Class of 1923
In March, 1935, we wrote a short biography about Whitton Evans Norris, in which we mentioned his experience at the University of Dijon and the Sorbonne in France, where he collaborated in editorial work for the New York Herald, Paris edition. He later became instructor in French at the New Hampton School for Boys. During the past month we have learned that Whit has taken another step forward and has been appointed headmaster of the Ashburnham School for Boys at Ashburnham, Mass. The following is the announcement of his appointment:
"Mr. Whitton E. Norris has been appointed headmaster of the AshburnhamSchool for Boys and will assume his dutiesin June, 1936. A graduate of Choate Schoolin Connecticut, Mr. Norris received hisdegree from Dartmouth in 1923. He bringsto the Ashburnham School a varied experience of travel, residence abroad, business, and teaching, with which to carry onthe vision and honesty in education whichhas distinguished the school since its opening in 1930. Mrs. Norris, who attendedVassar College, inherits from her grandfather, Dr. Gallagher, of Thayer Academyfame, a sturdy private school tradition, andwill have an important part in the sociallife of the school."
Whit's approach to his new work presents such an interesting insight to the inner feelings of one engaged in the teaching profession that I am giving you herewith part of his letter—"Actually, this opportunity of developing a school accordingto one's own pet theories is one that everyteacher desires, and that most are too oldfor when the 'knock' comes. In this case,we are going to aim high, insist on qualityrather than quantity, make our instructiontop-notch, to the end that we will beknown, ultimately, as the best juniorschool in the country, and I should likenothing better than to keep the schoolfilled with the young hopefuls of '23. WhileI'm at it, any members of the class woulddo me a great favor by dropping in thissummer to see us, and I'll promise them aroyal reception. Ashburnham is only ninemiles from Fitchburg, and the going isgood all' the way."
Roy Brown, well-known high jumper, and father of Roy Jr., long-legged, and represented as a potential member of a future Dartmouth track team, departed recently for the island of Cuba. Some years ago, Roy spent considerable time in Cuba uncovering elusive deposits of silver. I am not sure that he is searching this time for the same metal, but his profession remains that of mining engineer. His new address is—Minas de Matahambre, Prov. de Pinar del Rio, Cuba. Having flunked Spanish a couple of times in college I did not feel competent to give a literal translation, so I got in touch with Sid Flanigan, who had flunked Spanish three times in college. Between the two of us we decided that "Matahambre" meant "to die of hunger," and we cannot understand why Roy went so far away when it is possible to accomplish the same result in New York.
For those of you who may visit Westport, N. Y., or its environs this summer, it is suggested that you drop in on Marcus Whitman, who has recently been appointed president and manager of the Westport Inn and Country Club. During the past years Marc has successfully operated hotels in Florida in the winter, and in the White Mountains in the summer. Wherever Marc is in charge will be found genuine hospitality, and he always goes out of his way to accommodate ex-Hanover classmates.
Sherm Baldwin gets his exercise in two ways; first by prodding '23 men in his vicinity into giving some information about themselves for use in the Class Notes, and second, by journeying to far-away places in the country and then going on long hikes. In his last letter he casually mentioned having met Ike Phillips in Tuckerman Ravine on the Easter week-end. This activity is to be expected of Ike, but your Secretary believes that simply getting news about '23 men should be enough exercise for Sherm.
It seems that Bill Wallace, who is superintendent in Chicago of one of the departments of the Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company, visited Hartford for an insurance meeting several weeks ago. Not to be "scooped," Sherm drove down to Hartford to get the news from Bill, and reports that the gentleman from Chicago is the father of two boys and one girl, and resides in a suburb called River Forest, 111. The following paragraph from Sherm's letter illustrates how he must have gone to work on Bill:
"Bill and Ward Hilton married sisters,and Ward also works in the Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company as Bill's assistant. Bill didn't have any great amountof detail news of the Chicago delegation,but said that Jim Pyott was the man abouttown and had very recently married asmall family, consisting of a widow and twochildren. Russ Carpenter Bill nominatesfor the class Atlas. Ed Wackerhagen is stillalive and prospering in Racine, Wis., although due to continual hibernation isseldom seen beyond those confines. BillRyan, who left us at the end of sophomoreyear and transferred to Northwestern, isone of Chicago's leading young barristersand lives in Wheaton, III."
Confirming still further Sherm's ability as our star reporter, he has even drafted the wives into service and submits a very interesting letter from Julie Musk. The information which she provides is so complete that I propose the next secretary for the class of '23 be somebody's wife. The following are excerpts from her letter:—
"Chesley Bixby married Barbara Brooks in 1988. They have one adopted baby a year and a half old. 'Bix' works for the W. E. Bixby Company, leather findings.
"George Collins works for a Boston newspaper—not married according to the Directory.
"Herbert Veit was married a year ago and lives in Andover, Mass. He is general agent of the Merrimac Mutual Fire Insurance Cos.
"Ralph Wilkinson also lives in Andover. He married Priscilla May of Brookline in February, 1934. He is treasurer of the Lawrence Co-Operative Bank.
"Kenneth Churchill is an accountant at the Merrimac Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He married Eve Crompton, and they have one adopted boy, Thomas, age eight.
"Bob Wilder—wife's name Verne, has three children, two boys and a girl.
"Herb Home married Beatrice Haigh in 1927. They have one heir, a boy of about three.
"Sam Home married Miriam McKay in 1929, and at present they are reported being \very busy building a new house. Sam is with the Charles P. Home Company."
Julie winds up her letter as follows— "George married me, Julie Cross, in 1928.We have one adopted girl, Carol Sayre, agethree. George is manager of the Fuel OilDivision of the Cross Coal Company."
Julie gives as a reason for her letter that George was taken suddenly ill one Sunday night and carted away to the hospital. They did a good job on him there, however, and he is convalescing at home.
This being the last issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE for the year, it is probably in order to remind readers that the Alumni Fund campaign will close soon after this issue is received. Sherm Clough and his henchmen in Boston are doing a first class job as class agents, and they will greatly appreciate your immediate response t0 their requests for contributions.
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO THIS MONTH
The Junior Prom which was held the middle of May brought to Hanover among others, one Constance Bennett. The record has it that Eddie Lynch, Dink Lindquist, and Johnny Foster entertained the said lady at breakfast one morning at the Junction. The consensus of opinion is that the experience is one which will be included in Miss Bennett's memoirs.
The freshmen having failed to win the picture fight in May, a new push ball was initiated in a contest between the classes of '23 and '24. The object seemed to be to keep the ball on the ground, hence many torn shirts on the backs of those who rode on top of said ball. The Players' Club presented "Rise Please."
European expeditions became popular among undergraduates. Fifteen Dartmouth men, most of them from the class of '23, were aboard the Paris when she sailed late in June. This was the return trip of her maiden voyage.
Those who did not travel first, second, or third class worked their way across.
One July 4, 1921, the Paris edition of American newspapers carried the headline—^"Dempsey beats Carpentier."
Secretary, 136 Liberty St., New York
