SportsCambridgeNY

1949-50: School Rebuilds, Henry Strikes "Gold!"

2006-04-22T05:33:00.000-07:00

Individuals Star

At Track Sectionals

Robert Tuttle and Charles Vickers were outstanding on the high school track team that spring. Bob won the 220 in the State Sectionals, while Charley took the half mile. Seven boys lettered in track the year of its revival at CHS: Demarco, E. Dering, G. Dering, Hahn, Spurr, Tuttle and Vickers.

Atwood C. Allen purchased from Russell Dock the race track and adjoining grounds of the old Cambridge Fair grounds. The buildings and grandstand had been dismantled by Dock and shipped south.

Allen allowed the Cambridge Riding Club to use the track.

Henry Finds

Olympic Gold

That August, Frank Sherman Henry scored his triumphs at the Olympic Games in England, including an individual gold in equestrian sports.

School was scheduled to open on Sept. 7, with classes still scattered through the community in make-shift facilities.

When school opened, there was another record enrollment of 610 pupils

Varsity cheer leaders were Connie Wocell, John Bell, Barbara Decker, Gladys Hunt, Gail Gorman and Mary Ella Arnold.

Harry Clark was pres. of the junior class. Vera Wulff led the freshmen, Elmer Dering the sophs.

CCS opened the football season with a 22-0 win over Schuylerville. "Himey" Clark, Bob Christian, Littell and DeMarco were the stars.

The next week they lost to Warrensburg 19-18.

The girls were still relegated to intramural sports, although interest in that level was low. The new phys. ed. teacher, Mrs. Fister, wanted to go back to varsity competition, in Field Hockey and Basketball.

The football boys ran away from Stillwater, 46-14; then upset Ballston Spa 20-12.

Greenwich deflated the local footballers 32-28 in late October.

The BOE coughed up some dough to help provide new uniforms for the basketball cheerleaders, but CCS lost the 7th game of the season 26-0.

The girls were still only allowed to go to visiting schools for "play days".

The Student Council revived the point system that winter. It had been dropped the previous year in the confusion of organizing a make-shift school. But with school spirit in the doldrums because the adults couldn't get their act together and get a school built, the SC decided that to letter the boys would have to earn 150 pts., the girls 125.

But some sports and the music dept. were already awarding their own letters. Many students felt that earning a letter had become too easy.

Those who had previously lettered would be able to earn another letter, as all records of such achievements had been lost in the Union School fire.

1949

CCS opened the 1948-49 basketball season with a 53-19 loss to Hoosac Valley. The science teacher, Ken Wilbur, was trying his hand at coaching.

Fort Ann beat the high school basketball team 49-27 on Jan. 21.

By March, The Orange Tattler had disappeared from the pages of the Old WCP, probably the result of depleted student morale.

New architects presented the BOE with a cheaper school design

The CCS baseball team was doing well. An 18-11 win over Fort Ann gave them a 3-1 record. Gus Dering had a triple, a double and a single in five trips.

Bob Christian five hit Salem as Cambridge took a 7-4 win and created a three way tie with Hartford and Salem for first in the League.

CCS downed Salem again, again behind the pitching of Christian, 9-7, to move into a first place tie Hartford and Hoosick Valley. Their record was 6-2.

That June the Old Cambridge boy, Col. Frank S. Henry, gained second place in the Prix des Veneurs, an international riding show in Paris, France. This was a year after Col. Henry's US Army team took first in the Olympic Games in England.

Christian Leads

Baseball to Title

When the baseball season ended, Cambridge and Hoosick Valley were tied for first in the League. Cambridge ended their season with a 9-6 trimming of Fort Ann. Bob Christian pitched his seventh victory of the year without a loss.

With a sigh of relief, 818 of 888 voters approved the cheap and undersized new school and passed the building problem on to the next generation.

The first public acknowledgement that Principal Arthur Gallup would not be around to enjoy the comforts of a new school was a note in the June 30 WCP of a faculty gift, a brief case, some money and "best wishes wherever he goes".

Nearly 300 attended the school district annual meeting where the new school principal, Ernest Bodenstab, was introduced.

That August, 37 cases of infantile paralysis (polio) were reported in the counties of Warren, Washington and Saratoga. Most were children under four.

Frank Church was featured on the August ll WCP. He was a well known local driver and trainer of trotting horses. On Monty Woolley (veteran local actor: "The Man Who Came to Dinner") Church hitched his double-gaited Trojan Hanover to a carriage and drew Woolley through the streets of Saratoga.

Softball provided a lot of entertainment that summer. The Cambridge "Squaws" were the toast of the community. Harry "Dutch" Decker managed the team made up of Cambridge girls. They were the scourge of the area.

Walter Nash, former coach at CCS, was appointed head football coach at Watervleit HS.

School was to open Sept. 6 in the accustomed make-shift facilities, but with some hope of improvement in sight. Carson Fuller had been hired to coach and teach phys. ed.

The West End baseball club won the Cambridge Little World Series in three straight games after losing the first game to the East End. Bob Dering pitched the deciding game. John Briggs was thanked for promoting the event and Joe Powers for his fine work behind the plate.

By the fall of 1949, bowling was well established as the community's no. one winter recreation. When the teams organized that fall 48 team captains and bowlers turned out. Three leagues, with from 10-14 teams kept the alleys busy all week.

Under Principal Bodenstab, there was virtually no school news reported. No sports results were reported. Seven football games were announced. None were reported. No basketball games or girls sports, either. There was no student written news at all.

It is as if Bodenstab or the BOE slammed the door on the community.

Harry Arnold did get reelected president of the Fish and Game Club.

1950

In late January, the Board of Education finalized plans for a new central school plant and forwarded them to the State Commissioner of Education.

That winter a community skating rink was set up in a portion of the 1st Presbyterian Church parking lot. Probably Carson Fuller was behind it.

Finally, after several months of no reporting, in the Feb. 9 WCP is a bonafide school athletics story, about CCS beating Hartford in basketball 44-37. Playing for Cambridge were:

R. Noxon (19 points), Nelson Bell (15), E. Dering, E Littell and Bob Dering.

Then Hoosick Valley gave them their first loss, 37-32. Bob Dering was high local with 11.

Lee Wulff of Shushan, a fly making expert, was high lighted in an article in the New York Daily News.

In early March, Argyle drubbed the CHS quinted 60-35.

Gus Dering wrote the report for the WCP. Thus was launched a tradition of a few years duration of having specific students responsible for writing signed sports articles for the WCP. It was most probably the result of the experience and organizational skills of Carson Fuller.

May 11, CCS baseball was reported. The boys beat Hartford 11-2 and Salem 15-7. Bob Christian was the winning pitcher.

There is nothing to indicate that girls took part in interscholastic athletics during this period. However, the interest was there. One of the most active and entertaining sports teams was the Cambridge Squaws (not school connected).

CCS hung onto second place in the league in baseball by losing to Hartford 4-3 and beating Fort Ann 22-8.

In early June CCS downed Hoosick Valley 4-1 and Argyle 23-3.

The Cambridge Squaws downed Mechanicville 20-13 in softball. Louise Rainstrom pitched for the locals. Norma Sawtell and Dee Woodcock hit homeruns with bases loaded. Claudia Smith also homered.

A CCS swimming team was organized. Howard Jenkins was to coach. Some tentative meets were planned.

The Cambridge Squaws launched their third summer softball season with an 8-6 win over the General Electric team. Dee Woodcock homered in the 4th.

The first piece of the Miekleknox property to be sold away by the Washington County Historical Society was the corner at Union and Main. Bob McWhorter, whose store recently burned, offered them $2,500 for the corner. It provided a 200 ft. frontage and dropping back 137 ft. Today it is Cummings IGA.

Mayor Cullinan noted that the Village had wanted to purchase the plot to convert into a park in memory of Mrs. McClellan, but that the Village would not stand in McWhorter's way.

Julian Orton of Salem won the Cambridge Racquet Club tennis tournament, beating Lyman White 6-2, 6-2. In qualifying, Ernest Bodenstab downed Jack Wells 9-7, 6-4; White downed Gardner Cullinan 8-6, 6-0; White beat Hoppenstedt 6-2, 6-2; and Orton defeated Bodenstab 6-l, 6-l.

To make room for the new municipal building, the old engine house was sold the high bidder, Elmer LeBarron, for $10. But he was obligated to remove the structure.

The Cambridge Squaws defeated St. Bridget's of Watervleit, to break that club's three year, 42 game winning streak. The Squaws won 6-5.

The Korean War picked up as another 50 men were called from Washington County.

School athletics was beginning to get more space in the Old WCP. The first football game of the season would be at Cambridge against Salem.

Members of the squad were Tom Bell, Ronald Cairns, Dale Catellier, Rae Chapin, Wm. Dame, Elmer Dering, Robert Dering, James Donnan, Robert Durrin, Thomas Gorman, William Higgins, George Jeskie, Walter McNall, Frank Pemrick, Anthony Rubino, Maurice Santerre, Linwood Strout, George Jeskie, Neil Wocell and Robert Wocell. Managers were Robert Mullen and Peter Messina.

The varsity cheerleading squad was Mary Dunigan, Barbara McAllister, Gulielma Buckley, Marilyn Kenyon, Eleanor Purdy, Marian Wallace and Barbara Cahill.

The cornerstone of the new central school building was placed with ceremony on Sept. 30. A happy school board president, Clarence Coulter, wielded the trowel.

Salem beat CCS 25-14 in the first football game. They lost the second game of the season 38-7 to South Glens Falls.

The CCS football team got their first win of the season, 29-18 over Schuylerville.

Coach Carson Fuller's football boys readied for their fifth league game, against Stillwater. Anticipated lineup: E. Dering and Rubino at end; McNall or Wocell, center; backfield R. Dering, Santerre and Jeskie. Possible subs: Williams, Arnold, Strout, Gorman, Dame, Catellier, Durrin, Pemrick and Bell.

