1911
Les Gibson's good wife Marion reports (excellent handwriting) that advancing years are taking their toll and "Les" does not write. He gets out to the Dartmouth monthly luncheons when possible. They miss attending reunions. "Bendy" Griswold did not go to Florida this winter. They are sticking it out in Saco, Me., and hoping they don't get last winter's 12 feet of snow. Bendy's arthritis is a heavy cross to carry "Heine" Chase's widow Livie has recovered nicely from drastic surgery last August. She writes glowingly of her second grandson, a national honor student, now a freshman at Vanderbilt.
Clyde Locke planned to leave for Florida about December 1 and sell his house there. His health is not too good. He did not take his usual football trips last fall. He and Madge are at their Buffalo address. Syd Beane and Barbara are recovering from bouts with doctors, clinics and hospitals. Missing the 60th reunion was a big disappointment. He solaced himself going over his 1907-1911 photo album of the Dartmouth scenes:—the "Inaugural Procession" of President Nichols showing President Tucker, too; "Coke" Holdman clearing the bar pole-vaulting on the campus; the sweet-cider pung drawn by oxen; and Fred Harris taking the jumps.
Henry Smith whose ancestors settled in Medfield, Mass., in 1651 sent a picture postcard of the famous Peak House there, rebuilt in 1680 after the original house built in 1651 was burned in King Philip's war of 1676. He was delighted with a unanimous decision of the zoning board in his favor against a neighbor who put up a house too near his property at North Scituate. He not only square dances, he can press litigation as well. He has all his faculties as we saw at our 60th last June.
Fred and Harriett Long, in excellent health and spirits, celebrated their golden wedding recently at their home, 717 Cima Linda Lane, Santa Barbara, Calif. 93103. Twenty guests came (ten to 15 couldn't make it). They had a house full of flowers; plenty of champagne, and had a gala time. Counting the family there were six Dartmouth men, four Dartmouth wives, and two Dartmouth children. Fred is curious to know if the Ingersoll, freshman son of Jonathan E. Ingersoll '4O (listed in the November Magazine) is a grandson of our "Jack." He surmises that the Bjorklund son listed is a brother of that Bjorklund who did us dirt in the Dartmouth-Princeton game of '69 and made our hearts beat on the first play last fall.
Dorothy Bowker lives an active, alert life at the Gramatan Hotel, Bronxville, N. Y., among the scenes of her youth. Her husband, our classmate, was run down by a drunken driver in 1962 and their only son Charles W. Bowker III died years ago. She is free to gad about, visit friends and finds the pursuit of genealogy and ancestry at the New England Society fascinating.
John Pearson suggests that we salute once more Judge David Cross, Class of 1841, adopted member of the Class of 1911, who won our hearts that first "Dartmouth Night" in the then new Webster Hall in 1907 when he stepped forward, a frail little old man of 90 years and said, "Seventy years ago I entered Dartmouth," and went on to welcome us into the Dartmouth family. He pledged himself as the godfather of our Class and watched our progress with keen interest. He was born in Weare, N. H., on July 5, 1817. He graduated in 1841 (Phi Beta Kappa) and died in Manchester October 1, 1914. 1911 hailed him because it was said he was acquainted with one or more members of more classes than any one else.
John Learoyd, our Head Class Agent, attended the Alumni Fund Class Agents clinic in Hanover - December 3 to 5 last year. He reports it was the most enthusiastic such meeting he ever attended. The Head Agents of 1915 and 1931 described the organization and programs they used to establish their outstanding records. Charles Zimmerman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, gave a detailed report of their momentous meeting.
Word has just been received that George J. "Ky" Byrnes died on October 23, 1971.
Secretary, Rochester St. Somersworth, N. H. 03878
Treasurer, Seaside Ave., Saco, Maine 04072
