1921

The December 24th edition of the St.Petersburg Times contains a most interesting article by Doug Storer concerning the first Christmas celebration by a white man in America.

In the crossing of the Atlantic the flagship Santa Maria had been wrecked, and the two ships surviving were too small to accommodate all the wrecked seamen who now needed shelter. So, with the available timber a small fort on shore was built. It was the first, building erected by Europeans in the New World and Columbus named it Navidad, and in it a Christmas Mass was celebrated for the ship's officers and men.

Doug learned about the fort when he went to Haiti to get the story of Hurricane Hazel which had raked the island shortly before. During this visit he flew over to Cap-Haitien and sat down near a seaside village where he found another historic Haitian fort named the Citadel, built by the tyrant Emperor, Henri Christophe. This has been called the black man's greatest architectural feat.

On his return to New York Doug came up with a rough sketch of the fort, which later appeared as a postage stamp for the Republic of Haiti. This was made into a Christmas series of airmail and surface denominations. It was a good way to remember the New World's first Christmas celebration.

Joe Folger reports that both he and wife Marion had medical problems in the fall. Joe, with a touch of phlebitis and Marion, after extensive tests, with a case of nervous exhaustion. Rog and CarolineWilde showed up to celebrate their 48th anniversary of their marriage, which had occurred on the same day as the Folgers' in Massachusetts. It was the first anniversary that Marion and Joe had been apart in all these years.

Lee "Dutch" Bausher says that the growth of his family is now in the third generation, and he and Mildred will be great-grandparents come March. The old perambulator has been reupholstered, the top renewed, the wheel bearings packed for another 10,000 miles, and the whole body has received a fresh coat of enamel. (Dartmouth Green we hope!). Dutch wonders how many great-grandparents there are in the Class of 1921. The family celebrated Christmas Eve with their children, daughter Phyllis being absent since she is with her husband at the Banff Springs Hotel. Incidentally, they were expecting a great skiing season out there. In a long distance call she remarked that it was 35 degrees below zero.

Word has been received of the death on December 11, 1972 of Polly Mayo, widow of Robert D. Mayo, in Osterville, Mass. They were loyal members of the class, and our sympathies go to their family, Phyllis (Mrs. Albert Heinetz) and Richard A. Mayo '47.

Everett B. "Fez" and Dorice Taylor spent last fall visiting in Europe. Their itinerary included Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Roumania, Poland, Czechoslavia, Austria, West Germany, and England. They have now seen all the Iron Curtain Countries plus their past two trips to Russia, and are more glad than ever to be Americans.

Kemp Fuller is off again on a three to four month jaunt overseas on business. And perhaps a little pleasure thrown in. No further details.

We think it might be a grand move to be able to send birthday cards to the class widows. In order to do this we would like to know their dates of birth. This need not include the year if that might embarrass them. Just the month and day of the month. So, your secretary would appreciate just a postal card from those who might be interested.

The fourth annual Post 50-Year Informal Reunion is scheduled for Monday June 11 through Wednesday June 13. This includes two panel discussions, an alumni reception and dinner, a concert by the Dartmouth Glee Club, a tour of the Dartmouth-Hanover area, a night at the Nugget with silent films and piano music and an address by President Kemeny. The reunion tax (including all meals, receptions and the Glee Club concert) is estimated at $25. This invitation is extended to all Dartmouth alumni and their families who. are more than 50 years out of college.

This will not interfere with the 1921 annual reunion at Spaulding Inn Whitefield, N. H.

Secretary, New Boston Rd. Norwich, Vt. 05055

Treasurer, 5049 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, Mo. 64112