The CCS record was 1-3. They stood 7th in a 9 team league. Hoosick Falls was on top with a perfect, 5-0 record. Salem and Warrensburg were second at 4-1.

Lowly Stillwater had no wins. Cambridge beat them 54-26.

For what may (as claimed the Old WCP) or may not have been, the first time, Cambridge traveled to Hoosick Falls to tackle the unbeatens.

CCS football team won second league game 54-26 over Stillwater. Bob and Elmer Dering starred, along with "Frog" Santerre and Bob Arnold.

Then lost to Hoosick Falls 13-6.

The town basketball team, "The Cambridge Comets", opened their season. John Luke coached and Jim Arnold managed. Playing were George Arnold, Walter Bain, James Foot, Jim O'Hanlan, George Kelly, Howard Jenkins, Edward Gray, Charles Linke, Luke and Harold Shapiro.

CCS closed out the football season with a 40-14 victory over Ballston Spa. Walt McNall starred.

In mid-November, ground was broken for the new municipal building and fire house.

CCS basketballers squared off for another season. The team consisted of Dick Noxon "6'4" center", Elmer Dering, Nelson Bell, Eddie Arnold, Bob Dering, Lindy Strout, Pete Messina and Ted Hahn.

On the JV were Howard Andrews, Bob Arnold, Tom Bell, Anthony Cristaldi, Norman Hong, Nelson McGeoch, Anthony Rubino and Maurice Santerre.

Also out for the team were Ronnie Cairns, Don and Bill Dame, Jimmy Estramonte, Leonard Germain, Tom Gorman, Bill Higgins, Robert Isaken, Clifford Isaken and Bob King.

August, 1947: Fire Guts Union School

2006-04-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

FIRE GUTS SCHOOL

The August 21 issue of the old WCP was filled with news of the destruction of the Union School.

It was the second greatest catalytic event in the entire history of Old Cambridge education. The first was the historic vote that joined the rival corners into a single, union district.

It was also significant in that, in the minds of the populace, it slammed the door on the old and opened new vistas for the future. It was like the division between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Or like counting time backward and forward from the birth of Christ.

Hence forward would be modern, up to snuff pedagogy. The only problems would be paying for it and reconciling it with the basic, underlying Christian conservatism of the community.

When reached by phone at 7:30 a.m. Monday morning, Principal Gallup revealed that he had taken home with him the previous week the record cards of students 7th through 12th grades "preparing some statistical information relative to high school credits...."

In addition, it was learned that the financial records of the school had also been removed prior to the fire.

It was the community's only remaining school building, although some classes were being rented in nearby buildings, because of crowding. Classes were to begin in a few weeks. In the crisis, residents stepped forward and, just as they have in every crisis in the history of Old Cambridge, be it in war or in peace, sacrificed for the general good.

Lyman White, manager of the Rice Seed Company, offered the use of the office building to the Central School. It was no snap decision. The morning of the fire, the employees voted themselves out of the comfortable office structure into more primitive surroundings.

Ironically, Photographer Edward Shay had on display in his windows at that time pictures of the athletic glory of the Union School, glory that the Central School would wait nearly 50 years to even approximate:

The great track team of 1908 that won the Williams College Scholastic Invitational; the 1906 football team that outscored its opponents 164-20 in seven games.

The article concluded that Photographer Shay planned "the next time it is cool enough to poke around in the attic there will be some old pictures dredged up... which show the teams with the trophies they won, trophies that are now melted down in the ruins of the old school".

Except for the records essential to managing a school, no others were removed in advance of the fire. All of the glory, the tradition, the style, the elan', the half a century of history went up in flames.

Despite the fire, the same issue of the Old WCP that chronicled it announced that school would open on Monday, Sept. 8, one week late.

The schedule would contain eight periods, with activities in the 8th. Classes would be 40 minutes long, with dismissal at 3:30 p.m., except on Thursday, which would dismiss at 3:40. Religious education classes were held Thursdays.

Principal Gallup utilized Patrician Hall in meeting pupils to arrange schedules.

Tentative plans had grades 9-12 utilizing the entire Rice Seed Company office building. Grades 7-8 would use the surviving Hubbard Annex classrooms over the gymnasium. The gymnasium would be used for physical education and sports.

Grades 3-6 would use Patrician Hall.

Textbook manufacturers quickly contacted the school and offered to place the district on a special priority list so that needs could be met by opening day.

John Luke, a baseball and basketball star during his years at CHS, received an athletic scholarship to Hartwick College.

That September 8th, another record number enrolled in the makeshift classrooms of the District, 570 students.

Coach Nash had 16 out for football: Phil DeMarco, Harry Clark, Foster Geelan, Robert Buckley, Robert Tuttle and Kirk Spurr were returning veterans. New were Joe Stannard, Henry Mulligan, Bob Catellier, Nick Clemens, But Center, Geno Furforo, Edward Tollisen, Rolland LeBarron, Robert Christian and George Jeskie.

The team was lucky in that newly purchased uniforms and equipment were saved from the school fire.

The instrumental music teacher, Mr. Sparks, was operating out of the UP Church basement. Despite this, he had set his goal to organize the school band to play and march at the football games.

CHS opened the fall football season with a loss to Hoosick Falls 14-7, despite a long run by Bob Tuttle for a score.

When the Varsity Club met that fall, Tuttle was elected president, replacing George Arnold, who had graduated. The club decided to sell programs at home games, the proceeds to buy athletic sweaters.

Next they lost 20-26 to Ballston Spa, who ran back the opening kick-off for a score.

The football team finally picked up a victory, downing Greenwich 25-16.

As a freshman at Hartwick, John Luke made the varsity basketball team. He had been captain his last year at CHS.

An Old Cambridge man, Prof. Walter T. Scott, was honored in Butte, Montana, where he had become something of sports legend. The aging professor had directed the State high school football play-offs since 1922. The annual city championship game between the two Butte high schools was dedicated to "the best known professor in the Treasure state".

CHS defeated Schuylerville 30-6 in the last home football game of the season. Bill Clark scored two TDs.

Then the team beat South Glens Falls 13-7.

As December rolled around, the deer stalkers were in the deep woods. From out of the "West Possum Trot Hollow" section of Camden Valley came a photo of the following hunters and their trophy heads: Tom Duddy, Tom Severson, Joe Canzeri, Jim Duddy, Walter Mitchell, Harry Arnold, John Maloy, LeRoy McDougal, George McFarland, Edison Smith and William Early.

Coach Walter Nash organized the 1947-48 boys basketball team. The only returning starter was Charles Vickers. Others who saw limited varsity play and were returning: Joe Stannard, Phil DeMarco and Howard "Stretch" Bentley. Bernie Olff was expected to join them from last year's jayvee. Vince Cristaldi also played on the varsity.

The jayvee squad was to include Don Bates, Geno Furforo, Bob Luke, Eddie Arnold, George Smith, Don Dusha, Bill Waite, Don Ridgway, Wayne Kenyon, Ted Hahn, Bob Catellier, Bob Christian and Dick Noxon.

The CHS girls basketball players were still relegated to intramurals.

The Cambridge Saddle Club was seeking a spot for a riding arena.

The CHS varsity opened the basketball season with a defeat, 52-48, by Heatly High.

1948

January 1, 1948 dawned with white, fluffy snow on the ground.

Young men in Cambridge found a ready source of employment at the new bowling alley, as pin boys.

Cambridge Recreation officially opened its bowling lanes to the public Saturday, January 10th. Walter Gann was the spirit behind the alley. John Dusha, brother of well-known local florist Charlie, was to run it.

The first team match took place that evening between "the old Sprague Springers and the Regular Cambridge towns team. Bowlers were Joe Vitello, of jitterbug fame; the South Hollow Hermit, Leslie Bird; Charles Dusha, Frank "Alderman" Higgins, Frank "Milk" Pemrick, Irving "Bus" Hedges and Ray "Star" Luke.

The building was designed by Architect F.A. Evans. Oscar Rainstrom was construction contractor; Jimmy Rubino, plumbing and heating; George Wilkie, wiring.

When the first bowling leagues formed, Robert McWhorter was elected league president.

The CHS basketball team lost to Argyle 47-45, despite the 18 points by the center, "Stretch" Bentley.

Charles John Stevenson began a "network" radio show, to originate at WGY, Schenectady. It was called The Weekly Farm Visitor. He was to continue to broadcast his two other WGY shows, the early morning "Chanticleer" program and another called "The Jolly Judge".

Stevenson's life and experiences in Cambridge as editor of "The Oldest Weekly Newspaper in America" provided much of the material for his radio shows.

CHS lost to North Bennington 70-51.

The Cambridge Vets basketball team continued in county action. A victory over Hudson Falls moved them into second place. Ray Luke had 12 field goals. Nick Canzeri was the team manager.

The girls got to play an interscholastic basketball game against Schuylerville, but lost 28-23. Playing for Cambridge were Wanda Hall, Gladys Hunt, Ruth Faile, Connie Wocell, Barbara Decker and Patricia Poole. Subs were Bev. Bruce, Gladys Woodcock, Gloria Woodcock, Pauline Motsiff, Dolly Furforo, Mary Ella Arnold and Rosalind Brundige.

Salem beat the basketball team 37-22.

In gym class the 7th graders were learning to march.

Vets Win

County Title

The Cambridge Vets emerged from the Winter season with the County Semi-pro championship. Their final victory was 73-52 over Hudson Falls. It was their 16th win against 5 losses. John Luke led scoring with 22 pts.

Hoosick Valley beat CCS 55-39. Cambridge finished the season with a 3-7 record, one victory better than league cellar dweller Hoosick Valley.

Argyle, Salem and Hartford enjoyed 7-3 records.

An attempt was made that spring to resurrect the great track tradition of the Union School. Math teacher Gerald Douglas agreed to coach.

