1911

It happens only once every fifty-five years. You can figure it for yourselves. You subtract 1911 from 1966, and you will find that 55 is the magic number. Your next thought must then be that our Fifty-Fifth will take place in Hanover in June 1966. Some classmates ]are not only thinking about it but are writing in to inquire about it or to register their intentions to attend, and this goes for the widows also. See this list of widows who have already declared their hopes to be back for the 55th: — Agry, Backus, Crooks, Eaton (Sybil), Lovejoy, Rollins, Russell, Mary Silk and Katherine Sterling, who, bless her heart, with Chub never missed a reunion.

1911's reunion record is one that we may well be proud of. There are eight men still living who have never missed a reunion from the fifth through the fiftieth. To that number may be added twelve more who had been faithful attendants up to the time of their deaths. We should also include twelve more who have missed only one and who are now planning on checking in next June. While we are muddling around in statistics let's answer a question that many have asked. "How many usually attend reunions." Here is the countdown: 5th - 97: 10th - 158; 15th — 123; 20th — 93; 25th — 129; 30th — 90; 35th — 79; 40th - 95; 45th 62; 50th — 83. Starting at our 30th the wives were counted and this is how well they have done since: 35th - 69; 40th 77; 45th - 55; and 50th — 63 besides 8 widows. And the last question now is: how many reuners will there be in June? Provided the present state of health prevails, there will be 54 men and 48 women. (Check me up later.)

The class probably had little to do directly with Bob Blackman's stalwart football team but they could be called loyal rooters. The early season games found these rooters in the grandstands: Pearson, Dunham, Pickering and son David, Gooding, Kimball, Hormel, the Clyde Lockes, Waterburys, Mildred Rollins and the Burleighs. The thriller in the Harvard Stadium was witnessed by John and Dot Learoyd, Shorty and Muriel Mayo, the Gay Farrells, Henry Smith, Josh and Polly Clark, Stan and Billie Macomber and Ruth Backus with her daughter Anne and her husband. For the first time in many years the Burleighs regretted missing it.

A few classmates have made note of golden wedding anniversaries so that congratulatory messages may be sent their 1911 pals. The list for the calendar year 1966 is as follows: Feb. 2, Sam and Elsie Pickering; June 7, Harold and Ruth Burtt; June 14, Jack and Hazel Russell; June 16, Arthurand Ella Pease; June 17, Charles and Florence Stebbins; Oct. 7, Al and Pauline Nutt; Nov. 14, Pete and Marjorie Vehmeyer.

The Pat Hurley family still carries on the military tradition started by Pat himself. His grandson, Paul J., has completed the "Plebe" year at the U.S. Air Force Academy at age 17 where he had his grandfather's nickname, Pat.

The following fine tribute to John Pearson was noted by Charlotte Morrison in Excerpts from "Working For The Government," an article in the "Atlantic Monthly," June, 1965, by Charles W. Morton, associate editor. "The job I was trying to get had many virtues. It would be in the New England regional office of the Social Security Board in Boston. . . . My friend Bob Huse caused me to meet John Pearson, another trusted aide of John Winant's who was to be the board's regional director for New England and who was equally determined that I should be the information and publicity man. . . . The regional office consisted at the time of Pearson, myself, two stenographers, a switchboard that none of us knew how to operate, a desk and a couple of chairs for each of us. Pearson, I soon found out, was a genuine virtuoso in the art of public administration. It would take a long string of adjectives to describe him; courageous, tenacious, honest, generous, deter- mined to help his associates do their best, intuitive and intelligent, extraordinarily farsighted. He was into the bargain, a man of sound risibilities and a gay companion."

It was a disappointment not to see Hopper Allison in Hanover this summer. In a letter extolling Wee's News Letter and telling of how much he had learned about the class from it, he speaks of his 50th reunion from P. and S. He is one of the few in that group who has not retired. He explains that he intended to as follows: "Two years ago I took on a very well trained internist as associate. He has done well but has decided that he wants to join a group. This he is doing and moving to Rye, N. Y. So instead of gradually easing out, I will have to listen to complaints awhile longer."

Ernest Morrill has become a resident of Pocatello, Idaho, where he is serving as interim pastor at the First Congregational Church, 309 North Garfield 83201.

Gene Gardner wrote expressing his and Ruth's regrets that they could not be at Whitefield last June, but adding the words that we like to hear: "I am not going to let anything interfere for next year - the 55th, so be sure to sign up the Dodges for next year." Both Gene and Ruth are trustees of the Devereux Schools and devoting themselves to aiding retarded children.

Jim Irwin after moving to New Bruns- wick wrote that it was nice to find a good classmate to turn to for information and advice. "It was none other than GeorgeNevius, department store tycoon. He had just returned from two months in Europe, looking well and prosperous when I dropped in on him in his office and we had a fine visit. How easy it is with a classmate who has shared the Hanover scene, to pick up where you left off 54 years ago, and the events of those earlier years seem only as of yesterday."

Margaret Sisson has brought us up-to-date and given us her new address. This last spring she moved from Middletown back to Cincinnati where her residence is Highland Towers Apt. 700. She spent the early spring in Florida, then visited her daughter in New Jersey, then to Maine to visit her niece and on to Canada to visit another daughter. Is it any wonder that her mail got mixed up.

Stan Macomber is happy to report the acquisition of another grandson. His younger daughter, Jean, and her husband have adopted a four-month-old boy to keep his two-year-old sister, Laura, company.

This move was reported as contemplated but has now been completed. Dan Porter, who has been in some public office almost since graduation, has resigned as supervisor of the checklist in Lebanon, sold his house there and he and Marion have gone to Meriden, N. H., to be with their daughter, Mrs. Wallace Williams.

Betty (Curtis) Smith has had an unfortunate experience as a result of her accident last year when she fell and broke her hip. She has recently had a second operation from which she is making a slow recovery. She and Russ sent this cute card telling us "We used to live where We ain't no more, We've moved where we never was before. You know where We was but not where We is. So here's the new address where 'tis: Park Shore Apts. #304, 1100 North Shore St. Petersburg. HIS 33701."

We all extend our sympathy to Frank Whitcomb whose wife died Sept. 27. Left alone and not too well he has moved into the Masonic Homes, Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022. He describes this as a city in itself with a very well equipped hospital.

If anybody can think of any good reason for writing this secretary, his address for the next few months will be 1123 Drew St., Clearwater, Fla. 03515.

To you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

That you are well, we hope to hear.

Although it may seem a bit too soon, Start planning now for Reunion in June.

Secretary, 1123 Drew St. Clearwater, Fla. 33515

Treasurer, Seaside Ave., Saco, Me.

Bequest Chairman,