. As it was time for supper, Arvilla and I washed up, and decided to go out for sup- per. We thought that we’d go to the Happy Hour where we always used to hang out as kids. We went to where it USED to be — what a change!! It had been enlarged nearly ten times, and the front was gold covered. We were ushered to one of the front tables and sat down and ordered. The floor show was just starting and it featured none other than Tcenie Kaiser or Tessie,” THE GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN VOICE. Teenie had become a famous singer and she told us, as we talked after her grand per- formance, that she had been offered a part in the movie, SHAKY SLEEVES co-starring Elvis Presley. Lucky girl! A talent scout had discovered her at the famous Happy Hour” while she was waiting on tables and singing for her father, who owned it. As Arvilla and I left the Happy Hour, we decided it was time to go to bed. The day had been so full of exciting events. We were so tired that we fell asleep in no time at all, and woke up bright and early the next morning, ready to see the sights. The first thing we decided to do was to take a look at old W. R. H. S. FI WAS GONE!! On the site where it used to stand was one of the most modern schools I’d ever seen. It was breathtaking, believe me. It was what both Arvilla and I had dreamed we might attend some day, but never did. As we left the new school and started walking downstreet, we noticed a man on crutches coming from the opposite direction. Arvilla said to me, Remember how Ted 26