Noted Townies of the Past and Present

Defined & Described

NORWICH AND HANOVER! Norwich and Hanover! That was the call familiar to every student in the 'go's when he returned to College for the opening of the College year. There were no busses then from the June and you had to wait for the slow accommodation train up the valley.

Descending from the train about the first object to greet you was Hamp Howe's fourhorse coach backed up to the station platform. There was a wild scramble for seats, upperclassmen gaining the top while freshmen had to be content to get into the body of the coach and sit with the women if there were any. After about fifteen minutes' wait a short, stocky man with a bushy brown moustache appeared and was greeted by all the upperclassmen simultaneously. "Hello Dud! How's everything? How many of your old horses have died since June?" The usual reply was "Now you fellows had better get ready to hand out your fare because this Bus don't start until you've paid. And it never did. Dud always counted faces but as an extra precaution he always pocketed the 25 cents fare and never gave anyone the free return ticket until it was called for. It was not until well into Sophomore year that a student knew that you could on demand get a round-trip ticket for a quarter.

Once a man asked Hamp what Dud got for running the coach. Hamp's reply was "Well, by God, that's what I have been trying to find out for twenty years." Dud used to have two light frisky bronchos on ahead. They would jump and snort while Dud yelled and shouted. He always entered the old wooden bridge at a gallop and if you were on top and coming down for the first time you were sure your head would hit the top of the bridge and take off the roof.

Dud had a great eye for the women and the most attractive were always invited to sit beside him on the driver's seat. It was somewhat of a problem to scramble up there, but Dud always lent noble assistance and never missed any of the scenery. That was a perquisite of the job.

Dud always met the morning train. Someone asked him how he always made it. "Well," he said, "if people aren't up when I get around I go in and wake 'em up and dress 'em and put 'em into the coach. I allow considerable extra time and as the train is always late we generally make it." Dud used to talk of the number of women he'd helped catch the train but some thought that was a little boastful.

It was a little dangerous to exchange words with Dud. He was no respecter of persons and had a broad and resourceful vocabulary which he used freely and forcefully especially if there were no women passengers.

Dud was a cheery and kindly man and a pretty expert handler of horses. While he always wound the reins about the brake when he stopped, he never had a runaway or any serious accident. His load was as many as could hang on and year after year he piloted the old coach from the Inn to the Norwich station and kept it right side up. He was agile as a cat and quick to think and act. He knew everyone. Running a stage coach was his profession and he was proud of his prerogative. It made him an outstanding figure in the town and he enjoyed his position thoroughly. He made Hanover homey and his familiar figure gave one the feeling of being a member of the College just the moment one jumped off the train.

Dud married Lon Gove's sister and had a son who lives in Claremont. He didn't live to be very old for his life was an active one and Dud never spared himself. He lived fully and freely and probably realized that sooner rather than later someone else would drive him on his last ride. A great old fellow was Dud, you of the '90's will remember him well and no doubt each one could add some anecdote which would enliven this brief and inadequate sketch. What Dud knew about some of you, he isn't here to tell, but nothing escaped him.