1917
I regret that I have to start these notes by reporting the death of another classmate, but it is my unhappy duty to do just that. Ken Hammond died suddenly as the result of a heart attack while vacationing with his wife, Dorothy, at Phoenix, Ariz. The sympathy of all 17'ers has been extended to his widow, and an In Memoriam notice appears elsewhere in this or a later issue.
Word of Ken's untimely passing was very kindly sent to the writer by Doc Hammond, Ken's cousin, who, himself, was just out of the hospital following a second coronary.
On a more cheerful note, it is my happy privilege to tell you that our most efficient treasurer, Vic Smith, has been elected to Dartmouth's 50-member Alumni Council for a two-year term. The writer can think of no 17'er more entitled to this honor! Vic was chosen as a regional representative by Dartmouth alumni clubs in the Middle Atlantic States to succeed Joseph C. Mansfield '44. I am sure that the congratulations of all go to Vic!
On April 4 Bob and Gail Boynton left Hanover for another European tour. This time they plan first to visit Greece, and then go on to London, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Copenhagen, and the Scandinavian countries.
Slatz Baxter writes that Helen and he have been keeping busy, as usual. Slatz has been going back to school all winter at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, and is still Chief of Staff at the Tobey Hospital at Marion. In addition, he has just been elected Senior Warden at St. Gabriel's Church at Marion, and is school physician at Tabor Academy where he looks after the health of 360 boarders - quite a job in itself, Slatz admits.
Almon Bushnell, who served as Superintendent of, Schools at Meredith, N. H., from 1934 until his retirement in 1955, always maintained that education and politics did not mix and consistently declined, though a Republican, to take an active part in the work of the Republican party. Recently, however, he concluded that his long experience in school administration, coupled with his familiarity with the town and its people, qualified him to serve as a Selectman, and in early March he announced his candidacy for the post at Meredith's Republican caucus. The sad part of this little story is that this writer has not heard the outcome of the election.
On or about April 9 Mott and FranBrown were to fly to the West Coast for a visit with Eleanor and Ed Shev and their little daughter, Anne. Mott says, "I try to tell myself that I am tired and need the rest, and thus that a spot of vacation is in order. But it just does not ring true." If you want one man's opinion, Mott and Fran just want to get out there to see Anne!
While Jack and Dodo Saladine were vacationing at Boca Grande last month they had visitors from fifty miles farther North. Sumner and Charlotte Emerson and Gil Swett, all of Sarasota, made the pilgrimage South to have lunch with Jack and Dodo.
Reporting for the distaff side, I can tell you that that little spark plug, Jo Weeks, is, in her own words," - deep in the throes of politic(k)ing." One of Jo's good friends, Mrs. Doloris Bridges, widow of the late Senator Bridges, is running for office and Jo has been working a good three to four hours a day helping to arrange luncheons, teas, etc., so that various groups can meet Mrs. Bridges and get to know her in person. And as side lines, Jo is serving as secretary of her town's Republican Club, and as a volunteer worker at the Coffee-Gift Shop at the local hospital.
Those of us living in the Woodstock area are looking forward to May 8 when the Dartmouth Freshman Glee Club, under the direction of Paul Zeller, is going to give a concert here. The affair is being arranged by the Women's Auxiliary of our local Health Center for the benefit of the latter. At this early date, more than 100 sponsor tickets have been sold so the concert should be a sellout, and the Health Center should benefit accordingly. Helen Brooks is in charge.
Jim McGowan is justifiably thrilled at the recent receipt of a scroll from the Brown University Library informing him of the acceptance of two of his poems for addition to the Harris Collection of American Poetry and Plays in the library. Jim has written a good many poems including one called "John Spaghetti" which he hopes to have published before long.
Under the headline "New Yorkers See Damariscotta as Retirement Haven," a Portland paper recently carried a good account (including a picture) of Don and Marion O'Leary's move with Tonka, their parakeet, from New York to their new home at Damariscotta, and of their new-found interests — walking, reading and gardening for Marion. Marion, who resigned as vice president of the Women's Republican Club in New York, already has joined the Lincoln County Republican Women's Club, and is interested in the Lincoln County Historical and Cultural Association, both of Damariscotta. Don reportedly is doing some heavy reading and rapidly becoming an authority on the Civil War. Quoting from the newspaper, "As delighted as Don and Marion are with this town, so are the townspeople with the fact that they decided to settle here."
In what I have read about the current Alumni Fund campaign not enough, it seems to me, has been said about the importance of "participation," a matter which I consider to be of great importance. Just to illustrate, some few of you may be reluctant to send in a contribution solely because it cannot be a large one. But let that fact not deter you in the slightest. Participation has a lot to do in determining our final standing. Dollars are, of course, vitally important, but participation is important too, and the donor of even the smallest amount helps to improve our position. So, just because you cannot give a large amount, don't hold back! Give what you can, but give! You will feel better for having done so!
Secretary, South Pomfret Rd. Woodstock, Vt.
Class Agent, 337 N. Steele Rd., West Hartford, Conn.
