Fortieth Reunion of 1901
THURSDAY AFTERNOON was fair and warm as the Stevens drove up to the Inn and registered, the first of the class to arrive in town. Ros and Beulah Bogue, all the way from Lansing, Michigan, came in soon after and from then on we began to see old friends and the Reunion really started. Howard and Kim Hall came around looking for classmates, and we were soon joined by Gene and Sally Hall. It rained hard all night, and the cold and rain of Friday made it rather uncomfortable. We moved over to Massachusetts Hall, and it looked good to see '01 in lights over the door and the old class flag trying hard to make a brave showing but hindered by lack of breeze. From then on the class began to arrive, and shouts of welcome went up, as the various cars drove in, and greetings were extended, and it was very evident that it was going to be a grand reunion. And so it proved to be.
Friday evening saw the entire class family wending its way down to a tent on the Inn lawn, where "Fordy" Sayre, the efficient host, served a dinner that was most pleasing. The tent had been warmed with charcoal burners and it was a grand change from the cold drizzle outside. The tables were most attractively arranged and bright with flowers and candles. The usual singing was led by Skunk Hathaway ably assisted by the hummers, and closed with Alouette as only Tommie Remsen can sing it. Gillie also presented his old class song There was an old man named Bill which went over big. Chan Cox started things off by asking each and everyone to stand and introduce themselves, and there were many witty and amusing replies.
Due to rain the President's Reception was postponed, so we went over to Silsby Hall where the old pictures were shown to the glee and amusement of all. Steve Stevens Jr., whose work in making the slides was duly appreciated arrived with a new lot just in time to be shown. Adjournment to the steps of Mass Hall followed where the old friendships were renewed and the old, old, stories retold.
Saturday morning brought others in, so that by evening a total of 66 men were registered. At noon the class attended the Alumni Meeting at the Gym, followed by the Alumni Luncheon. The ladies of the class were entertained by Celia Hopkins at the President's House for luncheon Saturday noon, and in the evening at an impromptu buffet supper at Edna Hunter's, both affairs being most enjoyable.
The Class Dinner was held Saturday night at Thayer Hall, and proved to be one of the best. At the business meeting the old officers were reelected also an Asst. Class Agent in the person of Jim Smith. Then followed informal talks, all impromptu, or so said Chan Cox, who presided at the request of Pres. Hunter. There was Jim Kimball with his stories. Joe Raphael's oratory was still tops, while Stan Qua showed his ability as an after dinner speaker. Johnnie Ward had a line of stories that were good, and Carl Owen had some sound ideas that he expressed in a convincing manner, while Bob Leavens, the last speaker certainly gave us a benediction. Hoppy was glad to be with us, and we were glad to have him; as usual words fail to express or tell about his talk but it was a privilege to hear him again. Sunday opened bright and fair and at about noon the cars started for the picnic at Moose Mt. Club, over beyond Etna. After a climb half-way up the mountain, the Lodge is reached, and a grand view of the Connecticut and the Vermont Hills opens up. Most everybody arrived in time to see the view which was lucky as a severe downpour drove us to the Lodge and the picnic had to be served on the porch. One of the happy events of the Reunion happened here when we were able to welcome Wendell Willkie, now a partner of Carl Owen's, and to make him an Honorary member of the Class. Sunday afternoon saw the departure of many classmates, and by Monday morning almost everyone was on their way home, with many happy memories of the Fortieth Reunion. The bestever they all said.
