It’s Week 21 of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, and the topic is Yearbook.
Although my Grampy Phil grew up in Westbrook, Maine, his mother sent him to boarding school at Assumption High School in Worcester, Massachusetts, due to a lack of decent, secondary Catholic schools in the area. His mother had many extended family members in Massachusetts, including a priest (some sort of cousin – I have yet to make the connection) who worked at the school. The high school was focused on languages and liberal arts, but offered an elective science and math track junior and senior year that my grandfather pursued. Students were required to take Religion, English, French, Latin, Greek, Mathematics, Science, and History for the first two years. I can’t imagine keeping so many languages straight!
My grandfather’s yearbook doesn’t contain any pictures, but has a collection of stories, poems, and biographies. A classmate, Robert Cote, was in charge of interviewing his fellow seniors. He wrote this about my grandfather:
The subject of this biography has given me so much detailed information, that I feel he should be given credit as co-author. “His dictis,” let’s dissect him. Hum! To begin at the beginning, he was born. This happy… event took place at 8 P.M. September 22, 1924, on Mitchell Street, alias King’s Orchard, in the city of Westbrook, Maine (The Paper City), whose former name was Saccarappa, an Indian name meaning God only knows what. Pause for rest. Thus launched into the world, Philip Laviolette (definitely not the shrinking type) was educated at St. Hyacinth’s School. The best days there, he tells me, were during vacations and on St. Valentine’s Day. He doesn’t elaborate on the last statement. He was a member of the baseball team and president of the King’s Orchard Club. He was also prominent among the Hers and Shes at school. Must be a new club.
He then pursued his education in St. Charles’ College, in Sherbrooke Forest. Pardon, Quebec. Phil said it was in the sticks, so I naturally thought he was only talking about woods. Assumption, compared to it, (he says), is heaven. The arguments with the “Cans” (Canadians to Americans) tired him, so he came to Assumption. He picked this motto up in Canada: A.M.W.W.M.W.L. “A man without a wife is a man without a life????” The question marks are all mine. Handball, baseball, and hockey interest him very much. Betty Grable and Judy Garland are his favorite “stars.” Those are the type of stars he likes to see.
Phil keeps up with the “Hit Parade,” radio news, movie news, and Walter (“You tell ‘em”) Winchell. In his spare time, Phil wonders whether or not the army will draft him and writes to a certain Mary A. or Phylis H., etc., etc., you know. I wonder who is trying to kid who. Seriously, he wants to become a chemist or a radio operator. He’s on the beam all right (He had his picture taken! ‘Nough said.)
I’ve had this yearbook in my possession for a few years, but other than glancing through it quickly, I never spent any time reading it. I didn’t know my grandfather initially attended a boarding school in Quebec prior to attending Assumption High School. The rest of his bio fits how I imagine Grampy Phil at 18. He always loved the ladies! During high school, he attended all the basketball games (a season pass cost $1) to meet local girls, and then he’d set up dates with them for the weekend. As girl-crazy as he was, he always wanted a wife and a large family, which is evident by his quote. He became a devoted and attentive husband and father (and the most wonderful grandfather imaginable). Cote’s insinuation that my grandfather talked a lot wouldn't surprise anyone who knew him. Once he got going, he wouldn’t stop! I remember my uncles joking, and offering to pay him a quarter if he’d shut up, then tossing quarters at him while he laughed. He gladly pocketed the quarters, and kept on talking.
My grandfather also wrote a poem for his yearbook, so I’ll close with it:
It’s MOTHER’S DAY In U.S.A
There isn’t a day so bright and so gay,
When young and old together march
To celebrate their Mother’s heart,
Except the day when Americans say:
It’s MOTHER’S DAY
In U.S.A.
Get all your strength together lad
So to rejoice on this good day:
The Second Sunday of this May;
And keep your chin up, don’t be sad,
It’s MOTHER’S DAY
In U.S.A.
You may be in the East or West,
All fighting hard with all your might
To keep the good old Stars and Stripes;
But stop to think o’your Mother best;
It’s MOTHER’S DAY
In U.S.A.
It’s hard to be so far from Mum
On her very special day,
But pray for her in each your way,
To think of her don’t be numb.
It’s MOTHER’S DAY
In U.S.A.
She gladly gave the son she had
So that he’d fight without delay,
To keep at free the U.S.A.
So don’t deceive her, fight my lad;
It’s MOTHER’S DAY
In U.S.A.
Today we laugh and are all glad,
But in our bed tonight we’ll sigh
At seeing when we made her cry,
And at the love for us she had.
It’s MOTHER’S DAY
In U.S.A.
Before you sleep, Oh U.S. sons!
Think o’what for you your Mother’s done,
And pray the Lord that he may keep
The one you love: your Mother Sweet.
It’s MOTHER’S DAY
In U.S.A.
Be happy he who wears a rose of colour pink,
But for the boy whose’s white, don’t let your spirit sink;
For side by side again dear you and she
In Holy Paradise one day will be.
It’s MOTHER’S DAY
In U.S.A.
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