1917
The accompanying picture of Capt. GeorgeC. Currier VSN originated at a recent Dartmouth Club Meeting in New York. We know of no better spring tonic than a look at the genial face and figure, without whose presence no gang get-together is really complete. Gawge will be in Hanover in June, with Helen, unless Navy orders prevent. That's for sure, and George's presence, as always, assures a good meeting.
The meeting of the Boston Alumni Association was written up at length in the Boston Herald, and the penned-on-the-spot drawings featured the Association's president, HowieStockwell, and the Rt. Rev. Don Aldrich. Howie presided as toastmaster and did the gang proud. Don also sat at the head table, and as he has done on many an occasion in the past, contributed substantially to the program, this time with his thoughtful invocation. The '17 tables were full to overflowing, all who could make it being anxious to honor President Dickey and the other representatives of the College,—Howie and Don, particularly. The lucky ones were: Baxter, Hought Carr,Chadbourne, Chase, Duhamel, Dupuis, Holden, Jim McGowan, Macintyre, Mackillop,Nourse, Olds, Randall, Richmond, Sunny Sanborn, Spearin, Rog Stone, and Errol Thompson. It was a pleasure for the gang, particularly, to see Ralph Chadbourne and Joe Randall, since the faces of these two stalwarts from the suburbs have not graced local '17 roundups frequently enough. We sure hope Ralph and Joe will be regulars from now on.
Via Sam Mackillop comes a welcome note from Gyp Green, who reports in altogether too infrequently these days: "Here's a note on my little interest in the Philatelic Congress. I was a member of the 12th Philatelic Congress committee in charge of putting on the Congress held last Nov. 15-17, at the Hotel Statler, Boston, Philatelic students,' stamp collectors to you, from all over the world attended, as this Congress attracts serious researchers of postal history. I was privileged also to include an article in the fine Congress book. My subject, That Man Seebeck, was very well received and constituted a serious study of a very interesting and little known subject. Incidentally, I am regarded as one of the world's foremost authorities on the stamps of the Republic of Honduras, perhaps one of the few who can expertise the early air mails, 1925 issue, some of which catalog as high as $lO,OOO. It's a great hobby. Still earning my bread and butter in the theatre business." In his accompanying note, Sam reports, "The warmest January in seventy-five years around Boston. In fact I played golf on five consecutive afternoons last week." So much for you guys who had to go to Florida to keep your game in shape.
We called Bill Eaton while in Pittsburgh re- cently and shortly thereafter were extended the keys of the city, Eaton fashion. The president of the Gulf Tire and Accessory Corp., drove to the hotel and picked us up and via a sight-seeing tour of the city en route, took us to his home in Fox Chapel for a delicious dinner and delightful evening. We could have found Fox Chapel under our own power, but it is doubtful that we could have located the Eaton manse, for Fox Chapel is one of those suburbs which abound in curved roads, wooded valleys, and homes tucked away among the trees in cute situations, with no corner drug store or traffic officer of whom to inquire. Bill's home, presided over by his sister, Mrs. Eleanor Kelsey, is a center of warm '17 hospitality, as you would know. There were many hearty laughs, much of the past to go over while Bill was enroute to Gulf and Pittsburgh, and many of you guys to mention. We spoke of Sandy Lynch whose home is only a couple of miles away, in Sharpsburg, as the crow flies, but who was at the moment in Hanover to see Hugh and get some skiing. Last summer's visit by Hal and Jo Weeks was recalled most pleasantly by Bill and Mrs. Kelsey. Bill spoke of his frequent chats, meetings, and tours with Bill Sewall, and of his having met Sumner and Mrs. Emerson at the Dennis Hotel, Atlantic City, the week previous, when Sumner was attending a trustees meeting of Rutgers College, on whose board he has sat for four years. It all seemed miles away, but when the time came Bill deposited us at our hotel down town in just about twenty minutes with a cordial invitation to return next trip, which we will certainly admire to do.
Maybe it was the vogue in Johnstown or maybe it was just happenstance, but when we reached there, both Fred Hager and Earle, Robinson were just recovering from severe bouts with the flu. At his busiest time of year, Earle had had to lie low for a month while his clients bit their nails for fear their books would not be closed or their tax returns filed on time, for his is an accounting and tax office, which keeps him on the run. His report was that he was convalescing and could venture forth again when the weather moderated, and it is worth noting that On that particular day the weather was showing no signs at all of cooperation. Earle's son is in high school and we hope heading toward Dartmouth. Fred's flu attacked him the preceding week while in Atlantic City, presumably for a brief respite from his office and laboratory where he does the orthodontia for the younger set of Johnstown. In fact, Fred has so many patients he has not taken a real vacation for years. He lives on a farm five miles outside the city in the hills and mentioned the fact that he and Mrs. Hager spend much of their time put of doors in tfie summer months. In fact, he said the blowing snow was beautiful outside his window even as we talked, a point which we, in our strong preference for clear weather and dry roads, had missed as we drove along that day. Fred recalled very pleasantly the visit last summer of Hal and Jo Weeks, adding disappointedly that they did not stay very long, having promised to visit BillEaton also, further along in Pittsburgh. It was swell to talk with both Fred and Robbie and a disappointment not to see them. Both are looking forward to Hanover in June, where we will certainly hope to do the rest of our catching up on them.
