1896

This is a brief biographical sketch of MosesHarry Hoyt and his family.

Harry was born August 5, 1872, in Fitchburg, Mass. He was one of the ablest men in our class, a thorough student. Your Secretary's recollection is that he ranked third or fourth in scholarship. His interest was in study and reading in many fields. He engaged little in outside activities. For his senior year he entered the Thayer School. He graduated with our class with the degree of B.S. and with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He was awarded the degree of Civil Engineer by the Thayer School in June 1897.

In an advanced course in mathematics (possibly Analytical Geometry) he was given a problem to put on the blackboard. When called upon to demonstrate the problem he said, "Professor, I have made a bull in this problem." He was promptly given the nickname "Bull" Hoyt. The name stuck throughout the balance of his college course.

His first job was with a steel company in Johnstown, Pa. After a year or two he was employed by the Fort Pitt Steel Company of Cannonsburg. About 1903 he was employed by the Virginia Bridge and Iron Company of Roanoke, Va. Early in 1906 he returned to Pennsylvania and was employed February 5, 1906, by the Belmont Iron Works of Philadelphia — fabricators of steel structures.

He started with Belmont as a draftsman, and through the years worked up to assistant chief draftsman and finally chief draftsman under the chief engineer. However, he was considered much more than these titles imply. Belmont considered him the finest mathematician they ever had in their organization. For the last ten years or more of his employment he functioned as a specialist on their most difficult engineering problems. If his O.K. was on the plans the organization went ahead with full confidence.

He had outgrown the nickname "Bull" Hoyt and had acquired the wisdom so well connotated by his first name - Moses.

He served Belmont for 39 years, retiring in January 1945. On the occasion of his retirement the directors of Belmont tendered him a luncheon, presenting him with a watch as a mark of their esteem and appreciation for his long and outstanding service.

He passed away February 19, 1945, a few weeks after he retired and a few months before his 73rd birthday.

Hoyt was a student in many fields. He was a member of the local Institute of Science, interested especially in Natural History and exploration. He loved the outdoors, — he knew the trees and shrubs, the rock formations, the birds and animals.

He was a great walker. He had an uncanny sense of direction, — he was never lost. He had an unusual sense of time and would seldom miss the correct time by more than a few minutes, without having looked at his watch for hours. He was a fresh-water fisherman. His son John writes me that he thinks the hook was not always baited. "Fishing was an excuse to sit beside a stream and watch nature at work." He was an excellent woodsman. It was his habit to take the train from Media to the 30th Street station and then walk more than a mile to the Belmont plant, returning the same way in the evening.

His son John writes of him, "Dad was quite a guy, and as is often the case, the children realize the full extent of the parents' greatness only after they are gone. George and I were very fortunate." A fine tribute from a son!

Harry married Mary Gertrude Buckley, daughter of a Methodist minister, in Centralia, Pa., December 27, 1900. When the family returned to Pennsylvania they settled in Moylan, a suburb of Media, where Mrs. Hoyt still lives. She is in good health, is interested in music as a listener, and continues an active schedule in clubs, church, book reviews.

Two sons were born to the Hoyts. John B.Hoyt was born in November, 1903. After graduating from Media High School he went to Penn State and later took courses in Drexel Institute Evening School. He studied civil engineering and followed in his father's footsteps in becoming a structural engineer - employed by the Dupont Company since 1933.

They have two children, - Sandra Jane about 14 and John J. Jr. about 11. Mrs. John B. Hoyt was present at one of our '96 reunions with Harry. The children have also visited Hanover. Perhaps John B. Jr. will look forward to Dartmouth.

George R. Hoyt was born June 7, 1907, in Moylan. He too graduated from Media High School and then went to the Forestry School at Wanakena, N. Y. He was employed by the New Hampshire Forestry Department for some years. Later, in the war period, he was in the Army Engineers in England and France. Since the war he has been employed by a lumber company as a salesman, travelling the upper New England States. He is married but there are no children. They live in West Lebanon, N. H.

Secretary and Bequest Chairman 206 Appleton St., Arlington, Mass.

Treasurer, 21 Forest Rd., Cape Elizabeth, Me.