1940's Delayed Twentieth
Our big Twentieth is over, but not forgotten. Reunion Chairman, Stet Whitcher's well-oiled machinery functioned perfectly and everything went off without a single hitch. Col. Joe Bird, weatherman supreme, waved his magic wand, and we were all treated to the most beautiful weather possible. The girls were more beautiful, the men mostly fatter and/or balder, and the children handsome and well behaved. In all there were 255 present, composed of 109 classmates, 91 wives, 54 children and one date, Art Ostrander's. They came from near and far, from the U.S. and abroad, those traveling the farthest being Elmer and Joyce Browne from England, Bill and Nancy Bransted and Fred Eaton from Venezuela.
The reunion started early with about forty on tap by Thursday evening. The mass arrival was on Friday and by mid-afternoon the joint was jumping. At the height of the registration period Stet Whitcher was ably assisted by Joe O'Hare's comely daughter, Jo-Anne, who made the process far more pleasant. The dinner for all returning alumni was held at the Gym that evening followed by a dance at College Hall. While back at the tent the beer flowed freely far into Saturday morning with everyone catching up on the years since they had last seen their classmates. For some it was the first return to Hanover since college days. In the group were Charlie Pinderhughes and Jack Reitzell. And all through the evening a marvelous guitarist, hired for the weekend, kept the music flowing in tempo with the beer.
Another glorious morning on Saturday saw the somewhat tired but undaunted '40's emerge from their rooms for breakfast in the tent, followed by the class meeting chaired by Hugh Schwartz in Carpenter and the class picture on the campus. At the meeting the following officers were elected for the period until next reunion: Chairman, Diz de Sieves; Secretary, Bob MacMillen; Treasurer, Don Rainie; Head Class Agent, John Moore; and Reunion Chairman for the Twenty-Fifth, Jack Moody.
A barbeque lunch was served to the class Keene's in Etna with the food and refreshments consumed on a hillside overlooking the beautiful New Hampshire countryside. Harry Midgley had spent the morning giving Creight Holden, Bill Hutchinson, and John Crandell a golf lesson and he was having no success collecting the large sums of money owed him, a fact which considerably affected his disposition and appetite.
The class dinner was held at the DOC House, on the lawn beside Occom Pond. The food was excellent, but as Greek Mahoney put it, the martinis had more vermouth in them than there is in the whole of Italy And speaking of Italy, Ted Lewitt almost broke up the dinner with his hilarious stones, among which was the one that the late Pope Pius, who spoke English, had promised to make him a cardinal but that he had failed to pass the word to his successor who speaks no English, thereby making it impossible for Ted to plead his case.
The Players put on a very polished performance of the musical, "Pajama Game," a good interlude between dinner and what Whitcher referred to in the program as tent activities." These activities included a showing of class movies taken in undergraduate days, a demonstration of the Charleston by Creight Holden which put everyone in mortal fear of a slipped disc or worse, and a night of music. The power failed several times during the movies, ancient splices gave way causing further interruptions and Moody tripped over the cord. All of this made for a presentation lacking Hollywood polish, but the enthusiasm of the audience seemed to belie it.
With the lights once again aglow the music started in earnest. The efforts of our talented guitarist were complemented by a quartet of clarinets exuberantly played by Danny Toan, Beezie Smallwood, ElmerBrowne and Stu MacPhail. The piano, its keyboard on the damp side caused by repeated beer baths, was given an uninterrupted workout by Don Rainie and JohnCrandell who also regaled us with his songs. Having no drums, an upturned garbage can was brutally punished in rotation by JackSchleicher, Dave Davenport and Les Nichols, while a very aggressive harmonica was propelled by Bill Squier. Rounding out the combo and doing her best to give it a modicum of class was Jane Toan and her guitar.
The sun was rising as the last diehards made their way to bed, but by ten-thirty many had found their way to the Bema for the memorial service for the members of the classes of 1940, 1941 and 1942 who have passed on. The beautiful voice of Charlie Tuck's wife, Henri, ably accompanied by Don Rainie, made the service a memorable one.
The rest of Sunday was spent in good-byes and a rehashing of the pleasant moments of an all-too-short weekend. It was only 1456 days till the Twenty-fifth, as someone said, and we were already looking forward to it. We missed Louise Leake, and the "Bobbsey Twins" (Bob Clark and Joe Adams), but were glad to see Tuffy Reeves.
And so your correspondent puts his last column to bed after five years with a sincere thanks for all the help you have given him. Bob MacMillen takes over in the fall. So long. It's been fun!
Following its class meeting, the Class of 1940 moved to the campus for its delayed 20th Reunion picture.
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
