1925's 40th
"Occasional light rain and drizzle with temperature in the 50's" was the weather forecast (which proved to be correct) for Monday, June 14, 1965. But the weather did not dampen the enthusiasm or interfere with the activities of those returning for 1925's Fabulous Fortieth.
Registration in the tent, pitched in front of Fayerweather Hall, was the center of intense activity during the morning. Each registrant received an envelope containing programs, name badges, a modern map of the College, tickets, etc., all prepared by Charley Moore, our industrious and remarkably ingenious reunion chairman, together with a white green-brimmed hat with the numerals "25" for himself and a light, burlap handbag for his wife, arranged for by Ann andJune Chamberlain. Present most of the time was Eddie Pease, reunion treasurer, to ensure solvency through collection of all taxes that were due. Parked conveniently just inside the tent was a Narragansett trailer bar dispatched from Rhode Island by Ginie andPete Haffenreffer, co-chairmen of the Extra-Ordinary Refreshments Committee, for the convenience of all those who prefer "that straigbt-from-the-barrel taste." Unfortu nately Ginie and Pete had to return home after only one day of pleasure to contend with a labor problem.
Another innovation concocted by our im- aginative chairman appeared hanging on the wall inside the tent - pictures of each officer and co-chairman of reunion events blown up to a large size from pictures in the Freshman Green Book.
Available throughout the reunion period for services of any and all kinds were three sons of classmates, Benjamin Moore (Charley), Duncan Sleigh (Bill) and Frank Spring (Lang), all of whom did a terrific job. Bar service was available prior to luncheons and dinners by tickets purchasable in advance at the tent.
The kick-off luncheon, originally scheduled for the D.O.C. House under the direction of the Curt Abels, was transferred to Thayer Hall because of the inclement weather. This event was over at 3:00 p.m. and left just about enough time to recover for the reception and dinner with other reuning classes in the Leverone Field House at 6:00 p.m. Then came an excellent presentation by the Dartmouth Players at Hopkins Center Theater - "Wonderful Town" from the play "My Sister Eileen." Those who had no tickets for Monday could see the play on Tuesday, provided they could get tickets which were very scarce.
Early Tuesday appeared as dismal as the previous day, but later in the morning the sun broke through the clouds and the weather remained clear, but cool, the balance of the time. After breakfast in Alumni Hall at Hopkins Center, under the aegis of the George Zahms, the morning was free for reminiscing until 11:00 a.m. when the class gathered in the Spaulding Auditorium, Hopkins Center again, to listen to enlightening dissertations by Dean Seymour, Professor Smallwood and Dean Tribus on the views of today's undergraduate, all under the guidance of Rad Tanzer.
Cocktails in the Tavern were followed by a buffet luncheon in the Hanover Inn dining room (under the direction of the StanSmiths) which again lasted until 3:00 p.m., when many retired to their rooms in the Fayerweather or Richardson Halls, where we were quartered under the supervision of the Ken Nugents, for the inevitable nap designed to accomplish the twofold purpose of recovering from luncheon and preparing for the big event of the reunion, the Class Dinner in Alumni Hall following a cocktail party in the Top of the Hop.
Seated at the head table under the masterful guidance of the Frank Wallises, Frank using an old-fashioned automobile horn instead of a gavel, were the Ed Roesslers, the Larry Leavitts, the Ford Wheldens, the Herb Talbots and the Charley Moores. President Dickey honored the gathering with a few appropriate remarks at the outset. Bob Borwell then on behalf of the class presented a siver plate to Ford Whelden as an expression of appreciation for his untiring efforts in the interest of Dartmouth and the Class of 1925. At this point Dave Orr, Assistant Secretary of the College, walked up to the podium with two silver cups to be awarded to the class: (1) the Class of 1930 Cup, awarded to the class with the largest number of members present at reunion and (2) the Commencement Cup, awarded to the class with the largest proportion of living members present.
Charley Moore then held the audience spellbound, not with oratory, but with a program of his own initiative and imagination carried on with his characteristic ingenuity. First, he presented what he chose to call a "door prize" in the form of an atlas to AI Perkins for having traveled the farthest distance (in terms of foot-pounds!) from Madeira, Portugal. He then told a story about Princess So-angataha of the Mohican Indians who had plucked a feather from an eagle and put it in the hair of her brave while he was asleep to give him the strength to carry on. He likened this to the support given certain officers of the class by their wives and proceeded to award golden feather pins to Kay McKennan, Emily Talbot, Elly Wallis, Dot Leavitt, GertieWhelden and Grace Merrow, all of which was greeted by enthusiastic approval. He then surprised your reporter by presenting him with a Dartmouth sport jacket in recognition of his jobs as perennial reunion treasurer and class secretary. The meeting closed with a brief performance by the Dartmouth Injunaires.
But it wasn't the end of the evening's activities. Those who were still thirsty or musically inclined gathered around the piano on which Ed Pease, Ken Nugent and JeanEdson took turns, together with GeorgeZahm and his inseparable saxophone, to accompany the singing of old songs led by Lydia Nugent, Jean Leavitt, Dodie Tower and others, notably Phil O'Connell, until well after 1:30 a.m.
Wednesday was another busy day. Breakfast in Alumni Hall; Memorial Service in the White Church, with Reverend Preston T. Kelsey II '5B officiating under the chairmanship of the Larry Leavitts; the Class Picture on the campus, supervised by the Doug Archibalds; the Class Meeting at 105 Dartmouth at which the election of the executive committee and the re-election of officers was announced by Bob Borwell and numerous resolutions were adopted, all under arrangements made by the Bob McKennans; class movies of undergraduate days and previous reunions; and finally the Class Picnic at the Bema, under the guidance of the Frank Kennedys, featuring New England fare of clam chowder, steamed clams, boiled lobster, corn on the cob, etc.
This report would not be complete without mentioning the welcome presence of seven 1925 widowed squaws, who obviously enjoyed themselves to the utmost, namely: Marjorie Mathews, Jean Edson, Grace Merrow, Connie Thompson, Florence Perkins,Mollie Bates and Carolyn Jameson.
More complete and other personal details of the reunion, including a list of those present, will be covered by Herb Talbot in an issue of The Roundup later on this summer.
Dave Orr '57, College director of classreunions, brings two cups to the 1925 banquet. Reunion chairman Charlie Moore'25 is the happy gentleman at the right.
Class president Dale Barker with the twoattendance cups won by 1915 for percentage and total number of men back.
Recipients of golden feather pins honoring their support as '25 wives were (I to r)Mrs. Laurence Leavitt, Mrs. Parker Merrow, Mrs. Herbert Talbot, Mrs. Frank Wallis,Mrs. Ford Whelden, and Mrs. Robert McKennan.
CLASS SECRETARY
