1909 Proud of Its 40th
WE ANNOUNCE with pleasure and pride that at our 40th Reunion we had the largest attendance we have ever had. Perhaps the last arrival was Art Shoppelry, who joined us right after dinner Saturday night, much to the pleasure of everybody. Louise and HarryFloyd (the best all-around Secretary we ever had) stayed at New London and made flying visits. This was an heroic effort on the part of Harry, because his health is still much below par. But no other attendance could have pleased the class more.
Friday was hot, with high humidity, and this continued through Sunday. The crowd began arriving about noon and by the time we formally opened proceedings, with the cocktail party at 5, fifteen cases of beer had disappeared. At 6:30 we had an excellent chicken dinner at the tent, located under the trees on the lawn in front of Wheeler. After dinner, most everyone went to the President's reception and, in spite of the heat, a few couples went to the Alumni Dance. Most of the crowd just sat around and talked, getting caught up with each other. There were numerous room songfests and all the little gatherings you would expect.
Saturday morning we were supposed to have breakfast in the tent but the caterer's cooks didn't report for work, so the class breakfasted in scattered groups, finishing just in time for the class picture at 11. All the fellows went to the Alumni Luncheon, held on the lawn in front of the gym, and then attended the Alumni Association Meeting on the top floor of the gym to listen to Bill Andres '29, Vice-President of the General Alumni Association, Sid Hay ward '26, Ed Robinson 'O4, and President Dickey. We then held a business meeting at 105 Dartmouth. Ed Chappelear rendered a report as Class Treasurer, showing payment in full for ALUMNI MAGAZINE subscriptions with a surplus of $l3OO. This is quite an extraordinary achievement. We were sorry that Chapp's situation is such that he finds it impossible to continue as Treasurer for a further term. Officers elected for the next five-year term are as follows: President—Bob Holmes
Vice-President and News Editor—Jack Childs Secretary-Treasurer—Bert French Class Agent—Jim Greenebaum
We are particularly glad that Jim Greenebaum would continue to serve as Class Agent.
Executive Committee: Robert A. Burns,Harvey W. Graves, James Hitchcock, Allen E.Newton, Curtiss L. Sheldon.
The fellows then had a very good dinner at the Hovey Grill. Jack Childs presided. We had a brief and entertaining talk by Billy B. Van, with a little singing. The ladies had dinner on the veranda of the Outing Club and enjoyed it. Some of the crowd then went to the show in Webster but most of us returned to the tent. Late in the evening we showed movies of our 20th Reunion, with particular emphasis on the picnic at Lake Morey and the parade to the ball game. You will remember we were comparatively wealthy at that time. The men had costumes with big hats, green flannel coats, white linen knickers, green ties and green golf stockings, and even in 20-year-old movies looked very neat. The ladies had sweaters and knitted "Theda Bara" turbans and all wore short-skirted white dresses. When they saw how they looked in the movies, there were a good many startled gasps and squeals. AVe also had some movies of the 30th reunion, taken outside Hitchcock, which were interesting because they included a lot of close-ups and a good many saw themselves as they used to be. Many of the fellows, generally speaking, wore more hair on the head and shorter belts.
Sunday morning we had a Memorial Service conducted by Wilbur Bull for the 99 classmates we have lost since matriculation, 40 since our last reunion.
Then, as usual, on Sunday noon came the climactic Al Newton's clambake held at BunkIrwin's place in Norwich. A few of the group had to leave early Sunday morning, but there were about 100 present. With considerable difficulty, Bunk had obtained a permit for a fire in the clambake pit, but this was emphaticallycanceled Saturday evening. Al and Bunk were equal to the situation, built a fire in the sap house and Al emerged right on time with a triumphant masterpiece. The Irwins used their huge deep freeze to provide cold beer, iced coffee, and numerous other facilities. Perhaps the best clambake yet, and that's saying a lot. Wah Hoo Wah for Al Newton and the Irwins.