The April 1 issue of the Washington County Post carried the bad news that for the second time the proposed construction of a new school had been defeated. Each time the majority favored the construction, but each time those in favor failed to achieve the required 2/3rds majority. The vote was 599 for and 314 against.

Trotters owned by John S. Henry and O.K. Spurr were to race in the coming season at Roosevelt Raceway.

Jimmy Powers, sports editor of the New York Daily News, was featured speaker at the first banquet of the Cambridge Recreation Men's Bowling League. WROW, Albany broadcast from the Cambridge Hotel live for a half hour during the banquet.

CCS opened spring baseball play with a 21-11 win over Argyle, then lost 5-0 to Greenwich. Bob Christian made his pitching debut against Argyle. The next game was an 11-7 win over Fort Ann.

The girls weren't left completely out of spring sports. They found two teachers to organize them into two track teams that would compete against each other.

A Cambridge town baseball team was organized to play in a summer league with teams from the region.

The first time in years CCS competed in track was against Saratoga High. The boys took more firsts, but lacked the depth to win.

Then in the first league varsity track meet, they tied 47-47 with South High of Glens Falls. Kirk Spurr won the mile, Harvey Hahn the l00 dash, Charley Vickers the 880.

Historically, the strength of CHS was in the field events, particularly in the shot put. But on this day, the strength was in the track events and they picked up no points at all in the shot.

Towner Buckley, son of Theodore, was a member of the Cornell crew. Following the Henley Regatta, he was elected Commodore of the Cornell 150 lb. crew.

In baseball, CCS defeated Argyle again 22-2 and Hoosick Valley 5-0, as Christian continued to shine on the mound.

The track team, however, was overpowered by Schuylerville 58-37. Again, depth was the problem, and lack of experience in the field events.

Charles Harff was elected second alternate assistant manager of track at Colgate for the 1949 season. The son of Dr. and Mrs. Philip Harff of East Main was a war memorial scholar at Colgate.

The town baseball team won its first three games, to a large extent because of the fine pitching of Ray Luke.

Salem beat both the baseball and track teams in early June.

The girls organized a softball team. They played the 7th and 8th grade boys during noon hour.

By the end of the school year, Walter Nash was seeking a position elsewhere. Ken Wilbur, the science teacher, was expected to pick up some of the coaching.

The Cambridge track team lost out in a three-way meet at Salem at the end of the year. Bob Tuttle, however, brought home two firsts, in the l00 and the 220 dashes. Charley Vickers won the 880. But again, the team lacked depth.

Peter McDonnell, bed ridden at Mary McClellan Hospital for many years, was treated to a television set. A community fund raised the money and "the beautiful, 31-tube machine" was installed for Petey, a sports fan, to watch the Joe Louis-Jersey Joe Walcott fight for the heavyweight championship of the world.

1946-47: New Stars, Women Return

2006-04-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

1946

The Hotel Cambridge changed hands at the first of the year. Walter Gann of Troy purchased it from Leslie Bird and Harry Griffin, who had owned it for 18 years and eight months.

The community prepared to go to the polls to choose a location for the contemplated new central school. Two sites were under consideration. One was the site of the school then in use, the former Union School.

The other site was owned by W.L. Hitchcock, largely open farm land on S. Park St.

That winter returning war vets organized the Warren-Washington Amateur Basketball League. The locals gained their first victory 38-25 over the S. Glens Falls Firemen.

John Luke continued to star on the basketball court for CCS, scoring 20 pts. in a 51-21 rout of Hartford. Players were Luke, McLenithan, Vickers, Arnold and Buckley.

The third week in February brought a foot of snow and the reorganization of the Cambridge Fish and Game Club. The club had been disbanded during the war. Harry Arnold was the new pres.; James Bell, vice pres. and C.P. Burch Sec’y-treas. The first thing it did was to assist in stocking 12,000 trout fingerlings in the Battenkill.

In late February, the eligible voters of the District decided in favor of the Hitchcock farm for the location of the new central school.

Fresh from the Army, Raymond Luke resumed his career as a baseball pitcher. He reported to the Twins baseball team at Hickory, N. Carolina, a farm club of the New York Giants.

It was decided that Martin Church, the giant football player of the '20s and a master tuba player, would act as leader to get the ancient Cambridge Band started after the war.

The Hoosick Valley Trotting Assoc. elected officer. Pres. was Clarence Masten of White Creek; George Campbell of Bennington, veep; Walter Robson of Hoosick Falls, treas.; William Fox of Hoosick Falls, secretary and Atwood Allen of Cambridge, racing secretary.

In May, the 1946 baseball team was on the front page of the WCP.

Players were: Coach Walter Nash, Nicholas Clemens, Warren Collamer, Stanley McLenithan, Donald Decker, Donald Bates, Kirk Spurr, Howard Bentley, Virgil Cruz, Foster Geelan, Geno Furforo, Harry Clark, Boyce McGeoch and Principal Gallup; Philip DeMarco, Robert Tuttle, Charles Carey William Mason, Robert Buckley, John Luke, John Thompson, Charles Vickers, George Arnold, William Clark and Bernard Olff. Also shown was manager Edward Arnold.

Under the point system, Principal Gallup awarded letters to students who had "gained something for themselves and the school and had earned 125 points". Earning their first letter were: Elva Ayers, William Buckley, Howard Bentley, Donald Bates, Geraldine Beaty, Grace Campbell, Marion Culver, Donald Decker, Herbert Ehrenfreund, Carol Edie, Allison Franklin, Ida Furforo, Robert Hinchcliffe, Marjorie Hastings, Claire Hill, Roderick LeGrys, Olive LeBarron, Florence McClellan, Stanley McLenithan, Muriel Maxwell, Yvonne Motsiff, Evalyn Peabody, Jerry Robertson, Kirk Spurr, Bob Tuttle and Charles Vickers; second letters, George Arnold, Bob Buckley, Charles Harff, John Luke, Jean Morris, Borgny Markussen, Margaret Robertson and Helen Thompson; third letters, John Thompson and Charles "Bud" Cary.

Former Coach Leroy Hinchcliffe, who resigned from the Union School to go to war, found himself in 1946 a full colonel. He was Chief Executive of Special Services at the main office of the VA,

Boston.

Also in the WCP was a photo of the phenomenal Fred W. Ladd of Salem. At age 70 he claimed to be the world's oldest amateur boxer, with 311 bouts and never knocked out. He planned to box on the Fourth of July against any amateur challenger who was more than 18 years of age and who weighed no more than 150 lb.

The local American Legion decided to sponsor a baseball team, Charlie Dusha to manage.

Ray Luke pitched four hit ball and fanned 13 in winning a game against Welch 13-2. He pitched for Bristol, top team in the Appalachian League.

When Atwood Allen Jr. got out of the Marines he took up horse racing. While on leave, he purchased Maude C. Gratin and had her bred to a good horse. That war-time investment resulted in the filly Sally Gratin.

While Atwood was in the service, Clarence Masten of White Creek raced the veteran gelding, Tony Gratin for him, with moderate success.

Atwood planned to race at Saratoga with; the trotters Sandy Direct, Myrrh Hanover and Tony Gratin.

Glen Eagle farm, no longer the country club, took in guests. It was then owned by Steffen E. Lunos.

Bill Bennett, Charles Smith and Jack Royal made a 150 mile ride on horseback that August. For a week they traveled from Ashgrove over Equinox to Peru and Stratton mountains.

The Central School opened with an enrollment record, 561

The newly reorganized Cambridge Fish and Game Club rescued 950 14 inch Northern Pike, trapped in the small outlet stream below Lauderdale.

The Orange Tattler reappeared in the Sept. 12th issue of the Old WCP. Geraldine Beaty and Charles Harff were co-editors. Intramural editors were Bill Bennett and Joan Bell.

The boys opened the CCS six man football season with a 27-12 win over Fort Ann. Bob Tuttle scored first after scooping up a fumble and Harry Clark ran in the extra point.

In the same period, Bob Buckley scored on a 60 yd. run. Arnold passed to Buckley for the PAT.

Players were Buckley, LE; Thompson, C; Tuttle, RE; Arnold, QB; DeMarco, HB; and Clark, FB.

Varsity cheerleaders were Ruth Faille, Helen Linendoll, Ruth McCollum, Jane Shields, Ida Furforo and Anne Arnold. Coaching them was Miss Heck.

Girls were still banned from interscholastic sports, but they formed up form intramural field hockey. The sophs and frosh battled to a 0-0 tie.

The notorious "point system", which former principal Ross came up with, was the subject of a debate by the Forum Club. The Orange Tattler touched off the discussion by having its roving reporters ask, "Should the point system be revised?"

A teacher, Miss Heck, was for raising the standards. Principal Gallup thought it was all right, although some students earned several "C's". If the requirements were raised, those students who earned one letter in four years would earn none, he thought.

Miss Dempsey thought points earned in music should count as much as points earned in other areas.

Yvonne Motsiff, star trumpeter, also felt that points earned in music should count as much as points earned in athletics.

Donald Decker pointed out that "it used to be a great honor (to "letter”) and now the majority wear them".

Teacher Spank noted that one recent change rewarded those students who participated in a great variety of activities, rather than those who concentrated in just a few. He thought this built well rounded student personalities.

The editors, Chuck and Gerry---with tongues firmly in cheeks--thought that "editors should receive considerably more points than reporters and typists... and that girls should not be required to earn as many points as boys".

At any rate, since the pre-war years when Principal Ross took the "C" away from the varsity athletes and instituted the point system, it had remained a point of controversy with the students.

Less controversial because the students unanimously opposed it, was his decision to take girls out of interscholastic athletic competition. That ban was still in force in 1946.

The JV cheerleaders invented a new yell:

"It's a long fight, It's a good fight, It's a hard fight, Fight, team, fight. JV cheerleaders were Gloria Woodcock, Pauline Motsiff, and Mary Ella Arnold (freshmen); and Joan Bell, Gladys Hunt and Barbara Decker (sophs).

