1918
Think of a guy that would send you a post- card from tropical Acapulco, Mexico, to land in N. Y. in bitter cold Feb.! It read, "just a card to let you know Sue and I are enjoying 80° summer here in Acapulco instead of sub- zero lowa. Beautiful place—good swimming, caught my first sail fish." Frank G. Fiedler. Honestly, Frank, it was a tonic to get it.... The class extends sympathy to Stan Jones, in the loss of his mother—indeed a very sweet and thoughtful person, one beloved by many '18ers, especially the writer, who enjoyed several precious years living at Stan's home The same Eddie Garvey who wrote us in 1948, saying, "three .oldest stepdaughters, all married, imagine that! Bachelor at 42—then 5 grandchildren from 2 to 10 years at 52. Don't I collect?" writes us now, saying, "Ran into John Loomis 'l5, of Cheyenne, en route to Frisco last Sept.—am with Naval Base development here. Stepson at Wash U. Believe I'll come to life again for '18's grand reunion, June, 1953." P.O. Box 21, Guam, M. I.
1918 dinner, N Y City, D. Club last Feb. 15. Prodder Pete Colwell looked marvelous. The class in Jan. had written him a round robin letter when he was under the weather—and why wouldn't he lookfine? He's just back now after a long trip to Florida. Pete and Evelyn enjoyed Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, then across to Naples, St. Petersburg, and up the west coast. Also at the dinner, was Fred Cassebeer, and soon, we believe, the bulb business of Marcia and Fred will be as outstanding as HA Cassebeer, pharmacist to N Y City's elite and most distinguished M D's for 100 years. Delighted was everybody to see Doc George Danielsson John is at Columbia and doing a splendid job. Also at the dinner were Rog Howland, Dick Flolton (rounding up customers for the Hofstra basketball game) Johnny Johnston (he and Ann lit out shortly thereafter for Bel Air, Fla.—where they all know Johnny after his first introduction there in his sprightly Town and Country model that caught the eye of everyone at '18s reunion in 1948). Johnny got to speculating whether or not an '18 spring cookout under the dogwood trees at his beautiful Rye home would be in order. He got instant encouragement from everyone.
Others attending were Bob Knowles—who claims he could throw an '18 party at Long Beach that would be a honey.—Leicester McElwain was giggling with glee and always is a tonic to see, also Paul Miner, looking as fit as when he'd win the 100 yrd. dash. Then there was Admiral Paul Mather whose devoted family of four children, Mary Louise, Elinor Ann, Paul Jr. and Dick, surprised Paul with a beautiful portrait of him by an eminent portrait painter, which however doesn't please Mary too much, showing Paul, we believe, standing on the bridge as he was directing landing operationsprobably in Africa or Italy where his ship poured off thousands of infantry troops. Also there was Howie Park, perhaps blasted out by Timber-Top Shea Then he met, him one day at lunch and said why the hell don't you come out to some '18 affairs? It s always a pleasure to see Howie. NedRoss sent us a clipping of much beloved Tom Bresnahan '19 whose picture was in the N. Y. newspapers, resembling handle-bar mustached and much loved Police Commissioner Tom Murphy of N. Y City.
We had a nice visit with Dwight Sargent, who lost 100 acres along the Conn. River above Hanover under the flood control program. He too had acquired some prominent artist paintings and had a pleasant talk with Paul Mather about oil paintings in general. KillerGeorge Stoddard looked smartly groomed and had stayed away from his regular Thurs. at Poughkeepsie DeLaval factory, where they're working at top speed on war orders, just to be with the class. Enlivening the gathering was the presence of good old Barney Gerrish 'l7, and Charlie Comiskey '15, names to be conjured with on the campus in our times.
