1924
The still, small voice that passes as our conscience prompts us to make apologies to two of our correspondents whose cordial and newsworthy letters have been accumulating dust in our files far too long. For this gross neglect we are duly sorry.
Bill Oatman, eminent resident of Dundee, 111., a community which he locates by saying that "Chicago is 35 miles east of Dundee," writes on the stationery of the Midwest Dried Milk Company, manufacturers of sweet dried whey. Now I ask you! Frankly, we've heard the expression "kicking the whey" out of someone, but, is that a business? Being ever a seeker after truth and knowledge, we are pleased to inform our panting subscribers that whey is the liquid residue which is left over after the manufacture of cheese. Bill's outfit process this liquid whey into a dehydrated form, which is then sold as an ingredient to feed manufacturers. Just as simple as that!
Bill's son John David graduates this June from the College of Colorado at Colorado Springs. This young man has had a busy and most successful four years, as he has been playing varsity football, is President of the Senior Class and Treasurer of the Student Council. What a man we missed! John's sister Rachel is a sophomore at Stanford University and is attempting to match the record of her accomplished brother.
Bill teils us that he seldom has the opportunity of meeting any of the gang, but that the latch string is always out for any '24 wayfarer at the Oatman residence at 106 West Main Street, Dundee, 111.
Bert Perry is another who has no doubt consigned us to the nethermost depths because of our neglect. Bert bought a dairy farm late in 1949, located about three miles from Exeter, N. H. He tells us he intended to write long ago because, "I'm sure there are some men in 1924 still young enough to have sons in the Academy." Bert, my boy, please refer to our columns of the past two months. Your classmates are still having children with gay abandon. We'll be having sons at the Academy for years to come! In any event, Bert's misguided remark was prompted by the kindliest of motives. He and Marg extend a cordial invitation for any son of '24, now a student at Exeter, to look up Belomar Farm and come on out.
Along with the duties of bringing up two husky and active children, handling a dairy herd of 40 cows, plus the usual quota of sheep and chickens, Bert finds time to operate a real estate business, and has launched a new, microfilm service in Portland, Me. We asked Bert about this latter operation and he tells us that his outfit is set up to photograph any documents up to 42" in width. They have already done the back files of several newspapers, and have contracted to do the records of municipalities and government agencies. With all the malarky that is being written these days, including alumni notes, the opportunities for the microfilm service seem unlimited. More power to you, Bert. Save those immortal words!
Jim Rutherford is one of our active group of classmates centered in and around Cleveland. He wrote a letter some time ago, promising that a gathering of the clan would soon take place in the Ohio metropolis, and that we would be favored with the story. Apparently something miscued somewhere, for we have nothing of any meeting other than the informal gathering that welcomed Dick Fagin. You had a swell idea, Jim, so why not get going on it, and stir up a party? There couldn't be a better time for it.
The popularity of Bill Patten, electric appliance tycoon of West Chester, Pa., has increased no end since the current national situation has tended to create a scarcity of merchandise in that field. Right now he is extremely busy, but Bill still finds time to devote to his home, as well as to his Kiwanis Club and church work. Grandpa Patten has a wonderful family. His oldest daughter Mrs. Lorenz Fenton, elevated him to this proud estate last fall, and since then grandson Michael has been king. Bill Jr., who graduated from Dartmouth last June, received his Pennsylvania teachers certificate the following August, and was teaching at Oxford, Pa., when called for induction into the armed forces. Young Bill is now at Camp Cooke, Calif.
Bill still has two children at home, Martha in the West Chester High School, and David in Junior High. With these two stirring around there is never a dull moment in the Patten household.
The anticipated letter from Joe Falcon arrived some time back and he has filled in a few details on the Falcon family. As previously reported, Joe has recently moved into the Springfield area, and is now in the process of building a new home in Longmeadow. The address will be 200 Overbrook Road, on and after May I—he hopes! While construction is in progress the Falcon family is somewhat split up. Bill, the oldest boy, is a freshman at Wesley an; Pete, a sophomore at Deerfield Acad- emy; and Mrs. Falcon, smart lady that she is, is in Florida with the youngest son Tommy until the new home is complete. Having been through this building deal once ourselves we can only hope that Joe picks the right wall papers, and that the entire decor meets with unanimous approval.