The girls' Amateur Sportsters had apparently been integrated, as Charley Vickers was president.

The boys got their first league win 19-6 over Ballston Spa.

Harry Clark scored the first TD. DeMarco scored the 2nd and Buckley kicked the extra point. The final score came after Buckley intercepted a pass and Clark carried it in.

Stillwater gave the football team its first defeat of the season, 19-6.

With so many new school buses in the District, McLenithan's 40 passenger was chartered so that students could follow the teams to out of town games. The Forum Club obtained the charter, at 35 cents per student, then gave the fait acompli to the Student Council.

The football team defeated Hoosick Falls 26-7. Bob Buckley scored the first TD.

Dear Hunters reported success that fall. Chauncey Davenport shot a 200 lb. 8 point buck in Ashgrove. Dr. Donald Presler and Carlton Tuttle also reported kills on opening day.

The football team lost 12-6 to South High for a 2-2 six man league record.

A 12 league game basketball schedule was announced, including an all-star game at Salem Jan. 3.

The junior girls took another win off the seniors in field hockey, 1-0.

Faculty-student games are nothing new, but in 1946 the Faculty challenged the football team to a match, which the faculty won 46-12. Prof. Kenneth Wilbur was deadly and accurate with his passing. Coach Walter Nash had runs of 95 and ll0(??) yards. James Spence played center and Merl Galusha also did some accurate passing. Rev. F.A. Lawrence also played for the faculty.

John Luke did make two spectacular touchdown catches from student quarterback "Stretch" Bentley. The students wanted a rematch, but the faculty only wanted a rest.

Francis "Beaver" Watkins shot a 51 lb. wildcat that fall.

Salem defeated the football team 34-6 to maintain its tie for the league lead.

In girls intramurals, Ruth Faile led the juniors in a 1-0 victory over the sophomores. The freshmen took as their class name, "The Fighting Class of '50".

The sophomores voted to buy gold and onyx class pins, but most of the meeting was devoted to a possible revision of the onerous "point system" for varsity letters.

The recently formed "Varsity Club" held a card party for the public, as a fund-raiser. Pres. George Arnold was in charge.

The football sextet lost a high scoring duel at Greenwich, 31-36. Arnold, Tuttle and Clark (twice) scored for Cambridge.

But in the last game of the season they out-lasted Warrensburg 33-32. Buckley had three TDs and Clark two. Playing for Cambridge:

Donald Decker LE, Foster Geelan C; Kirk Spurr RE, Bentley QB, Don Tuttle HB and Bill Clark FB. Subs were DeMarco, Stannard, Catellier, B. Buckley, and W. Buckley.

The varsity basketball team was about to kick off an 18 game season. Playing were Bill Bennett, Bob Buckley, John Luke, George Arnold, Charles Vickers, Phil DeMarco, Charles Harff, Stanley McLenithan and Bob Tuttle.

There would be 10 league games.

Playing on the JV basketball team that winter were Donald Decker, Jerry Robertson, Bernie Olff, Donald Bates, Rupert Jennings, Vincent Cristaldi, George Harff, Warren Collamer, George Hastings, Howard Bentley and Virgil Cruz.

The basketball boys opened their season with a 46-47 loss to non-league Schuylerville. John Luke led all scorers with 12 points.

Three days later they downed Greenwich 37-34.

A disgusted student wrote to complain of a lack of interest. After the Forum Club and the Student Council finally got the school to provide a bus for student fans, not enough showed up to make it worth the driver's while.

The Cambridge Vets basketball team was organized and ready to play. Gerard McInerney was the manager. Players were Ray Luke, John Ridler, Edward Gray, John Buckley, Dick Shiland, William Tomajer, Steve Ashton, Harold Fairbanks and William Austin.

The CCS team lost another squeaker, 37-34 to Berlin and another to Schuylerville before beginning league play.

The basketball boys opened the league campaign with an easy 37-22 win over Fort Ann. John Luke led scorers with 17.

HISTORIC GIRLS TEAM

But it was the girls who made history that week. For the first time since they were banned from interscholastic competition prior to World War II, a girls team competed against a team from another school. And as might be expected, the girls took up where they left off, by defeating Greenwich 36-9.

That historic team was led by Capt. Ruth Faile, who scored 32 points. Helen Linendoll, the other forward, added the other four. Playing were Faile, Linendoll, Jane Shields, Florence McClellan, Ida Furforo, Anne Arnold and Maxine Olff.

For the second week in a row, John Luke scored 17 points in a game, but Hoosick Falls triumphed 44-28.

1947: John Luke Emerges

At the holiday break that winter, John Luke emerged as the leading scorer in the northern area. Luke had 68 points in five games, to lead Washington County League rival Dick Ennis of Salem, who had 53 points on four contests.

CCS lost a league game 47-32 to Hartford.

Basketball was so popular at this time that the local Vets team could play a double-header, hosting Salem in the Grange Hall with varsity and JV (Junior Vets) games.

Harry Arnold was reelected president of the Cambridge Fish and Game Club. There were 188 members.

CCS took it on the chin again, losing to Salem 38-23. James Tomasi and Roche shared scoring honors with 12 each. John Luke was held to seven.

Sets Hoop Mark

Luke broke loose against Hoosick Valley, whom CCS trounced 78-34. This was probably the highest individual scoring effort in CCS boys basketball to that date. Luke scored 19 in the second quarter and 13 in the fourth for a total of 32.

Later Kenny Stinner would take the boys record with 37.

Dorothy Burch Benson would forever claim the individual title with her 70-plus in 6 man girls ball in the 1930s.

In March John Luke lead all basketball players in the northern area with 262 points. The team had six victories, including a 49-18 win over Hoosick Valley, in which Luke had 19 points.

CCS needed an overtime in the final league game to wrestle second place away from Argyle, 35-35. Vickers scored the deciding basket.

CCS defeated Greenwich 57-33 in the final game of the basketball season. Arnold had the hot hand, scoring 20. Luke added 17.

Coach Nash announced that the baseball team would play a nine game schedule, five of them league games.

The basketball team was honored with a banquet for their second place finish.

High water did not stop George McFarland, William Early, Newton Bogle, Homer Peters, Joseph Canzeri, Joe Jr., Harry Arnold, Tom Dwyer and Tom Duddy, all members of the Cambridge Fish and Game Club, from stocking 22,500 trout in the Battenkill.

Walter P. Gann announced that new bowling alleys would be constructed that summer. They were expected to be finished in time for Fall league play. The building was to be a separate unit north of the Hotel. The facility would be 55 x 125 ft., of cement block construction, with sound-proofing.

Harness racing at Saratoga attracted considerable local participation. O.K. Spurr had five horses entered. He planned to compete in 30 events, including the $1,800 Cambridge Pace August 7. Harry Moore trained the horses at the Spurr track in Cambridge. Charles Hunt, Walter Perry and George Moulton of Cambridge also had horses entered.

Harry Motsiff, local trainer and driver, had five horses at the State Line race track. He also trained and raced "Mr. Signal" for sport newcomers Stuart Cullinan and Martin Gibbons.

In a historic vote, before a packed house, the Village Board that May voted to allow baseball and bowling within the Village limits after 2 p.m. on Sundays. The summer of '47, a group of veterans played in a county league. It was specifically for their benefit that the Village Board went against the wishes of a horrified clergy and allowed Sunday afternoon baseball, and that the School Board approved to use the school field on Sunday.

The team was only medium successful, despite having such experts playing as Joe Canzeri, Pete Clark, Eddie Gray, Walter Nash and Bob Gibbons.

A week later, the BOE voted to allow the local baseball team to use the field south of the Village for Sunday baseball.

In a special assembly, six senior boys received athletic sweaters: Bob Buckley, baseball, track and football; John Luke, baseball, basketball and track; George Arnold, baseball, basketball and football; Stanley McLenithan, baseball, basketball and football; Bill Clark, baseball; and Foster Geelan, football.

The sweaters were heavy knit black cardigans, with orange rings on the right sleeve.

The "Letter" Scheme

The CCS baseball team was having a fair season. They found themselves tied with Salem for 1st place in the Washington County League.

The editors of the Orange Tattler undertook another explanation of the CCS letter scheme, as it "differs from that of other schools".

They noted that numerous extra-curricular activities generate points toward "Varsity" letters, whether it be class committees or Amateur Sportsters (girls intramural athletics).

"It is not uncommon for a student to have two or more letters before he graduates. Naturally this devalues the orange and black C's, since they are so common.

"Even the 'small fry' in grade school are occasionally seen sporting a C on their sweaters. Now what do our school letters mean if everybody has one?"

This was an old student complaint, dating to the days when a former principal took girls completely out of varsity athletics and tried to turn boys interscholastic competition into intramurals.

"In the present system no differentiation is made between an apt music student and a superior athlete.

"In our proposed plan, the music, sports and other major departments might each have a different type letter, not to be freely awarded.

"The other minor departments would give points to students, but conservatively enough so that very few receive this different letter, similar to the present ones. This system would be more easily understood by other people and schools, since it is more universal.

"At the present time the point system is very unbalanced. It is easier to obtain credits in one club than in another. A person working hard all year on the newspaper staff may receive as many points as another who occasionally attends a Forum.

"Our proposal is rather general, but we feel it forms a basic plan for a more rational distribution of school letters. The main points are: reducing the number of letters awarded and differentiating between letters earned in different fields."

The Cambridge baseball team defeated Argyle 10-8 to finish in a tie with Salem for the County Championship, with 4-l league marks.

But in the play-off, Salem got two runs in the first inning and held Cambridge scoreless, 5-0.

The summer of '47 started in robust fashion. It got quite hot early. The Cambridge Saddle Horse Club held a trail ride. A 45 inch Pike was taken from Lake Lauderdale, perhaps a record for that Lake.

