1937
Tonight there is no question about the arrival of fall; it's nippy, with a northwest breeze and the moon is full. Daytime has its virtue, too, in the leaves and their multicolored loveliness. It is truly a season of inspiration, with ineffable overtones of reward somewhere just ahead (I'm reading your tea leaves). Lofty as these thoughts may be, I must add that on the more practical plane of material for the editorial maw - always a problem of some immediacy - I am momentarily rather richly endowed. My thanks to all, with the added hope that 'winter will not find me poorer. And so on to the spending of this wordy wealth.
Just before his departure for Europe on September 26, Chairman Carl Ray of our Reunion Committee left me a message which is quoted below. This formally introduces Carl in his role and expresses the important goals and intentions of our 20th:
"Here it is October and our 20th Reunion is only eight months away! So it is time for everyone
to start making plans for the return to Hanover June 14-16. "Your Committee has had several meetings already and about the middle of November we'll begin to get into high gear. You'll hear more from us in subsequent issues of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE and Newsletters as plans are firmed up.
"To date we have decided -
1. We want the largest turnout possible—at least 140 grads.
2. Wives and children are welcome, nay, a must for real success.
3. We'll have baby sitters and a well organized children's program-result, Ma and Pa can enjoy themselves.
4. We'll be back with '38 and '39 so we can mix with friends in those, classes.
5. We want the lowest possible cost with a maximum of good fun and entertainment.
"This must be all for now, but mark your calendar for June 14-16. As a matter of fact, many of us will be in Hanover three or four days in advance so why don't you plan a week's vacation at that time. Dormitory rooms will be ready for all who can .get back early. We'll see you in June and there will be more news in the next issue."
Jack Young was kind enough to drop me a line from Havana (Cia. Cubana de Cemento Portland). He, Jinny and the three children were up in the States in July for a vacation which took them as far north as Connecticut. During their absence the press reports from Cuba had Jack convinced that they would return to a state of revolution. Happily, all was normal (by Latin American standards) and the family was glad to be home with pals, dogs, school etc. The only guy who was in a lather was Jack who frothed on his return over a calm so different from press reports. Journalists are, or were, low on his totem pole.
I had a letter from Art Falk in which he enclosed a fetching snapshot of his five-month-old son Donald. Unfortunately (in this case, but rightly as policy) the ALUMNI MAGAZINE will not reproduce prints in which the alumnus does not appear. So only I among you have admired young Donald. Incidentally, you might remember that rule about photos, and having done so, how about some appropriate black and white copy. A good many of you are still presentable subjects despite the lapse of 20 years.
Art, Bette and the baby planned to fly to Cleveland and then on to Buffalo to visit Connie and Sammy Schuck (Connie is our boy and Sammy is his wife!). The Schucks have three sons and there is always mention of a dog named Beowulf. Incidentally, I was in Buffalo for a night two weeks ago and encountered, outside the Statler and most unexpectedly, my erstwhile roomie Dick Spencer '36. I note this only because Dick reads everything and he will be thrilled at this mention.
Falk closed with a "say hello" for Art Covey who is an attorney in Katonah, N. Y., and thus, happily for him, is somewhat to the north of the tax burden of Chappaqua (Horace Greeley lived here!) and its new high school which has unkindly been characterized as an educational Taj Mahal.
Bill Rotch, being a sound journalistprinter and knowing of the grist this old mill needs for sustenance, was by common consent elected to report the details of a small joust which took place at Will Brown's place on Squam Lake one Sunday late this summer.
Bob Aylward started it all by bludgeoning the State Dept. into granting him vacation. Before leaving Washington, Bob devised his own underground railroad, so that by dint of hard travel under the cover of daylight, he contrived to turn up at the home of a classmate each night. Which was fair enough, since lodging five Aylwards is no trick in these large New England homesteads. (Names and addresses of classmates in this area on request.) Thus it was that Bob spent a night with Peg and HartyBeardsley in Springfield (chucking grinders),
From there the caravan moved on to Squam Lake and the Browns. The arrival of the Aylwards was the signal that all New England had been awaiting because everybody swarmed over to Browns this Sunday I started to describe. First the Rotches. Then, of all people, Briggs Austin and family escaping the acute boredom of a California summer. At length Bud Butterworth, working hard on another book, pulled himself and family from the travail of the moment and joined the party. Just to make sure there were enough people to go around the beer, Pete Merritt '38 dropped in with his family. Believe it or not, in children alone the number was 21.
Still more news from northern New Eng land. Hank Whitaker sent me a cheerful note from Barre, Vt., to which he attached a half column clip from the local Daily Times announcing a new business association for Hank. After 11 years as associate editor and later editor of Monumental News-Review, Hank sold his interest in this trade journal to his brother and joined Rock of Ages Corp. where he will be active in the advertising and sales promotion programs of the Company. Hank is very excited about the new assignment and we wish him well. He and Sue have two daughters, Virginia and Betsy, and a very young son, John.
Ken Stearns dropped me a kind note from Hudson, N. Y., where he is a member of the Dept. of Surgery of the Rip Van Winkle Clinic. I had written Ken a letter of condolence from me and the class on the recent death of his sister Nancy (Mrs. Frederick S. Gilbert) whose charm and gaiety many of you will remember. Kenny recently had the extreme pleasure of taking son Peter up to Hanover as a member of the class of 1961 and to top off this milestone he and Kate celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary at the Inn with the John Milnes and Corb Moisters as co-celebrants.
And then there was a letter from Chick Hotaling who has a boat yard in Toms River, N. J. This is a busy affair in season, but when those boats are all tucked away for the winter, listen to this routine: "Each year we take a couple of weeks after Labor Day for a cruise. This year took us to the Chesapeake and we had a wonderful time, I am looking forward to a trip to Hanover in October for a week of golf with my wife." Chick also will make the Princeton game which he always attends in company with Col. Allan Sutter and his wife. And then, reunion in June. The Hotalings have four children, the oldest in the service and the next oldest hopeful of entering Dartmouth with the class of '59 (sic!).
And now for a couple of items to wind-up. Art Sprague wrote me that he's still traveling about New England as special agent for Pawtucket Mutual. He gets to Hanover from time to time and also sees Dick Cooper in Rochester, N. H., on occasion. He and Helen (who are reunion-bound for sure) have two children-Mary 13 and David 9.
Two big events in the life of Les Garvin. On July 3 he was married to Mrs. Shirley L. Dobbrow of Westfield, N. J. Les' first wife died in 1953. And secondly, he was made manager of The First National City Bank of New York office in Caracas, Venezuela, which is a really large job. All best to Les, and to all of you, too.
Secretary, 869 Hardscrabble Rd. Chappaqua, N. Y.
Treasurer, 17 High Street, Greenfield, Mass.
