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The Seventies by John Larsen, Class of 1976 The 1970’s were a turbulent decade, with Presidents Nixon/Agnew, Nixon/Ford, Ford/Rockefeller and Carter/Mondale. A President (Nixon) and Vice- President (Agnew) resigned in disgrace, leaving us with an unelected President and an unelected Vice President (Ford/Rockefeller) for the first and to now only time in our country’s history. The Vietnam War raged at the beginning of the decade creating protests and unrest at home. The civil rights movement continued its march towards equality, while the Women’s Movement pushed to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Title IX was passed and among other things allowed women in high school and college equivalent opportunities in sports. As the decade moved on, the U.S. exited Vietnam leading to the eventual fall of Saigon. President Ford Pardoned President Nixon, eventually leading to Ford’s defeat by Jimmy Carter. The decade ended with the Iran Hostage Crisis and an energy shortage that caused the rationing of gas and a feeling of the country losing its way. The Kinks song “Catch Me Now I’m Falling” summed up these glum times best: “Now I'm calling all citizens from all over the world This is Captain America calling I bailed you out when you were down on your knees So will you catch me now I'm falling” I remember attending a Kinks concert and thinking this song captures how it feels to be an American now. We were a county that appeared to be at the mercy of foreign powers, begging for oil and unable to free the hostages held in Iran. Through all of this students were flowing through Somerset High School. Somerset schools had an excellent reputation and my family moved from Swansea to Somerset when I started 7 th grade because of this reputation. I can think of two other members of my graduating class that made the move from Swansea to Somerset: Robin Cox and Ray Torres, David Andrade also moved to Somerset but during his High School years. One of my fondest memories is of French class, not that I excelled in French, but there were a few of us who took four years of French to avoid the requirement of taking a foreign language in college. As I recall, we were a handful of students; Steve Saraiva, Ray Torres, Karen Welch, Sue Martin and Bonnie Davis come to mind. I think there were a few more students, but their names escape me. We had Mrs. McNamara who was one of the sweetest most patient teachers on earth. She certainly deserved better than a group of kids who were just trying to get through four years of French so they could avoid it in college. I’m sure some of us were motivated, but I know some (including me), weren’t. We weren’t bad kids, just maddening to a teacher who was doing her best to help us learn French. She weathered four years with me and the others. Nevertheless, she took us on a field trip to a French restaurant and even invited us to a get together at her house our senior year. Looking back I can now appreciate all she gave to us and she holds a dear place in my heart. Another memory is of Mr. Newton, who substituted when our regular English teacher was absent. Although it was only one class, I still remember how engaging, interesting, and fun he made the subject. He discussed Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Sonnets from the Portuguese. I was not a big fan of English class
Transcript of The 1970’s was a turbulent decade, with Presidents of Nixon ... · Web viewThe 1970’s were a...
The 1970’s was a turbulent decade, with Presidents of Nixon/Agnew, Nixon/Ford, Ford/Rockefeller and Carter/Mondale
The Seventies by John Larsen, Class of 1976
The 1970’s were a turbulent decade, with Presidents Nixon/Agnew, Nixon/Ford, Ford/Rockefeller and Carter/Mondale. A President (Nixon) and Vice-President (Agnew) resigned in disgrace, leaving us with an unelected President and an unelected Vice President (Ford/Rockefeller) for the first and to now only time in our country’s history. The Vietnam War raged at the beginning of the decade creating protests and unrest at home. The civil rights movement continued its march towards equality, while the Women’s Movement pushed to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Title IX was passed and among other things allowed women in high school and college equivalent opportunities in sports. As the decade moved on, the U.S. exited Vietnam leading to the eventual fall of Saigon. President Ford Pardoned President Nixon, eventually leading to Ford’s defeat by Jimmy Carter. The decade ended with the Iran Hostage Crisis and an energy shortage that caused the rationing of gas and a feeling of the country losing its way. The Kinks song “Catch Me Now I’m Falling” summed up these glum times best:
“Now I'm calling all citizens from all over the world This is Captain America calling I bailed you out when you were down on your knees So will you catch me now I'm falling”
I remember attending a Kinks concert and thinking this song captures how it feels to be an American now. We were a county that appeared to be at the mercy of foreign powers, begging for oil and unable to free the hostages held in Iran.
Through all of this students were flowing through Somerset High School. Somerset schools had an excellent reputation and my family moved from Swansea to Somerset when I started 7th grade because of this reputation. I can think of two other members of my graduating class that made the move from Swansea to Somerset: Robin Cox and Ray Torres, David Andrade also moved to Somerset but during his High School years.
One of my fondest memories is of French class, not that I excelled in French, but there were a few of us who took four years of French to avoid the requirement of taking a foreign language in college. As I recall, we were a handful of students; Steve Saraiva, Ray Torres, Karen Welch, Sue Martin and Bonnie Davis come to mind. I think there were a few more students, but their names escape me. We had Mrs. McNamara who was one of the sweetest most patient teachers on earth. She certainly deserved better than a group of kids who were just trying to get through four years of French so they could avoid it in college. I’m sure some of us were motivated, but I know some (including me), weren’t. We weren’t bad kids, just maddening to a teacher who was doing her best to help us learn French. She weathered four years with me and the others. Nevertheless, she took us on a field trip to a French restaurant and even invited us to a get together at her house our senior year. Looking back I can now appreciate all she gave to us and she holds a dear place in my heart.
Another memory is of Mr. Newton, who substituted when our regular English teacher was absent. Although it was only one class, I still remember how engaging, interesting, and fun he made the subject. He discussed Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Sonnets from the Portuguese. I was not a big fan of English class in general, but it seemed he could have turned me into an English major with many more classes like that.
