1911
Please correct an error that appeared in the January issue of the MAGAZINE when Josh Clark's terms of service as class agent were stated to be thirteen years. Actually he served an earlier term, between 1915 and 1919, making his overall record seventeen years. He and Chub Sterling, with fifteen years as class agent cover all but twenty years of 1911's participation in the Alumni Fund.
With over a foot of snow on the ground and the thermometer at zero, our reunion at the Mountain View may seem a long way off, yet it is just over three months away. As we get older it seems to take longer to make up our minds about future plans, so start getting your vacations scheduled to include these wonderful three days of June 28 to the 30th inclusive. If the present list stands up there will be seventeen couples and four widows. That will leave room for many more, so let's hear your plans.
Notice has come of the death of Stewart Gibson's widow in Newton, Mass., on Dec. 12, 1966. She is survived by two sons and five grandchildren. Stewart died in 1936.
"Dr. Allison Retires as Chairman of Nassau County Board of Health." These are the headlines which announce the latest honor paid to Hopper. The award of this Certificate of Merit included these remarks: "He has served in this capacity for twenty-eight years. In 1938, Dr. Allison was elected chairman of the County's first Board of Health. The Board was given the responsi- bility of selecting a Commissioner of Health to develop a single department which would replace 67 town, city, and village health districts.
"Over the years Dr. Allison has helped to guide the Health from its small beginnings to one of the largest in the United States. He has served the community faithfully, intelligently and dependably over the past 28 years. His numerous contributions to the health of the residents of Nassau County can never be measured." In 1963 Hopper wrote "A Twenty-five Year History of the Nassau County Department of Health." This is but one of the many occasions on which his neighbors and patients have honored his service to the community, and who continue to insist that he maintain active practice.
During the four years that Wee was regaling us with his vitally interesting issues of "Leven Up" you saw references to his "Printing Plant" which was the source of much of his manuscript. He is now engaged in printing letterheads for class use which will allow Bendy to retain some of the contents of his cash drawer. Wee did not write the following for publication but it answers my question as to how he ever became an expert printer anyway and I believe you all will likewise become interested. Here is his story: "All I know about printing came from the little one-man print shop in Contoocook 65 years ago. Job printing as done then has all but disappeared except the memories and a few fundamentals which can still be used - type setting by hand and the old style press work - now much photography and much more automation still in process, the latter being at the root of the numerous printer and newspaper strikes. So it now is a hobby for me with one grandson (13) starting to get interested a bit by printing envelopes for the office and has started a bank account.
"The 7" x 11" press is by footpower-you stand on one foot, pedal like mad with the other foot, feed paper in with one hand, snatch it out with the other hand and if lucky and nothing collapses and your hand doesn't get caught, you may run off 1,000 an hour. Paper and envelopes have been badly hit by inflation compared with those happy days of long ago. The little six point Stratford type face I used at the bottom of the Alumni Fund post card is part of the first type I bought myself about 63 years ago and used as a 'printer' during my High School days in Cambridge on a borrowed Pearl press, the same as the one we now have except it was 5" x 8" instead of 7" x 11"."
Betty and Russ Smith are enjoying their new apartment on North Shore Drive in St. Petersburg. Betty has thrown away her cane and can get to frequent card parties without it. During the Christmas holidays sightseeing buses were driven along the drive to view the extraordinary Christmas lighting. They spent their usual two weeks in the Carolina Mountains where the fall foliage is always gorgeous.
Dave Heald's son, David '42 has been made executive vice president of Putnam Fund Distributors.
Hen Seaver continues on his winning ways in the insecticide field. He has been interested in developing a new product made from seaweed which is being used to reduce russeting on Golden Delicious apples.
Marjorie Pierce's Dartmouth 1966 grandson spent the summer in Europe before entering upon graduate work at Harvard.
This is a delayed transmission of news of the Sterlings, from Katherine, which she so promptly sent in last fall: "Joan Sterling Thompson was married to William S. La-Porte, a wonderful gentleman, in June. They went to France, Germany, and England on wedding trip - will live in Delray Beach, Fla. I now have five great-grandchildren. Just made a 98 in golf. My garden is a job and a joy." We expect to have the pleasure of welcoming Katherine in Whitefield next June.
We have received many comments and much advice about Florida vs. Hanover. One classmate wrote: "Am glad you folks are in a good place to get all the culture you can take, so I hope some of it will rub off on us, unless you need all you get."
Just keeping abreast of new developments and cultural opportunities demands more time than one winter here. A single issue of "The Bulletin" announces "the most exriting educational venture in years." It is the "Experimental College" within the college. Developed by undergraduates the "College" will conduct classes on a weekly basis in dormitories, fraternities, and club rooms. Admission open to all, free, and subjects run from "Contemporary Marriage" to "Ethical Theory and Problems." Each course has an undergraduate organizer-coordinator. They are not to be bull sessions but carefully designed courses- free exchange of ideas- no grades, no credits, no examinations. Read further details elsewhere in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. The fraternities themselves are undergoing change, at least in expressed purposes for existence. They are frequently centers for discussion groups of faculty and others.
"Fraternities have won Parietal Privileges -women enter fraternity rooms-students applaud new privileges- some houses marked the big event with ribbon cutting ceremonies - my date and I studied in my room Friday night - guys are going to get used to knocking on doors - they will also have to learn to wear bathrobes instead of towels."
Baker Library will utilize the Kiewit Computation Center as an automated circulation system. IBM catalog cards will control with-drawals, it will check on overdue books, it will give quick service on location of books, but it will take two years to make the changeover. Meanwhile those classmates who can still read may obtain books in the old manner.
Well, as you can see we are running out of news but will hope for more before next month. You give and I will use it.
Secretary, Box 171, Hanover, N. H.
Treasurer, Seaside Ave., Saco, Me.
Bequest Chairman,
