1917
The following short note is from Arch Gile: "There is not much news of the Gile family. We did take a short cruise in January and both Mary and myself have been laid up with the flu since our return."
Ev ("Robie" for short) advises, "If you print any of this lousy limp line, you're just plain crazy." Well, Ev, the letter is too newsy to let slip by, so here it is:
"Life goes on as per usual, with nothing alarming. Still getting a few barks out of the old tenor voice, ana we, the Stamford Male Chorus, give our first of two concerts this Friday evening.
"Building a beautiful million-dollar addition onto one of my schools (Stark), and life has been hectic here all of the fall. Running a second annual Small-Fry Talent Show for Parent-Teacher Association, also this week; and as Chairman of Stamford Suburban Kiwanis Program Committee, 1 can schedule any one of 'youse guys' for any Tuesday noon to harangue on your 'wares' be it Kalistron, Textron, Nylon, or What-you-have-on.
"Not going to the Winter Carnival because I saw it last year at 24 degrees below zero, a bit too cold for my 'thinning' blood. Produce an article now and then, most of them supposedly educational, two most recent of which I enclose; and if you want to learn how to spell at this late date, I have one on that too.
"Saw Bunnie Holden and Mel Falin, accompanied by spouses, in Hanover, and one or two other classmates, not too numerous to remember, just plain forget who—oh, yes, I met Hunk Stillman's wife in Nashua, N. H. last summer.
"Daughter Marcia going strong on monologues, brochure enclosed. Yes, I suggest her for one big event for the Reunion, and I don't mean maybe. And what a grandson, Cricket, for short, five years old already, in all of his Dartmouth ?? togs. Son Dick took all of the Geology they'd give him at Dartmouth until 1950, now in second year at University of Chicago, for Doctorate—Fellowships, etc. Wish I'd been that smart.
"Of course, I see Gene Towler now and then. Who doesn't?
"Incidentally, our Softball team, Keewaydin Camps on Lake Dunmore, Vt., was only defeated in the finals at Dartmouth last summer, and our dining hall now has a beautiful, big green pennant to show for it. When the boys returned to camp, with their little green beanie caps, gifts from the College, they were much prouder wearing them than the usual freshman class."
Ralph Sanborn, "the old sage," sends in the following:
"Your letter of January 30 has an inked notation that acknowledges receipt of my address, but the letter is addressed to the old one. You might just check your records to be sure that the new address —for home and office—is the only one which appears therein.
"A combination of circumstances have made this move of my office desirable and possible. There isn't much more to add to that bar report at this time. Even though the uniform mail address is just Hampton Falls, N. H., I have taken office space in the nearby town of Hampton where I can be found if I am not at the beach for a swim, roaming the country-side for a picture, working in my glad garden, or taking colored pictures of those flowers in my basement studio at home; Also, I have just a few One Hundred Dollar Life insurance policies which I may dispose of to well-qualified, intimate friends.
"I should mention that some of my time is devoted to the integration within my collection or such match covers as are periodically sent to me by such faithful members of the clan as MottBrown, Sumner Timer son, Gene Towler, SpiqueMaclntyre and others. To each all my gratitude for their cooperation in my juvenile hobby."
Quotes from Rog Stone: "Very glad indeed to have a note from you. "I will probably have to chime in on the same story you get from most of the boys: 'no special news,' but anyway I will try to tell you something about recent activities even though they won't be too exciting. .
"Carol and I spent a weekend in Hanover at the Inn, and truth to tell, there is always something exciting about being back in the town. We just kicked around for 24 hours or so. I tried to contact Arch Gile at his office, but, of course, didn't expect great success on a Saturday afternoon. He wasn't there, but I left a note for him containing a big hello. I did see a number of my son Bill's friends, Mrs. Ives at the Inn, Professor Neef, Bob Bull (photographic studio in the Bridgman Block), Blair Watson and so on and so on. We saw a real good basketball game with Penn Saturday evening, and Sunday morning enjoyed one of our favorite recreations: occupied a window table at the Inn Coffee Shop and watched the Hanover world go by. Lots of fun.
"Bill has been in Augsburg, Germany (Bavarian region) as an Army photographer with the 43rd Infantry Division since last November. He was on the transport General Hersey when it rammed and sunk an Argentine liner in the very last stages of the voyage into Bremerhaven. Plenty of excitement, but no loss of life or anything like that. He is in the heart of good skiing country and gets in as much as his military duties will permit. He loves good music, and Munich (an hour's tram ride) provides plenty of that, likewise when duties permit. All in all, he's had mighty good breaks in the Army. If things continue as they are now, with no major disturbance, he should be out (after 2 years service) this October.
"When the Big Green played Harvard last fall, I enjoyed very much indeed meeting and chatting briefly with Barney Thielscher's two fine boys - the squad was quartered at the Bellevue, just around the corner from my office."
A very nice long letter received from "Poor Len Shea"'.
"In reply to your request for some news as to my activities in this work-a-day world and my whereabouts, I will outline for you a few facts which I am afraid won't be particularly interesting but at least will assure everyone who is interested that I am alive and still trying to earn a living.
"As I write this I feel a little on the old side since on Thursday, January 24, 1952, I completed 25 years' service with the Melville Shoe Corporation. I try not to feel as old as that sounds and I hope I succeed at least to a slight degree. This is in spite of the fact that every time I see DonO'Leary he wants to know where my wheelchair is, to which my comeback always is that at least most of my hair is still very close to the color it was when I was a boy (and that's many years ago), while O'Leary's hair would win a contest with Rip Van Winkle.
