Golden Reunion of 1904

ON June 29,1904, there were graduated from Dartmouth College 127 young men. As we fell in line for the Commencement exercises, we watched with deep interest and respect the Class of 1854 march across the campus to attend the services in the Old White Church.

Many of us, as we stood at attention, marveiled at the loyalty of men who, for fifty years, had kept alive in their hearts love of college and classmates and had the strength and will to be hack in Hanover to their 50th Reunion. Many of us wondered, too, would we be coming back in 1954 to our 50th Reunion to clasp hands with classmates, renew old friendships and relive our undergraduate days as boys together on the campus.

The young men of the Class of 1904 did come back - 53 of them - on June 11, 12 and 13, 1954. As we passed through the ranks of the Class of 1954, no doubt these young men had the same thoughts as we had had - Shall we be coming back to Hanover in 2004? Many of them will come back, keeping faith with the past, the present and the future of Dartmouth College.

The 50th Reunion Committee which PeteMaguire appointed back in 1952 carried out its assignment to the perfect satisfaction of all. We were a happy family of 53 classmates, many with their wives and other family ties - in all 91. They came from 22 states and JudgeRussell came from Port Arthur in Canada.

We fellows who live in New England and have the opportunity to see each, other frequently just cannot appreciate what it meant to men who had to travel thousands of miles to be present at the Reunion. There were Wayne Perkins and Lester Gibson from California; Morey Lockwood from Spokane, Wash.; Bascom Brayton from Idaho; Spike Sanborn from St. Paul; Johnnie Fletcher from Chattanooga; Dave Ford from Washington, N. C.; Mose Withey from Madison, Wis.; Billy McKeen from Texas; Bull Turner from St. Louis, Mo. Of course, the Chicago gang was present - Jig Leverone and Peacham, and GeorgeScales from Michigan; Johnnie Watson from Cleveland; Johnnie Kirker from Baltimore and Bill Roby and Whit from Washington, D. C. Another man was present - his first return to Hanover in fifty years - ArthurWarner from New Jersey.

As each man arrived, a cheer went up - and a welcome which must have been heartening indeed to these men who had come long distances to be with us.

Many classmates arrived Thursday, thus beating the gun by 24 hours. We were fortunate to have the Ski Hut back of the Inn as headquarters. The Committee had engaged full-time assistants to serve refreshments. A five-year build-up of reserves, or thirst, was quickly overcome. Everybody forgot dinner until far into the evening. Then we broke up into small groups and had a delightful dinner on the hotel terrace. The Secretary remembers it was just 10 o'clock when dinner was over. Then back to the Hut again till late at night.

Friday was a beautiful day. The Hut was the happy meeting ground. Every little while some new arrival was announced - a cheer went up and he was warmly greeted. Beck and his partner, Sally, had photographs hung up all over the place. Three volumes of photographs, over 2,000 of them taken and collected over a period of 54 years, were available to classmates who spent hours looking through the albums. Squid had brought along pamphlets and books and other published works covering the fields of Science, Engineering, Medicine, Poetry and Novels. Squid's Class Agent's letters covering a period of ten years were there and lastly, Beck's 50th Reunion Class Report.

About mid-afternoon Friday, Rosie arrived with a 30-pound Vermont cheese. It was wonderful cheese and it was all gone by Sunday noontime. Johnnie Fletcher concocted a Southern cocktail which contained all the warmth and welcome that only a Southern gentleman can produce. Beck was busy taking pictures of classmates and their wives and here and there small groups. He caught six Tri Kaps, a bunch of Thayer School engineers, and added 75 more snapshots to the 1904 Family Album.

At 6:30 Friday, the whole family group had dinner at the Outing Club near the golf course; 91 of us sat down together. It was a delightful dinner and marred only by some horrible singing inflicted upon the family by Ike, Ned and Beck. The only sweet voice in the chorus was that of Ann Manning. After the dinner the class went over to President Dickey's reception, then back to the Hut till far into the night. The 11th of June was a happy day.

Saturday morning, we breakfasted in small groups and repaired to the Hut until 10 A.M., when we all gathered in front of Baker Library for the class picture. Pen and Sara were out golfing, and did not get back in time to be in the picture; Beck, however, has a good one of them.

At noontime, we gathered at the Gym for luncheon and the annual Alumni Association meeting. We eagerly awaited the speech that Johnnie Fletcher was to make for the 50-Year Class. His golden words are to be inscribed in the Golden Book. They are also published in this issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. Johnnie did a swell job. It was a grand speech and we were all mighty proud of John.

The Glee Club gave us a wonderful concert. President Dickey put together for us the ingredients which go to make up what we call the "Dartmouth Spirit." Every graduate and guest present carried away with him an understanding of why Dartmouth men love Dartmouth College.

After the luncheon and Alumni Association meeting, we were all back again at headquarters. It was Old Home Week for us - we forgot the McCarthy hearings, the Indo-China War, politics, business, and just sat together visiting. Our two assistants were very busy men and the crackers and cheese rapidly disappeared. Johnnie's Southern Glow shone on the faces of many. Beck kept both his and Sally's cameras busy taking snapshots of groups here and there on the lawn in front of the Hut. It was a happy afternoon we shall all remember.

