1911's "Best Ever" 45th
NINETEEN ELEVEN'S 45th reunion on its 44th anniversary ended on Monday morning, June 20, in Whitefield. As in each previous reunion, all agreed this was the best ever. Perhaps the weather was partly responsible. It did rain part of the time in Hanover, but except for the Sunday affair it cleared for all the other feature events. From Wednesday through Monday the weather was beautiful, warm and soft.
Another factor that made for its success was the mid-way date between Commencement and the other reunions. Along with our friends in 1909 and 1910 we had the whole town to ourselves. There was no rushing about and standing in line to get meals, and many enjoyed the quiet and the opportunity to visit with class and college mates. There were plenty, but not too many events on the schedule. In fact our class agreed unanimously that the College should continue and possibly expand this reunion time for some of the older classes, provided that three receptions in the same week are not too strenuous for President and Mrs. Dickey and their associates.
Perhaps you would like to know what went on. Well, in the first place, although there were a number of disappointments at the last moment, there were 62 classmates, 55 wives and one daughter present in Hanover or Whitefield. We have become a family class; almost every man who has a wife brought her, and they added tremendously to our enjoyment of the occasion. Most of the men had reuned several times, but it was a special delight to welcome Walt Greenwood to his first reunion and Pat Hurley, AlHormel and Pendleton to their second.
The opening event was one of the most delightful, when Warren and Marion Agry were hosts to some 70 people who arrived on Sunday, a day early, in order to enjoy the hospitality of their charming country home on the hill in Etna. Even the rain did not dampen the enthusiasm and the greeting of old friends, nor did it dull the appetites for the delicious refreshments.
Many enjoyed the morning lectures of Hanover Holiday on Monday and Tuesday, and by picnic time Monday the last Elevener had registered and obtained his tickets and badge, the latter being the only purchased appurtenance as every attempt had been made to keep expenses to a minimum. All were on hand to welcome the first appearance of the sun from behind the clouds. Of course there was beer, and also soft drinks for the boys and girls, and broilers fried over a large charcoal fireplace were a treat _ for all at Keene's, located on a high hill in Hanover Center with a grand view of the Connecticut Valley and the Green Mountains of Vermont beyond.
This party broke up in time to return to Hanover and the reception at the home of President Dickey. Here we not only had further opportunity to visit with our own group but to renew acquaintance with our friends in 1909 and 1910 as well. John and Chris are most gracious hosts, and their lawn with its background of shrubs and flowers is a delightful spot for such an occasion.
On Tuesday morning the class gathered on the campus, from the dormitory, the Inn and the motels, for the reunion picture, which turned out well as you can see from the accompanying cut. Then there was the alumni luncheon, one of three held during the week, which was attended by all three classes and their wives. This crowd filled both dining rooms in Thayer Hall. Adjournment was then made to Dartmouth House (the Commons to us) where the alumni meeting was held in what used to be the dining room and where we used to hold our smokers. The program was brief and interesting, with President Dickey giving one of the talks that make all Dartmouth alumni glad they went to Dartmouth and that he now is their leader. Nineteen Eleven was honored by having one of its members preside and by being awarded both the 1894 and 1930 cups for having, first, the largest percentage of living graduates back and, second, the largest number back. We were allowed to keep the cups overnight to have on display at our banquet, but unfortunately the contest was only among the three classes then in Hanover, and surely the glory would be taken by some other class before the last reunion was over.
The Outing Club became the next meeting place, where we were happy to welcome President and Mrs. Dickey but were sorry they could not stay for the dinner as they had to get started on the "circuit" of other class dinners. However Professor McLaughry, now an honorary member of 1911, stayed until the end. Following the cocktail hour and the fine roast beef dinner served under Jeanette Gill's auspices, we held our usual business meeting, which of course all the ladies attended as they are an integral part of our class.
Because of President Austin Keough's death in April, Vice President Gene Gardner presided. Bob Barstow conducted a splendid memorial service for the 31 men who have died since our last reunion, four years ago. The class was saddened by Dave Heald's sudden death on the preceding Saturday, just when he had planned to start for Hanover.
Sarge Eaton, reporting as Treasurer, was able to show an increase in funds on hand July 1, 1951, of $1,440, to approximately $1,845 on June 4, 1955. The latter figure will be approximately $2,000 when all the reunion expenses will have been covered. The expenditure during the period of $2,730 was mostly for the ALUMNI MAGAZINE and preliminary costs of reunion to be reimbursed. It was voted that the dues for the next six-year period be continued at $5 per year.