We were particularly grateful to Don Cameron, the College placement officer and the reunion director, who helped make many arrangements and whose general assistance and direction took the curse out of the life of the "reunion chairman" in general. The Regional Attendance Chairmen were as follows: Roy Abbott, Chet Brett, Ed Chappelear, Jack Childs, Clarence Dunbar, Stan Gates, Art Graves, Art Herrick, Bob Holmes, Bill Holzer, Hazen Hibbard, Bill Lamb, Anson McLoud, Harold Murchie, Sawny Reagan, Fred Reed, Ben Scully, Curt Sheldon, Art Swenson, Lynde Tucker, Herb Walker and Heinie Whitcomb. They all obviously did a good job.
Two outstanding undergraduates. Carter Hoyt and Edward Latham, served as aides, registered arrivals, collected taxes, handed out badges, saw that the beer and ice supply was maintained, were courteous, pleasant, thoughtful and ever helpful.
Sid and Marion Hazelton had to leave tor some of Sid's summer work the Wednesday before we met. Nut Root, Frank O'Brien, ArtO'Mara and a few others definitely planned to attend but finally couldn't make it. We were pleased that Dorothea Chase and RosamondChilds were present.
Buster Brown had a good time and planned to stay around Hanover for awhile after reunion. He brought Mrs. Brown with him, who found herself in Hanover for the first time. There was an 'O9 Aegis on display, which she apparently hadn't seen before, but which she found amusing and interesting, although not particularly helpful in identifying some of the crowd. However, we found her a very charming lady and regretted that she hadn't been present before.
Wilbur Bull and Phil Rose played quite a bit of golf, but only a few others indulged, finding it too hot, etc. and the dormitories were reasonably quiet by 1 A.M. There were no two-in-the-morning raids, such as we had on our 10th. Maybe we're growing up!
We received letters, telegrams, etc., from Joe Graff, Emma Schofield, Mabel Avery,Elsie McCurdy, etc., conveying regrets and best wishes.
We salute the rugged guys who "made" the 40th and hope they will all make the 50th. May it be as pleasant and happy as our 40th.
Present (in whole or in part): George Adams, Frank Bartlett, A 1 Bates, Tubby Bird Chet Brett, Buster Brown, Bob Bruce, Wilbur Bull, Bob Burns, Ben Burpee, Harry Burroughs, Norm Catharin, Ed Chappelear, Laurence Chase, Jack Childs, Ralph Clement, Reg Colley, Frank Cory, Cad Cummings, Elbert Dole, Ben Dudley, Clarence Dunbar, Tom Fardy, Mike Farley, Ingie Fearing, Harry Floyd, Ed Ford, Bert French, Deac Graves, Jim Greenebaum, Herb Hawes, Bud Hinckley, Jim Hitchcock, Bob Holmes, Bill Holzer, Sandy Hooker, Bunk Irwin, Stan Leighton, Dick Lord, Leon Marshall, Dinnie Marston, Ed Martin, Jake Mason, Mickey McLane, Anson McLoud, Elbert Moffatt, A 1 Newton, J. J. Newton, Chet Perry, Hal Pratt, Russ Pettengill, Mike Readey, Mary Rogers, Phil Rose, Clark Saville, Ben Scully, Curt Sheldon, Art Shoppelry, Howard Spaulding, Art Sporborg, Bob Stone, Art Swenson, Lynde Tucker, John Varney, Herm Walker, Gordon Weinz, Dutch West, Heinie Whitcomb, Ralph Wight and Joe Worthen.
Wives present were as follows: Alice Bates, Frances Brown, Anna Bull, Marguerite Burpee, Gertrude Burroughs, Margaret Chappelear, Dorothea Chase, Marion Chase, Rosamond Childs, Harriet Clement, Ruth Cummings, Mildred Dole, Carrie Dunbar, Virginia Farley, Helen Fearing, Louise Floyd, Josephine Ford, Hazel French, Margaret Graves, Helen Greenebaum, Florence Hinckley, Lillian Hooker, Blanche Irwin, Ella Leighton, Mrs. Leon Marshall, Ethel Mason, Antoinette McLoud, Bessie Newton, Gladys Pratt, Gertrude Readey, Mary Rogers, Elsie Saville, Ethel Scully, Beryl Sheldon, Mildred Sporborg, Grace Weinz, Charlotte West, Margaret Whitcomb and Florence Wight.
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
WHO WOULD BELIEVE THAT FORTY YEARS HAVE GONE BY WHEN SEEING THIS OFFICIAL REUNION PICTURE OF THE CLASS OF 1909?
