Autograph Album from Junior High, 1935 - Treasure Chest Thursday

(Digital Image. Album Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text and Images, Copyright (c) 2014 Cynthia Shenette)


Christine Sharayko

"To keep my friends
Is my delight
So in this book
I pray you'll write."
***

My mom, Christine (Szerejko) Shenette, went to Providence Street Junior High School in Worcester, MA in the 1930s.  Apparently, she and her junior high friends shared in the age old tradition of exchanging autographs.  It's funny how some end of the school year activities don't change.  I had an autograph album when I was a kid, and last week my son came home with a tee-shirt signed by all of his classmates.  The medium has changed, but the tradition has not. 

If you had an album back in the day I bet you can relate to the sentiments expressed here. Some are classics and have probably been written over and over in countless albums and yearbooks.  Still, it's fun to read them and imagine my mom going around collecting and signing autographs from her friends on that June day 79 years ago. 



Hook or by crook
I am the first
to write in your
book
An Everlasting School-
mate,
Jane Parath
Class of 1935
***

Don't be #
Don't be b
Just be [natural]
"Schoolmate"
Edith
Stonequist
***

June 25, 1935
Think of me long;
Think of me ever;
Think of the fun,
We've had together.
Always a friend;
Dorothy Morris
***


Eleanor Mikoloski
69 Harlem St. Worcester, Mass
Tel = 3-4978
Yours til Atlantic Ocean
wears pants,
To keep it's bottom dry.
***

If you get to heaven
before I do
Poke a hole + pull
me through
R.J.S.
***

June 24, 1935
If in the world a
secret you know,
Tell not your friend
Tell not your foe,
For when your friend
became your foe
Then all the world
your secret will know.
(205) Myrtle Olson
***

Roses are Red
Voilets are blue
pickels are sour
and so are you
Alden Gates
1935
***
(Got a little crush Alden?)

"1935"
Down the Lane he led her
The heaven was "studded"
with stars
Down to the gate
he led her
For her he opened the
bars
She turned her soft
eyes upon him
But theres nothing
between them now
He was just a hired man
and she a Jersey Cow
You Everlasting Friend Stella Rosochacki
***
(I think Stella and I would have really liked each other...)



Remember the girl in the
city
Remember the girl in the
town
Remember the girl who spoiled
your book
By writing upside
down
Yours Truly
Evelyn Robbins
***

Remember always a
Pal.
Sonia Mouskowitz
***

In your chain of
friendship consider
me a link
Edith Sklut
Yours till rats eat cats
***

Policeman Policeman do
Your duty,
Here comes Christine the
American Beauty
Your Schoolmate
Rose Morris
(Don't take this seriously)
***

When you
are married
and hubby gets
mad
Pick up a pocker [poker?] and
say I am boss
A pal
Rita A.
***

Christine Sharayko
Robert Smith
***

First come Friendship,
Them comes Marriage,
Then come Christine
pushing a baby
carriage.
A Friend
Cecelia Tilenda
***

Just a friend
Lillian Tarkiainen
June 25, 1935
***

Forget
Me
Not
Beatrice Sher
8' H.R. 205
(your Pal)
***
(It's nice to know Mom and Beatrice were in home room (H.R.) 205 together!)

Roses are red
Violets are ducking
When a girl gets out of
High School
She is ready for
College
Albert Quist
206
***


A. Louise Jones
~[G clef]~
***


Mildred Balcome
Providence St. Jr. High
June 25, 1935
***
(Many of the autographs are written with beautiful handwriting.  Why is it that we don't teach cursive anymore?)

Onward and Upward
Cora A. Stanton
Providence St. Jr. High School
***

schoolmate
Ray Luce
June 1935
P.S.J.H.
***

When Christine was a little
girl she use to play
with toys
But she goes to J.H.S. now
she plays with all the boys
Your schoolpal
Rose Potkaj
***

Nils Stead
Providence St. J.H.S.
June 1935
***

With Best Regards
Lula E. Mills Art
June 25, 1935.
***
(It's fun to know Lula and Mom were in art class together.)

Howard C. Norbeck,
24 Aurilla St.
Worcester,
Mass.
***

F.G. McGrath
***

Mildred Collins
***

Douglas (Pest) Wakefield
Providence J.H.S.

(Pest?  Another junior high crush perhaps?)

Sincerely!
Katherine L. Power
June, 1935
***

Christine it is
Christine forever
Sherako it is
But not forevever.
just an old
Pal
Anna Migliozzi
***

Raymond Stokowski
172 Vernon St.
Worcester
Mass.
***

When you marry and
get twins
Don't come to borrow my
pins.
Your's til' powder
puffs.
"Millie"
J.G.D.
***
(Your's til powder puffs?  I think I would have liked Millie, too.  I can see me and Mom and Stella and Millie all heading down to Liggett's for a Coke after class...)