"Not much exciting has happened to me over the years except that after 43 years of life as a bachelor I finally found a very charming mate who has been a great help in steering the ship since she became captain in 1938. That is all there is, I am sorry to say, to the Shea family; we don't even have a dog. There are some things that even a member of the famous class of Dartmouth '17 can't control.
"My work entails a lot of travelling since our 575 distributing units are spread from coast to coast and from the Gulf to the Canadian border. In addition to that, I am forced to live in the boiling pot of this man's U.S.A. In reading the letters in the MAGAZINE, which have been most interesting, about some of our many classmates, I often envy the fellow who found it possible to settle down in a relatively small community and, for the most part, stay put where he is and still find it possible to keep the wolf away from the door and lay away a few pennies of which Uncle Sam will take the major portion.
"Occasionally I find it possible to get away from the every-day business cares and get a little recreation. Last fall I was fortunate in seeing the Army, Columbia, Cornell and Princeton games and was sorry that I was not able to make the Yale game and join the gang at the usual hospitable gathering at Bob and Anita Scott's. We saw the Barbers,Emerys, Shermans and Holdens at Hanover.
"Sally and I went into the southland over the holidays and sneaked a trip to Havana over New Year's. The weather was grand and we enjoyed ourselves for the few days we were in Havana, but, as far as I am concerned, the Cubans can have Cuba; I'll take the United States.
"As for business, I need not tell you, being in an affiliated division of the shoe and leather industry (even in spite of your crack that our shoes look better now that we are using your leather), that one has very few idle moments. Maybe that's a good thing and helps to keep us young, or am I wishful thinking. I hope not, for it will be an awful blow to find out I am not.
"I am looking forward to our 35 th reunion which is still a year away and if God is good to me healthwise and Uncle Sam doesn't interfere to a devastating degree, I will be on deck with Sally to say hello to everyone fortunate enough to attend the reunion. Until then and with best wishes.
"I neglected to say that I live in Manhattan at 210 East 68th Street, the initials are L.A., and the telephone number is REgent 7-4292 (yes, and it is listed). A call from any '17er will always be welcome."
"Grandpa" Hen Sturgess, has now joined the ranks of many '17ers, his big thrill of becoming a grandfather:
"It was nice to get your note of February 1 even though I had no news of special interest to report. "Not many of our classmates get down this way, although 1 have seen Gene Towler a couple of times, which I believe he later reported to the Class Notes.
"I noticed in the local paper a couple of years ago that Bishop Don Aldrich was in Atlanta in connection with some Episcopal doings and I contacted him and we had a very pleasant visit for an hour or so. He didn't know that I lived in Atlanta, and it was the first time we had seen each other since graduation. I will let you in on a secret, which had perhaps better be kept out of the Class Notes. At the time, I had been on the wagon for several months, but when Don suggested a drink, I couldn't resist for old times' sake, so we went into the bar at the Biltmore and Don sipped on a brandy while I toyed with an Old-Fashioned. It took an Episcopal Bishop to make me fall off the wagon. Probably Don would prefer no mention of this in the Class Notes. (I don't believe Don objects—K.W.K.).
"Really the biggest thrill I have had for a long time was the arrival of my first grandson about three months ago. I know at this stage of life this is a very commonplace thing among our classmates, but I will tell you just confidentially that mine is the best grandson there ever was.
"As to the 35th reunion, I don't believe that I can make any suggestions because I know the plans are in good hands. I intend to make every effort to be there, but I don't believe I have attended a reunion since the sth, due to various circumstances beyond my control."
Our old friend Sam White sends in a pictureof his wife Lou, his Dad and himself, whichwas taken a few years ago on his Dad's 90thbirthday. Also, the following letter:
"Here we are rounding out 20 years with Pan American Airways, Alaska Operation, remenbering all the fun we had and forgetting the tough periods. Since I'll meet up before too long with company policy of required retirement, I'm beginning to figure what I want to do next, which is definitely not sit back and loaf. Of course the perfect set up would be go back to Hanover with a couple other '17ers and have the concession of the NUGGET. I'm surprised Gyp Green hasn't thought of that.
"Early in March I had a phone call from the exArlington fireball Key Key croft, who is still fireballing for the Bassie Co. out of Bridgeport. We got together for a dinner and evening of catching up on mutual friends. Wish I felt as young as Rey looks today.
"It will be luck if I make any class get-togethers before '53, but I am shooting for that one."
Incidentally, if any of you '17ers get out to the Coast, Sam's address is: 3204 E. Lexington Way, Mercer Island, Wash.
Visitors at the Inn were: Dr. and Mrs. RalphLynch, Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Baxter Dr. andMrs. Deering Smith and Mil Palin.
Please note the following changes of address:
Rear Admiral Theodore C. Lonnquest, American Society of Naval Engineers, 605 F St., N.W., "Washington 4, D. C. 110 Aspen St., Chevy Chase 15, Md. Leonard J. Reade, M.R. Box SA, Red Bank, N. J. Henry C. Waterman, 23 Elm St., Tilton, N. H. Baron S. Barnes, c/o H. H. Copple, Southland Life Bldg., Dallas 17, Tex. Dr. Howard S. Bartlett, 1265 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass.
Come on, fellows, send in some news, now that spring is upon us you can write about the big trout you caught, or the time you spend in your garden, or any hobbies or sports you enjoy. Hibernating time is over for another year.
SAM WHITE '17 (I) and his wife Lou share in the celebration of his father's 90th birthday.
Secretary, 408 Frelinghuysen Ave., Newark 5, N. J Treasurer. 9 Park Terrace, Upper Montclair, N. J Class Agent, Barbour-Stockwell Co., 205 Broadway, Cambridge, Mass.