Josh Clark, Class Agent, pleased us all by announcing that, although the dollar total was somewhat below our quota due to the deaths of some large contributors, our quota of 188 givers had been exceeded to the number of 199.
Chub Sterling has proved himself a good friend of Dartmouth as our Bequest Chairman, with the following accomplishments among those now surviving, and excluding some who have departed: known outright bequests - 12; current gifts — 2; contingent bequests - 5; letters attached to wills — 7; interest expressed but no known action - 13; interest but no action at present - 15; not prospects - 22; no replies - 21; unclassified - 17.
The secretary made a brief report concerning the members who had planned on attending reunion but were prevented by reason of illness or business, and read some letters from the widows who are as faithful members of the class as their husbands were. PriscillaWhelden was the only one who was able to be with us, and we were delighted to have her. An explanation of the class policy regarding the MAGAZiNE going to members and widows was made, and the plan was confirmed. Credit was given to Jim Mathes and Ted O'Leary for furnishing the liquid refreshments for the cocktail hour and tent refreshments, with the remainder going on to Whitefield. The secretary was negligent in not including the Agrys also for their fine contribution.
Chub Sterling for the Nominating Committee presented the following names for the Executive Committee for the next six years, with the Committee later meeting and electing its officers as follows: President and Secretary, N. G. Burleigh; Treasurer, E. H. Griswold; Class Agent, H. C. Hedges; Bequest and Memorial Fund Chairman, W. C. Agry; Vice Presidents, J. B. Clark, S. F. Eaton, J. M.Mathes and B. M. Stout; Members at Large, S. E. Aronowitz and J. W. Pearson.
The sincere thanks of the class go to the retiring officers, and especially to three men: Sarge Eaton, who has done a magnificent job as Treasurer since 1946; Josh Clark, who in the past four years has made several records for the class, and many friends as Class Agent; and Chub Sterling, who for 24 years as Class Agent, President, and Memorial Fund and Bequest Chairman, has been an outstanding leader of the class. But even if relieved of the chairmanship, Chub has consented to continue as a member of Warren's committee. Following the meeting we enjoyed The Players' presentation of Sabrina Fair, which was our last official event in Hanover.
Wednesday, 37 couples, a daughter and one bachelor started for the Mountain View. There we were joined by the once class baby, Dave Hedges, with his wife and two fine boys. At Mary's cocktail party, at which she entertained, Class Vice President Gardner, in behalf of her guests, presented her with a grandmother's bracelet bearing four charms and a Dartmouth seal, thereby beating out her husband, Tom. The latter incidentally had already been voted an honorary member of 1911. Each noon and evening we all met in the Sports House for an hour before lunch or dinner, no matter what our various activities or pleasures were the rest of the day. There was a golf tournament, and in the evenings Brad Patten showed truly beautiful pictures of his trip through South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Fiji Islands.
We all look upon the Mountain View as our second home to which we deem it a great privilege to be invited. It has been the single most important factor in the development of the 1911 fellowship which we all so much appreciate. It was with real regret that the last couples left for home Monday morning, June 20, but each with the firm determination to return next June — which really will be our 45th anniversary.
The following attended the reunion, and those with asterisks were accompanied by their wives. Those with double asterisks continued on to Whitefield. **Agry, Aronowitz, *Backus, Barstow, *Briggs, "Burleigh, Caproni, "Harold Card (and daughter Marion), *Chamberlain, **Josh Clark, **Ken Clark, "Cooper, "Crooks, *Dunham, **Fred Eaton, **Sarge Eaton, "Slim Eaton, "Chuck Emerson, *Seth Emerson, **Farrell, "French, "Gardner, *Les Gibson, *Gooding, Greenwood, "Griswold, *Fred Harris, "Hart, "Hedges, *Hormel, "Hurley, *Jackson, *Chick Jordan, "Ed Keeler, **Kenworthy, "Wee Kimball, "Learoyd, **Locke, "Lovejoy, *Macomber, *Marden, **Mathes, **Mayo, *Moseley, "Spim Norris, "Partridge, "Pearson, "Patten, Pendleton, Porter, "Reilly, "Russell, "Sanderson, *Seaver, *Shepherd, **Sherwin, **Steeves, "Sterling, "Stout, "Waterbury, Wheeler, *Mert Wilson. Also at Whitefield were Sticky Pendleton and Tom and Mary Silk.
The Class of 1911, also a participant in the Monday-Wednesday reunion experiment, is recorded in a happy mood,
CLASS SECRETARY
