1914 Holds Delayed 35th
IT was a beautiful day, Thursday, when your correspondent stopped in the early afternoon at Ripley, with some forty hammocks, one wife, several bags, a bundle of notes and a dog. No one was about but the janitor, and the hammocks were quickly unloaded. Then over to Norwich to visit the son and daughter, where we stayed that night. A check later that afternoon found Charlie andBuff Batchelder and seventy-odd more hammocks, another dog, innumerable bags and bundles, and an optimism that was heartwarming. Nobody else was in sight, but there were several at the Inn. That evening, a family cookout at one of Ross McKenney's private hideouts on a tumbling mountain stream up in Lyme, brought forth quantities of delicious brook trout, a run for the dogs, mother, daughter and two sons, black as midnight, Schipperkes, and then home to Norwich to be greeted in the headlights of the auto, almost in our front yard, by a snow white albino deer.
Our dorm was empty, our tent was empty, so to bed for an early visit to Hanover on Friday. Several men had come in during the night, the most striking of whom was none other than Joe Beer himself, in checkered shirt, black beret, and the biggest thing in Grafton County. From then on it was constant greeting with a brief interlude at noon in Room 12 at the Inn, and lunch. The big 1914 banner on the front of the Inn, hundreds of stickers, "The Famous Class of 1914" on windshields, rear windows, shop windows the length of Main Street, the Inn itself, anywhere that they would stick, informed the world at large that '14 was in town again, and that still more were "on our way to Hanover."
Late afternoon, migration to the Inn lawn by the Ski Hut for one of the well-known Remsen cocktail parties, so outstanding in class annals. More men coming in all the time and at 6:30, across to the Hovey Grill for the class banquet, while the gals were entertained at the Outing Club. A delicious meal at both places. At the grill, extra tables necessary outside the main room and everything off to a good start. John Dickey honored the class with precious moments of his time and emphasized to The Famous Class that although all classes claimed to be the best blank blank class, that when the record was written, Fourteen would be far from the bottom. He thanked the class for the many good times it had given to him (had eaten on '14 more than any other class in the college) and extended an invitation to all next winter's Sno-birds to be his guests at the preliminary oiling and greasing on banquet night.
Sig Larmon, the perfect toastmaster, allowed three and one-half minutes each to Lay Little, Lize Wheelock, Eddie Elkins,Elly Buck, Walt Humphrey, John Piane, the old pine stump, Zut Therrien, who came the longest distance, all the way from Seattle, and who gave way to George Young, because George wanted to make a speech, Ray Trott,Horace Borden, Ed Leech, Moose Englehorn and John Hanna. Each was given free reign and space does not permit detailed comment on remarks which varied from pathos to humor, with much worthwhile serious philosophy.
A quick trip to the President's reception, then back to the dormitories, Ripley, Woodward and Smith, for class movies of twenty years ago, fifteen years and more recent, and one of the latest college films, DartmouthOutdoors. These old pictures were a big hit and brought out many laughs, comments and memories.
Saturday morning, breakfast in the tent (ham and eggs, coffee), mud, three thunderstorms, black, cold, drizzly, but just before the class picture, the sun came out. The kiltie band arrived and there was no question in anybody's mind that '14 was in town again. From the Inn, up North Main Street, led by Moose Englehorn and the kiltie band, and half the young fry of Hanover, marched the class to the reviewing stand on the north end of the campus for the picture. From then on, those kilties were everywhere. The Alumni Luncheon at noon, dark clouds, an occasional sprinkle, and a falling thermometer more reminiscent of February than of June, the class again parading to the luncheon behind the kiltie band. Class memorial service in 105 Dartmouth at 2 o'clock, followed by a class meeting. The memorial service was conducted by the Rev. Arthur Wheelock, who spoke not in terms of sadness, but in a spirit of thanks and gratitude for the privilege of having known the 98 men who have passed on since 1910, but more particularly those who have died since our last reunion: Alan Tukey, Bill Taft, Ernie Saeger, Burrell Wright, Win Wilcox, Norman Davison, Dee Pomeroy, Harold Beane, Ralph Jenkins, Needs and Ralph Noe. The class meeting was short and all parliamentary rules were left outside. The class approved and adopted the 1925 resolution which will appear elsewhere in this MAGAZINE, and adjourned to the campus for a class hum with 1915 led by Walt Humphrey. Then off for the Wah Hoo Wah Farm and the class picnic.
