1925's Advanced 35th
And on June 15, 16 and 17, the days of '25's 35th reunion, palpable mist, impalpable mist, drizzle, rain and fog were on the Hanover Plain. There were no fair weather clouds sailing through the bright blue sky and no gentle warm breezes rustling the campus elm foliage and at night, no stars shone. But not a few stated that the inclement weather actually made the reunion more memorable because the Class was together. There was no golfing nor touring. Time was spent in rebuilding old-friendships and discovering what great depth of perception and understanding the passing years have brought.
The influx began on Monday with FrankWallis, the Reunion Chairman, and EdPease, the Treasurer, accepting monies and handing out identification badges and tickets for the various events in their usual efficient manner.
Gile Hall was headquarters and there was the conventional tent and the refreshment bars placed under Pete Haffenreffer's orders.
Ken Nugent was in charge of the cocktail party and buffet supper in the class tent. Then there was a drifting to President Dickey's reception which was moved from his garden to Thayer, due to a more than gentle precipitation.
Some folks went to the Hanover Holiday lecture on adjusting to retirement and others listened while George Zahm with his sax and some kindred spirits went into the tunes of our own times.
Silence came over our section of the campus around one, much earlier than in yesteryear.
On Tuesday morning there was a Hanover Holiday lecture on inflation and at noon the Alumni Luncheon in the gym with '19, '23, '24 and '25 in attendance. Our FrancisBrown, Vice President of the Alumni Association, presided in his always able manner. President Dickey spoke on the ingredients of the Dartmouth Spirit. As usual, the acoustics in the gym were poor.
Then followed the annual meeting and showing of the Class movies in Silsby. Roessler, Pease and Talbot were renamed to their posts and Whelden took over from Burns as Chairman.
The Class movies were long, but had strong impact, for not a few of the men we saw on the screen were those long dead and newly dead. Deak Blodgett's colored shot of Prexie Hopkins was well applauded and is perhaps one of the best pictures ever taken of that great educator.
There was a supper for sons and daughters of '24 and '25 at the Ski Hut with TippyTower in charge of arrangements. Twenty-two of our class children were back.
Five-year-old Bobby Colwell, son of Nateand Frances Colwell, was the youngest '25 child present. This was Nate's first reunion and all were most happy to see him.
Before the class dinner at the Inn there were cocktails in College Hall. Bill Sleigh handled the class dinner. President Dickey came in for dessert and made his keen acceptable remarks.
The Players presented "The Boy Friend," well done and well attended.
The Grand Soiree was transferred from the tent to College Hall. Pete Blodgett continued his solid role as la Tent Maitre d'Affaires shooting a cigarette out of Bill Sleigh's mouth across the full length of the hall with fanfare and roll of drums and stimulating relaxed classmates by dropping small bombs behind them.
The music, all through the reunion was especially good. Frank Wallis imported a small but able Dixieland band from Marble-head and briefed them thoroughly on the desired numbers. The music was nostalgic dance tunes of our youth done in the style of our era so that not a few matrons with silvering hair were starry eyed again as they danced.
June Chamberlain's identification badges were accurate so that a quick glance brought forth the correct nickname without fumbling for phrase.
At the White Church on Wednesday morning, there was standing room only when the Rev. Otis G. Jackson '24 announced the opening hymn. It was a joint service with '23 and '24 and the able planning was under the direction of Nate Bugbee. The In Memoriam list grows steadily.
Then there was a quick packing and the trip began to the Keenes' at Etna. Woody Wilson had chosen the site wisely, for we were all able to eat under cover, disregarding the persistent drizzle that greyed the hills.
About three, Wallis, noting the final handshakes and farewells, had the orchestra swing into "Auld Lang Syne." One man commented to Herb Talbot: "I always get a bit choked up when the class breaks up at reunion for you never know if you'll be alive for the next one - and if you do make it — who will be gone." To which the good doctor and philosopher replied "If there be true pleasure and joy at the moment of meeting, there must be sadness at moment of parting - otherwise reunion could not be the experience it is for us all."
Pete Blodgett's car was one of the last to leave. There was a quick detonation and a little cloud of powder and exhaust smoke hung a moment over the wet road and then drifted away.
Inside, by the big stone fireplace, Wallis and Pease had a final casting of accounts and Wallis, jotting in his notebook started: "Now let's list the changes we want to make for the Fortieth...
1925-ERS ATTENDING REUNION
Eddie Blake, Deak and Bia Blodgett Pete Blodgett, Bob Borwell, Browny and Mary Brown June and Fran Bryant, Ike and Gin Burner, Ed and Frances Burns, June and Ann Chamberlain, Gordie Churchill, Carl and Ruth Clifton Nate and Frances Colwell, Connie and Elsa Conrad, Phil and Phebe Coykendall, Line Dayis, Ed and June Dodez, Chet and Blanche Eaton, Hal and Betty Elder, Mott and Helen Garlock, John and Drue Garrod, Ralph and Ruth Gaskill, Blair Gilbert, Lane and Connie Goss, Jamer Guernsey, Tibber and Dotty Gutterman, Jack and Carol Harvey, Charlie and' Dottie Haywood, Dick and Anita Heydt, Marty and Dris Huberth, Don and Dottie Hunt, Jamie and Carolyn Jameson, Rog and Margaret Johnson, Ken and Corinne Kennedy, Les King, Larry and Dot Leavitt, Tige and Polly Lyon, Al and Arline Manning, Red and Ellery Martin, Dan Matthews, Bob and Kay McKennan, Lyle and Kay McKown, Bob and Gladys Meginnity, Parker Merrow, Sid and Jean Milnor, Bob and Janet Misch, Ken Montgomery, Charlie and Addie Moore, Ken and Lyd Nugent, Eddie Ober, Frank and D Osgood, Ed Pease, Jake and Ruth Penney, Perk and Florence Perkins, Bud and Ruth Petrequin, Win Prescott, Bob and Virginia Reading, Paul and Kathryn Reber, Coop and Albre Rhodes, Eddie and Susan Roessler, Dutch Schroedel, Frank Shea, Mac and Betty Shepard, Bill Simms, Bill and Betty Sleigh, Stan and Betty Smith, Al and Ruth Sparks, Doc Spring, John Spring, Norm and Lee Strickland, Ken and Patty Sullivan, Hal Sweet, Herb and Emily Talbot, Rad and Velma Tanzer, Ham Thayer, Bill Thompson, Homer Tilton, Tippy and Dodie Tower, Ralph and Betty Udall, Walt and Helene Vom Lehn, Frank and Elly Wallis, Ed and Ruth Waring, El and Ellenor Warner, Larry and Hilda Welch, Ben and Lynd Werntz, Ford and Gertie Whelden, Whitey and Bobby White, Woody and Frances Wilson, and George and Fran Zahm.
Copies of the 1925 reunion picture, printed with this report, can be obtained by sending $1.00 to the David Pierce Studio, Hanover, N. H.
Amid the roar of the traditional 1925 cannon, the Class returned 83 to tie for the second largest attendance in its division.
'25, REUNION REPORTER