The 29 lb. fish was taken in shallow water near Camp Nassau by a whack from a boat oar.

CHS Alum Charles "Bud" Carey won the individual rifle shooting honors for his team, the New York Central 20th Century Limited small bore team, with a score of 397 out of 400. NYC defeated the General Electric Co. team 1,577 to 1,528.

1944: Cambridge CENTRAL School

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Central School Approved

The vote to form a central school district won overwhelming support from the region, 393-120.

Elected to the first central school Board of Education were Clarence Coulter, O.K. Spurr, Brede Pederson, Arthur Waite and William Robertson.

The rural districts that were centralized were numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 14 in the Town of Cambridge; 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in Jackson; 6 and 7 in Salem; parts of 7 and 8 in Easton; and 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 in White Creek.

Families living along the Hoosic River would have their choice of central schools: Cambridge, Hoosick Falls and Hoosick Valley.

Each district had the right to decide this question.

Current teacher contracts were valid until the next annual meeting.

One opponent, William F. Watkins, rejoined in verse, entitled Future Views:

"To win this war we are going to try, That at least in the tax payer's eye, We will centralize our schools And spend their money like a bunch of fools, And to the boys who are gone

We will leave our debts to carry on."

So it was, and so, apparently, will it ever be.

The valedictorian of the class of '44 was John Bates. Betty Reagan was salutatorian. Joyce McCollum and Joyce Robertson were selected to edit The Orange Tattler in '44-45.

Prof. E.E. Smith, one of the Union School's best principals, died March 25 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Arthur Gallup and family had moved onto West Main St. and he was actively engaged in organizing the new Central District.

Arthur M. Gallup was the first principal of Cambridge Central School. The first CCS faculty and staff:

Winthrop Ames, agriculture and industrial arts; Miss Charlotte Hitchcock, English; Miss Anna Vaughn, science; Miss Hazel Moffitt, math; Miss Margaret Hotaling, commercial; Miss Ruth Weir, junior high math; Mrs. Olive Noteman, junior high English; Mrs. Marguerite Hunt, junior high social studies; Miss Phyllis Van Duzer, Spanish and Latin; Miss Harriet Fairley, social studies; Miss Shirley Perry, home economics; Miss Charlotte Record, art; Miss Jennie Vairo, music; Mr. Lyndon Wallace, phys. ed. and attendance; Miss Helen Wallace, grade 6; Miss Ethel Carey, 5; Miss Rebecca Bell, 4; Miss Harriet Kast, 3; Miss Mary Parrish, 2; Miss Eva Carpenter, 1; Miss May Carpenter, librarian; Miss Mary Nolan, White Creek District No.5 (grades 1-6); Miss Suzie Lake, White Creek No.4; Miss Kathryn Scully, North Cambridge No.8; Mrs. Marion Robinson, Jackson No.8; Miss Margaret Foster, Salem No.6; Mrs. Maude Snell, White Creek No.9; Mrs. Hannah Kipp, Cambridge No.7; Mrs. Bernice McGeoch, cafeteria manager; Mr. Theodore Riley, custodian; and Miss Edna Bentley, secretary.

The new Central School District had eight buildings in use and a combined enrollment of 494.

For the first time ever, the school cafeteria, under Bernice McGeoch, opened when school began, with the intention of serving hot lunches throughout the school year. Heretofore, it had served partial lunches only in the hard winter months.

Six-man interscholastic football resumed that fall, with alumnus Charley Cantwell as the coach.

Out for the team were Don Catellier, Ray Durrin, John Buckley, Russell Roby, Ward Sherman, John Thompson, Ken Hahn, Bob Buckley, Harold Ehrenfreund, Loren Bentley, Marshall Kent, Jack Barker, George Arnold, Jerry Robertson, Dick Dusha, Charles Vickers and Bud Carey.

The class of 1944 was the last to graduate from the Cambridge Union School as it had been originally founded. There were twenty receiving diplomas, five men and fifteen women, the fewest number in years.

1945

An alumni team defeated the CCS varsity basketball team 29-28. The alums were organized and led by Dick McGuire who, in 1992, served as New York State Commissioner of Agriculture.

Also on the alum team were Reynolds, Blatchley, Morin, McGeoch, Mikish, Clough, McInerney and Moore.

Cambridge opened its league competition with a 48-20 victory over Hoosick Valley. John Luke and Kent were high scorers with l0 each.

The cheerleaders offered some new yells:

"Alagasam, gasam, gasam

Boom, boom, boom.

We'll beat 'em

We'll lick 'em

We'll lead 'em to their doom.

Yea, rah, rah, Cambridge".

As well as the immortal:

"Riza, riza, rax--

Riza, riza, rax,

Given 'em all the ax,

When they see the Cambridge team,

Watch them turn their back!".

And the ever popular:

"Wishy, washy, washie--

Wishy, washy, washie,

Our colors may not clashie,

When we're out there on the floor,

Brother, are we flashie!".

At the end of the month, the youngsters were enjoying skiing on Spurr Hill. Tommy Bell cracked a bone in his leg when his ski tip caught in a crust of snow.

CHS held second in the Washington County League on the strength of a 35-21 win over Fort Ann. Ray Durrin had 12 points and Marshall Kent l0. John Luke, John Buckley and Bill Clark also scored.

The basketball team continued to roll with a 38-33 win over Hartford.

Girls intramurals continued with basketball.

In mid-February, one of the most striking local events of the war occurred in Ash Grove, when an unmanned U.S. military aircraft crash landed itself.

John Luke was the top scorer with 16, but Salem maintained its grip on first place in the League with a 35-26 victory.

It was a winter of heavy snows, so much so that parking was restricted from much of the north side of Main St.

The basketball boys finished the season tied for second place with Argyle behind Salem, whom they couldn't defeat.

In an unofficial play-off, Argyle bested Cambridge 30-29. Ray Durrin led local scoring with l0 pts.

Intramural sports was a big part of school activities in those days. The War forced officials to restrict interscholastic sports. The sophomore girls were the basketball champs that winter. Playing were Helen Linendoll, Woodcock, LeBarron, McClellan, Arnold and McCollum.

In March the cheerleaders gave the basketball team a party at the community center. Miss Van Duzer, Dick Dusha and Professors Ames and Gallup amused themselves with a fast card game. Jack Barker, Marshall Kent, John Buckley, Helen Thompson, Jean Sherman, Joyce Robertson and Helen McInerney played "Old Maid".

The rest played pool and ping pong. At l0 p.m. the extra ping pong table was appropriated and loaded with strawberry and vanilla ice cream, soft drinks and an immense cake decorated with orange and black icing and topped with the inscription, "To the Varsity from the Cheerleaders".

All gathered round and sang, "We are the Famous CHS," while Miss Van Duzer cut the cake.

After the dishes were done, there were dancing and group singing. Around eleven, in deference to the war-time, midnight curfew, everyone joined in to sing "The Alma Mater" and then started for home.

That season John Luke was third highest scorer in the Washington County League, with 89 points.

Baseball Team

2^nd in County

The baseball team finished second in the County League that year, behind the pitching of Ray Durrin. John Luke, Mick Kent, John Buckley, Dick Dusha, Roby, George Arnold, Bill Clark, John Thompson Harold Ehrenfreund, Fred LeGrys, Don Catellier, Bob Tuttle, Robert Buckley and Loren Bentley all played on that team.

They won four of five league games and played four games outside the league. Ray Durrin pitched the four league games they won. Kent got 19 hits on the Sean and batted in the most runs.

John Buckley made "some very beautiful catches, robbing batters of hits". In all, the team made 5l runs on 61 hits.

The only league loss was 2-l to Greenwich. Capt. Marshall Kent was named most valuable player.

A Tri-County schedule was formed for the fall football season. Seven schools were to participate: S. Glens Falls, Stillwater, Salem, Hoosick Falls, Greenwich, Ballston and Cambridge.

A host of students earned the once-coveted varsity letter "C", 31 to be exact: Anne Arnold, George Arnold, Barbara Andrew, Jack Barker, Mae Bates, Loren Bentley, Frieda Brown, John Buckley, Robert Buckley, Ray Durrin, Dick Dusha, Harold Ehrenfreund, Charles Harff, Eleanor Hunt, Mick Kent, Fred LeGrys, Helen Linendoll, John Luke, Ethel McClarty, Joyce McCollum, Ruth McCollum, Helen McInerney, Borgny Markussen, Jean Morris, Mae Reagan, Joyce Robertson, Marge Robertson, Russ Roby, Don Rutherford, Jean Sherman and Helen Thompson.

Fred LeGrys received the largest number of points.

CHS was to open Sept. 4, 1945 with the largest enrollment in its history, 505 students.

The August 16 issue of the Old WCP chronicled a proper end of the war celebration, including the ringing of the church bells and a parade, as Japan was brought to its knees by two atomic bombs. To add to everyone's delight, gas rationing ended immediately.

Eighteen boys turned out for 11 man football. Veterans were Robert Buckley, C. Vickers, J. Robertson and J. Thompson.

Trying out were H. Clark, P. DeMarco, J. Steen, W. Bennett, R. Tuttle, S. McLenithan, D. Bates, F. Geelan, O. Spurr, D. Decker, G. Arnold, D. Rutherford and C. Smith.

Coaching all sports that year was Walter Nash, a former varsity football player at Colgate.

Elva Ayers was elected president of the Amateur Sportsters. Grace Campbell was Sec’y and May Lis Rehn treas. The Sporsters

club was an attempt to make up for closing interscholastic athletics to girls. This occurred before WW II when school officials decided that Cambridge girls were becoming too competitive.

Basketball was the sport that brought the pre-war girls near national recognition. But it was field hockey that kept the competitive spirit going during those years of the deprivation.

Organized by class, afternoons after school the girls slugged it out on the playing field south of the Union School building.

