1918
The abruptness of the class's decision to select me to try to fill the shoes of Ernie Earley came at a time when I was still spending most of my spare time trying to run the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. As usual, Ernie came to my aid offering to prepare the class notes for the ALUMNI MAGAZINE until I could arrange to get rid of the hospital job. This done, I am now attempting to pick up the reins where Ernie leaves off.
The first item of my endeavor should be to pay tribute to Ernie Earley and his long suffering wife, Mary Ellen, for the many long hours that they have contributed to the class directly and the College indirectly. Certainly the Class of 1918, demoralized as it was immediately after World War I, would never have developed into the loyal, closely-knit class that it is today if Ernie hadn't spent many hours over all these years to bring us together and to teach us how to appreciate ourselves. Ernie has always had the knack of pointing out our good points while failing to mention our weaknesses. This talent has taught us to recognize the outstanding personalities and abilities of our classmates to the point that all of us respect and appreciate the other fellow. I believe this effort of Ernie's more than any other thing has enabled our class to become a closely-knit unit - loyal to our classmates and to Dartmouth College.
Ed Ferguson advises that Don Davis is building a Cape Cod style house on about 25 acres of land in Greenfield, N. H., where he hopes to retire within the next couple of years.
Doc Angell has moved his Certified Public Accountant office from Boston where he has been conducting his business for the past 37 years to 1492 Highland Avenue, Needham, a location nearer his home. Doc has been very active in civic affairs in Needham. At present, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Glover Memorial Hospital. He has served as Selectman, a member of the Finance Committee of the town, a town meeting member and has served on many special committees. He is past president and charter member of the Needham Exchange Club and a past state president of Exchange. Doc is so modest that you would never know that he has been active in so many fields of endeavor.
The class barmaid, Betty Shirley, has announced her engagement to Freeman Day Jr., a graduate from Colgate who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. They plan to be married April 25.
A momentous tribute was paid to our classmate Charlie McCarthy at his funeral, which was held in Lawrence, Mass. As we understand it, the church was filled to capacity and many of his 1918 classmates were there. As is customary, the class has instructed the Library to purchase a book to be designated as a memorial to Charlie.
Dick and Edith Cooley seem to work harder and harder as their very successful Cooley's, Inc. store grows bigger and bigger. They have become recognized as one of the outstanding authorities on china and glassware in this community. She won't admit it, but I suspect that Edith knows more about the habits and activities of Boston's Back Bay society, particularly when it comes to paying bills and arranging for sending presents, than most any other person in the Boston area. As they work harder and harder, they seem to have more and more fun. Perhaps they should start having more fun-fun and really become frivolous by taking a trip during some Christmas season. Anyway, they should do something so they would have time enough to see the rest of us more frequently.
At the Boston Dartmouth Club's dinner held on January 21, Harvey Hood was introduced as a member of the head table as the hardest working trustee of Dartmouth College. I am sure his classmates conceded him this distinction many years ago.
We read with great interest a letter written by Les Granger explaining his experiences on a very exciting trip around the world, which he and Mrs. Granger are on representing the National Urban League. He writes of his experiences in Rangoon, Burma; Tokyo, Japan, and Hong Kong, China where he and his wife were royally entertained by important social and political leaders. It is indeed an inspiration to read this letter and realize the important work that Les is doing in his effort to bring about better understanding between these countries and the United States. It is impressing to note the important people who have gone out of their way in these various countries to meet and entertain him.
We wish to remind those classmates who are going to Florida that Paul Miner is now retired and a permanent resident in Florida. We don't happen to know his address, but we are sure that either the College or Ernie Earley can supply you with this information.
Stan Jones has recently retired from Young & Rubicam, Inc., one of the leading advertising agencies in the country. An outstanding tribute was paid to him by President Sig Larmon '14 at the year-end meeting of the company.
The Ernie Earley's are leaving for their annual trip to Florida on March 1. We hope they have good weather this year and are able to acquire a well deserved rest.
