1910
That time-honored event, the 1910 reunion dinner on the night before the Harvard-Dartmouth football game, continues to be a magnet in spite of our declining number available for attendance. This year's gathering brought together Tenners from as far north as Durham, N.H. (Beezle Parker); as far south as Deep River, Conn. (Herb Woods) and as far west as Troy, N.Y. (Russ Meredith). The total of nine old stalwarts (?) (average age, 78 years, 7 months — "the granite of New Hampshire") included in addition to these three: Art Allen, Maurice Blake, Nort Cushman, ArtLord, Bones Jones, Johnny Shambow. We met at one of Bones Jones' Schraffts' restaurants (Boylston near Arlington) where Bones had made arrangements for our dinner and those details which usually precede a dinner. The dessert was made especially for us, a delicious cake (like a birthday dinner adornment), was frosted in green and white with the words "Wah Hoo Wah — Dartmouth."
As might be expected this was a quiet affair which afforded opportunity for general conversation and checking on each man's present activities. Art Allen sat in the rain watching the Dartmouth-Holy Cross game. "I thought I was too old for such foolishness." Maurice Blake takes life as it comes each day, retired and too tired to pay the old attention to philatelic subjects. Cush, though retired, continues to keep in touch with insurance matters in the Cushman Insurance Agency in Worcester. BonesJones officially retired a while ago, but like Cush, manages to get to the old office frequently and keep abreast of the times there. Art Lord reported that he and Bertha and one of their daughters went to Hanover late in August to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Beezle Parker is on the retired list but he, too, keeps his hand in by "consulting" with any who want help in structural engineering problems. JohnnyShambow "runs" the management end of the apartment development of the old Bellevue Hotel in Boston. Herb Woods has shed most of his community services which were keeping him busy these late years and confines his interest and attention to affairs of the Historical Society. Russ Meredith has not retired (having worked for himself for nearly fifty years, who would pay the pension?). A new "chore" this past year, president of the Troy Boys' Club, has filled out the day quite well. Some of the old reliables, Charlie Fay and Roge Pierce were missed this year. Charlie's health has kept him at home and Roge doesn't drive at night.
One of the most pleasing "surprises," especially in our time of life, comes when a group of fellow workers plans the surprise in the form of a dinner in recognition of one who has spent a half-century with the company. This is the tribute given to CharlieThomas, who way back in 1916 joined the Bridgeport, Conn., Post-Telegram and continues today as a proofreader and editorial writer. The group which honored Charlie was the composing room crowd. In addition to the dinner, Charlie received a cartoon showing him at work, and tickets for dinner and a Broadway show for Charlie and his wife, Mamie. We might add that Charlie and Mamie, at this writing, are scheduled to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary late in November and that means they are the couple in 1910 who have been married for the longest period. Mamie states that Charlie has to obey the doctor's orders because he is not as we'll as he has been to set this long record of serving the one employer. Tenners are pleased to pass along congratulations on this fine token of admiration and goodfellowship.
John and Gertie Finn did not join the reunion group last June. They went to Hanover during the summer and enjoyed one of the symphony concerts in the Hopkins Center. Writing to Mac Kendall when he sent his class dues, John said, "At our age it is a chore to drive. You must be tough to make it from Florida." In a note with his check for dues, Beezle Parker wrote to Mac, "Congratulations on your safe return from your four-week travels. Andy was worried at the thought of an old guy like you taking so long a trip. Maybe he has become waterlogged from spending so much time in that heated swimming pool." Wrote Bard Bardwell, "Passed through Hanover the other day just as traffic was all tied up at the corner of Main and Wheelock streets. A crane with a 75-foot boom was straddling the intersection hoisting out the last large pieces of the old Inn. That, of course is not news but the absence of the Inn makes that famous corner an abject spectacle."
Charlie Thomas '1O receives a cartoonat a dinner given by employees of theBridgeport (Conn.) Post Telegram. Theyhonored his half century of service asa proof reader and editorial writer.
Secretary, 501 Cannon PL, Troy, N.Y.
Treasurer, 2144 McKinley St., Clearwater, Fla.
Bequest Chairman