Police man
Police man
due your duty
catch Christine
the American beauty
Doris Soderberg
Worcester
Mass
***


By hook or by Crook
I am the last
to write in this book.
Ruth Waska
***

If you are related to or knew any of the students from the Providence Street Junior High School Class of 1935 who signed my mother's autograph album I'd love to hear from you!



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(Digital Images. Photograph and Program Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette.)

"Baby Ballet"
Christine (Szerejko) Shenette, left;
with
Bella Gubitosi and Shirley MacElroy


Fourth Annual 
Dance Revue
By the Pupils of
Miss Mae Gleeson

Wednesday Evening May 12, 1926
MUSIC BY BENNY CONN'S ORCHESTRA
Pianist, Miss Catherine Moynihan



*** Programme ***
____     ____

Class Work

MARCH                                                                                CLASS
1. THREE LITTLE KITTENS
Eva May Bergstrom, Marie Callahan, Mary Cronin, Yvonne Carney, Mary Collins, Ruth Coash, Margaret Denton, Gertrude Domiano, Bella Gubitosi, Elizabeth Kennedy, Louise Macilvane, Mirian [Marian] McDonald, Eleanor Massey, Shirley MacElroy, Dorothy Payne, Ruth Sherry, Suzanne Stumpf, Kathleen Splaine, Christine Sharayko, Barbara Callahan, Janice Breatt, Elvira Gallo.

2. A SWISS CHORUS
               Leaders, Alicia Rooney and Margaret Collins
Ruth Bergstrom, Olga Brousseau, Lillian Bergstrom, Francis Charamella, Margaret Collins, Mary Cronin, Catherine Donoghue, Irving Erickson, Kenneth Erickson, Gladys Fenn, Lionel Gaucher, Elvira Gallo, Walter Jette, Mary Kennedy, Helen Kulesza, Lois Legate, Anna Loftus, Harriet Larson, Esther Masterson, Donald Macilvane, Mary Perry, Alice Troy, Marguerite Perry, Phillis Prendergast, Grace Sherry, Jane Sherry, Hellen Spillane, Walter Whitney, Wanda Wasiak, Eleanor Massey, Mary Perry.

3. HUMORESQUE
                                Leader, Janice Breatt
Bella Gubitosi, Shirley MacElroy, Christin Sharayko, Eva May Bergrstrom, Marie Callahan, Barbara Callahan, Mary Cronin, Yvonne Carney, Mary Collins, Ruth Coash, Margaret Denton, Gertrude Domiano, Elizabeth Kennedy, Louise Macilvane, Miriam McDonald, Eleanor Massey, Winifred Pierce, Dorothy Paine, Ruth Sherry, Suzanne Stumpf, Kathleen Splaine.

4. DANCE OF ALL NATIONS
     Leaders, Marguerite Perry, Grace Sherry and Anna Loftus
Gladys Fenn, Alicia Rooney, Lillian Bergstrom, Catherine Donoghue, Francis Charmaella, Ruth Bergstrom, Olga Brousseau, Margaret Collins, Mary Cronin, Irving Erickson, Kenneth Erickson, Lionel Gaucher, Elvira Gallo, Walter Jette, Mary Kennedy, Helen Kulesza, Lois Legate, Harriet Larson, Esther Masterson, Donald Macilvane, Mary Perry, Marguerite Perry, Phyllis Prendergast, Jane Sherry, Helen Spillane, Walter Whitney, Eleanor Massey, Wanda Wasiak, Mary Perry.

5. SPANISH
                Leaders, Gladys Fenn and Francis Charamella
Mary Perry, Lionel Gaucher, Anna Loftus, Donald Macilvane, Barbara Callahan, Kenneth Erickson, Willifred Pierce, Irving Erickson, Ruth Sherry, Walter Jette, Louise Macilvane, Walter Whitney.


