1945

Remember how the mud smelled in Hanover in the spring? And remember how told and crisp and foggy the mornings were, yet with a promise of the warm sun which was to soon pierce the grey dawns? And the duckboards? And the rain mixed with snow and sleet? And the sniffles everyone had? And the few hardy souls who, at the first sign of spring, discarded overcoats and walked bravely down Mam Street in light sweaters and sportcoats? And the corn snow dotted with bare patches, everwidening as the sun grew warmer? And finally nothing but wet, soggy ground, neatly wired off by the grounds crew, where every footstep left a little puddle of water. Remember? Wonder how anybody survives a Hanover spring? But again, remember those balmy days of late May and early June, with their ever-present softball games, the lounging on the now-green lawns, the sun-bathing, the lazy afternoons and evenings? Ah . . . that's well worth a thought. The quiet of twilight, the first feel of evening's coolness, the quick darting of a nighthawk, the crazy course of a bat, a sandwich at Allen's, Glee Club hums, a picnic at Pompanoosuc. That's June! Remember? I'm sure you do. Turn thoughts into reality this June. It's reunion time! Ten long years have passed away. Don't wait any longer.

Art Pounds sends a card along asking for information on reunion time so he can line up his baby sitter. This is becoming a more and more complicated problem for Arthur; No. 4 arrived last November 28. Arthur Thomson's his name, and he evens the score at two boys and two girls. Neat planning, wot? Info on reunion should be yours by now, Art. See you, come June.

The Secretaries' Association's Ernie Early '18 sends along a letter from Hunt Bennett, who is lodged securely on the West Coast in the San Francisco vicinity. He writes Ernie that he loves the locale, especially Marin County where Hunt is thinking of building his dream house. Probably needs it, for daughter Nancy was born last June to provide a playmate for Anne, now 3 years old.

Rusty Johnson writes that, released from the Navy in February '54, he is now practicing medicine in White Plains, N. Y. Has three daughters, 8, 7, and 5, to keep Jan and him happy, and, I'll bet, hopping. Incidentally, all this was written on the good doctor's prescription pad and was perfectly legible. Will wonders never cease! Wish I could persuade you to take a tour Hanover-way this June, Rusty. A 10th reunion only happens once in a lifetime.

And as long as I'm dealing with the clan, here's a note from Dick Johnson of Woburn; Mass., that is. Dick reports the birth of no. 4, second daughter. She is Nancy Ruth, who was born last December 9. He closes with the familiar, "See you in June." And he will.

News of Paul Pillsbury comes this way from his wife Dorothy (many thanks). Paul is an instructor in English at Cornell, having finished his doctoral work at Michigan last summer. Dr. Holden Farrar's note was short and brief but, as everything is, welcome indeed. I quote, "Second daughter born 12-19-54."

You know, there are six Johnsons in the Class of 1945 and the odds on even one of them appearing in a monthly column are 120-1. This issue, however, has achieved the sublime. Not one but three of '45's six Johnsons are heard from. For from Lee, wife of ArvisJohnson, comes a lovely note explaining the whereabouts and doings of that Johnson family. Arvis is now to be found (temporarily) at P.O. Box 1043, Baltimore 3, Md. He is with a concern impressively titled, "Industrial Engineers of Baltimore" and has just been transferred from Winston-Salem, N. C. He has the position of electrical design engineer plus various and sundry other duties, says Lee. Also has two small ones, Arvis III and Olivia. Lee promises to "be there in June with bells on."

A fellow schoolmaster, Dick Tracy, reports in from a new house at 34 Hickory Hill Road, Simsbury, Conn., a house most of which the Tracys built themselves. Dick is teaching, counselling, and coaching track at William Hall High School, West Hartford, Conn.

Odds 'n ends from here 'n there: Dr. JimHoughton is at the Dakota Clinic, Fargo, N. D.; Stan Rice is designing text books for Harcourt Brace and Co., N. Y.; Monroe Taylor is a radio commentator for WPEN, Philadelphia; Jim Kehoe, a Remington Rand salesman in the Miami area, lives in Hialeah, Fla.; Rod Shearer is a sales representative for Dewey and Almy Chemical Co., Chicago, and lives at 913 Jackson Ave., St. Charles, Ill.

And in case you're wondering where they're living now, here are a couple of new address changes: Bob Cate, 2654 Union St., San Francisco 23; Al Foster, 107 Chatsworth Drive, Toronto; Bob Lee, 24 Eunice Ave., Fairfield, Conn.; Bill Trischett, 90 Brookside Ave., Mt. Vernon, N. Y.; Jack Kirby, 2926 Elizabeth Warren Ave., Butte, Montana; Charlie Phoenix, 29F Sunny.side, Lawrence, Kansas; PeteTewksbury, 5154 Gloria Ave., Encino, Calif.

And that ends my massive missive for the misty month of March. Don't forget to plan get-togethers and gatherings all over these United States in preparation and planning for your joyous, June junket to Hanover. See you then.

Secretary, Middlesex School, Concord, Mass.

Treasurer, 48-B Court Dr., Wilmington, Del.