The New York group held a dinner meeting on January 15. I had received an invitation to the dinner and found it possible to be present. It is interesting for an outsider to attend these dinners. One cannot help but be impressed with the friendliness that this group has developed and the apparent pleasure they have at these dinners. The following attended this particular dinner: W. Richard Christgau, Ernie Earley, Dick Holton, Jasper Johnson, Stan Jones, Bob Knowles, Steve Mahoney, Syl Morey, Ned Ross, Wally Ross, Russ Smith, Tom Tarrant, Julius Van Raalte and Red Wilson. The only slight difference that is apparent since I attended a similar dinner meeting several years ago is the fact that everyone makes sure to catch the last train. This group is so enthusiastic about these meetings that they constantly press to have other cities develop the same idea. Certainly, if our classmates in other cities could generate the same interest and have as much fun as this group does, it would be well worth the effort.
Bob Fish writes that he and Mildred plan to go to Arizona around mid-March to be near their daughter, Joan, who is to present them with their fourth grandchild shortly. He also advises that the Gene Markey's are planning to visit them in Arizona sometime during their stay.
You may have noted in a recent issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE a picture of Amos Blandin Jr., Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, shown at Valley Forge, Penn., where he was serving as a member of the distinguished awards jury selecting the 1958 awards of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Amos is another of our distinguished classmates who contributes a great many things to our society which he keeps so quiet about that few of us realize how much he is constantly doing.
We visited the Don Scully's in Rockport, Me., this last fall. We found Don in good spirits but confined pretty much to the house these days. We put in a conference call to Lew Cousens and the Scully's on Christmas, but found that Lew was spending Christmas with one of his children so that we only had a chance to talk to Madeleine who reported that Don had a slight heart attack recently but had recovered quite well. Winter is a pretty confining time for Don. We are sure that he would appreciate receiving letters from his classmates as he is extremely interested in all the class activities and wants to know about many classmates every time we visit him.
Ernie Earley has forwarded a letter from Walt Wiley describing his experiences in Istanbul where he and his wife have been working under the Auspices of the Missions Council of the Congregational Christian Churches. He has recently moved to Diyarbakir, Turkey, where he was urgently needed. The Wileys would have preferred to continue their activities in Istanbul the last few years before his retirement, but felt that he should pick up stakes and move to this new community because of the urgent need of his activities in this area. The whole region where he has now moved is a military area. All of the mission institutions - schools, hospitals and theological seminary have disappeared from the region. Only eight small communities with seven churches remain in this predominately Moslem area. His task is to enrich the Christian living of the members of these scattered churches, to find devoted leadership, promote closer association between these churches and help each attain a greater measure of financial independence. In our book, this is some assignment! You will be interested to know that Dr. Roy B. Chamberlin, Professor of Religion at Dartmouth for many years, was persuaded by Walt to give up his retirement and assume the leadership of the missions in Istanbul. Walt is very pleased that it was possible to transfer his activities to such able leadership. We are sure that he would be pleased to hear from any of his classmates. The Wiley's address is: Rev. and Mrs. Walter B. Wiley, Lise Caddesi 8/2, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
The college has forwarded to us the new addresses for the three classmates noted below: Fredrick W. Cassebeer, 1021 Madison Ave., New York 21, N. Y.; Parker Poole, 236 Foreside Rd., Falmouth, Me.; John A. Thayer, Box 236, Delray Beach, Fla.
We wish to remind you once again that there will be a 1918 Reunion of our classmates with our wives on Tuesday, March 31, 1959 at Bill Bemis' famous Flamingo Hotel, Miami Beach.
Also, we wish to remind you that Phil Sanderson is in the process of preparing a new 1918 Class Book. When you receive a postal card from Phil, please be sure to mail in all the data asked for as promptly as possible.
Word has just been received of the death of Walter T. Fuller on February 2. An In Memoriam notice will appear in a later issue.
This is a new experience to have to make a dateline. I hope that you will all make it a point to send in any news that you may have of any of our classmates each month. If you don't, I am afraid that my lack of background concerning the lives of all of you is so limited that I am not going to be able to write articles about you out of the blue the way Ernie used to.
Secretary,67 Annawam Rd., Waban, Mass.
Treasurer,Write Inc.420 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y.
Bequest Chairman,
