"Senior Hat" from 1967 Displayed Spirit Pins

How many of you are old enough to remember 'Senior Hats?' This writer is a 1976 graduate of Andrew Warde High School, so I'm not familiar with them. However, one of the regular contributors to the Guest Book wrote, "Anyone remember collecting the different spirit pins, buttons, and badges each week during football season in the late 60s and 70s?"

The writer continued, "Warde students and faculty (collected pins) with the name of the opponent for the upcoming Saturday football game. There used to be 'Senior Hats' for sale, usually before the first football pep rally. Seniors would decorate their hats with the buttons and pins collected during their years at Warde.

"On the day of the first pep rally, seniors were allowed to wear the 'Senior Hats' to classes throughout the day. The school-wide pep rallies usually took place during the last period of the day. If the weather was clear, then the rally took place on the patio in front of the cafeteria. Otherwise, the rally moved into the gym. After the football team and coaches were introduced, each class would compete in a cheer contest with the loudest class being declared the winner."

Believe it or not, I found a 'Senior Hat' from 1967 at a Fairfield Warde High School flea market. The crimson hat has the embroidered letters AW and numbers 67 along with the spirit pins. This is quite a find, and it's one of my favorite Andrew Warde High School collectibles. Take a look. 

Paul

The 'Image' of Andrew Warde High School

What was your image of Andrew Warde High School? Students shared their feelings and opinions in this newspaper article in The Bridgeport Post from September of 1971. Please click "view" and then click the article to enlarge and read.

Found on Newspapers.com

Paul

Warde & Ludlowe Held Swim Marathon 44 Years Ago This Weekend

Swim team members and alumni from Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe high schools swam for their proverbial lives in a 30-hour marathon 44 years ago this weekend. The marathon, which raised $4,000 to help keep the swim teams at both schools afloat for the 1971-72 school year, set a national record of 100 miles.

The event, which was held at the Olympic-size Fairfield YMCA pool on Old Post Road, began at noon on Saturday, July 3, 1971, and ended Sunday evening, July 4, at 6 p.m., according to a front-page story which appeared in The Bridgeport Telegram, Monday, July 5, 1971 (see below).

Found on Newspapers.com

More than 60 swimmers participated, completing the 100 miles in 28 hours and one minute. Encouraged by financial backing from townsfolk who pledged one dollar for every completed lap, the participants continued after setting the record to log 30 hours of uninterrupted swimming.

George Ford, a parent of one of the swim team members, announced at the conclusion of the event that $4,000 had been raised. However, he emphaszied that another $4,000 was needed to support the activities for the swim teams at both high schools.

"If the Board of Education approves a request for a $2,000 allocation for the program, the swim teams will be able to continue their activities in the new school year," Ford stated. As a result of sharp budget cuts, the Board of Education eliminated funds previously provided for the swim team programs.

Rather than let the program die, members of the swim teams at both high schools started the ball rolling for a fund-raising event. The marathon was the first endeavor, and other plans for raising the needed funds were in the works.

The marathon was supervised by Edward Quinn, the Ludlowe swim coach, his assistant, William Babcock, and George Reed of Warde. Mike Tierney and Bob Wilk, Ludlowe's co-captains, and Dan Ford and Mike Cardone of Warde helped organize the marathon.

Paul