1915
One good thing about spending winters in the North is that grand and glorious feeling when spring bursts forth upon us. Or is that wishful thinking?
Bucking the snows, ice, slush, lack of transportation and other hazards, ten intrepid '15ers ignored New York's storm spell and showed up for our annual informal dinner here February 8. This was as gamey a "bull and bragging" session as ever graced the Dartmouth Club here. It was a fitting wind-up to these "hallowed" gatherings at the present location of the Club - which is scheduled to move to its new home in the Commodore Hotel some time this spring. No one "spared the horses" in the tales that were unfolded at this gathering and some of us learned things about ourselves that the passage of years certainly hadn't lost in the telling. Shades of Jake Bond, old Joe Truman and others of that vintage must have hovered over the gathering and great were the feats that were recounted of those unforgettable days. The lucky ones present were: Dick Clarke, Charlie Comiskey, Bob Fredericks, Carl Gish, Speed Granger, Bob Griffin, Opie Horton, Jim Killeen, Roy Lafferty and Phil Murdock. Adding spice to the affair was Bill Christgau '18, who became engulfed in the gang and just couldn't tear himself away. 'Twas a night to remember! Sammy Sanborn phoned he couldn't make it but is looking forward to our 45th in June. Art Hornblow had to pass it up, as he was flying to London for several weeks but hopes to be back in time for Reunion.
Noting the increase in tuitions next fall, it looks like higher education is getting higher all the time! (Must be signs of spring!)
It is good to hear that Doc O'Hara is back in circulation again, appearing at a Patten luncheon in Boston late in January. I believe he and Elvie were planning to spend the month of March in and around Boston.
Norvie Milmore is reported "fit as a fiddle" and already working on the 50th reunion of the famous 1911 class of the Latin School in Somerville. Norvie was president of his class at Latin School, captain of the football team, and is Chairman of their Reunion Committee. Says he hopes to induce Tommy Tomfohrde to stay over after our 45th for theirs which follows June 19.
Eben Clough still raves about his old outfit, the 101 st U.S. (less) Engineers who held their annual get-together, January 21. He met up with an old ex-sgt. buddy, recently retired President of the First National Bank of Cuba, who gave them quite a run-down of conditions in Cuba - somewhat remindful of the theme of President Dickey's talk to the Officers' Meeting in Hanover last May!
What I can't figure out is why Milton P. Ghee Associates, who handle New York Subways Advertising, is located in San Francisco! Milt, reminiscing again, recalls how we were taken down as freshmen to the 1911 Harvard game to get indoctrinated with the Haughton brand of football. If I'm not mistaken, it took some years for that indoctrination to bear fruit! The educated toe of a chap by the name of Brickley also played a part.
Zeke Carpenter claims to be the "world's worst correspondent," but says he is "inspired to attend the 45 th Reunion" and thinks he has sold wife Libby on coming along. The Carpenters have been wintering at Palm Beach.
Sid Bull stopped shoveling snow long enough up in Wakefield, Mass., to say that next June in Hanover will make up for it. Says they ran into String and Grace Downing back in January and that, while String had been in the hospital, he was feeling fine again and looked as big as some of those tackles on last fall's freshman team - "there is the best material since the Class of 1915 landed in Hanover." Sounds good for the coming pigskin prospects!
We all extend our sympathies to the families of Phil Pelletier and Willis Morey in the passing of these two classmates. Mrs. Pelletier has asked me to thank the Class for the Memorial contribution in Phil's name to South Church School where Phil had taught Sundays for several years.
Bob Bigelow says there was more snow in Marlboro, Mass., early in February than when he was in Hanover the week before. Says we're "nuts" to live up here in winter! Funny thing - I don't recall we felt that way about it back in the days of old New Hubbard and Hellgate (Hallgarten) Halls!
Bags Wanamaker comes up with an overseas card and says they enjoyed Majorca, Naples, Pompeii, Capri and are headed by air to Luxor, Suez, Aden and Bombay. Says they hope to see Mitsui in Tokyo. (Hope he sells Mits on Reunions.)
Duze Lounsberry has recruited what is, hopefully, a winning team for this year's Alumni Fund (says: "We're heavy and we're fast!): Bob Bigelow, Gus Braun, Ralph Brown,Gib Campbell, Geo. Dyke, Jack Ferguson,Carl Gish, Don Howe, Chuck Ingram, RoyLafferty, Doc O'Hara, Helen Rose, Geo.Simpson, Tommy Tomfohrde, Bags Wanamaker, and Cecil Whitney - with Duze, of course, at the helm. Let's all give 'em PARTICIPATION! Duze and wife Helen started training by driving to Sunspot, N. Mex., by way of Florida, checking up on, daughter, Barbara, and family who live up on a mountain top "trying to find out what sunspots do to satellites."
Dale and Bess Barker finally got a stormdelayed plane out of Boston and checked in with Bud and Tex Doe at Cocoa Beach, Fla., where Bud claims that 26-inch sea trout did not pull him overboard — he jumped in and wrestled it ashore. Gib and Claire Campbell came over from Winter Haven to help them all celebrate the Does' wedding anniversary, with the Ted Mains '14 of Cocoa Beach joining in. In a later card from Fort Lauderdale, Dale says they saw Bill Reynolds showing 'em how on a shuffle board court. They tried to reach Gus Braun, but he was out of town. Dale's color card was nothing if not expressive - showing an alligator snapping at the rear end of a luscious looking bit of femininity - and Dale says to tell my good wife that's how the girls get pinched down there! I judge they had a pleasant and successful trip.
Bob Fredericks, prominent nurseryman and horticulturist of Hastings-on-Hudson, phones in that he finally located Warren Montside down in Clearwater, Fla. Next to Cape Cod, I'll bet Florida has the largest Dartmouth population outside of Hanover!
A late February card from George andMae Martin "casually" mentions the 80-85 degree Miami weather and hopes we're all surviving up here. They're helping the St. Louis Cards, the Baltimore Orioles, and the U. of Miami baseball teams in training and were planning to make Sarasota in a couple weeks. George says he talked with Dud Woolworth and hopes to see him shortly. They all want to be remembered to the gang.
Eben Clough comes up with a card promoting National Barefoot Freedom Week! Reunion forerunners should start buzzing shortly. Inasmuch as these notes are written so far ahead of publication, real information about the program and schedule must come to you through direct mailings and Jack Ferguson's Newsletter. Gleanings from classmates here and there indicate a banner turnout. The proposed cost figure is agreeably temperate and, after all, our 45th is our 45th! Nuff said!
After attending the Alumni Fund March 23 dinner in New York, also attended by this scribe, the Roy Laffertys were headed for a browsing trip through Florida. Roy will get in some fishing while Maude browses. Roy reports that Lee Mac Hale expects to be out of the country — of all things — at Reunion time. You'll be sorree, Lee!
Late flash! The Dale Barkers finally caught up with the Gus Brauns at Fort Lauderdale for a pleasant visit. Gus says they'll definitely be at the Reunion.
Late late flash! The Boston Alumni Dinner February 23 at the Statler-Hilton brought out a goodly crowd. At #2 table were '15ers Clough, Foster, Richardson, Shea, Sherman and Simpson, aided and abetted by Aborn '14 and Snow '14. The latter had his son with him as guest. From the echoes heard in New York, a good time was had by all. It is rumored that Clough, Foster and Richardson barely made it in time for dinner!
And so - to press!
Secretary, Apt. 7-G, 245, Avenue C New York 9, N. Y.
Class Agent, 219 Mill St., Newtonville, Mass.