At the end of September, the sophomores were ready to challenge the seniors for supremacy of the Village. Lineups:

Seniors; Elva Ayers, Frances McClellan, Borgny Markussen, Harold Edie, Jean Morris, Margaret Robertson, Grace Campbell, Marjorie Hastings, Pricilla Collamer, Shirley Bell.

Sophomores; Jane Shields, Hazel Loveland, Ida Furforo, Peggy Mulligan, Ruth McLenithan, Joyce Royal, Alice MacArthur, Hannah McKernon and Alice Dumal.

Seventh and 8th grade teams played six man football that week, the 8th winning 12-0. Henry Mulligan captained the winning team and played halfback and quarterback. Jack Royal made two touchdowns. George Harff was center, Jimmy and Joe Robertson ends and Rupert Jennings right halfback.

Seventh grade defenders were Capt. Geno Furforo, Joe Harrington, Eddy Arnold, Ted Hahn, Robert Luke and George Smith.

A second six-man football defeat was administered, 33-6 by Hoosick Falls. Bob Buckley again scored the lone Cambridge touchdown.

Cambridge took another loss, this time 41-16 to Salem.

Then CCS lost another football game, 29-13 to Greenwich, after leading 13-6 at the half. Bob Tuttle, starting end, cracked his collarbone in the second quarter. John Thompson, the regular center, went out in the third quarter with a sprained shoulder. With the loss of two of the six starters, CCS could not protect its lead.

The first school bus to be purchased by the recently formed Central School District arrived on election day. It was a 55 passenger Wayne body mounted on a Mack chassis. Ken Randles was the driver. It was placed in service immediately on the West and South Cambridge run.

CCS' first football victory of the post-war era came against Fort Ann 19-12 that November, but it continued to be a rocky season. The boys lost by six points to Hoosac Prep.

It was not a great football season for the Orange and Black. They closed with a 21-6 loss to Ballston Spa. Their only win of the season had come against Fort Ann.

None the less, Coach Nash threw a party in the gym. Bud Carey was coaxed into playing the piano, while everyone sang and danced.

Ruth McCollum brought a "stunning" decorated cake.

In December, CCS opened the season when it eked out a roundball victory, 29-27 over Hartford.

1940-45: Heroes Rise, Fall as War Takes its Toll

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1940

Whooping cough was all around that January, 1940.

The varsity downed Argyle. Edward Kent had l2 points. Then Cambridge remained undefeated by beating Berlin l7-7. The CHS basketball team lost a tough battle to Fort Ann, 38-34.

At the end of January, the locals took Hartford in overtime 24-23. Everyone seemed happy to be playing neighbor schools. The County League seemed to be a success.

The CHS sports monicker had been modified to "The Flying Ghosts".

Behind Ray Luke's l8 points, CHS defeated Hoosick Valley 49-l7.

Then Argyle fell 25-l5. But in a non-league contest, Arlington beat Cambridge 27-l8. Despite Ray Luke's eight points, Cambridge fell to Salem 32-23 in the local gym. Then they lost their third league game l9-l3 when Fort Ann beat them the second time. CBS defeated Hartford 23-l9.

Next was Salem, there. Salem was undefeated in League play. Ray Luke's l6 points wasn't quite enough to push Cambridge over the top against Salem. That school completed its season unbeaten in League by defeating CHS again, 32-31.

Cambridge High School closed out its regular basketball season by showing off its new star, Ray Luke, who scored 19 points. Outscoring Berlin 22-2 in the third quarter, Cambridge won 54-20.

Still No Interscholastic Sports for Girls

In the meantime, the girls had found a new intramural game to play, called "Captain's Ball". The seniors easily won the league. The girls were apparently beginning to accept their role as second-class athletes, good only for intramurals; but occasionally their feelings showed through in "The Tattler".

Editor Margaret Henry wrote, "The boys have had their athletic games all arranged for them as league tilts. The girls, however, are not so fortunate. They are not supposed to play competitive games with other schools and they have no schedule...."

Despite the recent success of its track teams, The student body, "by vote", chose baseball as the spring sport. A ten-game schedule was set.

In keeping with the new policy of making the awarding of the "varsity letter" less common, Principal Herrington honored five seniors in assembly, each receiving the now-coveted Orange C.

They were: To George Burch, who had an outstanding career in varsity football, basketball and track; to Malcolm Clark, outstanding in track and served on Student Council; Margaret Henry, four years on "Tattler" staff and active in girls' intramurals; Betty MacDougall, cheerleader three years, on Athletic Council and Student Council; and Robert Powers, three years president of his class, active in sports, four years in high school band and started his own dance orchestra.

Track awards were dispensed that spring. Rewarded for their sectional championship the previous year were Edward Cieszko, Bob Powers, Charles Clark, Albert Kent, Malcolm Clark, John Chapin, Harry Bailey and John Jeskie. Frank Decker and Albert Kent received school letters.

Decker was the second junior to be honored under the new, more stringent awards format. He participated in football, basketball, track and baseball.

For baseball that spring, pitchers were expected to be Steve Ashton, Bob Gibbons, Ray Luke and Bill Reynolds; Catchers, Harold Fairbanks, Webster Madison and Francis Watkins; other players, Bill Austin, "Red" Blatchley, Ted Cieszko, Malcolm Clark, Bob Clark, Frank Decker, Jack Flanigan, John LeGrys, Carl Severson and John Sherman. Dick Shiland was to manage.

Wrote the indoctrinated student reporter: "Two plaques will be awarded to members of this year's baseball league: One plague to the school with the best sportsmanship, and the other to the victor. Both plagues are equally important...."

The “Galloping Ghost” Dies

John E. Galloway, player and coach "par excellence" was dead at the age of 34 of Hodgkins Disease.

He was born in l906 on the family homestead in Duell Hollow to the H. Gordon Galloways. He grew to football legend with the teams of the l920s at the Union School.

As "the galloping ghost", he ran wild for two seasons on the team of Colgate University, a national football power during the nation's first great mania over the sport. There are those in modern times who look back at the equipment football players used in the early days of the sport and wonder that more stars did not die prematurely.

With their opening game postponed because of the death of John Galloway, the baseball team took back-to-back losses, 13-5 to Argyle and 16-9 to Hartford.

The girls were seemingly resolved to accept their lot of intramural sports. In basketball, the sophomores beat the juniors 8-4; the freshmen (women) beat the eighth grade 11-2. They also played something called "newcomb ball".

The baseball team in late May beat Hoosic Valley 14-6, but lost to Salem 4-0.

The baseball team worked their way through a see-saw season, losing to Fort Anne 7-0 and defeating Argyle 22-1. Cambridge High School lost at Fort Ann 4-1.

Bob Powers was designated valedictorian of the class of '40.

Sunna Cooper, Ted Cieszko, John Jeskie and Hendrika LePlaa earned their varsity "C's".

That fall, football practice got under way, preparatory to an opening game with Salem. Twenty boys were available, but only a few were experienced: Ashton and Clark (co-captains), Severson, Cieszko and Kent. Also training were Watkins, Gibbons, J. Decker and F. Decker from the jayvee’s of the previous year; Greenway, Gray, Austin, McCarty, Vuori, Clark, Luke, McInerney, Sherman and Wood were newcomers.

Intramurals continued to be a big part of student activities. Both boys and girls looked at a schedule of horseshoes, basketball, volley ball, deck tennis and aerial darts, the latter two new "sports".

Cambridge High School gained a modicum of revenge for the deviltry Salem played with them at basketball the previous year. The local football boys defeated Salem 34-0. Jack Decker played center, Cieszko and Watkins ends, Ashton, Luke and Clark in the backfield. The team was still playing six-man format.

The football team continued to maul members of the county league, winning 20-2 over Greenwich. Cambridge went into the annual football extravaganza with Hoosick Falls tied with South Glens Falls for first in the League.

The football team had to settle for third in the league, bowing to So. Glens Falls 20-8.

1941

In January and February, Cambridge won six basketball games in a row: 33-24 over Hoosick Valley, 42-14 over Argyle, 35-32 over Hartford, 67-16 again over Hoosick Valley, 36-20 over Bennington, and 26-17 over Argyle. With a win 38-22 over Salem, they were 9-0 on the season. Fort Ann finally broke the streak at 10, taking the locals 38-21.

The Amateur Sportsters continued to be the girls' main answer to being deprived of interscholastic sports competition. They planned a skiing and skating excursion.

Student Leader of the Week Sunna Cooper ably led the school orchestra at the assembly for the awarding of "honor school letters", based upon participation in sports, clubs and plays. Five were designated: Steve Ashton, Bill Austin and Ted Ridler. Earning their second such letter were Malcolm Clark and Albert Kent.

In other activities, the Orange Tattler reported that Malcolm Clark and Ray Luke were to play for the checker championship.

Dick Shiland, a freshman, was highlighted in an interview. He played basketball and managed the football and baseball teams.

Intramurals were popular in 1941. The school did not schedule classes during lunch hour and most games were played then. Students managed, coached, refereed and generally supervised the gymnasium activities.

Intramurals pitted class against class, which did several good things. It made membership in a particular class mean something. And, while it wasn't as good as interscholastic sport for teaching the ever so important "competitive spirit", it was a step up from where the school had fallen under the previous administration.

An editorial in the Washington County Post in March acknowledged the turn-around in boys athletics: "Be it remembered that not so long ago Cambridge had almost nothing in the way of athletics. Football was hopeless, and basketball was little better."

The entire community warmed to the opportunity to once again take pride in its school and in its children. Much credit was given to their new coach, Hinchcliffe.

Then the boys lost a heart-breaker 27-25 to Hartford. The win put Hartford in first place in the league. Cambridge bounced back, defeating Salem 29-16, but lost the league title in overtime, 35-34 to Fort Ann. Cambridge led through most of the game.

The basketball team's picture appeared on Page 1 of the Washington County Post the next week. Players were Frank Decker, John Ridler, Ray Luke, Al Kent, Bill Reynolds, Roland Blatchley (manager), Beaver Watkins, George McGeoch, Steve Ashton, John LeGrys, Carl Severson (manager) and Coach Leroy Hinchcliffe.

