Whitman High School - Spotlight Yearbook (Whitman, MA)

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T H E Y E A R B O O K 1 9 4 0 VWKDQJQEQJQZQJWZQJQJDQQJQWDQJWKEQJQZIQJWKDQJOKDQJQVDVWZQJQWD are developed by these sports, for this is shown every day all around us. Another example of ambition was a patriotic assembly presented in April. With no other re- ward than the knowledge that they were helping the school, Mary Tirrell and Priscilla Chapman wrote and delivered patriotic essays to a packed hall. But this is only one instance. Everyone in our class has had a chance to help the class at least once a year, and in every case each one has come through with flying colors. Our class is really to be congratulated instead of being made the subject of derogatory remarks by persons with unfair prejudices, but even more proof of our ability can be introduced. To almost anyone, even the writing of a contest essay is a most difficult task. But when the Ellen Conway Spellman Prize Contest was announced, Louise Goss, a member of our class, responded immediately by writing and delivering an essay which took second prize, the first prize having been won by a Senior. This does not show lack of industry. As dances are the major social activities of any class, our dances served to supply us with a bot- tomless source of evidence of the talent, clever- ness, and perseverance of every member of our class. For an example, on October 20, 1939, we presented a Harvest Dance at which the decora- tions displayed were so brilliant, impressive, and authentic as to draw words of admiration from the dancers and guests. One cannot realize the amount of time and energy expended in preparing the decorations for such a dance unless he has served on one of these committees. To present one of these dances the committees must have originality, industry, imagination, good taste, and skill com- bined. Another instance in which great industry and concentration are needed was the Senior Class Play, The Right Mr. Wright, which was pre- sented on December 20. For weeks the members of the cast met and rehearsed, in order to insure the greatest performance ever given. A very large proportion of the varsity football squad came from our Senior Class, among them Leslie Holbrook, Fred Carey, Tommy Kelley, Robert Lynch, and Donald Perkins, who showed courage and intelligence of the highest degree in the various games. Without these boys, a success- ful football team could never have been produced by Coach Etelman. Furthermore, their school marks testified that they did not allow sports to interefere with their school curriculum. In March, Mr. Bayley assigned the two gradua- tion essays to Priscilla Chapman and Mary Tirrell, and the rest of the Class Day and Graduation honor parts to the other highest ranking students. This showed that at least our principal and our teachers approved of our receiving diplomas at graduation and consider that we have done our work satisfactorily. From these facts it is easy to see that, contrary to these accusations made against us, we were one of the most industrious, intelligent classes that it is possible to assemble in a public high school. We have proved that we do not lack talent, we do not lack ability, we do not lack studious concentration, and, still being human, we can rightfully declare ourselves to be the acme of educational success and well deserving of the diplomas offered to us by the high school. ..1. emi., Class Advisers To our Class Advisers, Mrs. Payton and Mr. Smith, who have given us unlimited aid in all our undertakings, do We, the Class of 1940, with grateful acknowledgment, extend our heartfelt thanks. OUR ALMA MATER

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O'oVoV ovovovovov QVQVQVQVQVQVQVQVQVovovovovoVo oVo o o',TVo ' 'o o o'o'o'o'o , 4 ' CLASS l'll5 l OR! ' O .1X.1X.1X.A.A.1X.,X.1K. AoAoAo,,o,o,o,Qg,o,o,o,o,o,o,o,o,og.o,o By Catherine Hynes and William Tirrell Our freshman year is the first proof of our abil- ity, for many of us took the most difficult fresh- man subjects. Within a week we were fully acclimated to the intricate school routine, show- ing that our standard of intelligence is very high. All during that year we applied ourselves industri- ously to our studying as this was the most import- ant year for the laying of the foundation of our future success. We held no social functions this first year at which to demonstrate our originality, but spent our time establishing ourselves as one of the best behaved and most studious classes ever to enter the school. Proof of this is found in the honor roll which contained a greater number from our class than from any other. After a necessary vacation of two months in which many of the class Worked to gain experience for future use, the Class of 1940 returned