It's a treat indeed to get from that old lanternjawed roomey of Howard Cann, Paul Mather and Bob Fish, one Bill Montgomery, a splendid annual statement of the operation of Bruce Dodson and Cos., Kansas City,—a rapidly growing organization of which Bill is No. 2 man and Genl. Mgr DanShea and the writer have a pleasant visit from the old master about once a year and look forward to the next one. ... George Hull writes—,"no news except I've been in real estate since June, 1949— gained some experience with one firm which wasn't too active on the brokerage end. In April '50 came with G. Leo Kolb, an old Georgetown concern and have been doing quite well. Met some Dartmouth boys who had seen Bob Fish in Tucson recently. Apparently he's making a great name for himselfwent to a cocktail party Paul Mather threw at Bethesda Naval Hospital Officers Club—contributed some elegant groceries and fielded a nice crowd of people very much in things."
On the Florida circuit we had the great pleasure of visiting "that man of distinction" Pat Case, who has a lovely apartment in St. Petersburg (785 19th Ave., N.) with his very pleasant wife Louise. Pat wanted to know all about Jay LeFevre, George Stoddard, StanJones, Dick Ashton, Steve Mahoney, PupsColie, Paul Miner, Chris Christgau and HermWhitmore. We talked too of his old roomie and grand guy Jimmie Gill, who drove the ambulance in France on which I was his lackey. Bless his soul, I learned to love him, though he was hot-tempered and made me ride the bumper in the black night as a lookout. Johnnie Thayer in Delray looked fine and spoke of our 20th (Wheeler Hall), when Bill Christgau got him to come back and John tickled those ivories in the tent nearby most of the night and 'iBers packed the place till dawn. John may yet work for the Gov't in Wash. Kath and Ev Young spent all of Feb. at the swanky Flagler in Delray, arranged by Johnnie. And how John would have loved to get Stan Jones down!
Bee and Al Gottschaldt looked simply grand —tanned and well rested. Al had shaken off 19 lbs. and has made this adjustment very well. They have a lovely place, with thick tropical vegetation all over the yard in Coconut Grove, although they lost four trees in last year's hurricane during which "Al and Kay (youngest daughter) slept thru it all." When going to Florida three years ago, Al gave of himself to dozens of community interests, and still does, but takes it more in stride. A Miami plug, which our observation would not dispute, arose from a study of greater Miami (said Al) made by the Tel and Tel Cos. and Florida Power and Light; namely, that greater Miami, now 400,000 people, will be over a million in 1955. Dan Shed made up part of that population for 2 wks. at Easter time, and Bill Bemis was expected.
From all sides we hear of the splendid job Stumpie Barr did, as always, at the Fathers' and Sons' dinner, Feb. 23. Hal Doty wanted so much to be there and hopes to make it before son Johnny graduates. Duke duSossoit's son Bill, a towering giant, is the mainstay of the swimming team—DonScully's boy is Ist line forward and a star on hockey team; name is George J. Scully. Red Hulberfs son Dick '5l, is a member of the squash team. . . . Dusty Rhodes apologized for not attending the Jan. 18 dinner saying "had to look at a fashion show of some Parisian beauties just off the boat at the Waldorf and then run on to something else. RedHulbert, my prodder, called me as usual and I hoped to be there. Ran across Steve Mahoney and party at opening night at the Wedgewood Room at the Waldorf, and the Persian Room of the Plaza. Great fun. I askedhim if he was trying to get in on my racket of the night club biz—Steve was recounting the number of old Irish songs we both know and used to sing on a reunion trip to Hanover."
'iB N. Y. CITY COCKTAIL PARTY, N. Y. CITY, FEB. 23, dinner together, Hofstra basketball game. First to appear was good old Spud Richmond, the trim-looking, snappy V.P. of Country Life Press—buildings sprawling over the Satlands of Garden City and roaring under neon lights 24 hours a day, eating up printing of some of the biggest outfits in the land. Garden City is pretty—and the Tata gives the Chamber of Commerce boys who want to commercialize it too much, a bit of a time. Missed was Janet (Richmond) who heads up the Volunteer Red Cross units in that area. At cocktails and dinner with always- present Bill Christgau (we missed Rose), was son Billy and lovely bride (Billy has gone withthe Travelers Ins.—Group Dept.). All '18 wivessaid of his pretty Conover model Patricia,"she's just a darlin'—pretty too."
