1905
One of the pleasures of a retired teacher is in meeting former pupils. Ned Estes had the delightful surprise some time ago of finding two of his pupils from Robert College at a panel discussion in Dover, N. H., on the subject "The Russian Threat to the Near East." At the time of writing Ned was preparing a chorus of 35 to present the very beautiful cantata, The Darkest Hour, by Harold Moore on Good Friday evening.
John Brockway's son John has opened his own law office and has begun his duties as State's Attorney for Windsor County (Vt.). Young John has two sons. His sisters Katherine and Helen live in Ohio and New Jersey respectively.
"Hump" Hazen is still on the unretired list. He is regretfully doubtful about being able to attend our reunion, but hopes he may find it possible to be there.
Carl Getchell has a grandson Carl who is already active in politics; at least last fall he went through our Montclair Schools urging the pupils to get their parents to vote. He is aiming to be a lawyer, following in the footsteps of his granddad.
Charles Hodgman, over long years a de- voted rose grower, has some 300 rose bushes on his pleasant place in Milford, N. H.
Harry Lill, from Glendale, Calif., writes of the extremes of weather he has encountered in that part of the country. Last summer in a trip across the desert the heat nearly overcame both his new car and his wife. In January a frost, he feared, might have destroyed the fancy landscape plants he had only recently put out. Harry is planning to make the trek to Hanover next June.
Speaking of frost reminds us of skiing; Bill Clough's grandson Billy is a champion. On January 23 he won the New Hampshire Class C downhill championship race on Mount Sunapee's mile-long Chipmunk Trail.
To further his recuperation from the difficult "siege" that he underwent last summer in the Mary Hitchcock Hospital, NormanStevenson is taking off for Florida. He has been elected president of the N.E. Tennis Association.
Off for Haiti on a three-weeks' cruise are Walter and Ethel Conley. Walt has recovered much of his former good health and strength.
The prospects of our having a good number of our men, wives and other family members for our reunion in June seem very encouraging. If by chance you have not returned Sliver Hatch's reply card, please do so immediately. We expect that no distance, however great, will bar our loyal classmates from attending this epoch-marking event. Charlie Goodrich will deliver the 50-year address, at the Commencement luncheon.
With sorrow I have to record the passing of William Luey and John Ashworth. With the death of Edward Sibley reported last month, this makes three who have left us recently. Our deep sympathy goes to the families and friends of these men.
Who's Who in '05
ROGER W. BROWN
Born redheaded in early 1883 in Concord, Mass., where he was surrounded with the remains of Minutemen and could still hear the echoes of the shot heard around the world, and where he was graduated from the high school there, Roger Brown's transformation from a farmer to a successful businessman was slow but sure. Indomitable hard work, New England thrift and self-reliance, a keen and alert mind, and rugged patience accomplished the change.
His career has been built near his birth place, moving only a little eastward toward Boston. Other pastures have not looked greener than his own.
Roger's father was a hay and grain dealer. After four years of concentrating on getting an education at Dartmouth, and cultivating a friendly interest in his fellow students, Roger too set up in nearby Bedford, as an independent merchant in the coal and lumber business, living on a farm at the same time. It was not a 40-hour week farm, for it supported forty cows!
After 15 years as a merchant farmer he sold the farm, but remained a coal and lumber dealer, a business which of course includes heavy transportation. Two years later (1920) Mr. Brown devoted himself to the transportation business exclusively and has built it up in the following 35 years. Today he has a fleet of 25 power trucks and 20 trailers, more trucks now than he had cows four or five decades ago. His trucks cover the New England States. They travel day or night. They haul mainly construction materials, lumber, brick, steel, for the building of hospitals, schools, bridges and factories, also fertilizer by the carload. His is one of the largest trucking companies in New England. With him in it are his two sons, who are now doing much of the managing. He is about to build a large garage in Cambridge as the home base for his fleet.
Roger Brown's investment in real estate in late years has also been careful and wise. Six of his properties in the Boston area are rented to large commercial garage concerns. Residing in West Medford, he is a director of the Chamber of Commerce there and is a silent partner in the Unitarian Church of Medford.
Married to Maud White of Bedford in 1906, the Browns had two sons and two daughters. Roger W. Jr. and Lawrence S. are now with their father. One married daughter lives in Alaska, where she and husband have been in Government work. Mrs. Brown died in 1926. After nineteen years of bachelor life, Roger married Frances Jackson, a Mt. Holyoke graduate.
Tall and gaunt, Lincoln-like, except for hair of sunset hue, Roger Brown still continues his restless energy of mind and body. He continues to cultivate his very wide New England acquaintance, particularly among his classmates. He and Frances and their Cadillac know most of the roads of New England. Roger is beginning to retire himself. He has acquired a lot of land at Anna Maria (near Bradentown), Fla., on the Gulf of Mexico, and hopes to build a small cottage for winter living. From there the Browns may see more of North and South America.
Frances and Roger W. Brown '05
Secretary, 358 North Fullerton Ave., Upper Montclair, N. J.
Class Agent, 11 Lakewood Rd., Natick, Mass.
