1915
April showers may bring May flowers, but with March winds still blustering out of deep-freeze it's hard to get into the spirit of it! However, by looking ahead to the Officers' May 1, 2, 3 weekend in Hanover, I'm almost in the mood you who read this (I hope) should be in. (There's that preposition!)
Let's start with a February note. The David S. Ingalls Hockey Rink at Yale was dedicated on February 21 by a Dartmouth victory over Yale 5-4. The program for the occasion gave highlights of the history of hockey at Yale and Bags Wanamaker, who coached Yale from 1921 through 1928 and who was credited with being the father of Yale hockey for his system of play, was present and lent his support to Eddie Jeremiah's men in putting the proper stamp of approval on the dedication game. We all remember Bags as captain of hockey in our day and as a former class president and are glad to note that he was selected in 1957 as Honorary Member of the American Hockey Coach Association. Incidentally, the new Yale rink apparently has a unique design, as I understand the Yale students are already referring to it as The Pregnant Whale!
Another February item which has become a perennial is indeed a verification of a forecast I made in last month's column as to "the fish stories that would emanate from the Kike Richardson-Eben Clough "icecapade" up into the North country over Washington's Birthday. This time the tales of the fishcatch were dwarfed by frigid echoes of zero minus 20 degree temperatures - and, judging by the accompanying pictures, they sound plausible! Their claim is - snow depth on the level — 128 inches. They didn't say how they measured it! While Kike was freezing up North, Pearl Richardson was sunning down in Tampa while visiting with her sister and brother, also planning to call on the Campbells.
Here's one from Gus Braun. While inspecting some friends' powder room which featured a wall mural showing three hands protruding from behind a shower curtain, Gus remarked: "Huh! Not a wedding ring on any of 'em!"
John Loomis tells of a visit at his home in Cheyenne of Mrs. Hayden, mother-in-law of Senator Henry Burgess of Sheridan. When she learned he was of Dartmouth 1915, she revealed she was a sister of Dick Hall. John then told her how well he knew Dick and that he was on some sort of a committee that chose Dick to drive a Dartmouth ambulance in France. It seems that Mrs. Hayden also knew Charlie Griffith. John is also glad to announce that his son Fred, Dartmouth '48, is now one of the partners of Loomis, Lazear & Wilson of Cheyenne.
A mid-February card from Marty and Mae Martin reveals 80 degree weather in Miami. Said they had quite a chat with Dud Woolworth over the phone and hoped to see him soon.
Pete Pray favored Boston with his presence early in March and the Patten Chowder Gang rounded up quite a quorum to do him the honors at lunch. I don't know what they mean by "8'er from Decatur," but there were eight of 'em present, including: Clough, Foster, Shea, O'Hara, Claflin, Rice, Barker and Pete. My keyhole-snooper says Pete was in fine fettle and also that, when they tried to round up George Simpson, he and Charlotte were in Florida. Dale Barker says he hopes more of the boys will let them know when they're in town.
This is a good place to remind all '15ers of the "Boston Tea Party" that is brewing tor the Harvard game weekend next fall. And "brewing" is a good word for it, judging from the pre-view remarks that come floating this way. All ye who have ideas and suggestions—shoot 'em in. Dale Barker's committee on arrangements will then take over.
We thought we were good back in the early 'teens, but are you following Ivy League fortunes? Football, basketball, hockey — what next?
The tragic series of events in the passing of Stick Parnell bespeak untold acts and sacrifices by a dedicated wife who joined him in death, and by several classmates and other Dartmouth men, whose efforts are glowing examples of that spirit which moves men and women to give in time of need. That they may get their just reward is the earnest wish of us all!
A warm card from Muriel Waugh tells of a pleasant visit with her children in sunny California and how much she enjoys keeping up with Dartmouth news via the MAGAZINE. Says she expects to be home again in April.
I'm not too sure about three scribbled notes, slightly puzzling, received in an envelope marked "Official" along in mid-March. One was on the back of a so if cash receipt from R. H. Stearns of Boston, marked "Big deal" and signed by Kay Mason. Another says: "Merely a ham sandwich - honestly and truly" and signed by Helen Rose. The third, signed by Bess Barker, kinda let that proverbial cat show its whiskers in saying: "Dale knows we are to-gether, but won't he be surprised when he hears we are here at the Ritz-Carleton." Now - whoever heard of a 20¢ check, a ham sandwich and a vanilla eclair at the Ritz! Girls will be girls! (I'm keeping those notes to prove to Dale I didn't make this one up.)
