1916

Some of you who read the splendid pictorial article in the January 14 issue of Life, titled "Bicentennial of a Founding Father; U.S. marks birthday of Alexander Hamilton," probably were not aware of the part our own Dick Parkhurst had in the festivities. Nor was I until he kindly sent me a clipping from the Winchester Star and some pictures from a Boston newspaper, which latter show the ceremony at the unveiling of a plaque on the island of Nevis, British West Indies on January 11, the 200th anniversary of Hamilton's birth. - With Dick's permission I will quote in part from the article:

Mr. Parkhurst, former chairman of the Boston Port Authority, and now president of the Mystic Terminal Company, Boston and Maine Railroad subsidiary, and vice-chairman of the Alexander Hamilton Bicentennial Commission's Committee on Birthplace and Boyhood Home, landed one day exactly 25 years ago on the Island of Nevis and found the remaining walls of the Alexander Hamilton birthplace were without marker of any kind and that the record of its being Hamilton's birth site was available mostly because of local knowledge passed down over the years.

Upon returning to the States, Mr. Parkhurst presented the situation to the then various authorities and endeavored to arouse interest in the designing and placing of a tablet, with appropriate ceremonies on the part of the British and American Governments. These efforts were continued over the years without avail until creation by Act of Congress in 1955 of the Alexander Hamilton Bicentennial Commission incident to the 200th Anniversary of the birth of the first Secretary of the Treasury provided a renewed opportunity for this desirable development to be brought into being. The plaque, notably worded by Laurens M. Hamilton, a member of the Committee and himself a direct descendant of Alexander Hamilton, reads:

At this site on January 11, 1757, was born Alexander Hamilton who subsequently went to the North American Colonies in search of education and who became one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America which he served as an officer in the Continental Army, member of the Continental Congress, signer of the Constitution, Secretary of the Treasury, and finally as Inspector-General of the Army. In tribute to his immortal memory this plaque was unveiled by the Alexander Hamilton Bicentennial Commission on behalf of the people of the United States of America, January 11, 1957.

The heading of the most attractive tablet carries as its central motif a wreathed relief of Hamilton, flanked on both sides by the seals of Great Britain and the United States. The unveiling took place in the presence of British Colonial and United States officials, supported by guards of honor from the Coast Guard and Navy of the United States, and the Armed Services of the British Commonwealth. The official United States party included the Undersecretary of the Treasury, Randolph Burgess, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Vice-Admiral Alfred C. Richmond, Congressmen Canfield (New Jersey) and Gary (Virginia), and Bicentennial Commission representatives Laurens M. Hamilton of Warrenton, Va. and Richard Parkhurst of Win-hester.

Dick wrote that he flew down in a bigCoast Guard plane, and that he added around of doings in Puerto Rico, St. Kitts,Nevis, and St. Croix, and then had a leisurelyfour-day return trip to Mobile in a freighter,and thence home by train, all in all a fine experience and a lot of fun. If you have notthrown out this copy of Life you will enjoythis article. And Dick, it must be mostgratifying to have completed, after 10! thesemany years, such a distinguished and worthwhile project upon which you worked sofaithfully.

Upsala College, East Orange, N. J. has conferred upon Rosie Caiman, —or more fittingly, upon Dr. Alvan R. Caiman its Alumni Association service award. This was the first annual award of its kind to be conferred on individuals not necessarily alumni of the college, in recognition of the services they have performed for the development and advancement of Upsala. He was one of three so honored and was presented with a plaque. Rosie, one of the class who took a job and stuck everlastingly at it, has been a member of the Upsala faculty for 34 years. To quote the news report: "He is one of the leading figures on the college campus, a resident of East Orange and holds the degrees of A.B., Dartmouth 1916, M.A., Ph.D., Columbia University and Doctorate of the University of Paris, 1921." Rosie, you are another member of the class who does it great honor.

The other day I had a card from Carolineand Art Conley, the second of our globegirdling couples. It was from Hawaii and advised that they were having a fine trip on a nice small ship. They were leaving that day for Japan, though Art's observation was that he had just as soon stay there. Strangely enough the card was not a picture of the beach at Waikiki.

WEDDING BELLS: Jack and Ray English's son, Robert Barnes English was married to Crystal Andrea, daughter of Mrs. Andrew Monstis and the late Mr. Monstis, on February 16 in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Portland, Ore. The best wishes of the class are offered to these happy young people.

These are belated congratulations and best wishes to Cap Carey upon the occasion of his recent retirement as General Agent for Rhode Island of the State Mutual Life Assurance Company. "The Standard" of Boston which, I take it, must be an insurance trade journal, stated that Cap had managed the agency for 28 years, having joined the company as its general agent in Providence 12 years after graduation from college, and throughout the years had acquired the reputation as a business insurance specialist. Jack English tells me that Cap was wined and dined to a fare-thee-well by all and sundry, including the Governor of Rhode Island, a friend of Cap's. I hope Cap will not mind my quoting a part of a letter he wrote to Jack:

"Wake up, Red Head! It is December, 1913 and the bell in old Dartmouth is tolling 7:00 A.M., it's only ten below, Jim Hagerty is already counting heads, the snow is waist deep to a tall Indian, and you have an 8 o'clock class. Furthermore, 43 years from now I'll be writing you all about my retirement luncheon party, and if Jim Hagerty fires you, you'll die of malnutrition, - so you've got to get up if I have to pull you out of bed. Yes, the intervening years have passed, with all their vicissitudes, and now I'm an old General Agent Emeritus."

If the General wishes any helpful house- hold hints how to enjoy his retirement to the fullest please send stamped addressed envelope and one box cover as directed at the head of this column. Among the fine gifts Cap received was a handsome grain leather suitcase, so Cap says, "Have bag, will travel."

Andy McClary's daughter, Sarah Frances is engaged to William Richardson Dewey 3d, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Richardson Dewey Jr. of Weston, Mass. She attended Concord Academy and graduated from Smith in 1953. He went to Belmont Hill School for Harvard College, and graduated from Harvard in 1944. He was a lieutenant junior grade in the last war. Felicitations and all good wishes to the prospective bride and groom.

Social Item: Mr. and Mrs. Philip Henry Lewis (Duffy to you) of Swampscott were recent visitors at the Hanover Inn.

Class Notes Editor, 7 Swarthmore PI., Swarthmore, Pa.

Secretary, Box 1998, Ormond Beach, Fla.

Class Agent, Box 151, Sagamore, Mass.