1909's Golden 50th
These notes are being written the Monday after the Sunday breakup of '09's "fabulous" fiftieth, to borrow a word from a headline used in past issues of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE that describes half-century reunions. Before hitting some of the highlights of the memorable occasion, let's indulge in a few cold statistics. And here "cold" is the word to use, because that's what the weather was the reunion weekend - cold and rainy.
Here's the way attendance stacked up: Attending classmates numbered 59; of this number, 42 brought their better halves; seven widows put in appearance; add to these numbers three sons, six daughters, one son-in-law, one grandson and two lady guests, and you'll find the total is 121. This number was enough to cop the cup for the largest attendance of any class during Commencement weekend, dished out by College Secretary Sid Hayward at the Saturday alumni meeting. The next day the cup had to be returned, for it's passed along from one reunion class to another.
Ed Martin had the distinction of coming the greatest distance, his home base being California. Other outlying states represented were Kansas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.
Although a number of these elderly gentlemen and ladies had reservations at the Hanover Inn, official headquarters were at Hitch-cock, where General Chairman Al Newton sat in state in his suite of rooms on a ground floor corner of the dorm. When Guy Carpenter '10 heard that '09's headquarters would be at Hitchcock, he suggested, as a pre-reunion slogan, "Let's Hitchhike to Hitchcock." That guy is good at coining whimsical phrases. Some of the group stayed at Gile.
Al Newton and Cad Cummings arrived in Hanover the day before reunion was to start. Tickets for various functions and meals, programs, identification badges had to be stuffed into envelopes marked on the outside with names of classmates. This job was done by Newton, Cummings, Parson Wilbur Bull, and supervised by Childs. The work was completed about midnight. Right here and now it's fitting to give Al Newton a merit award for his work in organizing the reunion. It was voted the best reunion of all time. Al had able assistance from Wilbur Bull, '09's Hanover representative, and he was in conference with Joe Worthen, class president, and Bert French, secretary and treasurer, but the big bulk of the details he handled himself, even down to the mechanics of getting out letters and notices.
Like most gatherings of Dartmouth men, gabfests were in evidence. Singers oiled up their tonsils and burst into song. Notable among these were Art Swenson, Sandy Hooker, Jim Hitchcock, Jock Adams, and Bucky Buchanan, who formed the backbone and fiber of the warblers.
As has been '09's custom for the past several years, a musical combo was organized. This year, it consisted of Jimmy Packard, Wilder, who knows his way around on a three-necked guitar, plus being a singer of talent; Ralph Truman, a Hanover lad, who plays the bull fiddle and has a remarkably fine bass-baritone voice; Glenn Wardwell, a fiddler of attainment, who lives about 20 miles from Hanover; and Jack Childs. on the banjo. These guys played Friday and Saturday nights in the tent and also went up to Hitchcock Hospital earlier in the evening Friday to give the ambulatory patients a concert. Our friend, Charlie Truman, who was the official steamfitter of Dartmouth College for 47 years, was able to be with us both evenings, to render some of his humorous songs and monologues. He was recovering from an abdominal operation. The therapy of music and mingling with his old friends did him a lot of good.
Reunion time in Hanover is almost like saying hello and goodbye. You drift from one session into another, then it's time for the farewell luncheon, and the gang distributes itself to its respective four corners of the country. After registration on Friday came the cocktail party and the dinner served in the tent. A goodly number attended the Glee Club concert; others stayed around to talk or to listen to the music and entertainment that lasted until midnight. The rains came and beat, down on the canvas covering. A chill was in the air, but it didn't penetrate the hearts of '09ers.
Saturday arrived. The class picture, which is seen in this issue, was taken inside Webster Hall because it was raining. A couple of Hanover's dog population tried to get into the act. Then over to the White Church for memorial services which were conducted by Parson Bull. It was a time for meditation and memories. Since our last reunion with 1910 and 1911 in 1955, 28 classmates had gone over to the other shore, ten of this number in 1957 and eight in 1958. Nobody knows whose name will be called next.
