CLASS OF 1908
Warren F. Hale, the elongated forester of '08, devotes much of his life to efforts to prevent New Hampshire forests from burning up. In June he made photographs and prepared a report on a burned area in Portsmouth. It attracted attention because it was the first serious forest fire set in the state by an airplane. This is a new kind of hazard added to picnic parties, fishing and hunting risks, smokers, campers, lightning, and sparks from locomotives, in making life tough for "String" Hale.
Speaking of fires, Alden "Lindy" Speare is head of the Nashua, N. H., Lions Club, and led his organization in their active efforts to relieve suffering in Nashua following the great fire which burned 1000 homes and several factories in that city in May.
And speaking of forest preservation: A. B. Rotch has a mild dissipation every spring, helping his son plant young pine on land in Milford, N. H. Last year young Bill won first place in the county and second in the state in the 4-H Club forestry division. Last month the annual spring planting brought the total up to 15,000 pine transplants put in the ground, and when it was finished the family took a motor trip to Montreal and Quebec. In the former city connection was made with Bert Thwing, by telephone, one stormy evening. Next morning a call at his office in New Birks Building elicited the information from the elevator man that "Mister Thwing never gets in before nine o'clock or lighter," (which we figured out to be a Hinglishman's way of saying later) so there was no real Montreal reunion that day. Bert is prosperous and busy in the contracting business, and lives across the St. Lawrence in the suburb of St. Lambert.
Art Lewis continues to cop the prizes at the New England horse shows. One where his horses scored a clean-up was at Seekonk, which is a real place in Massachusetts and not a joke name. Mrs. Lewis and son Jack Lewis are riders of the Lewis stable in the shows.
Bill Knight received the honorary degree of A.M. at the commencement in Hanover this June. Or at least he was scheduled to when this is written, and will have the degree before it is printed, unless he breaks a leg or the trustees change their minds. Bill has made a remarkably fine record in his profession, and as Illinois state attorney in Winnebago county, of which Rockford is the metropolis. Bill brought his wife to New Hampshire for the event, and made hurried calls on many of his New England classmates while here. With Bill going in for his honorary degree, Dean Marsden marching along in his robes as dean of the Thayer School, and Rotch following the governor in his major's uniform, as a staff aide, the academic procession this year had a slight 'OB atmosphere.
Classmates will be genuinely grieved by the misfortune which has overtaken "Cap" McAuliffe. May 24 Mac was discharged from the Worcester hospital, where he had been critically ill for three months with pneumonia and complications which followed. During his serious illness his wife was stricken with pneumonia, and died after five days' illness. The family lived in Brooklyn, following their return from Spain, and there are five youngsters ranging from eight years down to the baby of five months who are left motherless. Mac closed his Brooklyn home and put the children in care of his sisters, and plans to spend the summer with them on a farm. Then he will probably take bachelor's quarters in New York in the fall, and the children will live in Worcester. Mail addressed to 66 Fruit St., Worcester, Mass., should reach Mac.
Gene Jordan was in Hanover for the commencement exercises and ball this year. Gene was attending the graduation of a nephew. He is in the woven wire and grille work business, in Boston, and travels to many New England cities in a year.
Alden "Lynde" Speare of Nashua was reported in Hanover June 16, and Larry Treadway was there Sunday, June 15, for one day only, en route to the White Mountains with Mrs. Treadway. Sid Ruggles with his wife and children was another 'OB classmate at the 1930 commencement. Mrs. Ruggles has been in poor health, but is gradually getting back her strength.
In Boston, June 20, a dozen classmates enjoyed Art Lewis' hospitality and an evening with Bill Knight of Rockford, Ill. The gathering was at Art's farm and horse ranch in Dedham. Bill Knight, who was given an honorary degree by Dartmouth this month, was starting back to the land of bombs and gangs, accompanied by Mrs. Knight, and stopped off two days in Boston to greet classmates.
Bob Marsden presented the Thayer School graduates for their degrees, and next day left for Manchester, Vt., where he and wife expected to do a little work and a little resting in a camp before going to New Haven in July to teach at a summer session of the engineering school at Yale.
Two of the missing classmates have been reported. Bob Chedel is in the Brattleboro Retreat at Brattleboro, Vt., an institution for mentally afflicted people. Ralph Crowley is in Watertown, N. Y., in the employ of Montgomery Ward Company, according to a bulletin from Dick Paul '11.
Manchester, N. H., doctors acted as ushers and bat-boys at a big wrestling match June 20, for benefit of the Elliot hospital. Our Doctor Ben Sanborn is a leading physician of Manchester. In the final bout Gus Sonnenberg butted the hopes all out of one Jean Ledoux, a large-size grappler from Canidor, by gar.
Assistant Secretary, Milford, N. H.
