West Winfield High School - General Yearbook (West Winfield, NY)

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CLASS PROPHECY I had been kicked into the middle of the year 1950. The kick that had put me there would have made I shall not relate the incidents are too personal and retributlve I landed in the middle of 1950. I was, I might just as well look that it would be fun to find out doing. I hired an airplane from any college football punt look sick. leading up to the klck because they for this narrative. As I said before, I decided that as long as I was where around. The thought crossed my mind what my old school chums of l939 were a place that had Nalrplanes to rentu and began a tour of this vast land. I headed East and was soon over the large city of New York. The air traffic was terrific but I finally managed to find a parking space on the Empire State Building which was a midget compared to some of the buildings surrounding it. I allghted from my plane and started in search of a mechanic who could give the plane the once over so that lt would be in good condition when I ret- urnea. A mechanic was walking toward me across the platform. I started talking to him in a business like manner without really looking at him. As'I finished my instructions, I looked at the mechanic and who should I be talking to but Jimmie Murphy. Just then another mechanic in the person of Holly Salisbury came saunterlng up. They told me that they had a very good business repairing planes. Just as I was about to leave, a redheaded girl, beautifully dressed in furs, paused slightly after ascending the stairs to the platform. She commanded her plane in a superclllous tone and when it was whirled over to her, placed herself in it with all kinds of dignity. A long line of people carry- ing numerous bundles, followed her to her plane and disposed of their burdens in the baggage compartment. I thought that pompus person sit- ting in her plane looked very familiar. I started to walk toward the plane to command a closer view, but just at that time, one of the box carriers fell-headlong and the contents of his bpx went flying in all directions. The lady began to laugh and suddenly I knew who she was. There was no mistaking that laugh. There was only like it ln all the world and that belonged to Betty Watkins. I spoke to Betty and she instantly recognized me. It was surprising how she suddenly lost all her dignity and became like she always was, tlttering and amiable. She told me that she was living on a farm QI had no doubt that it was probably an estate! outside of West Winfield with her tall, dark hus- band. She had been shopping for the afternoon in New York. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she flew off in her plane, and I took the elevator to the ground. I went out of the building into the street which, on accountlof the tall buildings, was lighted by artificial sunlight. I bought a paper because I thought it would be fun to see what international affairs were like in 1950. It so happened that the man at the news- paper stand gave me the wrong paper. The paper was not the famous New York Paper I had ordered but a small town paper edited in East Winfield, New York. As I was about to return the paper, my eye ca- ught a name on the front page. Kelly--Frank Kelly. Glanclng upward, I read the title of the featured article of the week, writer of the Editor. It was uln My Oplnionn, by Frank Kelly. One thought crossed my mind. I never knew Kelly wanted to be an editor, but the prof- ession is suitable to him. However, I returned the paper and rec- eived a copy of the one I had ordered. I reserved a room in the Waldorf Astoria. Everything was so modernlstic ln the hotel that I was completely lost upon coming out of my room. As I walked along a maze of tortuous corridors, I became more and more mixed up. Finally, I came to a staircase. I walked down the stairs and enticed a narrow hall. At the end of this hall was a round completely white would have known Nobody seemed to swinging door. I pushed open the door and entered a room. 'Beyond all doubt lt was a kitchen, but I never lt, if it hadn't been for the people working there. notice me much so I decided to look around. I was looking over my shoulder at a man making bread when I bumped into some one. I looked around culckly with apologies all over my tongue, but they were never said because I was too surprised to talk. I was look- ing at Jimmie Doran who was head dish washer at this hotel. Jimmie had to get right back to his work and therefore d1dn't have much time to talk to me. However, he did show me the way out of the hotel. New York had changed so much from the time I last saw it fSen1or

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Cornelia Anne Senif Basketball l,2,3g Library Club lg Sec't Dramatic Club lg Press Club 25 Softball 1 2g Class Sec't 2,3g Chorus Lg Leadership Club 45 HCharm Sch- ooln 45 UEnter the Heron Mg Cheerleader kg Playdays Mg Annual Artist 43 Softball A, Margaret Frances Shermeta Chorus l,2,4g Library Club 2,3. Janet Rebecca Smith Class Pres. lg Vice-Pres. 33 Student Council 25 Basketball 1,2,3g Softball 1,2,1+5 Dram- atic Club lg NCharm Schooln 4- WSingapore Soidern 43 Leader- ship Club 45 Cheerleader kj Three Act Play Contest 43 Snap- shot Edltor of Annual 4. Betty Jane Watkins Vice Pres. lg Dramatic Club lg Basketball Ass't Mgr. 35 'Charm Schoolu 45 Press Club News Editor 45 Archery Club 45 Senior Annual Ass Editor 4. Harriette Welch Library Club l,2. Albert Will F.F.A. l,3g Baseball 3,1+g Basketball ug Football ug Leadership Club 4. we' y

