1901's "Friendliest" 55th

SINCE the 50th Reunion of '01 was the high spot, some of the fellows felt that the 55th would be an anti-climax. What a mistaken idea that proved to be! For this was the "friendliest ever."

It started early with the arrival of the Howard Halls on Tuesday, June 5, in celebration of their 49th wedding anniversary. Steveand Marion Stevens pulled into town Thursday afternoon to find the Jim Kimballs and "Whiskers" Croiuell already installed at the Inn. The Ed Hunters joined this group for dinner on the Terrace that night. Friday morning the old guard began to arrive and by night most everybody was in town. The buffet supper on the lawn ran into a cold night, but delicious hot food and a little help from the bar got us off to a comfortable start. The evening was spent in renewing old days; old stories and some very good new ones were told.

Saturday morning at 10 o'clock found us in Thornton Hall for the business of election of officers, and strangely enough all the old officers were reelected. Other business transacted was the vote to establish a yearly class tax, to include the subscription to the ALUMNIMAGAZINE. It was also decided to arrange to hold informal reunions every year. Since we are all over 60, five years ahead looked a long way off! The meeting adjourned to gather on the steps of Old Dartmouth for the class picture. About seventy people faced the camera, 33 men, twenty wives, fourteen children and grandchildren, and three guests. 1901 was among the almost 3,000 people who were at the Alumni Buffet Luncheon at the Gym on Saturday noon.

On Saturday evening the Class Dinner was served in Thayer Hall. If any one managed to consume the huge succulent steaks which Miss Gill served us in her usual appetizing manner, they had eaten little that day. This affair proved to be the high spot of the reunion. Our class president presided in his usual tactful manner. He called on the secretary to announce a surprise reunioner. This was a classmate who flew in from California, his first visit to Hanover in 58 years, Ralph Bennett, who received a warm welcome. We had the pleasure of a short visit from President John Dickey. He appreciatively thanked Hoppy, who had refrained from giving the embryo president advice which he had requested, except on one point humorously interpolated: namely, "Have nothing to do with Murals." This brought an understanding laugh. Hoppy made a fitting reply and expressed his pleasure at being among his classmates. Johnnie Ward thanked the class for their generous response to his appeals for the Alumni Fund. Jim Kimball was next called upon. He spoke in a more serious vein. First, of the pleasant innovation of having the wives at this class dinner. He then spoke warmly of the true significance of the old friendships, as the years have crept up, also of the abiding loyalty of the group to each other and to the College. We could not have ended our class dinner without Tommy Remsen. On a chair, with coat off, and with proper gestures, he led us in a gusty rendition of "Alouette."

Many of the group had to leave Hanover on Sunday. However, some twenty of us had a fine lunch in the cozy surroundings of the Outing Club. This was our last get-together. Good-byes were said and promises made to return next year.

In attendance were: Bill and Florence Bryant, Claude and Mildred Butterfield, Harland and Ethel Cate, Charlie and Helen Chase, Chan and May Cox, Mort Crowell, Frank and Elsie Cudworth, with daughter Betty Jane and grandson Tommy, Waldo Davis and sister, and guests Mrs. Chace, and daughter, Royal Doane and daughter Helena, George French, Howard and Gene Hall, Frank and Helen Halliday, and grandson Malcolm '59, Deacon and Alice Hildreth, Hoppy, Ed and Edna Hunter, with Ralph and Ann and Ted and Peggy Hunter, Jim and Floss Kimball, Terry and Bess McGovern, Swampy and Nettie Marsh and guest, Miss Attride, Andy and Jessie Marshall, Charlie Merrill, Ted Morehouse, and Ted Jr., Stan Qua, Gardy Cobb, Tom and Inez Remsen, Henry Taylor, Johnnie Ward, with daughter Mrs. Orr, Ned and Gertrude Warren, T and May Wood, and son Andy '42, Mrs. Shirley Owen, and son Richard '46, Harry Gilmore, Steve and Marion Stevens, Gene Leach, Perley and Hazel Grant, Ralph Bennett, Mrs. Rolfe Smith and daughter Eleanor and son Justin.

The Class of 1901, with a 50% reunion attendance, was photographed on the steps of Dartmouth Hall.

CLASS SECRETARY