Westerly High School - Westlyan Yearbook (Westerly, RI)

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The Senior Year Book— 1933 Wishing our Prom to be a success, we immediately selected two committees, and how they worked! For a fortnight the most important questions, disregarding even such weighty matters as Chemistry, Latin, and French, were “Are you going to the Prom ?” and “What are you going to wear?” It is said that the morning after the dance, Miss Endicott was forced to turn her stenography class into a social gathering to discuss such intriguing subjects as new romances, the costumes of the fair damsels, and the Senior Adonises who had danced with them. A short time later, another honor was accorded us when Marcelle Hammond won second place in the Prize Speaking Contest. The following weeks, much to our surprise, we were treated with a trifle more respect by the Seniors. In explanation of this unheard of conduct on their part, we were reminded of the reception given each year by the Juniors to the Seniors. Of course you remember what a success this reception proved to be. Even more significant, that night we were lifted from the category to which children are assigned. In the fall of ’32, we approached our beloved institution of learning, assuming the title of “Grand Old Seniors.” How pleasing that name and honor—the realization of the fairest dreams of our Freshman days! We feel certain that everyone has noticed at one time or another, the extreme propriety which has characterized our deportment throughout the year. All has been quiet and correct; we have been models of Senior dignity and, for the better fulfillment of our duties, have kept in close touch with our faculty. It is indeed with a certain degree of justifiable pride that we think of our success in our many undertakings. Following the time-worn custom, we held the first class meeting of the year and elected the following officers: President, Ernest Fulford; Vice President, Bessie Taylor; Secretary, Eleanor Hoxie; Treasurer, Joseph Ruisi. Early in the fall we were allowed to hold our Prom. We were nothing if not original in our decorations, the hall being J5 ■■J made to simulate a football field with goal posts, footballs, and banners gathered from all the colleges and schools of renown, including, of course, our own W. H. S. About Christmas time, the machinery for the Senior Play was put in motion, an event which caused great excitement and confusion. Without doubt, “Little Women” was the best play ever given by a Westerly High School Senior class. How could it be otherwise with such all star casts and such a splendid coach as Miss Stanton? We shall never forget Julia Tamer’s impressive acting and Arnold Austin’s ability to adopt the German language as his own. During the year a large group responded to the insistent call of athletics. Football came first, and in the end three of our members were awarded sweaters for participating in sports for four years. Pat Sposato, Joe Ruisi, and Wally Lamb were given the distinction of being the first to wear the new white sweaters with the blue W’s. In track we were represented by Dove and Booth; in baseball by Lamb, Larkin, Ruisi, and Johns. To the Student Council we sent Harold Edmond as President, Grace Bliven as Secretary, and Marcelle Hammond, Ernest Fulford, William Thompson, and Dorothy Berry as other representatives. Our class selected as its motto: Vin- cet qui se vincit—He conquers, who conquers himself. One day this spring we were very much excited by the news that the pictures of the class were to be taken immediately. This was a difficult task, for our group is very large, of an unquiet disposition, and extremely adverse to sitting still; yet we really succeeded in having our picture taken. Thus, with our graduation plans, we bring to a close our four years at Westerly High School. But before our departure may we leave these few words with the inferior classes? Juniors, when you come back next year, don’t be dignified. We have been so very proper (with the exception of class meetings and other trivialities) that people want a change. Sophomores, you have been pretty good, ii }S

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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 )§•—

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The Senior Year Book— 1933 considering; in fact, almost too good, but keep it up for variety’s sake. Now, as we come before the public for our farewells, it is indeed amusing to look back over the four years’ experiences. All the dances, trips to out-of-town games, slips to the office, and various other hilarious adventures will long be remembered when more important matters should absorb our attention. Even the greatest minds must have their lighter moments. Thus, if it so happens that we have left with you any impression of frivolity or pettiness, we have only to refer you for the more serious facts in which you may be interested to the high school office, where our marks are permanently recorded. By Eleanor Hoxsie and Bessie Taylor (Eliusa Mill AS Executor of the Class of 1933, the privilege and solemn duty of announcing officially their last will and testament falls on me. Since I can scarcely view the document without tears, I am obliged to put on my spectagoggles in order to proceed with this weighty and important business. We, the Class of 1933, being entirely sane, well balanced, and reliable, hereby formulate, promulgate, and asseverate this our last will and testament, declaring null and void all similar records formerly concocted by us. Being of a convivial, hypercritical, incredible, hypochondriac, hysterical, and inconsistent disposition, we do hereby distribute such various and sundry cherished possessions and keepsakes as shall be left after we leave this mundane abode. Item I: We, the Class of 1933, bestow the following warnings on the incoming Sophomores: 1. Never usurp the Seniors’ prerogative of wandering through the halls. 2. Beware of the Seniors’ nefarious hobby of collecting yellow slips for tardiness. The results of that practice are anything but pleasant. 3. If you value your life, avoid chewing gum in the presence of Miss Mclntire. 4. Do not use school desks for waste baskets or art galleries. They have other more important functions. Item II: On the girls of the Sophomore Class, the maidens of the Senior Class confer their cherished secret by means of which they have been able to make themselves so attractive as to earn the title “The Fair Charmers.” Item III: To our compatriots, the Juniors, we leave our sagacious warning not to follow the popular practice of attempting to do all things at one time, and accomplishing none. It doesn’t pay to be a jack of all trades and master of none. Item IV: To Miss Laura E. Mclntire and Miss Sibyl H. Leach, respectively, we donate a sufficient residue of our fortune to purchase a 1933 Baby Austin, wishing that our resources were ample enough to provide them with full grown cars. Item V: I, Frank Cappuccio, having been duly intrusted to compile and establish this our last will, do hereby denominate and bequeath the sequent personal belongings of the members of the Class of 1933 to the members of the Junior and Sophomore Classes. 1. We, Elizabeth Whalen and Albert Vitterito, leave our terpsichorean agility to Arline Kellar and Julius Wein. 2. We, Rose Pellegrino, Angeline Tro-vato and Beatrice Nardone, bequeath our melodious and extraordinary voices to the W. H. S. chorus. 3. We, Frank Celestino and Dominic 12 JjM-