1926
This day, which began as a February day,Heavy with cloud, now clear, now still, nowblowing,Holds true to calendar change, Marchweather's wayOf being all months, shining, or suddenlysnowing.
While all of this weather is going on for most of us, with only St. Patrick's Day parades to bring a hint that spring is just around the corner, the Fishers, Salingers and McDavitts are now basking in the sun at DonChurch's Belleview-Biltmore at Belleaire.
Our Florida resident, Lou Ingram of Winter Park, called on January 20, a cold, bleak, gray day on the Great Lakes, and announced that he was obviously not in Cleveland on a pleasure trip. At that time he hoped to drive over to the West Coast to see Don while HarryFisher, Bob Salinger and Clarence McDavitt were in the vicinity, provided he and Muriel did not go over to Europe in March to visit their Army son stationed in Germany. As no later reports come in, we await a letter as to which trip he finally made.
Elsewhere the class seems to be on the move. While in Dayton, Ohio, to attend the local Travelers Aid Society annual meeting in his capacity as regional vice president of the National Travelers Aid Association, Hub Harwood bumped into Gail Borden in the lobby of the Van Cleve Hotel, who happened to be waiting to see Charlie Bishop. Charlie later wrote that he had a grand time at luncheon with Gail that day and noted he hadn't changed at all.
Two newsworthy events have occurred in the financial world, with the election of DickNichols as a director of the large Merchants National Bank of Boston where he joins Bob Morgan '25 on the Board. Then from Washington comes the announcement that Carl E.Allen, president of Campbell, Wyant and Cannon Foundry Company of Muskegon, Mich., had been appointed a director of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank and designated deputy chairman for 1956. Carl seemed to like the idea, for the monthly meetings would give him the opportunity to see Del Worthington,Jim Oberlander and the other Chicago boys more often.
Also from Washington comes a letter fromBob McConnaughey telling of his difficulty inreaching John Blair. The reason appears to bethat John has moved from Flossmoor, Ill., toFrancesville, Ind., and the U.S. Mail is confused over the situation. Bob then brings usup to date on his family as follows:
"The boys' activities and the residual restraints attendant upon finishing and furnishing the house have kept us from much traveling the last couple of years so we haven't gotten to any of the various places at which members of the class occasionally reune.
"Robert and John are at Lebanon School and that is a way of life in itself. Except during the summer months it keeps everyone busy with classes and homework, football, basketball, baseball and innumerable other activities. During the summer they were at camp and we were busy keeping the grass cut in their absence and raising ten boxer puppies that arrived last May as a result of an 'unplanned parenthood' program, which, despite protection thrown about her, our lady boxer worked out with an undoubtedly attractive male boxer that belongs to a friend of the boys. It was a pretty busy summer."
"Social Chatter" from the Boston Herald had a note reminiscent of over 25 years ago with the picture and announcement by Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield Painter of the engagement of their daughter Margot (Smith College) to George Henry Bixby III '57, son of Mr. andMrs. G. Henry Bixby Jr. of Haverhill, Mass. Henry has recently written that the ClarkWeymouths were on hand with the Bixbys for the announcement party at the bride-to-be's parents' home in Winnetka, Ill. However, it appears to him that the wedding is going to conflict with our 30th reunion June 1957 and we may not have Henry and Margaret with us. As there was no winter reunion held for 1926 this year, the Bixbys attended the 1923 weekend in Hanover as a substitute. Then in January, Mr. David Spencer Hall '55 son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Hall Jr. was-married to Miss Suzanne Stewart Brown at Montreal. History seems to be repeating itself, but here we are on the parents' side this time.
Our New York correspondent, Ed Hanlon, sent in a news item from the Herald Tribune announcing the retirement of Herbert F.Darling as president of the Dartmouth Society of Engineers.
Also from New York comes this interesting story:
Dr. Edmund P. Fowler Jr. traveled to Europe last summer to study a new middle-ear operation called tympanoplasty, in Germany. From there he and his wife took a small Ford Consul over the mountains of Yugoslavia, deep into Montenegro and back to Zagreb, from Belgrade, for the meeting of the Collegium Otolaryngologica Amicitiae Sacrum. This is a society dedicated to scientific work in ear, nose and throat and limited to ten members from each country. Dr. Fowler said, "While in Zagreb we ran into the 1500 delegates to the International Congress for the Deaf. This was a most interesting experience because over half of them used sign language for conversation and the sign language is different for each country, being a phonetic language. When the lights went out in the hotel, which they did frequently, candles were lit and the ghostly appearance of many folks talking to each other with their hands, in complete silence, was an unforgettable sight."
After a brief visit in Belgrade, Dr. and Mrs. Fowler had three days in Istanbul, leaving one day before the riots which knocked out more than 60% of the stores of Istanbul. This was apparently a wellplanned affair, for all the Greek stores were wiped out and the Turkish stores left intact.