A card from Polly Loudon, written in Punta Gorda, Fla., tells us that she and Hank left home in West Newton early in February and drove down the east coast stopping in Atlanta to see daughter Lois en route. They saw her again a few days later in Miami on her regular air line trip. Crossing over to the Florida west coast, they planned to follow it north, and then to head for Pinehurst for two or three weeks in March at the Carolina Hotel. It's a sure thing that Hank and Polly had two complete sets of golf clubs with them, and our hope is that the warm sun stayed with them all the way There is no word of explanation from Russ Marr, but his address has been corrected from Allentown to Pottsville, Pa. A little further west, Russ, and we might manage a little twosome reunion occasionally A recent issue of the Boston Herald carried the announcement of the engagement of Miss Barbara Graham Meincke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard D. Meincke of Glencoe, 111., to George Augustus Stickney, son of Mrs. Robert C. Stickney and the late Dr. Stickney. Miss Meincke attended Ferry Hall and Pine Manor Junior College. George is a graduate of New Hampton School and is currently a student at Tufts, following his two and a half years of duty in the naval reserve.
A good letter from Bill Wyeth is well received indeed. "I seem to have settled down to teaching. The children and I get along well together and I enjoy my work. Then too, the long vacations have always been an added incentive. Each summer I spend at Andover, N. H., a town where I first taught and later ran Proctor Academy. My one and only son is back at Dartmouth in the class of '46 after a two and a half year period of service in the 96th Division. He quite surprised me and his friends, because he had led such a sheltered life, by distinguishing himself for valor on Okinawa. I believe the War Department sent his record to College for in the MAGAZINE I saw mention of his getting the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, and the Purple Heart." Bill says he sees Gus Supeau every few days. "I taught his two boys Latin in school. They are both part way through Fordham."
Although we missed something when we missed Babe Goss on our last tour of Ohio, we are happy to have his current report, as follows: "Have changed from the savings and loan business 20 years of that to the real estate business and practice of law. As yet I haven't sold any real estate and haven't collected a legal fee. If I don't do either, I won't eat. If I don't eat I will kick the bucket. Will see you at the thirtieth reunion in June. Your pal Babe."
Parker Karnan had just returned from a tour of his old state when he wrote: "There are no aches or pains in my anatony, but a two week foray into Pennsylvania gets me down a bit. It has been a pleasure to meet a new group of the class in the Boston area, my domicile having been here for the past two years. At the moment I am basking in the pardonable pride of having my oldest boy in the Class of 1950 at Dartmouth."
A line from Mori Rhodes from Los Angeles tells us that when in Altadena recently, he tried to get in touch with Fred Houghton, but missed him. He did see Tubby Tefft, however, and says that Tubby has been discharged from the Ferry Command of the Air Corps after three years of service.
As a preface to our Thirtieth, coming up, Sam Mackillop and Johnnie Wheelock sent out a questionnaire toward a new Class report and directory to be issued in Hanover in June. It is hoped that you responded to their appeal for prompt action, for it is the consistent cooperation of every last member of the gang which makes the best gang of guys in the world what it is. If you have not replied to Sam and John at this late date, do your best now. Sit down and send the facts in, and hope that they will still be in time for inclusion. As to the last line, "Will you be there?," there is obviously but one answer.
It is with sincere regret that we report two deaths in the '17 family. Bill Ponder died February 27 in Amarillo, Texas. Further word will appear in a later In Memoriam column. Marion Bartlett, wife of Howard, died February 23 at her home in Wellesley Hills. BunnyHolden and Spique Macintyre represented the class at the funeral in Boston on February 26. Our hearts go out to Howard and his son.
HIGH-RANKING 'l7er, Capt. George C. Currier, USN, snapped at a recent meeting at the Dart- mouth Club of New York, is on record for personal attendance in Hanover at 1917's 30th Reunion.
REUNION CHAIRMAN: Howard A. Stockwell 'l7 of Belmont, Mass., past president of the Boston Alumni Association, heads the committee planning 'l7's 30th this summer.
Secretary, P. O. Box 533, Huntington, Indiana Treasurer, 9 Park Terrace, Upper Montclair, N. J