Private Work

 6. A High Kicker                 Phyllis O'Leary
 7. Highland Fling                 Janice Barber
 8. Nifty Steppers                 Catherine Groden and Dorothy Shannahan
 9. Syncopated Toe              Dorothy Rudge
10. Cake Walk                     Ruth Coash and Earl Colbert
11. A Dainty Dance              Catherine Donoghue
12. Baby Jazz                      Christine Sharayko
13. Glow Worm                   Louise Macilvane
14. Jazz Frisco                     Eleanor Rudge
15. Novelty Fox Trott           Elvira Gallo and Irving Erickson
16. The Dancing Girl            Barbara Callahan
17. Waltz Ballet                   Eleanor Massey
18. Swanee River                 Marguerite Perry
19. Tip Toe                         Rosalyn Barber
20. Acrobatic Waltz              Gladys Fenn
21. The Swagger Girl            Dorothy Shannahan
22. Russian Toe Dancer        Janice Breatt
23. Butterfly Dance              Catherine Groden
24. Military Toe                   Mary Perry
25. Buck and Wing Specialty Francis Charamella
26. From the Bowery            Dorothy and Eleanor Rudge
27. Jazzmania                       Elvira Gallo and Janice Barber
28. A little Pirate                   Ruth Sherry
29. A Specialty                     Warren Barber
30. Acrobatic Jazz                 Ruth Coash
31. A Bit of Ireland               Marie and Barbara Callahan
32. Gypsie Girls                    Alicia Rooney and Catherine Donoghue
33. Jazz Toe                         Shirley MacElroy
34. A Bit of Romance            Gladys Fenn and Francis Charamella
35. Dutchies                         Eleanor Massey, Rosalyn Barber, Louise Macilvane
36. Soft Shoe                        Harriet Laarson and Donald Macilvane
37. Dancing Dolls                  Janice Breatt and Gertrude Domiano
38. A Russian Baby               Bella Gubitosi
39. Military Maids                 Wanda Wasiak, Grace Sherry, Phyllis Prendergast
40. That Tumbling Boy          Earl Colbert
41. Shadowland Ballet           Catherine Groden, Alicia Rooney, Jane Sherry
42. Kutie Kids                       Ruth Sherry and Walter Jette
43. Waltz Unique                  Mary Perry and Irving Erikson
44. Novelty Clog                   Loretta Donaghue
45. Tickle Toe                      Grace Sherry
46. Hippidy Hop                    Marguerite Perry and Donald Macilvane
47. Ting-A-Ling Waltz           Alicia Rooney and Warren Barber
48. Jazarina                           Harriet Larson
49. A Flapper Flirtation          Jane Sherry and Franceis Charamella
50. The Dainty Girl                Elvira Gallo
51. Charleston Steppers          Gladys Fenn and Walter Thwing
52. Waltz Clog                       Phyllis Prendergast
53. Japanese Specialty            Phyllis O'Leary and Loretta Donohue
54. Twinkle Toe                    Gertrude Domiano
55. The Tango                       Mary and Marguerite Perry
56. Baby Ballet                      Bella Gubitosi, Christine Sharayko, Shirley MacElroy
57. Old and New                    Alicia Rooney
58. Whirlwind                        Grace and George Sherry
59. Tambourine Toe Dance    Alice Troy
60. The Swan Dance              Jane Sherry
61. Spanish Dancer                Wanda Wasiak
62. The Comedy Bakers         Gladys Fenn, Francis Charamella and Walter Thwing
63. The Sparkling Ballet          Mary Perry, Elvira Gallo, Gertrude Domiano, Eleanor Massey, Louise Macilvane, Janice Breatt, Ruth Sherry.
64. Miss Mae Gleeson

That's quite a program!  If you recognize or are related to any of the dancers listed here or remember Miss Mae Gleeson I'd love to hear from you!



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Photos from the Worcester Tornado, June 9, 1953


(Copyright (c) 2014 Cynthia Shenette)  As a family historian you never know what is going to find its way to you.  A couple of months ago my cousin contacted me and asked me if I'd be interested in some photos she found in with her dad's things.  The photos posted here, taken after the Worcester tornado in 1953, were with the items she sent me.  If you are interested in seeing more do a Google search on the 1953 Worcester tornado, and you will find dozens of photos that capture the aftermath of the massive storm that wreaked havoc across central Massachusetts 61 years ago today. Wikipedia has a good entry and the City of Worcester has a color slide show you can view here.  For a more in depth study the book, Tornado! 84 Minutes, 94 Lives by John M. O'Toole is excellent.

The captions under the photos in quotes are written on the backs of the individual images and appear to be in my grandmother's handwriting. My family's home did not get hit by the tornado due to some luck.  The tornado turned when it got to Indian Lake which was between our house and the funnel cloud.  If you'd like to read my previous blog posts on the tornado you can find them here and here.  Anyone who was around Worcester or if their family was around at that time has a story to tell about that day.  It was an event that defined a generation, and to some extent, it still defines many locals even today.  

"Lincolnwood"


Haven Rd.
"Assumption College"
670 West Boylston St.
Object in foreground is an overturned car





"Jons [Jon's] Hardware Store
[667] W. Boylston St"
"Diamond Match
Lumber Yard
[701] W. Boylston St"
Mayflower Cir. (Circle)



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