At 6:30, we started for Thayer Hall and the final Class Dinner. The ladies had their dinner party at the Inn. All 53 men who had come to the reunion were present at the dinner. We were honored by having as our guests President Dickey for a few moments - he having broken away from his own 25th Reunion Class Dinner to be with us - and Prof. Gordon Hull, Professor Bolser and Tuss McLaughry. Chairman Ned Bartlett of the reunion committee presided. Our guests favored us with a few kind remarks. Tuss, our honorary classmate, spoke of football prospects.

Gene, chairman of the nominating committee, presented a slate of class officers and, steamroller tactics having prevented nominations from the floor, the following officers were elected: President, Sid Rollins; Vice President, Pete Maguire; Secretary, Beck Johnson; Treasurer, Tom Streeter; Class Agent, Squid Lampee; Executive Committee: Bartlett, Woods, Streeter, Rollins and Johnson.

Tom announced our expenses were approximately $4,000, due, in part, to the heavy expense of the 50th Reunion Class Report. In his usual diplomatic manner, Tom suggested to those present how this expense might be met. He believed many who were not able to be present might be willing to contribute something toward payment of the Reunion Report, since each member received a copy.

After the business meeting was finished, classmates were invited to make any remarks they desired. Several did so. Jig paid a fine tribute to the College and what Dartmouth meant to him. Dave Ford, who had made such a manful effort to be present, spoke feelingly of the pleasure he had in being with us. John Fletcher and Judge Russell spoke in a similar vein.

Squid made a preliminary report on the progress of the Alumni Fund and what 1904 was doing, stating that it would be the largest sum ever contributed by 1904. The tribute paid Squid for his service must have touched him deeply. He read several letters from classmates who could not be present — from Aldrich, Durgin, Ames, Ike Maynard, JimmieBrotherhood, Muchemore, Florence Marshall and others.

Beck paid a tribute to Dave Austin and expressed the hope that he might carry on the work as Secretary of the Class to the satisfaction of the Class, ending with a plea for cooperation from all classmates. He paid a tribute to the men who had come long distances to be with us.

Sid, as our president and our nearest outpost to Hanover, promised his best efforts in behalf of the Class.

The dinner closed with all 53 men standing and giving a Wah-Hoo-Wah for Dartmouth and the Class of 1904. Saturday at midnight by the Dartmouth Clock, the more sober and able-bodied members of the Class held the traditional Roll Call at the tombs of Eleazar and Mamie Wheelock. Beck Johnson conducted the ceremonies.

After the Roll Call and singing a verse of "Eleazar Wheelock was a very pious man," several roll calls were made. Every man valiantly held his post. It was discovered a brandnew slab had been placed on the tomb of our Mamie. Beck had won his case - who paid the bill is a mystery. Beck recited the poem he had written telling of the fight for the new slab. Then "We raised a song to Old Dartmouth "And sang it loud and clear "With fond memories of all our classmates "Whom we've loved for fifty years."

Sunday morning, we attended the Memorial Services at St. Thomas' Church, which were conducted by our classmate, Reverend CharlesTubbs. Matt, as always, sang most beautifully. The names of all graduates and non-graduates of the Class who had passed on since 1949 were read and Charlie spoke the feelings of each classmate. It was a lovely service. Mrs. Edward Cummings and Mrs. Draper Phelps came especially for the services.

After the services, many of the class marched in the procession to the graduation exercises held in front of Baker Library.

Graduation over, we held our final round-up at headquarters, where classmates said goodbye to each other. Fifty years of fellowship had been rounded out, and our lives enriched by ties of friendship - unique, precious, lasting.

"We give thanks to the Gracious Powers above "From all mankind that singled us, "And dropped the pearl of friendship in the cup "That kindly mingled us "And bound us in a wreath of flowers "With hoops of steel knit under it, "Nor Time, nor Space, nor Chance, nor Change "Nor Death himself, shall sunder it."

Here is the list of those who attended theReunion:

Sid and Louise Rollins (with 2 daughters and 2 granddaughters) Robbie and Hope Robinson Gene and Kate Sewall Squid and Marion Lampee Johnnie and Augusta Fletcher Beck and Sally Johnson

Dave and Mildred Ford King and Josephine Woodbridge Tom and Ruth Streeter Edge and Bertha Edgerly Perce and Blanche Hobbs Mose and lola Withey Tinker and Isabel Gale Perk and Mary Perkins Jim and Fannie Walker Charles and Anna Tubbs Ike and Ida Charron Sex and Mary Sexton Leon and Geneva Webster Tom and Anna Arncic Myron and Maria Witham George and Sally Scales Pat and Ann Manning Rosie and Ellen Hinman Matt and daughter, Julia Pen and Sara Mower Bill and Marion Slayton Amasa and Elizabeth Bowles Whit and Mrs. Whittemore Ned and Mrs. Bartlett Bruce and Mrs. Sanborn Carl Woods, his son and daughter-in-law Child Lewis and family of 6 Billy McKeen Peacham Blanchard Arthur Warner Jig Leverone Al Terrien Judge Russell Artie Bolser Morey Lockwood Lester Gibson Jack Kirker Bascom Brayton Bill Roby Charlie Davis Ike Torrey Ira Willard John Watson Frank Doonan Bull Turner Brigham Young Johnnie Mathes Mrs. Edward Cummings Mrs. Draper Phelps Harriet, Deborah and Nancy Austin

The Class of 1899 Family, more than a hundred strong at reunion, is photographed on the Baker Library lawn

The honored Fifty-Year Class of 1904 is recorded in a happy mood during the Commencement Weekend

CLASS SECRETARY