on Sep- tember 8, 1937, to settle down again to learning as much as possible. Wasting no time, we held an election in which James Carey was chosen presi- dentg Fred Carey, vice-presidentg Lucy Conway, secretary: and Adele Bearce, treasurer. All of these officers were chosen for their outstanding ability and character, which we consider the im- portant factors of success. Some time later, in November, the whole school was entertained by certain capable members of our class, among them Lucy Conway and Bernard Saftler, who demonstrated the enormous advances made in the school toward public speaking. Is it possible that students with no ambition-as it has been stated we are-could spend all their available leisure time in preparing a program such as this? The answer is obvious. For a further example of ambition, on Janu- ary 28, our class presented its only dance of this school year. Because of the loyal and tireless efforts of everyone connected in any way with the various committees, this dance was a pronounced a social and financial success. With no experience at all in this kind of work, the committees suc- ceeded in establishing a record for good entertain- ment. Does that sound like laziness? What if an hour or two a week was spent at a soda fountain? It is an established fact that everyone must have some recreation, and we are certainly no excep- tion. Also, a large number from our class spent their afternoons at various club meetings in school, such as the Photography Club and the Literary Club. Most certainly this cannot be laziness, for, although natural talent and ability play a major part in these clubs, hours of hard work in research and study are consumed at each meeting. Starting in January, several boys and girls be- gan to practice two, three, and even four after- noons every week to obtain the physical coordina- tion necessary to take part in the gym exhibition presented annually in March. Nearly every good characteristic known is needed to last out these three months of intense training which is always appreciated in later life. Certainly, these pupils cannot be called lazy. Naturally, as many of these activities mentioned are extra-curricular, they received only a minute part of our school year. It is needless to record the weeks upon weeks of steady applied concentration to our routine of studies. At the end of this, our Sophomore year, the only class that had more pupils on the honor roll than we did was the Senior Class. This is another proof that we are capable of doing good work. If enough examples illustrating the fitness of our class to receive diplomas have not been cited, many more are as easily obtained. On September 21 of the new fall term of 1938 an altogether new set of class officers was elected, notably among them Thomas Beland who has remained our presi- dent from that day till now. He, certainly, must be ambitious to undertake the innumerable duties of such an office for two years. The other officers were Mary Reed, vice-president, James Carey, treasurerg and Norma Kirby, secretary. Becoming better and better equipped to handle everyday problems, our class officers began to de- velop methods of treating social affairs systematic- ally, in order to save much time in the future. They agreed to co-operate completely and to in- vestigate fully orchestras to be obtained for our dances. These methods were tested at our Junior Dance and proved such a success that all social functions are governed by them. Extraordinary intelligence is needed to put over new ideas, whether in school or business life, and our class succeeded. A Tri-Town Contest was held in 1939 sponsored by the American Legion which offered prizes for the best essays written about the Armistice. Stu- dents from the three towns, Abington, Rockland, and Whitman competed and Anne Lincoln, a mem- ber of our class, received second prize. This cer- tainly shows that we have brilliant and energetic people in our class. There were several candidates from our class for the varsity football, baseball, and basketball teams this year, among them surely a high per- centage of coming stars. It is unnecessary to state what perseverance, aggressiveness, and initiative