Undisturbed by their robbery was stunning Marion and Frank Clabane, looking none the worse for wear, although the newspapers said "the police dept. was investigating the burglary, and the thieves stole a mink cape, a diamond ring and wristwatch from Mrs. Marion Clahane of 134 Stratford Av.. Garden City," Hum! Delighted was everybody to see Evelyn and Charlie Benesch, a Cornell family well known to '18ers, who have enjoyed Henry Benesch with his violin and Kay (Stumpie's sister), at many Pomonok parties. Evelyn and Charlie Benesch were there because junior son Keb at Han- over was elected a member of Green Key. There also, and looking well rested, was our own Dickliolton. Edith takes good care of him, and good she does with his toughest of all Alumni Fund campaigns now on.
Our gifts to Dartmouth must be in before the dead line June 30. Most of what we give goes to help deserving students without money. This year Dartmouth will need $500,000. You, '18er, can be proud of your record of generosity. Interesting in- deed were Dorothy and Steve Mahoney, who had been down to New Orleans enjoying the Feb. Mardi Gras. Young Steve, Phi Bete at Hanover, studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, was last in Spain. It does seem remarkable that a man just out of college could have the self-sufficiency, stability and ma- turity that young Steve has, to saturate himself in writing and studying in the interesting spots of France and Spain. A great addition to the party were Florence and Mudge Mudgett 'l7—and during the game, in which the Dartmouth basketball team were roundly trounced by a good Hofstra one, Mudge was just itching to get down on the floor and take his shot at a few baskets. '18ers would have loved to have seen high-scoring Dutch Ran on the floor for Dartmouth.
Twas a sparkling moonlight night and Hofstra College, on the flat plains of Garden City, made a beautiful setting. At the game, we saw Virginia and Andy Ross, and young Andy, who's a mighty cute freckle-faced guy. Maybe the Rosses will drive out west next summer, to some of the territory where Andy is the mainstay of the Credit Dept. of the Chase Bank. Most important thrill of the whole evening was having Fred Samuels, of International Tel and Tel fame, and sorry we were that Alice couldn t make it; but their son Frederick, towering like a 6l/2 ft. giant, and who we hope—and he hopes —will get into Dartmouth, was a pleasant addition to the evening.
Missed at the game were Ethel and Bob Knotules,Wart McElwain, whom Spud Richmond would have enjoyed, also Betty and Bennie M.ugridge (Bennie was in Florida visiting his mother who was sick), Caroline and George Dockstader (big annual busi- ness dinner kept George away), as well as Minetta and Syl Morey. who were up weekending at their place in the Berkshires, right next to the lovely place of Marty Straus. We missed too Agnes and Judge Henry J A (Harry to us) Collins, who as Chairman of Boy Scouts of America Drive, and many other Drives, is constantly working for the community. Harry got tuckered out and a letter around March 1 said "...it looks like I'll be at the hospital for another week or two—and then a few weeks at home. The doctors are agreed that there is nothing from which I will not fully recover within a short space of time, so that makes the future hopeful, but I will have to give up some of the extra curricular activities of service to the com- munity, for a while," and as we dictated that, NedRoss came in the room and said "he's done enough already so that his prestige will last forever."
uir . , WIN lUSI rurever. Headlines in the New York newspapers: "Short Mans Jitters on High Heels Bear $280,000 in Smuggled Gems. No further identification showed that these were Elevator shoes made by Ben Stone. Due to the customary alertness of Jake Bingham, we came across the following in a New England newspaper about our much beloved Ben Stone, a sharp golfer indeed, pal of Sime Gordon, and Hanover roomey of Ed Derosier. "A lot of girls are looking up to their fellows today, and Ben Stone, rres. or Stone-Tarlow, Inc. of Brockton, Mass. is in no small way responsible for this. Stone, a sympathetic soul, who thought something really should be done for the little guy, invented the famous ma««f"7?u~ ler Elevator height-increasing shoes."
