Westerly High School - Westlyan Yearbook (Westerly, RI)

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The Senior Year Book— 1933 (ClasH ijiatory BECAUSE of the large number of pupils and the remarkable and varied achievements of the Westerly High School Class of 1933, the members found it necessary to choose two historians to compile the story of their past. For months Professor Taylor and I, engaging in the most exhaustive research, have been delving into the school archives and unearthing mysterious and awful secrets. Probably no such learned document as we have produced has ever before been brought to the attention of an audience. Thus I will now unfold to you a continuous, systematic record of school events for the years 1930-1931 and my eminently learned collaborator, Miss Bessie Taylor, B. U. M., will narrate the last two years’ events. To facilitate matters, the first secretary we elected had the misfortune to drop his watch and, since it stopped, he was unable to fulfill his duty of recording the minutes. A meeting was called to decide whether to give him a new watch to go by or to give him the “go by.” As there were but thirteen cents in the treasury, we voted it would be unlucky to buy a new watch. In spite of this unhappy incident and sundry similar drawbacks, we finally succeeded in overcoming all obstacles, and are proud to present the following scholarly account: When the organization now known as the Class of ’33 first descended on the venerable quiet of Westerly, few, if any, of its members had the slightest idea as to what would befall them. Our first sensations were of awe and dread. Everyone we met seemed to be a personage of great importance. The disdainful smiles that greeted us from every quarter kept us fully aware of the humiliating fact— our utter insignificance. But in spite of all this, our great desire was for knowledge, and the studious life we then led helped us to forget our youth and unimportance. How far this most laudable desire has been realized we do not dare to say, but assembly lectures and other sad experiences have taught some lessons we expect to retain. Early in the fall the Senior girls, acting as the hostesses of the high school, stooped from their lofty Mt. Olympus to mingle with the Freshmen at a party which they had planned for us. In order to proclaim to the world our lowliness and ignorance, they required us to don huge green hair ribbons, although we maintained they were not being worn in the more fashionable circles at that time. We were served, as refreshments, animal crackers and punch, since heavier food was deemed inadvisable for our childish digestions. The boys, not to be outdone, decided that being unable to attend the party, they would have to receive their exercise elsewhere, and immediately proceeded to the High Street Athletic Field where they threw themselves bodily into the strife. Imagine our amazement, the following day, to see such iron men as Patsy Sposato, Earl Larkin, and Joe Ruisi hobble into class with multiple bruises and lacerations. It was noticed that the number of football candidates decreased nightly during the following week. Heroically, however, we managed to conquer our peculiar difficulties, and at the conclusion of our first class meeting, we were like all other Freshmen—it would have taken a lengthy fishpole to reach us. We elected at our gathering the following officers: President John Scanlon Vice President Arlene Keller Treasurer Beatrice Lowry Secretary - Joseph Ruisi These chosen few were like guiding stars throughout the trials and tribulations of our Freshman life. Although there were many drawbacks during the year, “all’s well that ends well” and leaving the high school in the custody of Mr. Maxwell and his black cat, we enjoyed a much needed vacation. One bright September day we returned - 9 -

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The Senior Year Book— 193.1 Aiiftrpaa - (Ulaaa Nuiht E Class of 1933 wishes to extend to you a most cordial and hearty welcome to this last evening of joy and frolic together as members of dear old Westerly High. To the citizens of Westerly we desire to express our gratitude for their interest in our undertakings, both social and scholastic, and for their support of our class throughout its rather stormy trip through High School life. Tomorrow is graduation day for the Class of 1933. Many of us will go forth into the world of business; others will seek a higher education; but whichever path is chosen, the wise teachings and advice of our faculty members will provide us with our first firm stepping-stone to success. Graduation is what we have striven for through the four years of our High School life, but now that our goal is reached, a sense of sorrow and regret has fallen upon us because we must leave these worn old halls and the many happy associations that bind us to them. Though we go forth into the turbulent stream of Life, the many joyful memories and the strong, enduring friendships we have formed will attend us and help to protect us from the disillusionments that must inevitably be ours. No pleasanter wish can be expressed than that our future years may be as happy as those we have spent in Westerly High. But enough of the gloomy side of graduation ! We shall forthwith put it from our minds and enter upon an evening of fun and revelry. The highlights of our illustrious class will be revealed to you by two world-renowned historians considered worthy of this singular honor. A noted seer and prophet has been secured at great expense to reveal what the future holds in store for each of us. After months of deliberation, a celebrated lawyer has drawn up our last will and testament and it is his solemn duty, this evening, to break the seal of the weighty and important document and proclaim it to all present. A benevolent philanthropist has announced that he will give tonight, to each member of the class, a rare and costly gift. Half of his enormous fortune has been expended upon these marvelous objects, the appropriateness of which we will let you judge. I will now yield my place to these various important personages, that they may tell you of the many original deeds of the Class of 1933. —ERNEST FULFORD. -4 8 4-

