Class of 1879
After the very successful fifty-year reunion in 1929, there was some question whether it was best to try to celebrate the fifty-fifth anniversary of the class. But we decided to do it, even if our members were sadly depleted. Of the twenty-one members known to be living, nine were able to be in Hanover for the celebration. Closson and Cohen came up from New York, Nesmith came from his summer camp at Reeds Ferry, N. H., the five members of the class living in Vermont, Bailey, Chapman, Darling, Gage, and Smith, were all present. Thayer, fresh from his round-the-world trip and important member of the board of trustees, was much in evidence.
Five of us had dinner together at the Inn Saturday evening, and spent a social hour together afterward, devoted chiefly to talk about our classmate Cook, who had recently died. Wheatley's son John '24, and Proctor's son Robert '19, who were having class reunions, called on us during the evening.
Sunday, Gage and his daughter, Mrs. Gladys Rogers, Darling and his daughter, Carolyn, Bailey and Mrs. Bailey, and Chapman joined us. At 11 o'clock, we met at "Hough's Room," in the Baker Memorial Library, the room dedicated to the memory of our honored classmate, Judge C. M. Hough, and listened to greetings from every one of the twelve members not able to be present. Five of them live in California and one in Montana, too far away to attempt the journey, Two in New York and three in Massachusetts were not feeling well enough to come, and one had other summer plans. But all expressed their interest and good will.
We then adjourned to College Hall, where a luncheon had been prepared for us in a private dining room. Judge Cohen presided as our class president. Besides those already mentioned, we had with us as our invited guests the College treasurer, Halsey C. Edgerton, and his wife, in honor of his father, the late Charles A. Edgerton, who had been present at every one of the six preceding reunions of the class.
During the lunqheon hour photographs of absent ones and of previous reunion groups were passed around, and various personal experiences were related. Treasurer Edgerton presented us with a photostatic reproduction of an ancient document that recalled college days. The original, preserved among the college archives, was a strongly worded pledge not to engage in "rushes" or any form of hazing. This was dated September 8, 1876, and was duly signed by fifty-one members of the class of 1879, then sophomores in the Academic Department. They had been induced to take this self-denying action by the honored president of the College, who gave them to understand that they would do this or fare worse.
After the luncheon most of the members returned to their homes, only one remaining 'til morning to hear the "Class of 1879 Trumpeters" play the old "Sing-out" tune "Amesbury" from the Library tower, and to see the procession, four hundred and fifty strong, of seniors marching to the Bema to receive their diplomas.
Secretary, REV. 72 South St., Proctor, Vt.
