New York City
Let's reminisce a little. Let's go way back to 1926...a quarter of a century ago. That was Year One as far as the Dartmouth Club of New York was concerned. And June 2 of that year was quite a memorable date.
At 6 o'clock in the afternoon, the first meeting of the Incorporators and Members was held at the Advertising Club, 23 Park Avenue. Charles K. Woodbridge '04 called the meeting to order and stated the purposes thereof.
Excerpting part of the archives: "The following Incorporators, being a majority thereof, were present in person, as follows, to wit: Charles K. Woodbridge '04, Nathan C. Lenfestey '13, Warren F. Kimball '11. After the by-laws were read and adopted, nominations for officers were duly made and seconded. Mr. Woodbridge was elected president. D. BasilO'Connor '12 was elected vice-president. Mr. Lenfestey was elected treasurer. Mr. Kimball was elected secretary. The chairman then proposed to the meeting that the following be elected to membership in the Corporation: Luther B. Little '82, William N. Cohen '79, Edward K. Hall '92, Carl M. Owen '01, D. BasilO'Connor '12, John W. Hubbell '21, Charles E.Griffith Jr. '15, Ernest H. Earley '18, and HarryR. Heneage '07."
It was now 6:30 P.M. The first meeting of the incorporators and members was history. Promptly the first meeting of the first Board of Governors was called to order. Again excerpting from yellowed minutes: "On motion, duly made and seconded, it was unanimously VOTED: That the proper officers of this Company be and they hereby are authorized and directed to enter into an agreement with Dartmouth Club Real Estate Corporation for the rental of the premises at No. 24 East 38th Street. "
Two months passed. Nothing appears in the record until August 4. On this day at 10:30 in the morning the Board of Governors held a special meeting at the offices of Roosevelt (FDR) & O'Connor, 120 Broadway. "The President stated to the meeting that it was proposed at this time that the Board of Governors appoint a House Committee...." Thereupon Messrs. Carl Owen, John W. Hubbell,Fred Day '15, Lucius Varney '99, and HarryR. Heneage '07 were appointed members of the House Committee with Carl Owen as chairman.
Among those present at this meeting was Malcolm Stearns '08; He had a title as follows: Chairman of the Temporary Committee for the Organization of a Dartmouth Club in New York. "Mr. Stearns reported...he had received the sum of $8,422 from Dartmouth men who were interested and desired to sponsor the organization " There were approximately 425. But their names were not listed.
Now since it's a firm policy of the Club to take inventory once every 25 years, it would like to know what's become of this 1926 charter group. If you were among them, how about dropping us a line at 37 East 39th St., New York City 16?
Council members chosen. The Club has unanimously nominated Nichol M. Sandoe '19 of Pelham Manor and W. C. Morton '28 of Syracuse for second terms on the Alumni Council. Both men have been representing the Second District for the past two years. A Council member may serve two two-year terms, however, so Messrs. Sandoe and Morton are eligible for re-election for one more term.
Four score and seven years ago (almost), it was proposed that the Club have a sign affixed near the front door so that passers-by might know by what they are passing. Now some things are not built in a day ... Rome and stainless steel plaques for the Dartmouth Club, for example. But both were built. And many thanks to Jack Davis '25 for the latter. No longer need 39th Street passers-by wonder if perhaps they are passing by a home for way-ward girls.
Glee Club here, March 31. As yet, the exact time and place has not been decided. There's a possibility that the Glee Club program will be combined with an annual alumni get-together. Many are favoring a less expensive and more informal affair than the rather splendiferous Alumni Dinner, customarily held at the Commodore. We'll see. Details are coming soon.
"My First Week at Dartmouth This new sound and color film, recapturing those first few days in Hanover, has been bought by the Club and is available for those interested. Local note: the idea for this movie started in the minds of the Alumni Film Committee and its chairman, Ort Hicks '21.
Secretary, Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn 383 Madison Ave., New York 17, N.Y.
