1904
The consensus of the opinion of the Boston Boys is to have our interim reunion June 9-10-11 at commencement time — So that's it. Either write at once to the Bursar of the College, or to me, for reservations.
The cold winter has been tough on the Boys. Most of the regiment turns out for sick-call. Our distinguished attorney from Nashua has had a three weeks' enjoyable visit with the nurses at the local hospital. They found him a delightful patient. After his release the Bar Association gave him a party to celebrate his Both birthday. Talking with "Al" recently — by telephone; He says he is now pretty well and challenged me to a mile run. The Secretary, down with a bad cold, had to decline.
The Tubbs, Charlie and Sunny, have had a series of "bad spells." Charlie has had to go to the Lahey Clinic for periodic check-ups on a bad throat and Sunny fell - injured herself — and that with cold has kept her from her piano. Charlie will be at the Lahey Clinic May 16; if any of you Boston fellars could call it would do him lots of good.
Going over a lot of surplus pictures of the Class, recently, I came across a copy of Lieutenant Sharpe, son of our Major Sharpe, who was killed in World War II. Your Secretary sent it to the Major, who was deeply appreciative — as any father would be. It was good to hear from the old-timer. He stated - not growing old, "just in my third childhood."
Dan and Geneva Webster are certainly Ambassadors of Good Will for the Class and of tremendous help to the Secretary in keeping in touch with the far away home towns of some of our Classmates.
They recently called on Kid Vail and Bernie Boyle, both in Florida. The Kid has a bit of difficulty in moving about, but was deeply grateful to see Leon; and Bernie, who has lived and slept in a wheel chair for months on end, now finds it possible to lay down and get a good rest. He too was so pleased to see the Websters. Leon also telephoned to Robbie in Vero Beach - expecting to find the Secretary there too. He called also on Mrs. Harrie Muchemore in Del Ray, Fla. Wherever the Websters can find an '04 man and his family they are happy to call on them. Nice work good folks and a service greatly appreciated by all of us.
A good letter came from the Withams, back home from a nation-wide visit on their lovely families of five daughters and a son and twenty-one grandchildren. Myron ain't sure but it's twenty-two by now.
If any of you retired-go-visiting gentlemen get up Maine way - please do call on the Durgins of Lewiston, Me. Had a Christmas card from our Ex-President; that's my annual contact. 'Taint enough.
When the Secretary read in the papers, recently, "Edgerly accused of murdering his wife," he became quite concerned, but he has been relieved on two counts; the wrong Edgerly - not our Ferdinand - and the accused freed — not sufficient evidence — We are glad Bertha is still with us.
The Hinmans, who have been in Clear-water, Fla., will be at home in May! Both are well — we hope to see them June 9-10-11. Get busy now and make your reservations. I think we can count on - Robbie, Carl, Squid, Sex, Pen, Matt, A. Terrier, Edge, the Websters, Maynards, Mannings, Sally and Beck, and we hope others may find it possible to be with us - the more the merrier.
The Class will be deeply grieved to learn of the death of our beloved classmate, John Storrs Fletcher, on March 27, after several weeks' illness. Born January 13, 1879, in Shelby, Ala., he was 82 years old. John came to us from the Chattanooga High School of Tennessee. He was one of the outstanding scholars of the Class, Phi Beta Kappa, Rufus Choate Scholar, Commencement Speaker - giving the address "To the Old Pine." His address to the "Old Pine," on Class Day - as we smoked our Peace Pipes together and listened while he gave to us the story of the "Old Pine," the tradition of the Indians gathered around the old tree in their last farewell — we too carried away with us that day the history and tradition of Dartmouth College that has lived with us these past sixty years. After leaving Dartmouth he entered the Law School of Chattanooga University and was admitted to the Bar in 1906. Classmates are referred to the history of John in my 50th Reunion Class report. It is a story of public, educational, charitable, and church services and gives the breadth of interests which fdled his life. In 1955, the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga, of which John was a member and past president, honored him with the coveted Kiwanis Service award "The Man of the Year."
In 1907, John married Miss Augusta Converse, who survives him also a son, John Jr. '33, two daughters and six grandchildren.
Sally and your Secretary have been the guests of John and Augusta in their lovely home in Chattanooga, a home where love and trust and gracious living was everywhere in evidence. Their hobbies were travel - books, the best of music and reels of pictures taken on their travels to Europe and many times to Mexico and the Caribbean. Yes, and Dartmouth College and the Class of 1904. They rarely missed a regular reunion. One of our strongest, most loyal and lovable members has left us. Your Secretary has expressed to the family our profound sorrow at his passing.
His obituary will be found in another section of this issue of the MAGAZINE.
Complete with 500 gallons of rum, Eleazar Wheelock, portrayed by Winslow Pierce '05, and the Big Chief, who was in reality Bill Clough '05, re-enacted the founding of the College during a celebration in '03 or '04.
Secretary, 28 Stockbridge Rd., Lenox, Mass.
Class Agent, 9 Foxcroft Rd., Winchester, Mass.