Time for the alumni lunch had almost arrived, but first a class meeting had to be held in the assembly room of the church. Here, the report of the nominating committee disclosed that Al Newton had been chosen president to replace Joe Worthen. Hal Clark was made vice president, and Bert French was re-elected secretary-treasurer. The executive committee remained the same. Maybe Norm Catharin, chairman, and his committee followed the line of least resistance. Off to the gym they went, the elderly gentlemen being given priority to grab the feed bag. Some of them were caught sneaking back for seconds.
The alumni meeting followed, with the 50-year Class occupying the spotlight. Here, Joe Worthen made a masterful address that was lyrical in its choice of words, and 'twas said that he delivered it without once referring to his written text. Read it again in this issue of the MAGAZINE and retain it for future reference.
The class dinner at Thayer Hall was the climax of the reunion. '09 ate high on the hog that night. Al Newton presided as master of ceremonies, being introduced by retiring president Joe Worthen. Gold watches were presented to Al Newton, Bert French, and Jack Childs, and a blazer to Parson Bull. A witty talk was made by Judge Emma Falls Schofield, the widow of Al; Lynde Tucker reminisced about activities senior year, a door prize of an old etching in color of Dartmouth row was won by Hortense, the bride of Jim Greenebaum.
Time was running out, for many of the gang wanted to take in the college show, but before the meeting was concluded the '09 quintet rendered a couple of numbers in not-too-close harmony and Sid Hazelton didn't have time to reminisce about athletics. During the evening President Dickey came in to pay his respects to the class.
Commencement on Sunday was not treated well by the weather. It was cold and raw too cold for many of our class to sit outside. They took refuge in the dorms where heat had been turned on. The farewell lunch was served in the tent where cold and rising winds took over, and thus closed 1909's fiftieth reunion.
Following is the attendance record:
George Adams1 Tubby Bird Chet Brett1 Harry Buchanan2 Parson Bull1 Norm Catharin1 Ed Chappelear Jack Childs1
Hal Clark1 Ralph Clement1 Reggie Colley Cad Cummings Doc Dunbar Mike Farley1 Inge Fearing1 Ned Ford1
Bert French3 Joe Graff1 Deacon Graves1 Jim Greenebaum1 Sid Hazelton1 Kit Hearne Hazen Hibbard1 Curt Hilliard1 George Hinckley1 Jim Hitchcock Bill Holzer1 Sandy Hooker1 Eliot Howard Bunk Irwin1 Plum Leighton1 Andy Marshall1 Ed Martin Hank Meleney1 Elbert Moffatt1 Al Newton4 George Oliphant1 Art O'Maral Doc Pearson1 Mike Readey5 Nut Root
Parson Rose6 Wallie Ross1 Dutch Schildmiller Curt Sheldon1 Art Sporborg1 Art Swenson Abbott Thayer Walt Thomas1 Dutch Thorn1 Lynde Tucker1 Herb Walker1 Gordon Weinz1 Ced Wellsted Dutch West1 Heinie Whitcomb Pee Wee Wight1 Dick Wing1 Joe Worthen1 Mrs. Phil Avery Mrs. Fred Carroll' Mrs. Phil Chase Mrs. Anson McLoud Mrs. Hal Pratt8 Mrs. Al Schofield9 Mrs. Ben Scully
Legend: Accompanied by wife, Accompanied by wife and friend, 'accompanied by wife, daughter, and son-in-law, 4accompanied by daughter and son, "accompanied by son, daughter-in-law, grandson, and daughter, 6accompanied by wife and daughter, 6accompanied by two daughters, 'accompanied by friend, 'accompanied by son.
Members of 50-Year Class of 1909 took refuge in Webster Hall when it rained at picture-taking time.
CLASS NEWS EDITOR
