The Golden 50th of 1906

THE memorable days of June 8, 9 and 10, 1956, are now a part of the history of the Class of 1906.

Our Fiftieth Reunion was an enjoyable and eventful occasion and those who were able to be present will be talking about the good time we had for a long time to come.

The advance guard arrived Thursday afternoon but the main body of the men, women and children arrived on Friday. Our headquarters in the Ski Hut were efficiently staffed by Dave Chapin and Bob Louden, who took care of all our needs most satisfactorily.

Thanks to Francis Childs, who had spent long hours and had done a great deal of research, our class report was available for each member as he registered. With this in our hands we were able to tell whether Jack Spratt was a "doctor, lawyer or Indian Chief."

The roster of those present included 53 classmates, 33 wives, 27 children and grandchildren, and six widows, a total of 119.

Although some of the class did attend the Class Day exercises at the Bema, the first official event was the class dinner in Thayer Hall. Eighty-nine persons enjoyed a delicious dinner, after which we went to the President's reception in the garden at their beautiful home on Tuck Drive. After the reception many of us attended the Glee Club concert in Webster. Those who did not attend missed one of the finest concerts the Glee Club has ever sung. As we left the hall the rain started and it continued intermittently Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday noon the members of the class were the guests of the College at the Alumni Luncheon in the gymnasium. The alumni meeting followed the luncheon and 1906 was exceedingly proud of the masterful Fifty-Year Address of Thurlow Gordon. It was the consensus of opinion of those present that his speech was one of the best ever made by a Fiftieth Class orator. Another thrill was the singing by the Glee Club of a song composed for the occasion by Cap Pierce.

Although the rain threatened all afternoon we were able to hold our garden party at the home of Lorraine and Halsey Edgerton. Our gracious hosts had prepared an excellent repast for us and our wants were cared for in the "grand manner" by two Hottentots, Bill and Bob.

From 6 Occom Ridge we meandered to the Outing Club for our Class Dinner. As usual, Miss Gill served us an excellent meal.

After dinner President Powers called on the Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary for their reports. He then called upon Dan Hatch to report for the nominating committee. Dan stated that after hours of labor, using all his political wiles, no one would accept any of the offices so he was compelled to nominate all the present officers for another term.

During the evening we were entertained with a solo by Bert Rainie, accompanied on the piano by Bob Edgerton. Dan Hatch recited an original poem in his best FrenchCanadian tongue. But the highlight of the evening was the visit of President Dickey, who spoke to us informally.

At the close of his talk Walt Powers called on Norm Russell, who presented to the President the class memorial gift of $21,000.

Although it was sprinkling a little Sunday morning the decision was made to hold the Commencement exercises on Baker Lawn but to do away with the Alumni Procession. However, the seniors had just taken their seats when the rain began to come down pretty steadily. The boys marched to the platform to receive their diplomas and then President Dickey cut the rest of the program as short as possible.

The final event was our class luncheon at the Outing Club. This was entirely informal so we enjoyed ourselves visiting and getting acquainted with the women and children.

All in all it was a grand reunion and it was made all the happier by the presence of some of the class widows. The prize for the longest distance travelled to get to Hanover was shared by Constance and King Benton and Fred Welch.

At the suggestion of Art Chapin the class purchased some large post-cards of Dartmouth Hall and after everyone had signed them they were mailed to the absent classmates and widows.

The following is the list of those attending our 50th Anniversary: Bob Adriance, Constance and King Benton, Anna and George Boynton, Minnie and Ray Butterfield, Dan Carr, Catherine, Arthur and Dave Chapin, Grace and Con Chellis, Francis and Howard Chidley, Edythe and Everett Clark, Leila and Francis Childs, Ruth and Eliot Cogswell, Tom Connell, Randy Cooke, Margaret and Arthur Cragin, Charlie Crane, John Cromwell, his daughter Adelaide and husband and grandson Tony, Joe Cushing with four-legged Lucky Strike, Genevieve and Walter Dakin, Lura and Roy Denison, Lorraine, Halsey, Bill and Bob Edgerton, Ethel and Harold Fish. Hilda and Lyman Frazier, Elvira and Charlie I rene! Ned French, Polly and Thurlow Gordon, Marie and Foster Guyer, Catherine and Paul Hagberg, Max Hartmann, Dan Hatch, his daughter Katherine and her fiance John Sears, Fred Jones, Ruth and Jack Kingsbury, Nat Leverone, Rachel and Roy Merchant, Edith and Ransom Morse, Bess and Shorty Neal, Roy Owen and daughter Louise, Bill Page and son John, Charlie Parker, Fred Parker, Ethel and Walter Powers, Florence and Herb Rainie, with seven grandchildren, Eleanor and Ned Redman, Harold Rugg, Lonnie Russ, Helen and Norman Russell, Anna and Earle St. Clair, George Seager and daughter Ellen and her husband, Ruth and Harold Smith, Marion and George Swasey, Fred Walsh and daughter Grace, Fred Welch, Helen and Harvey Whittemore with their daughter Louise, her husband and Susan, Evelyn and Laurence Whittemore and son Burt, Helen Beetle, Olive Blood, Alma Milham, Anne Meservey, her daughter Ellen and two granddaughters, Anne and Clara, Anne Perry and Sue Hanlon, and Nellie Gibb York with two children.

'06, CLASS SECRETARY