1931

In last month's column I told you that by the time you received the magazine our Class Executive Committee would have met in Hanover and that you'd get a report on it in this month's issue - so here goes.

Friday night, September 28, ten members of the committee showed up with wives and the next morning Jim Godfrey, less wife, appeared. The Bunce Clarksons and Fred Slaughters had wended their ways back to Hanover slowly, whereas others of us had to make a dash for it and do the trip in a few hours. Slow trip or fast trip, ten couples made it to the Inn for Friday night.

Nine couples made it well before dinner time and since we were all nicely settled at 'he Inn it was only natural that we all gravitated to one room for hellos and drinks. The room happened to be Bill and Ruth Wendell's. The noise that emanated from it as you approached it coming down the second floor hall was evidence of the tact that a lot of people obviously had not seen each other for a long time, because the chatter that was taking place was something terrific! Conversations were taking place so rapidly and heatedly that even when Harriet and I entered the room the talk kept right on going along without a break and all we had to do was to wait our turn for a minute and then without even shifting gears we joined right in and within minutes we were just as absorbed in the din and the crowd as though we had been there for hours.

While having a pleasant drive from Wayland to Hanover, Harriet and I had made guesses as to just what members would show up. We figured on the Bengers (Pa.), Bensons (Mass.), Clarksons (Mass.), Godfreys (N. H.), Guernseys (Upper N. Y.), Hawkins (R. I.), Wendells (Conn.) and Wilsons (N. J.), and sure enough they were all there except the Godfreys. Jim joined us the next morning for the meeting, having come up from Concord. We were, therefore, delighted to see the Slaughters (Ill.) and Woodrings (N. J.) as we made our way around the room from group to group since we weren't sure they'd make it. Sey Burge (Ill.) couldn't make it due to a serious illness. The others were just too far away — Grant (Col.), Minehan (Wise.), Oelman (Ohio), and Power (Calif.)

Therefore, those of the Executive Committee who are within shootin' distance of the old stamping grounds all managed to get back for business and for fun. Our Class indeed has been fortunate as important events have come along over the years to always have noble souls amongst us who crop up at the right time and volunteer to handle matters for us and to do outstandingly good jobs of getting things done.

Now to get back to Wendell's room again - after we had had time enough to imbibe enough to get on our respective "cloud sevens" and to begin to run out of conversation a little (and just a little be assured) we counted noses and took off for the Norwich Inn where Bunce, who had been in town for a few days, had been foresighted enough to make reservations for dinner. Johnny Benson had told me that Gladys and he would probably not be able to make it for dinner, and unfortunately that turned out to be the case. The Wilsons' son Tommy joined with us. He had an interview Saturday morning regarding admittance — we all sincerely hope he makes it.

After dinner we all went back to the Inn to the Wilsons' nice big corner room and spent the balance of the evening (notice I didn't say night!) with wonderful good fellowship prevailing throughout. The way we all got together so readily and well made it seem as though we had graduated only last year instead of 31 years ago!

Saturday at 8:00 a.m. all the males showed up for breakfast as agreed upon and in short order we gathered in the Administration Building Conference Room to dutifully perform the reason for our return to Hanover. We stuck to and completed our agenda at about 11:45 a.m. when we met our "gals" back at The Inn; crowded once again into the Wendells' room and quaffed a few before heading for the Bema picnic. The Howie Masons were the only other '31ers to join us for the picnic although WardThompson and Ed Langenbach were spotted in the stands at the game.

At the game the Wolffs were in quite a predicament because of a feeling of double allegiance. We naturally wanted to see dear old Dartmouth win, but at the same time we wanted to root for the University of Massachusetts sophomore quarterback who had led our Wayland High School team to the Massachusetts Class B Championships two years in a row. As the game turned out, we had plenty of opportunities to root for both sides - and I'm sure we had some people around us pretty confused - anyhow, Harriet and I had fun!

After the game we all gathered again at the Inn, had some more elbow bending and good fellowship and then enjoyed a dandy buffet dinner and more fun during the balance of the evening (notice, once again I didn't say night!). Immediately after the game the Wendells and Wolffs wandered down Route 10 going South out of town and across Mink Brook to 4 Mourlyn Road where Helen and Parker Soule have found a lovely home.

When Parker's change of address first showed up in Beaney's newsletter some months ago, many of us commented "how come?" The answer to "how come?" was given very easily by Parker. All you do is to find a job you want where you want it and a company in that location that wants you — that's all! Simple, hey?

Sunday morning good-byes were said pretty much on a one-at-a-time basis. Thus ended another wonderful episode in the lives of eleven of your classmates who enjoyed making time to meet and to plan for our Class's activities during the period between now and reunion in the endeavor to make our 35th a well-worth-while-coming-for reunion.

Secretary, 36 Shaw Drive, Wayland, Mass.

Treasurer, 96 Fair Oaks Park, Needham 92, Mass.