1916
This issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE is the last to which I shall contribute this column, because Pete Cleaves, the workhorse who has labored for Dartmouth and our Class ever since he graduated, in one capacity or another, including Class Agent, has kindly consented to take over this chore and write the column which appears every issue. I shall continue with the Newsletters, and in the MAGAZINE Pete will feature such material as would be of interest to both '16 and other classes, and/or which serve to prove what a great class this is; such as Ed Kirkland publishing another book, Stew Paul getting an- other honor, Ros Magill being appointed to another committee studying something of national significance, Tog Upham losing the Jones boys, or Jack English having another grandchild. In case you had forgotten, Pete's real name, when he is not using the alias to outwit beautiful debutantes seeking a handsome, eligible bachelor, is william L. Cleaves, of 7 Swarthmore Place, Swarthmore, Pa.
In my report on the Reunion I neglected to place Ed and Mrs. Craver, and Horace Fishback and his fine family, among those who joined the post-Reunion at Loch Lyme, and in mentioning those who had come so far to Reunion I omitted Dan and Mrs. Dinsmoor. How I could have done this I don't understand myself, as all of these parties are so well known and as I talked to all of them several times. And much of the success of Reunion was due to the hard work of EdCraver. My apologies to all of them — I never make enough notes at the right times.
Dutch Doenecke wrote me a very interesting letter from a train parked in White River Junction, en route to New York. Dutch missed Reunion, as you know, because of the death of his mother. In spite of her illness, his mother wanted him to go to Hanover, but Dutch naturally would not leave. He made a trip later, and the changes surprised him — the power plant at Wilder, the excavation of the campus for the new heating conduits to the Mall (a new term to me, too), the difficulty of getting a room at the Inn (conventioneers have discovered the beauties of Hanover). Let Dutch tell it:
"I proceeded on a tour of the campus. Naturally Darthmouth Hall came first. I kept walking and eagerly sought those spots which brought back fond memories. There were many new buildings, and it made me realize how many years have flown since we first gave a Wah-Hoo-Wah for 1916. Especially amazing was the new Mary Hitchcock Hospital development which now has all the facilities of a city plant. There were also many newly cut streets and countless new homes especially out toward the easterly part of town. By lunchtime I had seen only a bare half of Hanover. Later I got a room at the Inn and flopped down for a nap, but the chimes and the bell insisted on proclaiming the hour and the half hour. It was just as well, for it was music to my ears and reminded me of the old bell in the Tower of Dartmouth Hall which called us to chapel and to classes. In the late afternoon I had a reunion with Jess Fenno and Tony Garcta. Jess is doing a terrific job at the Inn in seeing that things are running smoothly and that all the guests are kept happy. Tony is an annual summer guest and I was fortunate in finding him there during his sojourn. It was great to have revisited Hanover. You simply love the place more every time you go."
Hobey Baker's nephew is coaching a high school barbershop quartet, and I have sent them some arrangements to work on. That is a fine, satisfying and non-delinquent activity for high school boys, and there have been some very excellent fours which started in high school. One of them, the Memory Four, of Miami, ranked sixth out of the top forty in our contest at Minneapolis. The resolution passed by the Class, and originated by Hobey at Reunion, urging the College to see that every graduate had training in public speaking, to meet the demands of the times, was duly sent to the Administration, and acknowledged by the proper authorities. They promised to give it every consideration, but pointed out that the present-day curriculum and teaching methods require that every student do considerable speaking on his feet, in reporting on his studies, much more than was done in our day. Hobey deserves a great deal of credit for bringing the matter up, and the Administration expressed gratification at the interest of alumni in such matters.
Hap Ward writes:
"All reports from the Reunion evidence a highly successful party, especially for a few old-timers whose faces have been seen frequently around the campus, since 1916 sent us out 'To make a buck' through the ensuing years. One reaction that came from The Fortieth meant much to me personally for it has brought me into touch with Roger Evans, whom I expect to see in New York this fall. When last I glimpsed him he was riding a ricksha down Nanking Road in Shanghai, reading a weighty tome. When our holiday wanderings lead us to the New York area I shall be in line for a few rounds of golf with the estimable Jake Mensel; also, I am advised, we will be able to renew acquaintance with Limey Perkins (who made an outfielder of me in our freshman year). I shall like seeing the guy again."
Sprague Drennan, who claims the distinction of having been a housefather to a fraternity at the teachers' college in Keene, missed getting to Reunion by a hairsbreadth. Sprague has three children and five grandchildren. Jim is a graduate of Brown, a Ph.D. at Rochester, post-doctoral at Illinois, and now head o£ a chemical department in the South. Louise, graduate of Simmons, is married to a production engineer in American Optical, and Tom is a chemical engineer (graduate of New Hampshire) working for Dupont.
Cliff Gammons sent me, for the Class Archives, a number of pictures he took at reunion. He says:
"My wife and I had a wonderful time at reunion. It was our first appearance at class reunions and for that reason I was rather lukewarm about coming. However, it turned out so well that so long as we can make it we shall be back for future reunions. Day before yesterday (July 28) my oldest daughter was married. She is the second of three daughters to take the step and my youngest has served notice that it is going to be her turn next year."
Everyone will be glad to know that the irrepressible Charlie Cressy reports his eye operation a "howling success." He says the doctor is confident that he will still be able to look for a blonde with a mole on her right hip, but Sally says, "What an optimist!"
Du Behnke wrote of running into Gordon Ferry Hull at the alumni luncheon, and of meeting Prof. Leland Griggs on the street. He suggests that it would be a nice gesture for the Class to invite the faculty members of our generation to Class activities at reunion.
John Stearns has been working on a book. He reports Hanover crowded this summer, with conferences of one sort or another. He hoped to take off for Maine before college opened, if his book and his garden permitted.
Paul Davis, who calls himself the Hermit of East Jaffrey, handed on his impressions of reunion to his old roommate, Red Tucker, by letter. Red, as you know, lives in California.
John Ames, who had to miss reunion because of his new job with the American-Korean Foundation in New York, wrote that he had not heard of Stuart Hallagan in 43 years, and was writing to him. In unpacking, after his long service in the Orient, John ran into all sorts of memorabilia which he thinks would have added to Dick Parkhurst's fine exhibit, and he is going to send some items to the College. John also states that New York is a city where- people are led around by dogs. He must have been walking on upper Park Avenue.
Two classmates who regretted missing re- union were Ros Magill and DeWitt Stillman. Unavoidable business kept Ros from attending, and DeWitt was confined to a hospital bed for several weeks. He and his wife had reservations, and had planned on a trip to Bermuda after Loch Lyme. He mentions their trip last summer to New Hampshire, staying overnight with Heinie George and Ruth, who hastily gathered about fourteen '16ers for a supper party. Says DeWitt: "I missed the many, many '16ers at reunion, some I knew well, others I would certainly like to know better. All loyal Dartmouth men, and worth knowing better."
Major General W. Stewart Paul '16, newPresident of Gettysburg College and also ofthe Class of 1916, shown with General andMrs. Eisenhower when they were guests ofhonor at a testimonial dinner given in Bostonin 1945 for General Paul, commander of the26th Yankee Division in World War II.
Secretary, 4808 Broad Brook Drive, Bethesda 14, Md.
Treasurer, 15 Ravenna Rd., Boston 31, Mass.
Bequest Chairman,