Although a fundamentally practical man, Stone specializes in getting people's feet OFF the ground, ,» lt: 'piping a short man grow bigger 7~ vHi, Wart!) in every sense of the word. Ben nas a bug on helping short fellows not only build up their height, but their egos. Small men who nave worn Elevators report that from the very first wearing, they have experienced new sensations, such as noticing for the first time that their friends are becoming bald, pictures hanging on the wrong level etc. Not only are they getting new 'see' sensations' but they ve found that drunks are less likely to push them around and girls don't politely refuse an invitation to dance. Conservatively speaking there are thousands of tall girls through the country who gladly add a huzzah for Ben Stone for makine their boy friends 'man size'."
Who sent this letter? It was signed by Rev. James F. Kelly and read, "Dear Mr. Earley; I feel sure you have heard of me and my work' I tour part of the county and lecture on the evils of drinking, each summer. For the past few years, I have been assisted in my work by my young friend, Herman Sanson, who was a pathetic case—a boy from a fine family with a host of friends, a good college education, dy- namic personality, one who had everything to live for. As happens to many of us, Herman took to drinking the evil beverage and keep- ing company with women of ill repute. Herman would accompany me on my trips and sit on the platform with me. I used him as an example of what drinking would do. I had him sit and stare at the audience with
bloodshot eyes, a drooping mouth and a bleary expression. He was truly a perfect example of a fine fellow who has dissipated and degen- erated beyond all belief. Unfortunately, last month Herman died. A mutual friend has given me your name, and I wonder if you would care to join me on my next trip and take the place of Herman!" As a P.S. the letter added "in the event of your being unable to comply with my request, could you please give me the names and addresses of a few of the people you know who might fill the bill as well as yourself, such as, for instance, Jones, Christgau, Stoddard, Morey, Glover, at al, not to forget the broth of a boy Teemos O'Shay?"
A nice card came in from Stew Teaze— (how he longed to see Louie Hobbs and Cap Hanley at the June '4B reunion!) which says "I'm heading my horse westward (Feb. 19) and should arrive in Whittier, Calif., not later than end of Feb.—en route, we (son-in-law Don with U. of Ind., Masters') are going to scour the country for a teaching-coaching job f<?r him in some locale where he can grow up with the community and otherwise live hap- pily. He's a Marine Vet and something of an athlete too. Our first stop is Thatcher, Ariz., besides calling on Mel Southwick and having a "refresher" at the U. of the South in Se- wanee."
Among other snapshots we now have a pic- ture of Lymie Black, who looks (2 or 3 years ago) mighty fit and with plenty of hair. Ac- companying the picture then was this note, "no use telling the Democrats, they know it all." Lymie is now Pres. of Black Mfg. Cos. making men's work clothing and is a well known person in banking circles and a Di- rector of Seattle Hardware Cos. as well as the very successful Pacific National Bank. Young Lyman, a Yale graduate, I believe, is now Sect, of the Black Mfg. C 0.... Al Gustafson was proud to clip from the Louisville, Ky. papers a picture of our distinguished LesGranger who had just spoken there.
We often look to Red Hulbert for news from Don Bliss, and many of his good friends in the class would like to hear from him.. . . Ralph Bickford as Pres. and Treas. of Gen- nesse Finance Cos. Inc., Batavia, N. Y., and active in the Chamber of Commerce, has been doing a land office business in small loans. His distinguished ex-roommates were GeneMarkey, Herm Whitmore, Sig Judd, DukeShoup.
Secretary, 74 Trinity Place, New York 6, N. Y
Treasurer, Parkhurst Hall, Hanover, N. H.
C lass A gen t,: 2644 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn 7, N. Y.
