1924's 30th "Best of All"

THIS was the best reunion of all; so say all 161 of us (see list for names of those attending). There was a new tone of friendship on a family scale, with a greater degree of solidarity and maturity. New friendships were made and old ones renewed and strengthened as never before. And our Alumni Fund record, with 1924 still on top of our group, was the "frosting on the cake."

Early arrivals registered before the announced 1 p.m., and we had a good-sized group by mid-afternoon of a perfect day. Cocktails at 5 were a good mixer, and the buffet supper in the tent (catered by the Inn, with clams, roast beef, lobster newberg, salads, dessert) was unusually fine. The reception in the Dickey garden later in the evening was very pleasant. Class lists for 1923-1924-1925 made visiting back and forth an easy pleasure many enjoyed. It was a pleasant night for the reunion dance at the Gym, where many danced with the youngsters while others sat around in the tent, or under the trees and a big June moon, or in small groups in dorm rooms. There was the usual singing of the old songs, with several beating a battered piano into submission (Wally Lord, your scribe, and others) well into early morning. Chitchat, revived memories, and a good many references to the latest grandchildren made up the pattern of talk. Vaughn Berry had pictures to show of his prize-winning (youngest baby of the class) 10-months-old child. Sorry Mrs. Berry had to miss the reunion.

Breakfast was a slow-starting affair Saturday, as usual, and so the class picture didn't get taken until 10:30. The business meeting that followed immediately afterward was well attended. Class dues were raised to $5.00 as a necessity. Reports were given as to our solvency, details of the Bequest Program (which is off to a good start), the shift to buying a Memorial Book instead of sending flowers to honor the increasing number of those who have passed on (69 as of now), and deferment of the report of the Nominating Committee. The Alumni luncheon at the Gym repeated some of the program of the previous week during Commencement. The fried chicken was good; then the talks were brief and to the point, up in the top of the Gym where we used to watch basketball, and where we put in our two years of required calisthenics under the eagle eyes of Doc Bowler and Pat Kaney. A memorial plaque to Doc Bowler was dedicated at the end of the exercises. College and class movies were shown later in the afternoon for any and all.

We joined 1923 and 1925 for cocktails in Thayer Hall, but our banquets were individual family-style parties. The steaks were excellent, in Jeanette Gill's famous best style. The first high spot was the raffling off of one of Stew Eldredge's winter-scene paintings. Putty Blodgett and pals sold 224 chances at $1 each, and Wes Blake won it with lucky #7. It was immediately, with Wes's blessing, put up for auction. Putty Blodgett lost his voice as auctioneer, but with yoeman help from Jim Rutherford, Wes Blake (up on the speaker's table) and others. The bids started low but the picture finally sold for $300 to Brad Hersey. Part of the raffle profits went to the Alumni Fund and all of the $300 went with it to make our quota secure - and then some. President Dickey watched this exciteing melodrama with pleasure and much amusement. A good show in a good cause.

Second high spot was the report of the Nominating Committee. The new officers, duly elected, are: President, Phil Van Huyck; Secretary, Chinee Allen; and Treasurer, BradHersey. The Executive Committee: Putty Blodgett, Al Burke, Dave Dyche, Harry Holmlund, Johnny Mauk, Mony Monahan, Harr Ranney and Pete Wheatley.

Master-of-ceremonies (and a mighty fine one, too) Pete Wheatley called for very brief comments by Ed Winsor, our representative on the Alumni Council, by Jim White, and by Harr Ranney. The praise each of these worthies gave to all and sundry was only a preliminary to the third highlight: Phil VanHuyck paid a real tribute to Jim White for his 30 years of service to the Class, ever since our graduation, and presented Jim with a beautiful silver tray, appropriately engraved, on behalf of the class. Jim was taken completely by surprise, but responded to express his appreciation of this token of recognition from the Class.

The final event of the evening was a memory-stirring talk by Prof. Al Foley (History) on the peculiarities of Hanover, of the College, and of the people who make both unique. This set the mood for further enjoyment of a repeat performance of Harvey by the Players in Webster Hall. The curtain fell on this bit of whimsey at just about midnight, and the pattern of small groups, here and there far into the night, was repeated.

Sunday was warmer and humid, but still a perfect day for the picnic out at Keene's in Hanover Center. After very pleasant breakfasts in small groups, in the tent and elsewhere, the three classes joined in a very impressive Memorial Service, in the Chapel. Bishop John Dallas, of fond memories, just returned from his own 50th reunion at Yale, obviously enjoyed returning for this service. He gave many of us the pleasure of hearing him again from the pulpit and more personally before and after the service. Prof. Longhurst, who retired last year and who has an honorary M.A. as of 1924, again played the organ, as he did for our 25th reunion Memorial service. Many were shocked to note that our list of honored dead now stands at 69 of the 624 who were enrolled in 1920. Several spoke of the need to find ways and means to make increasingly sure we maintain contact with the widows of these classmates, and to be sure they are included in our meetings.