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The Senior Year Book— 1933 as Sophomores, conscious that we had “crossed the awful chasm to borrow Milton’s phrase. Of course it devolved on ’33 to teach the Freshmen (the last to enter Westerly High School under that significant title) a few necessary things: respect for upper classmen, obedience to faculty, and appreciation of their new home. These simple instructions caused our fortunate pupils to look up to us with considerable awe. In fact, the respect for the upper classes was much more apparent then than now. We humbly suggest that a little improvement in this direction would not be out of order. Having been fully introduced, the preceding year, into the mysteries of a class meeting, we were allowed to hold the first one of the new season. At this time Harold Edmond was elected to lead the class. Other officers were Vice President, Marion Walton; Treasurer, Edgar Tobin. Jr.; Secretary, Bessie Taylor. Soon after this, members were chosen for Student Council. Our President represented the class and our Secretary was made Press Agent. In spite of the fact that the football, baseball, and track teams were composed mainly of the upper classmen, our own athletes, by their energy and work, succeeded in making a place for themselves on the second team. Although the Sophomore year is usually the quietest of the four in high school, one important event took place, the choosing of our class rings. Naturally the masculine portion of the class admired one ring while the feminine preferred another; therefore, like good Henry Clays, we compromised and selected a ring which, wonderful to relate, was entirely agreeable to both. We are proud to record that during our Sophomore year one of our members received first award in the Prize Speaking Contest, Miss Julia Tamer being selected as the girl whose delivery was the most commendable. Thus our second year ended in glory! We returned to school the next fall feeling more worldly-wise than when we left it, for were we not Juniors? In our own minds, we were far removed from the class which had left the school the preceding June as Sophomores. We had mag- nificent plans for the future. Being assured by Mr. Mason and the faculty that no group, however superior, could accomplish anything without leadership, we held a class meeting and chose as our officers: Frank Cappuccio, President; Lola Matarese, Vice President; Beatrice Nar-done, Treasurer; Beatrice Lowry, Secretary. In this way we assured ourselves that we would be able to complete our year’s work successfully. That year many new clubs were organized and, as befitted Juniors, we were allowed to send representatives to the Student Council. We were pleased to note, when group pictures for the Commencement Senior were taken, that among the members of the council appeared Jessie Smith, Samuel Deutsch, Harold Edmond, Frank Cappuccio, and Patsy Sposato. During the football season we were amazed to see the work done by our classmates. Coach Rogers was using Bill Thompson as an end on the first team and Joe Ruisi and Pat Sposato as substitutes. We regret that Bill’s injuries on the football field made it impossible for him to carry on his good work. At the end of the season, “Pat” was elected captain of the 1933 team. New material began to appear in other sports at this time, among the most prominent candidates being Ernie Fulford, Ted Booth, and Noonie Gin-gerella. The Senior Board, fearing that we would fail in our endeavor if they allowed us to publish a magazine the following year without any experience, voted to nominate a Junior staff. Miss Eleanor Sullivan was given the honor of being our editor-in-chief. As an aid to us in our work the members explained the duty of each department. How heavily the responsibility weighed upon our shoulders! Immediately we set about publishing our own issue and were deeply gratified, the last of April, to see the finished product before us in black and white. Everyone can imagine how dismayed we were when it was announced that if we did not raise the account to our credit in the bank, we would not be allowed to hold a Prom. From then on, hoarding was stopped. Money flowed in from all sides and one glorious day our treasurer told us that we had the necessary amount. - S{ io )§•—