SIDE LIGHTS .... Edna Hunter greeting Bunker Bishop from one of the wheel chairs, and Bunker's characteristic and professional reply..... Ros' Bogues cherished green 1901 Freshman and Varsity Track Team caps, worn so effectively by Ros and Stevie Mort Crowell Jr. drove on from California to Cleveland and then picked up his famous father, Whiskers, to bring him the rest of the way to Hanover, Ted Hunter playing foreign ski songs on his accordion which he learned to play while laid up in bed with his serious skiing accident Whiskers had a splendid picture of Zoe who was missed exceedingly, .... The Hathaways had a fine picture of their family of five, and one of the girls is on the high seas, serving as technician with the Harvard Group of doctors and nurses, .... Deacon Hildreth with his ever present camera, constantly busy and celebrating on Sunday, his birthday, Father's Day and his wedding anniversary. He and Alice have had some interesting experiences photographing and banding birds at their home in Westford..... Shirley Owen came a long way for breakfast Sunday morning, arriving by train, after seeing her boy graduate from Lawrenceville,.... Carl Owen with his famous and distinguished partner, Wendell Willkie,.... Stan Qua seemed to be the calmest of all about his honors, an LLD, well deserved and the class was proud of him Bob and Eleanor Leavens received the long distance prize, with Ros Bogue, Charlie Merrill, and Clarence Phelps all a close second, .... Ros Bogue stopped in Keene to "see a man about a dog," and we understand took a Chow back to Lansing with him, but he says the dog belongs to Beulah Gardy Cobb, with his usual thoughtfulness brought along some copies of the Worcester Telegram with an excellent editorial on Hoppy The crowd got a great kick out of Stevie's announcement of attendance, with 66 men and 40 odd wives The wheel chairs, for the infirm, decrepit and aged were furnished through the kindness and thoughtfulness of Alma Ward and Edna Hunter. Bert Closs drove on from Canandaigua, New York, arriving just in time for the Class Dinner Saturday night, and then back home Sunday morning Spud Harris description of his facilities for outdoor cooking may keep him busy providing steaks for hungry classmates Gillie's report of the Alumni Fund, and the contribution from the class, far exceeding any other year Eddie Gibbons tales and reminiscences of the old days, told in Gibbonese style with interpolations Burke and Hardy, both transfers from Bates reuning after many years Ed. Hunter arrived in town late Saturday night, just in time for the class dinner, after a most hectic session of the New Hampshire Legislature, where Ed. is known as the Dean of the House The White Plains New York delegation was 100% complete with the Marshs and Ruggs The golfers, Squash Mclntyre, Tom Remsen, Johnnie Ward, Charlie Whelan, Carl Owen, Henry Taylor, Gene Leach, and Chan Cox put in a lot of play, and perhaps Chan was not proud of his two "birdies." .... Henry Taylor won a bet from Chan, upon the say-so of Stevie, as to when Carl Owen entered the class John Denison, Kim Hall, Ted Hunter, Mary Lib Stevens, and Andy Wood did a fine job in helping when necessary and providing transportation for the ladies.
Answering the roll call: Jack and Edith Andrews, Bunker and Pearl Bishop, Ros and Beulah Bogue, Paul Burleigh, Butter Butterfield and the Mrs., Kittie and Ethel Cate, Charlie and Helen Chase with son and daughter, Harry and Louise Clark, Jim Clark and two daughters, Bert Closs, Gardy Cobb, Louie and Ernestine Crone, Whiskers Crowell and Mort Jr., Zeke, Elsie and Betty Jane Cudworth, Guy, Harriet and John Denison, Gene Dow, Dunny and Mildred Dunnington, George French, Eddie and Katherine Gibbons, Harry and Grace Gilmore, Perley Grant, Howard, Gene and Kim Hall, Ted Hancock, Larry and Ruth Hardy, Spud Harris, Boy Haskell, Skunk and Dora Hathaway, Deacon and Alice Hildreth, Hop and Celia Hopkins, Banker and Mabel Hovey and daughter, Ed, Edna and Ted Hunter, Charlie Kimball, Jim and Floss Kimball, Gene and Katherine Leach, Bob and Eleanor Leavens, Hastings Lyon, and wife and daughter, Terry and Mrs. McGovern, Squash and Dorothy McIntyre, Swampy and Nettie Marsh, Andy and Jessie Marshall, Charlie Merrill, Ted Morehouse, Rush Newcomb and daughter and son-in-law, Frank and Maude Newhall, Carl and Shirley Owen, Don Page, Clarence and Mary Phelps, Stan Qua and daughter, Joe Raphael, Tom and Inez Remsen, Pa. and Helen Rollins, Warren and Leila Rugg, Arthur and Bertha Sampson and daughter, Jim and Dorothea Smith, Steve, Beth and Mary Elizabeth Stevens, and Steve Jr., Henry and Mildred Taylor, Johnnie and Alma Ward, Ned and Gertrude Warren, Charlie and Mary Whelan, T and May and Andy Wood, Dolph and Carrie Lane with son and daughter, Wilfred Burke and Jim Howe, a total of 126.
MIDDLE MASS WAS HEADQUARTERS OF LARGELY ATTENDED 40TH REUNION OF THE CLASS OF 1901.
