1915
If any of you classmates have any doubts concerning the beneficial qualities of the Maine air, just take a squint at what happens to some of the inhabitants of that State. Here you see the Great Composer himself, looking lean (?) and exhausted from his arduous labors. If you have ever tasted the delicious Finnan Haddie that Casey puts out, you would want to move to Maine this very minute.
The Boston Herald of Jan. 26 carried athree column spread on the building of a newmillion dollar hospital in the town of Needham, Mass., the successful ending to a 40 year drive. In the accompanying picture wenoted a familiar form, none other than RussRice, who as chairman of the Building Committee has worked long and earnestly toreach this goal. Needless to say that Russ isheld in high esteem by his fellow townsmen.An enjoyable letter from Art Sterling, theold Jacko cartoonist, and I quote:
"I was glad to get your letter of the 20th. and as you say, some of us in the hinterlands and at a distance from Hanover do have a tendency to lapse into silence and overlook the fact that you have a news column to fill with 1915 doings. I should know that only too well from my efforts to stir up the staff of joke and humor writers in an attempt to fill the columns of the Jacko during the years immediately prior to 1915. (Ed. note: Can't say as it has improved with the years). As regards my business activities, am still hooked up with Hugh Courtright in the operation of Lakeside Chemical Corp. in Chicago, supplying materials such as abrasive grain, polishing rouge, pitch, etc., to optical concerns in Chicago and various other parts of the Country, residing in the city during the week and commuting to my home in Rockford over the weekends, or every other weekend. My son Bill is also located in Chicago, with the Reuben Donnelly Corp., printers, being in their engineering dept. A year ago last May he took unto himself a wife, marrying Marian Dooley of River Forest, just outside of Chicago, and they live on the far south side of the city, in Jeffrey Manor, south of 95 th St. My daughter Kathryn is married to Curtis Johnson, who covers Rockford and surrounding territory for the Socony-Vacuum Oil Cos. Their two children, Holly, age 6, and Sterling, age 2, have given us grandparents a lot of activity to chortle about, and just recently a third grand-daughter, Gwen Elizabeth, arrived to add further kick to the occupation of being a grandparent. Last summer my wife Lora realized a wish she had had for a long time and took an airplane trip to Sweden to visit an old friend of hers who had married a Swedish geologist and teacher in the University of Upsala, near Stockholm. I couldn't tear away from the business long enough to make the trip with her, but took a vacation in July and motored to New York with Kathryn and Curtis to meet her on her return from Sweden, staying on there for a few days to take in some shows and see some of the bright lights of the city. Right now one of the main diversions in life for me is to watch and worry about the erection of a new, modern home here in Rockford, just north of the city, ground for which was broken in December. With building and labor costs as they are now, it's a constant job to accumulate enough funds to keep ahead of the contractor's bills which arrive with monotonous regularity, but eventually, if we live throug it, we' expect to enjoy life in the new abode very much when we are in Rockford for any length of time."
Received a card from Dolph English, announcing the arrival Dec. 25, 1948 of a daughter, Brenda Ellen, to Mr. and Mrs. William English Jr. Latest reports show grandpop Dolph is bearing up well under his new responsibilities.
Letters and cards from Johnny Johnson report a restful and pleasant trip to the South. At Richmond, Va. he had a chance to talk with Paul Gibson. He is spending the winter months at Court Inn, Camden, S. C., the home city of our Class President. Bet those bull sessions would be something to listen to.
Another postcard received from our seafarer Chink Chamberlain, who writes: "Have been making the rounds of San Juan, Trinidad, Curacao and Panama. Now enroute to Havana. It has been hot ash in Panama, but see by the papers that the East coast is doing alright from a temp, angle this winter."
The obituary column of The Boston Herald for Jan. 30 disclosed the sad news of the death of John O. Lounsberry, 20, son of Mr.and Mrs. Harold H. (Duze) Lounsberry of Newton. The boy was a victim of leukemia, a disease which he contracted while in High School. A Sophomore at Dartmouth, he was on the staff of Jacko and played in the orchestra.
Feb. 9 was the annual dinner of the Boston Alumni Assoc., held this year at the Hotel Statler, and the Fifteeners, under the leadership of George Simpson, made a grand showing. Twenty members showed up for the dinner and the usual wassail bowl preliminaries. Among those present were:—Al Sherman, Russ Rice, Dale Barker, Bud Doe, Jack Mason, Chan Foster, Walt Meader, Kike Richardson, Sid Bull, Eb Clough, Bill Huntress, Erl Mac Andrews, Nut Norwood, George Simpson, El Sharp, Bobby Bigelow, String Downing, Leo Burt, Marve Frederick, and your Secretary.
Here's a grand letter from that peerless member of our Class Agents Committee, Jack Ferguson, whom we were all delighted to have with us in Hanover last fall. With apologies to Jack, I'd like to share it with you.
"I have just read the Feb. ALUMNI MAGAZINE, and I am full of pride at the many entries that point to the prowess of 1915 as a supporter of the Alumni Fund and to Jack Mason as its peerless leader in that activity. I am about to burst my buttons. I read with pleasure Bill Cunningham's tribute to the great football team which your son managed so ably. I consider myself very fortunate to have selected last Fall to see it play three games, for I was thrilled to the core at the skill and proficiency and color it showed in every contest. 1 shall never forget that Harvard game. Tonight I would like very much to be at the Statler for the Alumni dinner, and meet again with the gang that made the pre-Harvard game dinner so enjoyable. That was an occasion that helped make my Peerade a total success. I have a bit of news that I am quite proud of. In the last two months Madelon and I have been presented with our fifth and sixth grandchildren. Nancy Louise Ferguson arrived in Tulsa Dec. 15, 1948, and Robert Lewis Friess was born in Salem, Ore. Jan. 31, 1949. Nancy is my son Jack's third daughter and Robert is my daughter Pat's third son. The mothers, fathers, children and grandparents are all doing well. Jack has finally completed his war-interrupted struggle to secure a college education, and has his A.B. degree from the University of Tulsa as of two weeks ago. He is now a sports writer for the Tulsa World. Pat got her degree from the same institution about three years ago while her husband was in the South Pacific. On his return from service, they picked up and moved to Oregon, where there is more space to grow in and all of it soaking wet. It's not for me, but they think it is alright. The boys certainly thrive in it. I am glad to hear that Johnny Johnson is up and at 'em with his old time vigor. That means a lot to all his friends. Here's hoping you have a good year full of health, happiness and news items from the Class."
I have a few more items to report but the column has reached its limits so will save for next month. However, no column would be complete without some reference to the movements of our Mill Goods Tycoon, Cloughie. Last reports from civilization had him and Marjory mountain climbing. Wonder if there are any of those famous dogs with little barrels around their necks in the White Mts.
Changes of address:—Alan C. Livingston, Home Mutual Savings & Loan Assoc., 160 Sutter St., San Francisco, Calif.—Philip R. Murdock, 301 East 53rd St., N.Y.C. 22—Walton B. Meader, 73 Fairview Rd., South Lynnfield, Mass.
THE GREAT JONES AND HIS INSPIRATION: "Casey" Jones 'l5, of Sea Food Market fame in Bangor, Me., attributes his songwriting success to his wife.
Secretary, 11 Paul Revere Rd., Westwood Hills, Worcester 5, Mass.
Treasurer, Ames Bldg., 1 Court St., Boston 8, Mass.
Class Agent, Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Cos. 70 Pine St., New York 5, N. Y.