One of the best features of this reunion was a "first" for 1924: we invited the retiring faculty and their wives to join us at the banquet. Prof. Kelly (Journalism) had left for Maine, but we enjoyed having Professors Childs (English), Hartshorn (Chemistry), and Silverman (Mathematics), and their wives, as our guests. Alex Haskell also brought Prof. Kier (famed in song for his Eccy) to the picnic, to the obvious pleasure of all concerned. This innovation should be a fixture at future reunions.

Most of the class stayed at the picnic, but by 3:30 most of us were back in Hanover and many on their way back home. Thus ended the best reunion of all. There were a lot of sidelights, and each will remember his own. For this scribe, our tennis match was a peak to be continued in our next: Larry and PeggyMarshall vs. Harry Holmlund and myself - with the lady by far the best "man" on the court. Golf had its takers: John Mauk, theRutherfords, and others. Others walked, danced, or just sat - and you might guess who did what in terms of past experience and personality.

Some had to miss reunion: Win Sturtevant wired his regrets; Dick Morin, after all his work in preparing for this week-end, was in the infirmary with a bad . back; others (Dot Strong, "Henry" Bartlett, the Bridges, and the Robin Robinsons) were with us for only part of the show. Three classmates' sons served as clerks (Jon Allen, Jim Craig, and Kendy Bridge — all '56), and Tommy Strong was a bellhop. The following lists those who were registered and in full attendance.

Allen, Chauncey, Kathryn, Jonathan Austin, Francis, Alice Bardol, Frank Barker, Henry, Letitia Barker, Herman Berry, Vaughn Blake, Weston Blodgett, Putnam, Charlotte Bowers, Seward, Doris Bowman, Ford, Barbara, Nancy Bragg, Robert, Flora Burke, Alfred, Margaret Buswell, Robert, Ruth Butler, Joseph, Dorothy Caldwell, Grant, Elsa Campbell, David, Monica Chittick, Stanley, Barbara Corwin, Sherman, Florence Coyle, Donald, Doris Dregge, John, Constance Eldredge, Stuart Fitzpatrick, Leo, Dorothy, Frances, Dorothy Jr., Leo Jr., Brian French, Charles, Jeannette, Peggy, Jane Gibson, Roland, May Bess Gowrie, Clarence, Dorothy Hall, Robert, Virginia, Robert Jr. Hallin, Bert, Larry Hartshorn, Henry, Pauline Harvey, Kenneth, Delores Haskell, Alex Haws, Lester Heegaard, William, Dorothy Henretta, James, Arline Hersey, Waldon, Lois, Althea, Alison, Stephanie, Elliott Hicks, Parker, Theresa Higley, Clifford, Mary Holmlund, Harry, Lula Jenkins, Arnold, Helen, Sandy, Arnold Jr. Jones, Edward, Jean Karslake, Frank, Katherine Kearns, Charles, Rose Kolodin, Abraham, Estelle Ladd, Leslie, Irene Lamson, Samuel, Harriet, Eleanor Lonsdale, Stanley, Martha, Lee Lord, Wallace, Elizabeth Lourie, George, Marion Maloney, Gerald, Norma Manley, Bertrand, Veronica Marshall, Lawrence, Margaret, Wm. L. Jr., Charles Mauk, John, Elizabeth McNiff, "William Monahan, DeLong, Barbara Morin, Dolores, Joan, Anne, Suzy Nilsen, Theodore, Harriet, Nicholas, Christopher Parker, John, Polly, Sally, John Jr. Perry, David Ranney, Harr, Edith Rutherford, James, Gladys Shanaman, Fred, Marjorie Solly, David, Rosalyn, Sandra Spaulding, Jerry, Kay Sycamore, Leslie, Mildred, Barbara, David Tupper, Alton, Louise Turner, Sumner, Louisa VanHuyck, Phillips, Louise Wolfe, Harry Wood, Charles, Mary Bell, Susan Wood, Edward Wheatley, John, Alma, John Jr. White, James, Lucille Winsor, Edward, Mary

Reunion Weekend found 1923, back for its 30th, sporting green feathers and smiling faces

1924 takes its turn cheerfully in the official reunion picture bleachers at the north end of the campus

CLASS SECRETARY