Our Last Hurrah! 

On Saturday, 14 June 1958, the New Britain Herald proclaimed to all that Plainville's 31st High School Class was in its final run towards graduation...  the Seniors had already begun their final weekend, the day before... on Friday. Here is how it went.
 

 
 (Clip courtesy Jim Grant)

13 June 1958:  Lawn Party for Seniors
Plainville News Headlines: "Lawn Party For Seniors Gives Way to Surprise Shower"

"A lawn party for the graduating class of Plainville High School, scheduled Friday evening before the Senior Prom, was forced inside by rain.
The young couples came to the party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Lamb, 7 Washington STreet, with raincoats over their freshly pressed evening clothes.
The hostess was Miss Joan Perfetto, a member of the class. Patrons taking part were George Gaudette, class advisor, and Mrs. Gaudette; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Whelan, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Smith, and Mr. and Mrs. Lamb. 
All the pictures here were taken by a News staff photographer who went to the party."

(Click on each photo to zoom.)
This excellent collection of clippings were taken from the 19 June 1958 edition of The Plainville News, pages two and three. The photo story covered the top half sections of both pages. 

The newspaper is from Bob Whelan's collection.

 

13 June 1958:  Senior Ball... an affair at its finest

Clippings from the local newspapers... clockwise from top left: Bob Whelan, class President and Linda Comas, secretary on the dance floor, to the right, the exerp says: "Japanese decorations at the Senior Prom of Plainville High School Friday night were inspired by the movie 'Sayonara'.  A bridge garlanded with flowers was a favorite spot for photographs. Shown on the bridge are Linda Kysor and Bob Moore, Virginia Hill and Alan Couch."; Donna Mazzalupo, a freshman, ushered the couples to their tables; and James Bridgman and Sue Avery during intermission.

(These news clips from the collections of Bob Whelan and Joe Dellaquila..) 

Senior Night Banquet... that very 'fine' affair!
 
The date was Monday, 16 June 1958... time was approximately 7PM. The last bash for the Class of '58. It was a smoky affair with cigars and cigarillos being passed around, and there was much song and frivolity.

It was a buffet dinner with beverages provided by Jimmy Rudolph: a case of root beer bottled in real beer bottles.  After dinner, we enjoyed a few dances before heading out around 10:30 to a variety of parties planned in several locations, near and far.

Can anyone remember our guest speakers? Can anyone remember any of the the parties afterward?

Touch base to let us know...  class58@terriau.org
28 Nov 2001:  From Ginny Hill Noel:  "I do remember that I was in the Bonnie Coffin entertainment section.  Seems to me that we (and I don't recall who all the "we" were) sang the song "Dream"  but we changed the words to  "Scream". 

Remember_____Dream, dream, dream, dreammmmm, dreammmm, dream, dream, dream, when I want you in my arms, when I need you, and all your charms, whenever I want you all I have to do is dreammmmm, dream, dream dream, dreammmmmmm. 
I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine anytime, night or day!  The only trouble is, gee wizzz, I'm dreamin' my life away.  I need you so, that I
could cry, I want you so, that I could die_______I think you probably got it?  We were not too good at it. 

Sounds pretty good to us, Ginny...



Can I have your autograph?...
Left to right: Verna Daigle, dear Sandy Pavano, Bruce Atwood, Ralph Minella. 

The caption below the photo reads: "Autographing year books was one of the less formal activities of Plainville High School graduates Monday night at Class Night. In this group left to right are Verna Daigle, Sandra Pavano, Bruce Atwood and Ralph Minella."

(This clipping from Bob Whelan and Joe Dellaquila  collections.)
Click on photo to zoom.
From the pages of the New Britain Herald... the ROYAL R's!!

The caption reads: "THE ROYAL R's -- The Royal R's, four Plainville High School youths, will appear on the Ted Mack Original TV Amateur program, Monday at 10p.m. Left to right are James Rudolph, Ronald DiNardo, Joe Dellaquila and Gerald Pavano.
(From the collection of Ginny Hill Noel.)

(Click to ZOOM)
From the Ginny Hill Noel Collection