1916

Our fine Central Massachusetts group continued its rotating series of summer picnics, started by the Cravers four years ago, with a lovely party July 19 on the lawn of Paul and Gay Goward, at Shrewsbury. Others so fortunate as to be present were Jim and Ruth Coffin, Jim and Mary Colton,Ed and Marjory Craver, Herb Kimball and his attractive older daughter Dorothy Hart from Milwaukee, Arthur and Marion Marsden, Edna Marble, and Roger Evans. Disappointed fallouts - these people always write - included the Parkhursts, the Moxons, Ethel Fipphen Dean, Burt Lowe, and Parker Hayden. I really know of no class activity which has developed, and continues to develop, more potential for friendship than these picnics.

The Moxons were absent, Evelyn wrote, only because Ben had to undergo emergency surgery on the 17th. Just after he returned home to Pocasset, the Gowards on August 9 thoughtfully drove over and found them with chins up. But as I write this September 1, Dick Ellis has just phoned that Ben has lost his good fight. Our sympathy goes out to Evelyn and the family. Our In Memoriam notice will appear in the first possible issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.

We also have to report with sadness that Chet Drury's wife Efale passed away at their Cincinnati home on May 23, after a long illness. Our thoughts are with Chet.

To Louise Behnke in Fort Worth go our sincerest wishes for complete and steady recovery from a coronary occlusion suffered in early summer. To our great disappointment, as well as hers, she cannot now make, as she had planned, the long trip to be with us at Hanover, but our latest word was encouraging.

It is always warming to get good news from a classmate long unheard from. And we have Fred Richie, and his daughter Barbara of Roanoke, to thank for looking up and getting it from Frank Adams. He is now living at 26 Gilmer Avenue N.E. in that Virginia city, continues to work about half time, is a bit deaf, so doubly enjoys reading both the Balmacaan and letter and MAGAZINE.

In brief: The Verge Rectors took a drive from La Jolla to British Columbia and back in such good stride that they were looking forward to touring Mexico in the autumn. The Spence Sullys managed to make the move from their roomy California home to a more compact apartment in Laguna Hills, but it proved to be something of an ordeal. Found everything, Spence? That's still our problem. A colorful card from an Irish seaside resort pictured the little hotel that Dick and Kay Parkhurst found charming in early May. Then on they went to Dublin. Following the medical meetings that took him to England, ParkerHayden visited with an old friend living alone on an attractive country place at Ludham. This, Parker wrote, gave him a chance to mow grass and pitch some hay. It was a family welcome home party at Gloucester that kept our vigorous and popular sawbones from the Shrewsbury picnic

Now we're at the Hanover Inn for Balmacaan's 53rd (interim) reunion. Space and the MAGAZINE'S deadline admit only the highlights here; so let us hope that any serious omissions and errors will be forgiven. The clan started to assemble early, from north, east, south, and west. To leave maximum time for cementing old friendships, planned program was limited to cocktail periods each day from 5 to 6:30 and dinners in the main dining room from 6:30 on. Plus the president's picnic generously laid on, on Friday, by Charlie and Edna Brundage at the lovely old place they are recreating in the fastnesses of Grafton, N. H. This is not far from Canaan Street where Canaan College is also taking form with his principal help and guidance. Foresightedly, transport by coach was provided for most of us; to let Balmacaan through, a utility crew even raised temporarily a pole blocking out a woodland road.

After a super-buffet at long tables on the lawn, at successive "Class" and Executive Committee meetings, vociferous thanks were voted the Brundages, the Reunion chairman Jim Coffin and officers; some momentous problems also were discussed and if they were not resolved, they were presumably covered by reaffirmation of our faith in God, mother, and apple pie.

The 68 getting back - practically all regulars - were: Couples (25): Abraham, Bailey, Bobst, Brundage, Butler, Coffin, Colton, Craver, Dock, Ellis, Evans, G. Fuller, Goward, Gumbart, Lapierre, Lewis, Lowe, Paine, R. M. Parker, Parkhurst, Shanahan, Stackpole, Stearns, Welch and Woolworth; Singles: Men (9): Ames, Baker, P. H. Davis, Drury, George, Hayden, Jardine, E. Parker, and Upham; Ladies, bless 'em (9): Mmes. Conley, English, Mary Fuller, Gammons, Gile, Marble, Soule, Walker, and Wilson.

Unavoidable late cancellations included: the Andrews and Dingwalls, because of urgent commitments; both Leavitts, who reportedly had been clearing a newly-acquired small island in Winnipesaukee with the help of their 22 grandchildren, and overdid; the Moxons: Louise Behnke, Arthur and Marion Marsden, who had been hospitalized in succession but reportedly were doing well; and Phil Nordell, grounded with a very painful knee.

For the eighteen lasting through Saturday, Alec Jardine staged a cocktail party in his front room looking north to the illuminated white tower of Baker; a benevolent spirit eventually identified as the substantial EvParker picked up all dinner checks; the heating plant sounded a horrendous salute at three Sunday morning (fire somewhere). Between seven and eight, freshmen headed for orientation at some Outing Club camp, were clambering into buses in front of Robinson. And after breakfast, the rear guard of Balmacaan rolled away.

Our 53rd was over. Our next chance is our 55th, in June 1971. Remember, as KayEnglish said, "Age is only a state of mind."

Secretary, Box E, Swarthmore, Pa. 19081

Treasurer, Singletary Ave., Sutton, Mass. 01527