Word has reached us by a rather circuitous route that Ken Harvey is now living in Florida while recovering from a severe illness. Ken took a real beating, physically, during the war years, when he was with the War Production Board, and operated on a 12-hour day, six days a week schedule. That's more than any man can be expected to take for any extended period. It is good to know that Ken is on the mend, and that by following a rigid schedule, he will be back in shape again after awhile. In the meantime he is reclining on the Florida sands, soaking up the sunshine and getting a great kick out of reading the Florida papers which tell of the terrific blizzards and the terribly cold weather up North. (Ski tow owners, please note.) Ken says they'll do anything to keep the tourist in Florida. Their 1951 license plates bear the slogan "Keep Florida Green" and Ken is sure the newspapers are doing their best to make it come true, "with Northern greenbacks." We are sure Ken would be happy to get some letters, and as a suggestion, why not drop him a line at 1659 Ridgewood Street, Clearwater, Fla.
Odds and Ends from Here and There—Congratulations are in order for Carroll B. (Pop)Foster who was recently elected auditor of the four companies in the Travelers group. Pop went with the Travelers in 1928 as a member of the audit department. He was made assistant auditor in 1941, and now takes command of the whole operation. Nice going, Pop. Good luck.—Dr. Morris Fiterrnan, 6152 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, is now Lt. Colonel Fiterman, having been recalled to active duty with the Army of the United States.—Social Note. Mr.and Mrs. Dick Hess have announced the marriage of their daughter Barbara Vail to Thomas Glynn Foley on Monday, March 12, at Salt Lake City.—Stub Reed writes in from 1111 North Capitol Street, Washington 2, D. C., extending a warm welcome to any classmates who "join the brief case parade to this center of permits and confusion."—As a last, lingering reminder of the late, unlamented winter, Brad Hersey sent us the results of the Giant Slalom races held on the Tecumseh Trail at Waterville Valley, N. H., March 17 and 18. Daughters of 1924 did mighty well, just to prove that all the skiing talent is not to be found in the male, or weaker, sex. Betsy Strong, representing Middlebury College, won first place in the Open Eastern race, while Alison Hersey was second in the Junior Girls event. In the men's competition, Elliott Hersey representing Kimball Union Academy finished well up in a large field.
Before signing off we would like to remind you of the 1951 Alumni Fund Drive which is now reaching the half-way point. Thus far the results have been most encouraging. A substantial number of early contributors have given definite evidence that they are fully aware of the very serious needs of the College, and have increased their gifts accordingly. Earl Daum, in sending in his gift from far-off Melbourne, Australia, struck the keynote when he wrote, "I hope things are going well with you and that the Fund is a big success this year. With the probable drain for military service on lads of college age, I would think that theSchool would need it more than ever." That is the understatement of the year! There was no way to avoid a 25% increase if Dartmouth's standards were to be maintained. We must be guided by that yardstick in measuring our giving. If you haven't thought it over, do so tonight. The need was never greater, nor the cause more compelling. Dartmouth depends on you.
WINNER: Carl Gray '23 took first in the Veterans Class in the annual Sun Valley Ski Club Race, Feb. 22. President of Grenby-Cardwell Mfg. Co., he lives in Farmington, Conn.
FATHERS OF '24 STAND TREAT: At the March 10 dinner in Hanover these friends and fathers enter- tamed the 1924 sons in college: Seated (I to r)-Frank Jetter, Dick Morin, Doc Christophe Sumner Robinson Ed Winsor, Ev Lyon, Wes Blake. Standing-Les Haws, Jim White, Ken Davis, Frank Harrington, Phil Van Huyck, Rollie Taylor, Kip Higley, Win Sturtevant, Ted Learnard.
Secretary, 328 Orchard PL, Ridgewood, N. J.
T reasurer, 1312 Greenleaf Blvd., Elkhart, Incl.
Class Agent, 185 Franklin St., Boston, Mass.