They had won their first 9 games before dropping to 10-13.

The Amateur Sportsters used the proceeds from their party to buy a new movie projector for the school.

The Union School had a "post-graduate" program. Apparently in 1941 it meant that if the boys graduated they could still come back as post-grad students and play one more year. In which case, Cambridge High School was looking at an attractive prospect.

Coach Hinchcliffe was honored by being asked to officiate at the Eastern States Basketball Tournament in Glens Falls. He did so well that he was picked to officiate the championship game.

John Sheridan took part in the national rifle and pistol target championships at St. Petersburg, Fla. He won a third place trophy.

Sunna Cooper and Lois Jackson were valedictorian and salutatorian of the class of '41.

Baseball Team Undefeated

Cambridge High School baseball team reeled off three victories without a loss in their six-game schedule, to hold undisputed 1st place in the league. In June Ray Luke pitched his second one hitter as Cambridge High School defeated Salem 11-4. Greenwich then fell 5-0, giving them five wins and no losses. Then a home run blast by Steve Ashton with Shiland and Luke aboard brought Cambridge High School an undefeated baseball season and the Washington County Championship. Luke had his best day of the year on the mound. He struck out eight while allowing four singles. He himself was three for three at the plate, including a triple. This was the first baseball championship in years. As records are so spotty, it may simply be the Union School's first baseball championship.

Playing on that great, undefeated team were:

Al Kent, Beaver Watkins, Ray Luke, Captain Bob Clark, Bill Reynolds, Eddie Gray, Norm Thompson, Pete Clark, Bob Gibbons, John LeGrys, Tom Shiland, Steve Ashton and Malcolm Clark. Managers were Earl Costello and Russell Roby. Official Scorer was George McGeoch. Coach was Leroy Hinchcliffe.

The trophy went on display in the window of McGhee's Coal & Lumber Co., after first having been wrongly shipped to Hartford.

Graduating from the high school in full caps and gowns were thirty-three. There were thirteen men and twenty women.

Coach Hinchcliffe conducted swimming lessons at the Lauderdale Pavilion for area kids. The Hoosick Falls Red Cross sponsored the lessons. The climax was a swimming meet.

When school resumed in September 434 students were enrolled.

Coach Hinchcliffe was not optimistic about the football team. Only 11 boys reported for practice.

William Reynolds was again elected head of his class, the seniors.

The football team set out to open the season against Salem with few practices under their belts. The boys couldn't get together more than twice a week. And yet, first year players were enough to defeat Salem 31-8. Coach Hinchcliffe started three first year men and at one point had a defensive line entirely of new players. Ashton, Severson, Watkins, Ridler and Blatchley scored touchdowns.

Marion Motsiff was president of the girls' Amateur Sportsters that year. The girls planned to wear the school colors as a group to games, and to study the rules so that they might referee intramurals, since they still could not engage in interscholastic athletics.

Varsity cheerleaders were (head) Lois Lynch, Martha Jeskie and Hazel McClellan.

Cambridge continued to win at football, edging Fort Ann 19-18.

Beaver Watkins scored two touchdowns and, in the fading minutes of the game, passed to Steve Ashton for the clinching point-after.

Cambridge High School was still playing six-man football. The lineup: Ridler, right half; Ashton, quarterback; Reynolds, left half; Watkins, right end; Blatchley, center; and Buckley, left end.

Greenwich took their measure the next week, however, 19-7. Cambridge led at the half, but fell to an aerial bombardment in the second.

The Intramural Council that fall restricted Varsity athletes from competing in intramurals.

Cambridge High School lost a tough, 19-18 decision to Hoosick Falls.

Crowding at the Union School continued to plague. To make room for intramurals at noon in the gym, the orchestra and choral rehearsals were switched to the basement of the library.

The Amateur Sportsters climbed Goose Egg Mountain that October. Base camp was the Fred Wulff farm.

The girls still loved field hockey, but had to divide into teams among themselves, for competition.

Cambridge High School, after a strong start, lost its last three games in six-man football, including 26-12 to S. Glens Falls. They ended the season with a 2-3 record. Steve Ashton was elected captain for the season just ended. Bill Reynolds would captain the next season.

Frank Sherman Henry

America has long looked to the small town to nurture greatness in its citizens. Like pure water

from the mountains, young talent flows steadily from the protected environments of America's rural communities. There, where the ideals of the Republic are yet nourished, the excitement is not so great as to discourage a young man or woman from setting forth into the larger world.

Frank Sherman Henry was such a small-town boy. He was born and raised on East Main St. in Cambridge, NY, a Village of 2,000 inhabitants nestled among the foothills of the Green Mountains in the picturesque valley of the Owl's Kill.

His parents were middle class, his father a store-keeper and active in Republican politics.

Nonetheless, the small-town boy grew up to be a United States cavalry officer in the classic mould, who set an Olympic riding record that stands to this day.

Frank Sherman Henry was born in 1909 at 99 East Main St., in a house presently owned by the Nolan family. The Henrys lived in an apartment.

Later, they bought as the family home what is now the Runge home at 95 East Main. Sherman, an only son, retained possession of the house and store until in the late 1970s.

JOHN HENRY'S STORE

Sherman's father was John Henry, who, with the help of Ted Williams Sr., ran "John Henry's Store", a double storehouse of general merchandise on the first floor of Hubbard's Hall.

Significant for the community, in Hubbard's Hall, the Henrys passed along one of the finest examples in existence of a 19th century performance hall.

Also significant, Sherman retained the Henry horse track immediately north of 95 East Main. Late in his life, he placed this under the stewardship of a group of local men, with the stipulation that the land be preserved forever as a recreation area for the Village children.

That area has been developed into a modern complex of playing fields and courts. A new generation of village volunteers, the Cambridge Valley Athletic Assoc., now superintends it.

On Monday, May 31, as a part of the annual American Legion memorial service, that complex will be dedicated to its founder, the late Frank Sherman Henry: Scholar, Horseman, Olympic Athlete and Brigadier General of the US Army.

The Memorial Day Parade will end at the Little League field, where the ceremonies will be conducted this year. The public is invited to attend.

In childhood, "Sherm" palled around with the other kids on East Main. One chum, Gardner Cullinan, lived a few doors east of the Henrys. He is in his 80's now, but his memories of Sherman are vivid.

Like Sherman, Gardner served his country in World War II. But unlike him, Cullinan returned to Village life. Here in the Owl's Kill Valley, Gardner he published the Washington County Post, until its demise, the oldest weekly in America; and got himself elected to just about every post there was in local politics.

Gardner's father was a machinist and manufacturer. In those early days, he ran the chaplet works where H & E Ignition is today. There wasn't much in the way of recreational facilities on East Main in those days. There was the track, but few of the "East End Gang" besides Henry had a horse.

There were some ramshackle buildings on Division St., where the Gang would go to play "war" with "B-B" guns.

Behind the Cullinan house was a large barn. There Gardner and the neighborhood boys established a gymnasium where they could work out. There was a boxing ring and punching bag, weights, a trapese and a climbing rope.

EAST END GANG

In those days, little Cambridge was famous for its great high school football teams. Many of these players congregated at Cullinan's barn. Of course, one of them was Sherman Henry.

Frank Sherman Henry died in 1989, his body returned to Cambridge with full military honors. Most of the East End Gang preceded him in death. Gone are friends Lewis Buckley, Jimmy Frazier, Don Weir and Jimmy Duddy.

Gone is the talented John Galloway, also a frequent visitor to "Cullinan's gym", who liked to wrestle on the barn floor with one or another of the East-Enders.

Only Gardner, four years his junior, remains to tell the tale of the young Sherman Henry.

Sherman would work out at the "gym" and engage in the gun fights. Dr. Hiney, the dentist, owned some abandoned and dilapidated buildings on Division St., The boys went there, chose up sides and banged away at one another, until one day a visiting lad almost lost an eye.

That was Sherman's first taste of "war", Cullinan observed.

It was also what passed as recreation on Division St. in those days. The lack of a place for him and his friends to play in safety may explain Sherman Henry's determination to provide a proper facility for later generations.

"Sherm" was a small, wirey lad, who was quick, intelligent and mischievous. Friend Gardner lost the seat from his best pair of knickers to a well-thrown Sherman Henry fire-cracker.

For a reason even Gardner himself never understood, Sherman nick-named him "Pete". "Sherm" ostensibly made amends by presenting "Pete" with a Christmas gift.

Candy was hard to come by in those days, Cullinan recalled. He spent several days before Christmas admiring the present Sherman had given him, convinced it was a box of chocolates.

But it turned out to be a "gag', a book that no red-blooded boy of that era would have been caught dead possessing, much less reading: "The Bobbsey Twins Out West".

The future Olympian didn't hang out with the "East End Gang" that much.

"I wouldn't call him a loner," Gardner said recently. But Sherman had a horse named "Pearl", and she was his best pal. As few of the Gang had a horse, Sherman spent many childhood hours alone riding "Pearl".

The seeds of his future greatness were evidently sewn on those lonely rides through the community and over the very grounds that will soon be dedicated to the memory of Sherman Henry.

OLYMPIC SUB

"Sherm" at 16 was too young and too light to be much of a factor on such "crack" teams as CHS turned out in those days, but he did substitute on some of the greatest football teams in the history of Old Cambridge.

He and Charles Raymond, another future West Pointer, were subbing on the high school teams as early as 1923. Both would have illustrious military careers.

In 1923, when "Sherm" was only 14 years old, he played alongside such immortals of the local gridiron as Emerson McLenithan, John Maloy, William Robertson, Tom Tellier, Nick Canzeri, Frank Frazier, Forrest Coulter and the "Galloping Ghost", John Galloway.

His father, John Shields Henry, was president of the school board in those days.