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Trip l939l that I had great difficulty finding my way around. I walk- ed for half an hour with no object in mind. I really hadn't noticed the time as I had been so busy looking at modernized New York. I cont- inued on.my way and suddenly came to a large black and white building which bore the sign 'Cotton Club.n Two people were just standing, looking at the door as if they expected it to open at any moment. I walked up to them with the purpose of asking directions. WPardon me,u I said, but that was as far as I got. The two people were none other than Kilt and Buck. They told me that they were waitors here and were waiting for someone to open the door for them so they could go in. I asked them if they weren't afraid of losing their jobs but they said it didn't matter if they lost their old Jobs. Conversing with them further, I learned that Ralph Griffith was in Texas and I made a men- tal note to stop there on my tour. After getting directions from the boys, I opened the door for them and then continued on my way. I went into one of the larger department stores. As usual I was completely lost. I finally found the women's wardrobe dept. and was cordially and warmly greeted by a charming girl who seemed to be the head of the department. S e had striking blue eyes and ultra upsweep hair do. It took me quite a few minutes to realize I was talking to Helen Colwell. From her I learned that Janet Smith was at the head of the style department in another large New York Store and that she CJanetJ went to the Paris openings twice a year. Helen also said that Janet often encountered there Mildred Sandford who was studying voice culture in Paris. Consulting with Helen further, I learned that Eliz- abeth Kehoe had her own exclusive dress shop on Fifth Avenue. I could imagine that Beth was probably her own best model. I bought a becom- ing l9bO made dress which Helen very efficiently helped me select, and left the store after receiving directions to Beth's shoppe. Arriving at Beth's Shoppe, I was escorted into Miss Kehoe's private office by Margaret Shermeta, Beth's trim and efficient Private Secretary. Beth was so much like her old self that I felt quite at home, even though I was in the midst of ultra modern grandeur. We had a grand time talking about Beth's lucrative business. However, it wasn't long before we were reminiscing. I remembered that Beth and Kathleen Huntley had been very good high school friends and so I in- quired about Kit. It seems that she had realized her life long ambit- ion and was running a beauty salon in Ilion. After being personally conducted through Beth's shopoe, I returned to my hotel, gathered up my few belongings, and started for my plane. I was going to continue my tour of 1950. I headed South with no purpose in mind. I passed several pass- enger planes all of which were decorated by advertising. On several of the ads on these planes I saw a very familiar face. On more cldsely scrutinizing this ad, I recognized the face of Cecelia Christian. Her natural curly eyelashes were advertising mascara and eye make-up. As my plane was speedy and the time went fast, I was soon over Miami, Florida. Never having seen this famous place, I decided to land and look over the future of it. I spent a day and a night exploring Miami. The one startling event that happened to me there, was my sur- prising meeting with Earl Palmer. Earl was running a Drug Store and was doing a very good business. I hadn't any intention of leaving the United States, but Earl said that if I went to Havana, Cuba, I would no doubt run into Joe Horan. As looking up the class of '39 was my primary idea, I went to Cuba. There at the exact snot where Earl had told me I would find him, was Joe Horan doing a Rhumba act in a Havana night club. One couldn't miss that red hair. when Joe had finished his act, he came over to my table, having recognized me before. He told me that dancing was just a side line with him. His main business was running a tobacco farm in the country. Joe was as nice and danced as well as he had in l939. I left Cuba that night and flew most of the night over the Gulf-of Mexico. Just about dawn I landed in a small Texas oil town where I had been told I would find Ralph Griffith. Sure enough, as I walked down the street later in the day, I was confronted by a large sign which boasted of Griffith's Oil Refinery. I found Ralph's private office. Ralph was the exact picture of the industrious, prosperous, business man. He personally conducted me on a tour of his refinery. We were constantly accompanied by a tall, serious looking person. I didn't notice him especially until Ralph called my attention to him. He was Alex Cursh. He was Ralph's private secretary and also his bodyguard. J 1 i 4