1910
"In '65 - it's 55! Back to Hanover 1910." When our Reunion Committee hurls that command-slogan at us those planners hope and expect that a responsive chord will be stirred in every Tenner. But observation, history, and experience show that not all Tenners will respond. When one carries on the duties and enjoys the opportunities which come his way over the years, as Chairman-Secretary, he learns that while all had much in common during the time spent together in Hanover the later years have developed different attitudes with reference to class reunions. For instance: In 1960 when our 50-Year Reunion was observed there were 83 of our men who were back in Hanover. The number of living members in the class at that time was 172. So just about one-half of the class was back. There were many reasons for absence from that big event - poor health, lack of finances, family situations. But, like all classes, ours contained an uncertain number whose reaction to the reunion call was, in effect, "So what?"
It is difficult to have to acknowledge this apparent indifference, especially when we realize that Dartmouth has built a reputation as the college with about the highest per cent of alumni support. Class reunions are popular affairs. Informal reunions in Hanover hit an all-time high mark during the past football season. Many classes have adopted the plan of holding an informal reunion in connection with some home game each fall.
In 1950 during our 40-year reunion, someone asked, "Why do we have to wait five years before getting together again?" Our answer was in the form of an informal reunion in '52 in Hanover and we have been back every year since. The '52 gathering was a kind of "sampling" affair. In today's operations in merchandising, sampling has become a popular policy with many products. Of course, no one of us thought of our '52 informal as a sampling demonstration. But, in effect, it was just that. About fifty attended and decided they liked the idea enough to say that they would be back the next June. And they have been going back every year. Having a group like this, so much better acquainted, helped to make our 50-Year affair a genuine success. After the "50th" we wrote to every Tenner who had been present, asking comment in one sentence on the subject, "The one thing I liked about the Reunion was — " In some Cases, the wives added their thoughts, so we had 80-odd replies. A very high percentage of the replies emphasized the "friendliness and good fellowship" as the outstanding observations. Such expressions as: "Genuine friendly feeling of everyone," "the great privilege of renewing so many friendships begun in college days," "friendliness and cordiality," "the wholesome friendship the Tenners exhibited for. one another" - these were proof that our reunion had produced the most desired results for all.
"Going to college" was not such a common experience in our high school time. We enjoyed an unusual privilege. Whether we were with the class one year or four years our living and working together in Hanover broadened our knowledge and represented an experience unlike any other before or after that period of years. Getting together again after so many years have passed brings back happy memories. Experience in reunions has shown that whether we were close to one or a crowd in those earlier days, now, after our ranks have been thinned, we are really brought closer together in Hanover, regardless of our togetherness or lack of it, in undergraduate days. It is doubtful if anyone has ever regretted going back to Hanover for a reunion.
A card arrived from Spain recently. It told that Ted Smith was visiting his great-grandchildren. It was dated Nov. 2 but he had not heard and was anxious to know how the Yale game came out. I don't like to tell him. Mal Bissell arrived home from a long trip abroad early in the summer and then ran into the terrible experience of waiting to see whether their home in Calistoga, Calif., was to be wiped out in that big fire last fall. His story: "We are five miles from town but the fire spread up this way on Sept. 21 and we were evacuated from the area that afternoon when the flames were less than half a mile away. After spending the night in a motel in Santa Rosa, we returned the next day, not knowing whether or not we still had a home. Fortunately we found our house intact, but our two-bedroom guest cottage in the woods on the hill in back of it, was completely destroyed. Some friends who lived higher up on the hill lost their home and practically everything they had, so we count ourselves lucky. Our house was probably saved by the orchard that surrounds it. It had been disked and dragged, leaving a wide area of bare earth. . . . We'll never forget that week!" When we put together the experiences of Mal Bissell and Burt Miller - forest fire and hurricane, we have to admit that Tenners sometimes have to take it - and are able to.
Sad news comes again. Otto Taylor died November 25 from injuries received in a car-train accident early in the month. He and his wife were visiting in New England with another couple. The accident happened in Yarmouth. Word of the accident came from Pineo Jackson, and of the death, from John VanderPyl.
Keep your mind on the 55th in June!
Secretary, 501 Cannon Pl, Troy, N. Y.
Treasurer, 2144 McKinley St., Clearwater, Fla.
