1912

In conjunction with the observance of Benjamin Franklin's 250 th birthday anniversary, Ev Gammons and the Boston bank of which he is president, Franklin Savings Bank, received considerable publicity in the Boston papers. It seems that among Benjamin Franklin's many accomplishments, he invented a musical instrument known as a Glass Armonica "an instrument consisting of a series of hemispherical glasses played by touching the edges with a dampened finger," according to Webster. To recall the nearly forgotten instrument, the Franklin Savings Bank, in conjunction with the American Academy of Arts and Science—to which Franklin belonged - put an antique Armonica on display at the bank. The Academy, with the assistance of the Franklin Savings Bank, also commissioned the Steuben plant of Corning Glass Works to produce the world's only Armonica with a keyboard.

The class was represented at the funeral services of Carle Rollins by Dick Remsen,Jim Steen, Randy Burns and Heinie Urion. After the services they paid their respects to Dottie and Carle's two fine boys and Carle's mother.

Randy Burns joined the ever-growing list of retiring classmates as of December 31, after many years' service with the Graybar Electric Company. His plans for the future are indefinite, but he still is living in his old home at White Plains, N.Y.

From far-off Durban, Natal, South Africa, comes word from Buster Brown: "Still fascinated with South Africa. Have no idea when we will return. Climate and low cost of living (in comparison with the United States) are two satisfying factors."

From his home at Lancaster, N.H., BabeHartshorn reports that among the visitors he had while confined to Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital after his operation were RoyLewis, Art Burnham, Tabe Taber and PikeChilds. Hug Lena's second son Paul is a resident in internal medicine at the hospital and visited Babe frequently. He, together with a considerable number of doctors and other residents and internes, was a former student of Babe's. Babe also reports that when he is fully recovered, he will have seen the end of his trouble.

Tabe and Sheila Taber left for St. Augustine, Fla., the middle of January, to be gone for a couple of months.

Condolence of the class is extended Al Smith on the sudden death of his wife from a heart attack on January 22 in Seminole, Texas. She had suffered a heart condition for some time. They had spent a short vacation in Florida and were driving on a leisurely trip to the West Coast when she died suddenly as they were driving through Seminole. She had collapsed from a similar attack several years ago while coming out of the Commodore Hotel in New York City. They had made their home in Truro, Mass., since 1947 when Al retired as head of the Conn Musical Instrument Company of Elkhart, Ind. Besides Al, Mrs. Smith is survived by two daughters, a son, four sisters, a brother and eight grandchildren.

Louie Ekstrom writes that the day after he left Santa Barbara on his extended trip to the Pacific Coast last spring, his oldest daughter, Betty Dawson, "made us grandparents for the fifth time with Debbie Dawson, an impulsive youngster with a seven months' record. Enjoyed her visit with us on New Year's Day. If she had bided her time she might have interrupted my birthday party, only I was not having any, so thus early she seems capable of avoiding conflicts in engagements. Not bad and more power to her."

Since his retirement from the Bethlehem Steel Company, Louie certainly has improved his corresponding abilities. He says that he kept a record of go letters and cards mailed while they were on the Coast trip and he "coasted" the rest of the year 1955 on that record. However, he keeps up a lively correspondence with me.

Harry Trapp, in acknowledging my letter to him, says: "It's hard to keep a good man down, and so like Ike, I guess I am coming back O.K. - at least I feel stronger and better every day. Best wishes to the classmates."

Having retired as of December 31 from Consolidate Rendering Company, after forty years to the day of unbroken service except for a hitch in World War I, Queechee French with Bertha has moved permanently to the old farm in Quechee, Vt. He reported that it was only 24 degrees below zero the day their possessions arrived.

Art French and his wife had a telephone visit with Lyme Armes while in Washington recently and spent a "pleasant hour" with Connie and Kathryn Snow at their home in Arlington, which Art found to be within a mile of the location of his daughter and family.

Chick McElwain was married on December 21 to Mrs. Iva Louise Castner, and his new residence address is 320 Blankenbaker Lane, Louisville, Ky.

As Lyme Armes has pointed out in TheBillboard, there remain only about 28 names of deceased classmates for whom Memorial Books have not been deposited in the Baker Library, these being the earliest deaths that we had in our class. It would help complete the project if friends of these departed classmates would furnish the $10 required for donating a Memorial Book for each of these classmates.

Secretary, 120 Broadway, New York 5, N.Y.

Treasurer, 4 Bank Building, Middleboro, Mass.

Bequest Chairman,