The only loss for the 1923 team was the last game, to Albany High School for the championship of the Northeast, the highest you could go in competition in those days.

In 1924, Sherman Henry subbed on the Union School team that won their first title as Champions of the World, defeating Albany High 20-0. But that title was sullied, as the team had a loss, inexplicably to Troy High the week before.

GREATEST TEAM

"Sherm" was back for his final year at Cambridge High School in 1925, the year that the Cambridge team got just about as good as a team can get.

With Sherman Henry and Charles Raymond providing "bench depth", Cambridge rolled up victory after victory. "Sherm" and Charles would go in when a regular was injured or needed a "breather", and when the game was "on ice".

In the Saratoga game, which Cambridge won 26-0, both Charles and Sherman saw playing time in the line, Charles for Martin Church and Sherman for William Robertson.

That November, Cambridge won its fourth consecutive Northern League championship with a 34-0 wash of Whitehall.

By seasons end, when they again defeated Albany High for the championship of the Northeast, the Cambridge country boys had out-scored their opponents an incredible 302-8.

It was an exploit never approached by a CHS squad until the State "C" Championship team of this past season, 1992.

1942

The basketball season got off to a slow start. A mumps out-break canceled the first game. Then came a loss, before Ray Luke led the orange and black past Hoosic Valley 40-30. They followed that with a 31-15 win over Argyle. The boys won a squeaker, 30-29 from Fort Ann on Buddy Clark's last shot from outside with three seconds remaining. Ray Luke led Cambridge past Hartford 34-27. Then they took Salem and were tied for the league lead with Fort Ann.

They went six in a row with the win over Hoosick Valley 41-34. Then they defeated Argyle 39-19. The next week, they battled Fort Ann for the championship, but weren't up to it, losing 43-29.

They bounced back the following week to defeat Hartford Central and claim second place in the league. Bud Carey was brought up from the jayvee for the game.

Only four of the varsity were available. Earl Costello, Atwood Allen, Carey, Dick Ridler and John Ridler had to play the entire game, although Cambridge played one quarter with only four players.

They had 8 wins and 2 losses, both to Fort Ann.

In February, the Union School practiced an air raid alarm. Rice Seed Co. provided a mix of other vegetables and the boys set out to grow Victory Gardens. That week the sale of Defense stamps leaped to $184.

William Reynolds was designated valedictorian of the Class of '42.

Many teachers resigned to join the war effort.

Intramural sports remained popular at the Union School. The Student Council handed out the coveted "C's". That year they went to Lois Lynch, Rowland Blatchley, Bill Austin, Peter Clark, Atwood Allen, Bill Reynolds, John Ridler, Bill Hatch and Roddy Gorman.

That April, Coach Leroy Hinchcliffe traded his sneakers for brogans and became 1st. Lt. Hinchcliffe.

Winthrop Ames was a remarkable man. He took up the coaching duties left by Hinchcliffe, to become agriculture teacher, science teacher and phys. ed. Teacher.

Miss Becky Coulter, interviewed by a "Tattler" reporter about her 21-year career, thought the outstanding achievements had come in athletics, the championship football teams of the 1920s and the unbeatable girls basketball teams of the 1930s.

Miss Janet Jones was hired as school nurse in place of Miss Florence Flynn, who resigned. Miss Jones would also be attendance officer and be in charge of girls' phys. ed.

Ray Luke closed out the baseball season with a one-hitter against Salem, 11-0. The boys ended with three wins and two losses. Luke struck out 16, walking one and allowing one hit, which might well have been an infield error.

An army recruiter addressed the junior and senior boys about military service.

Graduating with the class of '42 were thirty-six. There were 18 men and 18 women.

Aside from the Principal, there were but two males on the Union School faculty when classes resumed Sept. 1, Winthrop Ames, vice principal and ag and shop teacher; and George Paddock, phys. ed., coach and science teacher.

The Board anticipated a drop in enrollment as parents of school age children left the Village in pursuit of military assignments and employment in war-stimulated industry.

Atwood Allen was president of the Student Council that year.

The county football league would continue. Each team would schedule five games. Because of the rationing of gas and tires, it was anticipated that most teams would have to hustle their own private transportation.

The State would not approve gas for interscholastic athletics, so the intramural program was to be expanded to take up the slack from an abbreviated athletics program. Intramurals would include both touch and six man football.

Atwood Allen, assisted by Peter Clark, was elected senior sport administrator for this expanded program.

Stanley Shields won the prize offered by Principal Herrington for growing the best Victory Garden over the summer.

The new girls phys. ed. teacher, a graduate of Russell Sage, when asked by a student reporter that October about the curtailed interscholastic sports program, stated, "I think that on the whole the lack of an inter-school program would be more of an advantage than we realize.

"In the past there has been too much competition for a favored few, namely the varsity teams, while the majority of people sat on the side-lines and watched. One cannot expect to benefit physically or any other way from watching.

"On the other hand a program of intra-school activities will allow for a moderate amount of competition for all. We want everyone to play for the love of playing, not for rewards or publicity.

"We want everyone to learn what true sportsmanship and amateur spirit means. In order to get the most pleasure out of sports one must develop skills and endurance as well as strength, flexibility and coordination, which are the aims of the

year's program at Cambridge High School."

Sure enough, the football season was dropped, because of the shortage of gas and tires. The day of the announcement, try-outs for cheerleaders were held. However hard the school argued that there was just as much to cheer about for intramurals, there were few takers.

The U.S. Treasury Department initiated a national "School-at-War" program to weld young Americans into a successful "Home Front Army".

The sophomores responded with catchy slogans to increase War Bond and Savings Stamp purchases:

"A bond or two in '42 Spells victory in 'forty three"; and "Don't be a cheap, Help buy a jeep; and "Don't let Uncle Sam get in a jam!"; and "Buy war bonds all you can!".

Intramurals charged off in a big way, with orange and black teams formed. The girls set up an ambitious field hockey program, while the boys played touch football, the rules of which were elaborate and precise.

When it was discovered that some students did not know all of the verses to the national anthem, each pupil was given a copy of the complete lyrics and a campaign began to teach them.

There must have been considerable grumbling among the students at having to give up interscholastic athletics. The "Tattler" editors, Ruth Burns and Jean Tuttle, wrote:

"We all talk about giving things up and convince ourselves and everybody that we would gladly give up anything to preserve democracy. Yet--when the time comes for us to make a very small sacrifice we are unwilling to do so.

"The war has called upon students all over the state to substitute an intensive intramural program for the varsity games which were done away with because of the lack of transportation facilities.

"The girls, especially have shown a lack of interest and an unwillingness to cooperate with the new program."

When it came time to vote for captains of the Orange and the Black teams, most girls didn't vote. And many declined to play on the teams.

Perhaps the girls, having been deprived of interscholastic sports since the 1930s, felt they had already sacrificed enough.

The next week, Ruth and Jean observed: "Cambridge High School seems to be slowly preparing for its own funeral. The activities in the school have been cut down to a minimum.... Even the adults of Cambridge have been commenting on the inactivity...."

One hang-up in the intramurals was that to participate a student had to buy his own insurance.

The seniors couldn't raise money selling candy, since sugar was rationed. They wanted to hold a square dance, but were turned down. Opined the student editors, "There must be some social activities to which there would be no objection. The school should be open to the public more than ever before since people are now unable to go out of town....

"Remember that the school is the center of activity for the young people in a community or at least it should be."

In the intramural football finals the all-stars beat the Panthers 6-0. Eddie Gray scored the lone touchdown. On the all-stars were Bob Durrin, Dick Center, M. Peters, Pete Clark, Ed Gray and Marshall Kent. For the Panthers, John Bates, L. Bentley, J. Thompson, Bill Clark, Dick Shiland and John Buckley.

Without interscholastic sports to report, the "Tattler" shrunk to half of a page in the Washington County Post.

In December, Jean Tuttle and Monica Hunt again editorially lamented the intramural program. The students wanted interscholastic sports and were failing to cooperate in the intramurals. They failed to show up for games, sometimes even the captains.

Despite State strictures against it, the Cambridge High School boys could not resist the call of true athletic competition. They reverted to the old days and formed their own varsity basketball team. The members were Edward Gray, Earl Costello, Marshall Kent, Charles Cary, John Buckley, Dick Shiland, Atwood Allen, Peter Clark, Fred LeGrys, Ray Durrin, Rogers Gorman and William Clark. Returning lettermen were Gray, Costello, Allen and Shiland.

They organized and began practice, although they had no guarantee of getting to play a single game.

1943

The valiant Athletic Association were able to schedule a couple of local games with alumni, but there were no interscholastic sports. Even the senior dance was canceled, because of gas rationing.

Infantile paralysis still plagued the population.

On March 28, meat rationing began. This included butter, lard, shortening, cheese and canned fish.

Eddie Gray was the third boy to be called to service from the Union School and the first from below 12th grade.

1944

The Cambridge High School basketball team resumed interscholastic sports with a 39-29 victory over Hoosick Valley. Playing were Marshall Kent, Charley Cary, Dick Dusha, Bob Durrin, and John Buckley.

Centralization was again becoming a topic in the local community.

The question was on centralization, not on constructing a building. Those who favored the move sought to defuse resistance by suggesting that there could be centralization without school construction.

In early February, Principal Byron M. Herrington announced his intention to resign. Prof. Herrington, because of his health, decided to spend a few years at his farm. Byron Herrington had been principal for five years.

Then on Monday, Feb. 7 Prof. Herrington gave up his principalship for health reasons and Prof. Bergen Suydam became acting principal until summer closing. He had been a faculty member since last September, when he was hired to teach math. He came from Greenwich.

The Board wasted no time. They announced that Arthur Merrill Gallup had been hired effective in September, 1944.

Prof. Gallup was then the principal of Argyle Schools, a post in which he had served 12 years. It would be the second time in the history of the Union School that an Argyle principal had been hired away from that community.