Highlights of the year for each graduating class:
1970: The class dedicated the year book to Mrs. Beatrice Correa. Edward Kaylor started the year as principal and was replaced by Mr. Carl McDermott on October 22, 1969, Mr. McDermott continued as principal throughout the decade. Mr. Kaylor became Curriculum Coordinator for the Secondary Schools of Somerset. The superintendent of Schools was Francis J. Kilgrew who continued in this capacity until 1978 when he gave way to Thomas Daley. This was the year Gerald “Jerry” Remy, who later went on to a professional baseball career and is currently the color analyst for the Boston Red Sox, graduated. The baseball team was Narry League champs and lost in the state semi-finals finishing with a 15-1 record. The Girl’s Volleyball team was the South Eastern Massachusetts Champions. The Drama Club performed The Crucible and Mrs. McThing. Somerset defeated Case 28-6 on Thanksgiving Day. The Track team was 11-1 and Narry League Champions. The first annual Arts Festival was held May 29th and 30th featuring the Art Department, Music Department and Drama Department. Twenty seven students went on a trip to Portugal in April. Norwegian Wood was the theme of the prom, which was the last one held in the old auditorium.
1971: The man of the year was Harvey Alden. This was the first year of competition in gymnastics. In March, in a competition against 6 schools, the team finished first overall. The Cross Country team was Narry League Champions. In November of 1970 Edward Kennedy and Josiah Spaulding visited the High School and discussed the draft, welfare system, voting age and marijuana problem. Case beat Somerset in the Thanksgiving Day game 32-20. The first prom held outside of school grounds was at the Gristmill in Seekonk, with the theme Colour My World.
1972: The year book was dedicated to Mr. Donald Griffin. The Cross Country team was division IV State Champions led by Kevin Gartner, Ed Lussier, Paul Griffon, Bob Almeida and Randy Osga. Case defeated Somerset 16-12 on Thanksgiving Day. The Basketball team made it to the state quarter finals before losing. The King and I was performed by the drama club.
1973: The man of the year was Mr. Robert Taylor. Somerset defeated Case 21-7 in the annual Thanksgiving game. This was the first year of hockey with the team capturing the B.C.L crown with a record of 20-1-2. The girl’s volleyball team, with a 10-1 record, finished first in the division. You Can’t Take It With You was performed by the drama club, and the Marching Band went to Disney World.
1974: The man of the year was Richard Smith. Case defeated Somerset 28-0 on Turkey Day. The Field Hockey Team was 10-0-2 and league champions.
1975: The man of the year was Mr. Roland Moses. The field hockey team was 13-1 and Southern Massachusetts champions, losing in the first game of the state tournament. This was the first year of intramural soccer. The girl’s basketball team finished 8-2 in the league and were league champions and 12-3 overall. The drama club staged a production of Guys and Dolls. This was the year (fall of 1974) that the Music Town Festival began, creating many memories for students and the townspeople in each of the following years.
1976: The man of the year was Whitney Horton. The drama club performed The Matching Piece and Itchin’ to Get Hitched. The field hockey team, led by Sue Marcellus (a 1980 Olympian who was denied the chance to compete when the President boycotted the Summer Games in Moscow) finished 14-1, with a loss in the state semi-finals. The Thanksgiving Day game was won by Somerset with a score of 21-0. The ice hockey team finished 17-2-1 and were division co-champions.
1977: The man of the year was Frederick Newton. The Marching Band Performed at Schaefer Stadium for a New England Patriots game. The first year of varsity soccer competition began with Coach Whitney Horton and tri-captains Mike Corrigan, Bobby Stafford and Joe Castro leading the team to an impressive 7-5-2 debut season. Somerset handled Case 21-6 in the Thanksgiving Day game.
1978: The man of the year was Edmond Goulart. The Gymnastics team was state co-champions led by Judy Coté, Nancy Coté, Jane Bence and Jane Coté. Two athletes were mentioned for outstanding careers, Mike Borden (basketball), a member of the 1,000 point club with 1,147 career points, and Ron Marcellus, the leading schoolboy hockey scorer with 121 goals, 118 assists for a total of 239 points. The musical for the year was South Pacific, and Somerset won the Thanksgiving Day game.
1979: The man of the year was Richard Brezinski. The Soccer team finished 9-2-3 and competed in the state tournament. The football team was 8-1-1 and named state champions led by tri-captains George Lainge, Jeff Herz, and Rick Stafford. The gymnastics team was unbeaten, running their streak to 43 consecutive wins. They were once again led by Judy Coté, Jane Bence, Nancy Coté and Jane Coté. Greg Gagne, who went on to be a World Series Champion with the Minnesota Twins, graduated in 1979, bookending the 1970’s with two Major League Baseball players.
***UPCOMING PROGRAMMING, FALL OF 2014***
Monday, September 8th, 7pm, Richard Tinsley will speak about Somerset HS Sports over the decades.
Friday, September 19th, 6pm, Walking Tour of Main St, part of the Spirit of Somerset Weekend Activities, and back by popular demand.
Sunday, October 5th, 2pm, Mark Cartier returns by popular demand for “The Beatlemania Years, 1967-1970” Not to be missed by Beatle fans.
Monday, November 3rd, 7pm, Steven Manchester, best selling author of “The Unexpected Storm” talks about his experiences in the Gulf War as a member of the Massachusetts National Guard.
Sunday, December 7th, 1-4pm, Annual Holiday Open House
Monday, December 8th, 6pm, Members Holiday Party
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