And then Win Davis of Fort Lauderdale comes up with a slightly wacky brochure entitled The East Breeze" with some beautiful color pictures of the sumptuous apartments under the owner-managership of his wife, Mildred. Win says he's like to show some of the Dartmouth boys this town.
Rev. Dr. Lawrence L. Durgin '40, son of Delphine (Mrs. Russell) Durgin, minister of Central Congregational Church, Providence, R. I., preached at a number of Lenten midday services there during the pre-Easter season. Dr. Durgin is a member of the board of directors of the Board of Home Missions, chairman national committee of Christian Higher Education Fund campaign of his denomination and a member of the Governor's Commission on Correctional Services in Rhode Island.
Ernie Boyd, an account of whose death appears in the In Memoriam section, was a roommate of mine freshman year in old New Hubbard Hall - top floor. If ever a "roomy" was a steadying influence on a bunch of peagreen freshmen, it was Ernie. Many were the extra-curricular acts he performed to keep the ship on an even keel - even to taking care of my laundry agency chores on a Saturday while I was away on football trips. It has been my pleasure in recent years to get together with Ernie on his occasional trips to New York and such meetings were always a tonic. Dartmouth has lost a loyal son, but the memories are sweet. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his wife and family.
The Roy Laffertys gave our Stuyvesant Town apartment the once-over recently of a Saturday evening and, while I'm sure we yackety-yacked plenty, I find that my lease still holds in good standing. Maude was quite struck with the multi-apartment view from our windows but suggests a telescope would be helpful! Tch - Tch!
The Capital Gifts Campaign shows 1915 well up among the leaders. How it ties in with the Alumni Fund will be reaching you from Roy Lafferty via Jack Ferguson's "Frontiersman" news letter shortly, probably before you read this.
Arthur Hornblow, taking advantage of residence in the effete East, spent a March weekend in Hanover and was much impressed with the plans for the new Hopkins Center. He and his wife were guests of Charlie and Susan Griffith at lunch which Art describes as of "cordon bleu" quality. He says Charlie is still the slender lad of yore and, with his fiddle, still charms the Norwich folk as well as those of even more remote places. Yes, we had a sample of it at the Interim last fall.
We sincerely hope Zeke Carpenter's wife has fully recovered from the effects of an automobile accident in Florida where she was hospitalized for a while back in January.
Best wishes to Phil Pelletier whose retirement from The Stanley Works of New Britain, Conn., was announced recently, after 39 years of service. See you at the Boston Tea Party, Phil?
Earth-shaking news from Lee Smith of Attleboro, Mass.: "My wife presented me with twins on March 21 — a boy and a girl — so we now have two class babies, which is probably as distinctive as some of the other exploits of the Class of 1915. The chances are that Dartmouth will never go co-educational, but I suppose I could enroll the boy in the Class of 1977. My wife Mary and the rest of the ten children send best regards." See you at the Boston Tea Party, Lee?
Chan and Dot Foster were headed for Dallas for the opening of a new Sheraton hotel there early in April and then on to the West coast, returning to Boston in time for May Day.
Harry Ellms out in Denver, hankering for some good old Ipswich clams, writes Eben Clough (the Squire of Ipswich) who sicks him onto the proper source, so there'll be a cargo flown out to him, and I'll bet the resulting clam bake will be just that! How about the Boston Tea Party next fall, Harry?
Changes of Address: Arthur G. Boggs, c/o Mrs. James Tompkins, 8600 S.W. Laehy Road Portland 1, Ore.; Philip H. Pelletier, 38 West End Ave., New Britain, Conn.; Beardsley Ruml, 343 Madison Ave., New York 17, N. Y.; Antonio A. Simoneau, 3407 Palm Blvd., Box 606, Isle of Palms, S. C.
Secretary, Apt. 7-G, 245 Ave. C. New York 9, N. Y.
Class Agent, Federal Trust Bldg., 24 Commerce St. Newark 2, N. J.