It is impossible to describe that picnic and the hospitality of the Naramores, and their delightful home. One could write pages but I leave most of it to the News Letter. Needless to say, in spite of the cold (the temperatures were in the high 40's) and the high wind, it was the outstanding event of the reunion. The Class was guest of the Naramores. A steak dinner served by Stella McKenney, wife of Ross. Souvenir belts for the men and compacts for the ladies, with "D-14" inscribed on each. A complete bar in the gardens, with bar tenders, especially imported for the occasion, and a beautiful home. As the class approached by the long driveway, they were greeted by four cows contentedly grazing near the parking lot, with large blankets bearing the inscription "Welcome 1914 " It was cold and windy, rainy and sunny, there was hunger and thirst. There was nothing we could do about the rain but the cold was somewhat alleviated as the thirst was quenched and the hunger was amply taken care of.
Sunday morning was spent in front of the dorm in strictly old-fashioned reuning with dozens of amateur photographers snapping pictures here and there. Reunion ended with a delightful buffet luncheon served on the terrace lawn and then a quick getaway.
Among those checked as present: The Aborns, Herb Austin, Barlows, Ev Barnard, the Ham Barnes, Bill Barnes, Batchelders, Bentley, Boggs, Bordens & daughter, Ed Bowler for an hour or two, Hal Browns & daughter, Ellsworth Bucks, Buckleys, the Conners, Curtis, Daley, Fred Davidspns, W. L. Davidson, Drakes, Edsons and son, the Elkins, Englehorns & daughter, Faxon, the Flanders, Flloyd, Herrings, Bob Hopkins, Giles, Greggs, the Hands, Hanna & daughter, Harvey, Haywood & sister, Hazen, Herlihys, Higgins, the Howes, Humphreys, Johnson, the Junkins, Kalenderian, the Kimballs, Kingman, Kingsfords, Kingsley, Larmons, Leech, Little, Loveland, Lowell, MacCartee, McCulloughs, Mains, Naramores, Newmark, the Nichols, Noble, John M. Palmer, the Peases and daughter, Perkins, Pianes, Pritchard, Rammage, Remsens, Rices, Roland, Rosses, Saltmarsh, Shields, the Sissons, Sleepers, Smedleys, Paul Smith, Snows, the Stiles, the Therriens, Tilton, Trott, Van Ripers, Warrens & son, Webber, Wescotts, Wheatleys, Wheelocks, A 1 Woodies, the Youngs, and most prominent of all, Joe Beer. Anyone skipped? Our apologies!
The following class officers were elected: President, John F. Conners; Vice-President, Rufus L. Sisson Jr.; Secretary, Wallace H.Drake, M.D.; Treasurer, Charles S. Batchelder; Alumni Fund Agent, Ellsworth B.Buck; Executive Committee: Pennell N. Aborn, chairman; Harold A. Castle; James T. Heenehan; John M. Palmer; Hazen B. Hinman. Memorial Fund Committee: Martin J. Remsen, chairman; Edgar H. Elkins; Charles Kingsley; George Young Jr.; Walter F. Daley; Edward Leech.
Many highlights are omitted for lack of space but the News Letter and the October issue of the MAGAZINE will have them.
Sorry, gang, but I have been wished on you for another four years. Tough luck! It's your loss but my gain. With your help we will try to carry on.
1914, FAMOUS FOR ITS HANOVER GATHERINGS, POSES WITH THE KILTIE BAND THAT MADE SUCH A REUNION HIT
CLASS SECRETARY