Dr. Fowler barely returned in time to start off with his teaching activities when he flew to Chicago for a week where he delivered the Wherry Memorial Lecture before the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. He put on an exhibit dramatizing the multiple facets of otolaryngology and its opportunities for young men about to enter the practice of medicine.
The spirit of Christmas and New Year has carried over into 1956 and our members have been very generous to their Secretary with letters and news. Here is one from WorthyWalters on the letterhead of "Melville Confections, Inc. - Makers of Fine Candies."
"Not much has happened in the past year - still working hard turning out jelly-beans.
"I had a new grandson presented to me over the past year which makes a granddaughter about 3, and a grandson. My boy is a senior this year at Kenyon College. It looks as though he is headed for the Air Force when he gets through. As our plant is in one of the Chicago suburbs, I seldom get downtown, so my knowledge of the other boys is nil."
And from Pittsburgh comes this interesting note from Kiev Boyd:
"As you can see from the stationery, I am still with Jones and Laughlin (Steel Corporation), rounding out my 30th year. The work in this new department (Kier is manager-sales service division) is extremely interesting to me, but would not classify as interesting information to other class members.
"After spending five or six years on the stage as a dancer in such shows as Brigadoon and PaintYour Wagon, my daughter Janice has finally settled down at home, but now my son is away, being in the Armed Forces in Korea.
"To show that the Class of 1926 is not composed of totally decrepit individuals, I might say I still have the pleasure of beating my son at tennis. He had worked his way up to #1 man at Hiram College, and frankly was somewhat astonished and unhappy to have the old man take him over regularly."
Great news, Kier!
Speaking of age, with only a few exceptions the entire class has now turned fifty. March is the first month in over four years that some member has not reached the half-century mark.
Somehow Canfield Hadlock's letter on his reaction to this event became misplaced and has just come to light. Although a little late in publication, it is none-the-less of much interest to all of his friends.
"Your letter of felicitation on behalf of the class on my 50th birthday was most welcome. The eventful day was signalized by a surprise dinner Jo arranged for me at home with three other particularly congenial couples.
"The only unusual recent occurrence in our lives was the visit of Hurricane Hazel to Wilmington. During her short stay she felled a large oak tree on our house. It penetrated the roof and second-floor ceiling in three places but thanks to the 18" stone walls descended no further. No fire occurred since the electricity had failed a half-hour before, and no injuries since we were all trying to cook dinner over Sterno cans at the time of the fall.
"Our family life seems to be uneventful. Dan, the oldest, who entered high school this fall, has decided a little studying is in order if he is to make Dartmouth as he now hopes. There are three younger girls, spaced about two years apart, and I can vividly visualize several college bills simultaneously in the not-too-distant future. I continue to work for duPont, my present assignment being assistant to the production manager of the Acetate Division. This sort of work appeals to me more than the research work I used to do, being especially challenging in the present highly competitive state of the textile business. My chief outside activities at the moment are confined to Red Cross, where I have been chairman of the Home Service Committee for the last three years."
Then from Bob Weil on the letterhead of Ira Haupt & Co., Members, New York Stock Exchange - 111 Broadway, New York 6, N.Y.
"I want to thank you and the class for the very welcome letter for my birthday. I assure you that I don't feel very ancient yet, as I have two young hoodlums, ages 7½ and 4, who keep me hopping around like a juvenile. We went out of town for the weekend with three other couples for the big event and had a gay old time."
Howie Kolb who accompanied us to DonChurch's paradise two years ago, writes rather gloomily:
"Many thanks for your birthday greetings. I find it unfortunate when a birthday comes on a Saturday since it gives you much too long a time to celebrate. This Monday morning is not one of the most alert I have ever had.
"I wish I could tell you that we have some plans for Clearwater this winter, but I see none on the horizon. Hope, however, that if your travels bring you to Chicago, we may have a visit."
Hoyt Hilton, now of Sheboygan Falls, Wise., wrote that he was looking forward to seeing everyone in June at the 30th Reunion. Remember that we are officially celebrating a postponed 30th in June 1957. It is none too early to make plans, however. And don't forget to come to Hanover the third weekend in August for an informal 30th summer reunion.
Next month you will hear from Okey O'Connor and Don Hopkins on the $30,000 Alumni Fund goal to commemorate our thirty years out of College.
Dr. Sylvester McGinn '26 (r), president of theGreater Boston Chapter of the Massachu-setts Heart Association, presents a life-sizedplexiglas woman to Bradford Washburn, director of the Boston Museum of Science, onbehalf of the Association.
Secretary, 500 Terminal Tower Cleveland 13, O.
Treasurer, Kennedy's, 30 Summer St., Boston 10, Mass.
Bequest Chairman,
