1933's Thirtieth Reunion
Any question there might have been over the success of a combined reunion for three classes - '32, '33 and '34 — was soon dispelled with the beginning of registration on Monday, June 17. The Grand Chairman, Bill Dewey had engaged the younger element of the Hanover '33 contingent to greet and register us in front of Russell Sage for residence in the dorms on Tuck Drive. By 2:00 P.M., the intellectuals in our group were on their way to the first of a series of Hanover Holiday programs, "Theatre-Going in Japan," in Hopkins Center for which, incidentally, guided tours were scheduled periodically each day.
Things really began to hum at the joint cocktail party at 5:00 P.M. This was where the advantages of the three classes being under one tent began to show and set the tenor of Dartmouth fellowship that pervaded the whole Reunion. A lively band from Boston was on hand to provide a snappy musical background. Seated right in front of the piano with his seven-month-old grandson on his knee was Johnny Faegre proudly accepting all plaudits for his Sunday-graduated son's first child.
In due course, we meandered down to the Leverone Field House for a reception and dinner. It didn't take much imagination to picture the many purposes this terrific building - like the Hopkins Center - can serve. In fact, as prearranged by our very efficient committee, a deluge of rain during dinner was provided but cut short before our departure as factual proof of its value. This was followed by an informal reception by President and Mrs. Dickey in their garden. We then had our choice of another Hanover Holiday program, "The Symphony Orchestra Today and Yesterday," movies of the three classes from yesteryear or the Dartmouth Players presentation of "J. B." We chose the movies, but understand the other programs were excellent. After witnessing the movies, we were convinced that any misgivings about today's younger generation that we might have had beforehand were strictly the product of sobering old age. Today's kids aren't anymore screwball than we were. The Boston band provided music for dancing in one tent and the Tiger-town Five gave forth with the more popular teenage tempo in another on both nights when the hat was passed at midnight for another hour of dancing. Unlike previous reunions, there was no spontaneous demand for a second hour of overtime dancing. But, while the old-aged second wind lasted, the teen-agers' tent was the more popular and such sedate members of our class as JackWright, Jack Manchester, Page Worthington, Bob (T.) Cox and Mel Katz temporarily outdid the youngsters at twisting. On the second night, John Meek was delegated to hire the band for an extra hour, but the Princeton '55 leader of the band indicated he was taking orders only from "Mr. Dewey," but John was not to be outdone and "the band played on."
Breakfast in the tent on Tuesday was followed by a Hanover Holiday Panel Discussion, "Education for Public Service," moderated by Howard W. Alcorn '23, Justice, Supreme Court of Errors of Connecticut, with panelists: Mike Cardozo '32; Judge "Hank" Smith '33; Congressman, Tom Curtis '32 and former Congressman, Perkins Bass '34.
Then came the class meeting in Sanborn where the nominating committee of SamBlack, Don D'Arcy, John Meek and CharlieShafer announced through chairman, PageWorthington a slate of: Jud Pierson, secretary; George Farrand, treasurer; Sid Stoneman, class agent; Bob Fox, Newsletter editor and your retiring scribe as chairman with an executive committee of: Bill Bates; Keat Coffey; Don D'Arcy; Bill Dewey; George Drowne; Stu Durkee; Fran Harrington; Hunter Hicks; Jack Huntress; Wil Madden; Larry Reeves; Dick Rocker; Hank Smith; and Jim Woods. Page, profiting from his experience in utilities as a telephone man, transferred his talents to the railroad field and eased this train into the station on schedule.
Roland Burbank officiated at a 1933 Memorial Service at noon in the White Church where the fifty members of our Class who have passed on since matriculation were honored in a most impressive service.
The early part of Tuesday afternoon offered another Hanover Holiday program, "Modern Architecture: New Directions" and Dartmouth Movies.
The festivities reached their peak at 4:30 P.M. when all three classes journeyed to the Deweys' spacious grounds in Quechee, Vt., for cocktails, steak, lobster and "the works." We cannot do justice to Bill and Sue, not only for their hospitality, but for the tremendous amount of planning and work that went into this "best of all '33 gatherings" in which they and we were most happy to have '32 and '33 participate. There wasn't one hitch and nothing but praise for the Deweys, their '33 committee and the '32 and '34 committees headed by Don Marcus '32 and Harry Gilmore '34. The spirit engendered at this "piece de resistance" of the Reunion carried over to the dancing and fellowship of our last night. Surprisingly, everyone appeared bright and chipper for breakfast and the final goodbyes.
The official count shows 96 '33ers in attendance or a total '33 representation of 270 including wives and children. 1932 had 195 and '34 — 163 or a total for the three classes of 628. Space prevents our listing the names of all the individuals present.
As we write this in Charlie Widmayer's office in Crosby - it now being 5:30 of the third day — we find ourselves fighting the onslaughts of Morpheus and wondering if we shouldn't have left this to another day. However, we shall try to recall some of the sidelights and expect that Bob Fox will have more in his Newsletter and Jud Pierson will recall others in his first column in the next issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE in October.
Will you gals and guys take the time to write either one of them about any incidents that will make good copy. None of us could catch all the happenings so share your wealth with the rest of the Class through their media. Bob Sands travelled all the way from Maracaibo, Venezuela, with his two boys and took the prize for coming the longest distance although Bob Guggenheim figured out that Maracaibo is only 30 miles farther from Hanover than his diggings in California. Jack Huntress came with his family from Scottsdale, Ariz., and Win Rowe made it all the way from Seattle. Now that we have turned all our records over to Jud, we can't remember who comes from where, but undoubtedly there should be others mentioned who came from similar distances. We can vouch for all 96 registered '33ers being here since we were able to chat with all but Nat Leonard, Herb Moatz, and Martin Uebel for which we're sorry.
N. Y. Supreme Court Judge Bob Doscher discarded his robes for the occasion and replaced Johnny Schneider at this gathering as the Class Jester. Ted Allen gave way to the paid musicians and we missed his usual good piano. Probably the most energetic of our group was Johnny Faegre whom we're sure could still split the defense. We don't know the membership of Bill Dewey's committee, but we do know that we found Jack Manchester poring over the register and making out checks at noon on Wednesday and we suspect that Jack Wright had a good part in the whole deal as well as other unnamed Hanover '33ers. JohnnyMonagan was chosen to introduce President Dickey (at Quechee) who took us back just 100 years in Dartmouth history and revealed that Abraham Lincoln was prevented from receiving an honorary LL.D. from Dartmouth in 1863 because of a tie vote by the trustees at that time.
It was the best Reunion yet. Even the weatherman cooperated. We were at lunch Tuesday with Bill Dewey and it was pouring outside - "should the tables and equipment be sent to Quechee or the Leverone Field House?" Bill, without even looking outside, said "Quechee." These same three classes reune again in 1968 and it should be a must for all '33ers. "Have a good summer."
The combined classes of '32, '33, and '34 held their picnic at Quechee, Vt.
RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY
