Second Reunion Weekend
Eight Glasses Return to Hanover on June 20-22 For Parties That Match the Greatest of Pre-War Days
WITH EIGHT CLASSES participating, the 1947 Class Reunion Weekend took place in Hanover on June 20-22. Alumni from all parts of the States and some from widely separated points overseas swelled the total of returning alumni to 900, which, with wives, children and guests added, brought an influx of 1400 people to Hanover.
Main feature of the weekend was the General Association of Alumni meeting which was held Saturday noon, June 21, in an outdoor setting between Robinson and McNutt Halls. The Rev. Donald B. Aldrich '17, Dean of the Chapel at Princeton University, spoke for the alumni; Sidney C. Hayward '26, Secretary of the College, gave a report on alumni activities; and President John Sloan Dickey addressed the gathering. Sumner B. Emerson '17, president of the General Association, conducted the meeting.
A new slate of officers was unanimously voted in by the reuning alumni to serve in various official capacities with the General Association for the year 1947-48. President for the coming year will be Thomas P. Campbell '18 of Denver, Colorado; vice presidents will be Parker Trowbridge '13 of Worcester, Mass., and John E. Moore '23 of New York City. Mr. Hayward was reelected secretary-treasurer, and for the 70th consecutive year John M. Comstock '77 of Chelsea, Vt., will serve as statistical secretary.
In addition to the above officers, a seven-man executive committee was named: Chairman, Richard Parkhurst '16, Boston; Willard G. Aborn '93, Cuttingsville, Vt.; Henry D. Crowley '98, Boston; Osmun Skinner '28, Troy, Pa.; George F. Theriault '35, Hanover; Robert H. Reno '38, Concord, N. H.; and Fred F. Stockwell '43, Boston.
Other main events of the weekend included the President's reception Friday evening, an Alumni Dance immediately following in College Hall, and the presentation of the farce, "At Yale," by The Dartmouth Players Saturday night.
Weatherwise, the weekend was marred by only light showers early Friday evening and a short spate of rain Saturday afternoon. Due to the Friday showers it was decided to move the locale of the President's reception from his home to Baker Library, although it was not actually raining by the scheduled starting time.
All but two of the eight reuning classes closed their weekend with a buffet luncheon, barbecue or picnic on Sunday afternoon, and from these final affairs the exodus began. With one man coming from Germany and arriving in Hanover five days after landing in New York, another reaching Hanover 40 hours after arriving from Belgium, a third from Japan, and others from Fairbanks, Alaska, Los Angeles, Seattle, Ogden, Utah, and Denver, many travelled far and fast.
On Saturday afternoon, baseball, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, held the center of attraction with 1937 meeting 1942, followed by a game between the feminine delegations of the two classes. After considerable consultation, it was announced that 1937 bested the '42s, 3-1, in the male contest, but went down to defeat, 11-0, before the onslaught of the distaff '42 batting power.
All in all, the "2" and "7" reunion weekend was one of the best attended in recent Dartmouth history, and with the traditional tents, costumes, feeds, informal events, and favorable weather, it was also one of the most colorful and successful. The weekend was the last of the custom- ary reunions which brought back classes spaced at five-year intervals, for next year the new Robinson Plan goes into effect, starting the system of bringing back, in some cases, classes that were in college together. The 1948 dates have already been set at June 18-20, except for the 25- Year and 50-year Classes which will again reune at Commencement the preceding weekend.
