Class of 1927
Fifth Reunion
To write a review which is to any extent complete in detail, of the four glorious days we spent in Hanover this June seems like a colossal task. So much of enjoyment and satisfaction was packed into those comparatively few hours that it would have been impossible for one pair of eyes and one pair of ears to record it all. Let us start by saying that there were, by official count, some sixty-five members of the class who were fortunate enough to be able to return to that celebration which marks our FIFTH year as alumni of Dartmouth. The advance guard consisting of Cummings, Bury and Arnold, later Abbott, and much later Davis and Ballantyne held forth in an attic room of the Inn anywhere from ten-thirty P.M., to five in the morning, meaning Friday morning. By early afternoon that day things were well squared away, and Lord Hall, our headquarters, began to show signs of being occupied. Each member of the class as he entered the dormitory was clapped on the back, then relieved of a few dollars, pushed into a jockey costume and sent merrily on his way to room 307, which for some reason or other came to be a very popular room. Suffice it to say that the rest of the afternoon went all too quickly with greetings, bull sessions and various other pleasant functions.
The first organized party was held Friday evening in Robinson Hall. A dance in conjunction with the classes of 1922 and 1917 seemed from all statistics we could gather to be quite a success. Of the three classes concerned, 1927 may not have supplied the largest number of feminine dancing partners, but it more than made up in quality for any lack in quantity.
The next morning at ten, Captain Red Elliott assembled his undefeated ball team on the Campus for an encounter with the class of 1922. Needless to say Red's team took the opposition like Grant took Richmond. With '27 far in the lead the second team took the field at about the first of the fifth. Although badly in need of practice, an eye-opener, or was it sleep, this aggregation held up nobly for two long innings. However, the strain soon proved to be too great, and just as things were looking darkest, the nine regulars, greatly freshened from their rest, charged on to the field replacing the seconds amid the cheers of the followers. This piece of strategy seemed to completely baffle the opponents, who promptly folded-up leaving '27 victorious by a wide margin.
From the Campus the class proceeded to the Commons cafeteria where an enjoyable luncheon was held. Directly after lunch we met in Steele Hall for a brief business meeting of the Class. The meeting was conducted by President Cusack. Reports of the Secretary and the Treasurer were presented and accepted. After some discussion the class voted to adopt a new form of constitution which was presented and recommended by Al Dickerson, assistant to the President. This constitution, a copy of which will be sent to each member shortly, provides for the following officers: a secretary-chairman, treasurer, and seven executive committee members. The following officers were duly nominated and elected: Secretary-Chairman, Doane Arnold; Treasurer, Gus Cummings; Executive Committee Members, Bill Cusack, Ken Ballantyne, Guy Bostwick, Red Cleaveland, Dinty Gardner, Sam Martin and Jerry Covert.
After a showing of the class movies the meeting was adjourned, and all proceeded to Dick's House where we had been invited by- Mr. and Mrs. Hall. During the reception Mr. Hall spoke to us for a short time telling us some of the more interesting facts in connection of the first five years of Dick's House. It was a great source of inspiration and pride to see and hear of the marvelous spirit which Dick's House had developed, and to know that we as a class are privileged to have a part in it. After delightful refreshments had been served we assembled on the front steps of Dick's House where the picture accompanying the report was taken.
From there the group broke up for a few hours to prepare for the banquet which was held at the Inn at 8:30 P.M. At the start of the dinner it was announced that President Hopkins would be in shortly to say a few words to the class. The door to the dining room soon opened and the President was ushered in by our very effective special emissary, Josh Davis. President Hopkins spoke briefly to us of our relation and responsibility to the College, and of the real value of reunions. He closed by expressing his appreciation and that of the administration for the effort we had made in attending reunion this year. The President had no sooner left than our special emissary returned escorting Dean Laycock who greeted us cordially, and refusing to make a speech, told one of his well-known Scotch stories. The dinner soon broke up with a snake dance which upset both pedestrians and traffic in the main square for at least ten minutes. The rest of the night passed quickly enough with all sorts of merriment.
All day Sunday was spent on an outing at Lyme Lake. Baseball, swimming, boating and cards not to mention a large noon-day meal made the day pass all too rapidly. To relate in detail all the humorous incidents, and downright fun during the day, or in fact during the whole four days, would be an endless job and must be left largely to your own imagination if you were not present.
Unfortunately, many found it necessary to leave either Sunday evening or early Monday. Consequently, there was a noticeable letting up in activities that night. Except for a large game which looked suspiciously like penny ante, Lord Hall was comparatively quiet.
There were about an even dozen who stayed to attend the Alumni Luncheon on Monday noon, and about three o'clock the last of us with much regret pulled away from the dorm leaving only Jerry Covert and Phil Fowler to hold the fort. Rumor has it they left some three days later, or was it four?
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Class of 1927 AT DICK'S HOUSE DURING MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THEIR CLASSMATE, DICK HALL '27.
Secretary, 152 Waban Ave., Waban, Mass.