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xf'N1x!Y xfi if-Nfxa O'oVo VovovovovovovovovQVQVQVQVQVQVovovovo o 0 QVQV Vovo Q evo 0 0 lo . O Q 4 A'A'A',x'1x',x'.x',x'.x'A9,x',x'A'.x'.x',x' x'.x'.x..x .x'.Q By Ruth Shuleubzngg and Frank Sweeney We, the prophets of the Class of 1940, consider the charge of lack of ambition absurd, ridiculous, and even outrageous. The evidence which we are here to present will, we are certain, prove con- clusively the absolute unfairness of such an accusation. To you, Your Honor, and you, conscientious, up- right, and fair-minded members of the Jury, we present this book in which each Senior during the year of 1939-1940 set forth his most cherished ambition, his aim in life. In addition to all this, we have submitted the book to the infallible machine, the Futur-o-scope, which scientifically examines all prophecies and predictions and declares them true or false. The seal of the Futur-o-scope on each and every one of these ambitions attesting to their validity fully disproves and denies lack of ambition. We, the prophets of 1940, carefully examined this book and we now give to you an accurate sum- mary of these ambitions. With them as a basis, we draw for you a picture of our town fifteen years from now. Many are the changes which the ambi- tions and energies of the Class of 1940 have brought about. And now, Whitman on June 8, 1955 . . . 4: :z: 1: HF Occupying the entire block from Temple Street to School Street is the main office of Conlon Gar- ages, Inc., with William Conlon as its prosperous, pioneering president and the once sleepy but now wide-awake and energetic James Howard as vice- president. Vernon Churchill, sales-manager, must daily check on the activities of over two hundred salesmen. The duties of chief accountant are handled capably and efficiently by Thomas Beland. President Conlon is envied for the accuracy of his office force, which includes statisticians Pauline LeFc1t and Edna Bureau. C. P. A. Howard Lincoln, on his annual tour of inspection, congratulates the office staff on the flawless condition of the books. Catching the progressive spirit of the Whitman of 1955, chemists William Tirrell and Philip Holmes, with the assistance of mechanic Joseph Zoobkoff and laboratory technician Mary Reed, de- veloped an inexpensive substitute for gasoline capable of giving fifty-two miles on a five-cent gallon. Upon first demonstrating their invention to superintendent Carlton Corliss, they were promptly discharged, for he feared loss of busi- ness, but, because of the farsightedness of the president, they were immediately rehired. Andrew Peterson, distribution manager, reports that the iirm's best customer is the MacRoberts-Perkins Furniture Company, the largest furniture corpora- tion in Plymouth county. Across the street is a huge sign reading, Con- way and Kimball, Exclusive Fashions, Successors to Paul Poiret of Paris. Because of the clever styling of Aune Isaacson and Evelyn Coulter, the fashion parade leads not to Paris, but to Whitman. Julia Hamel and Ruth Shulenburg are busy con- stantly, directing the world-wide correspondence of the shop. This shop is patronized by many, chiefly because of the fine modeling of Kathleen Joy. The establishment is managed by Ellen Maki, while the two owners, Lucy Conway and Janet CDakeJ Kimball, spend their winters in Florida and their summers in Maine. The chief competitor of Conway and Kimball and the second reason for Whitman's leading posi- tion is Madame Norma Kirby, Modiste, whose shop is located on the corner of Whitman Avenue and Washington Street. Over fifty per cent of the profits of this shop can be traced directly to the beautiful modeling of sport clothes by Meredith Spooner and of street and evening clothes by Mary DiMestico. Seamstresses Barbara Thrasher and Parky Deminico are responsible for many of the styles worn all over the world. Lena Yankowski and Ruth Reed in charge of office affairs overload postmaster William Hill with the heavy corre- spondence of the organization. Located a few blocks from the business district on South Avenue is a gigantic textile manufactur- ing plant-the Saftler Mills. Products from this company are carried to all parts of the country by the Sanville Trucking Company, Paul Sanville, president and treasurer. In the chemical labora- tory of the plant, Benjamin Rymut and Daniel Moskowitz are working on a non-fading blue dye. The whole textile world awaits their results. Priscilla Chapman and Catherine Hynes do their work as secretaries in the office of the factory so efficiently that they leave at noon, while Ruth Danforth struggles with her punctuation until five. Standing in front of a prominent hardware com- pany fover which is a five-foot neon sign bearing his namel, Thomas McGrath is engaged in a heated argument with Leo White, salesman for a fishing supplies company. Summoned from their near-by executive offices, accountants Lincoln Robinson and Donald Browne meekly try to inter- vene. The argument seems to concern a wager over the size of a trout supposedly caught by White. White is having difficulty in collecting his winnings because McGrath has had experience with White's angling ability and fish stories. Soon, Police Chief Fred Carey, on the job as ever, arrives to arrest the two for disturbing the peace. A few blocks farther, opposite the library, is Rita and Mary's Beauty Salon, Mary Angus and