1923
As what we used to call a new academic year again arrives and the fall festivities begin, Pete Jones sends the following greeting:
"Dear Classmates and Wives:
"Greetings and thanks to you all for the splendid achievement of our Class in the Alumni Fund. Dartmouth is tops among the country's colleges and this year exceeded the fund goal of 4.5 million dollars, receiving contributions from over 20,000 alumni, wives, and families.
"Our '23 Class topped the Green Derby group (6 classes of our era), contributing over $50,000. So with great appreciation of your help and generosity for all '23 and Dartmouth — our great thanks.
"A special and informal class reunion is scheduled this fall for the October 16th weekend at the time of the Harvard game at Hanover. This is a rare opportunity. We can enjoy the game, visit and meet with our classmates. I hope that you are well and can be with us. TedBarstow in Hanover will be making reservations for classmates and wives who can be there.
"Thanks and much appreciation from all of us to you, and, again, I hope that you and yours are well and we look forward to seeing you." Pete
The following brings welcome news of Howieand Berta Alcorn and their family:
"Your inquiry as to my activity arrived when I was away for a few days. It is good to hear from you.
"The Connecticut Constitution requires the retirement of judges at age 70 so my tenure as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ended five years ago after ten years on the Supreme Court and eighteen years on the Superior Court. As a retired judge I am, officially, a state referee with all the powers of a Superior Court judge to try civil court cases. I spend considerable time doing court work but try to save some for leisure activity. Berta succeeds in getting, us off for short trips occasionally. Spent an afternoon with the Metzels in Arizona in the spring of '75.
"My three daughters are happily married to very successful Yale men and we have eight outstanding grandchildren. Four of the grandchildren applied for admission to Dartmouth and the college turned all of them down. One of them graduated from Brown last June magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. The other three rejects are happy in good colleges."
At my suggestion Ted Barstow put together the following impressions of the Hanover summer scene. I'm sure you will be glad to know what you are, or are not missing.
It should not surprise you that Hanover is no longer the sleepy little country village of your memory.
"The most obvious changes are in the short block and a half of Main Street, which always seems to be crowded. In addition to the summer term for undergraduates, there is Alumni College. This year it drew a capacity enrollment of 284 adults who brought with them 82 children. Also there are over 1000 people who come to the College or to the Medical School for periods of three or four days or longer up to a month to attend seminars or advance training in their professions. These groups vary from the Australian Men's and Women's Olympic rowing crews and a National Rowing Coaches Clinic to an Energy Models Workshop which drew 70 visitors from all over the world, except Russia and China. All this is probably good.
"On the negative side for Hanover is the solid blanket of cars creeping through Main Street or parked in every conceivable spot in town. Sometimes I get the impression that Dartmouth is a small liberal arts college located in the middle of a monstrous parking lot called Hanover. It requires the full time of one policeman to make the daily rounds, pencil in hand and a bundle of parking tickets at the ready — a $1.00 ticket for overtime and $5.00 for illegal parking.
"For the negative side: Aliens Drug Store is long gone and with it Dartmouth's greatest contribution to gastronomic euphoria, 'The Jigger.'
"To return to the positive: the addition of Hopkins Center, which has far exceeded expectations in its contributions to the College and to the community, Murdough Center, Leverone Field House, and Thompson Arena (much more than just a hockey rink). And not to be overlooked is the Outing Club House at Occom Pond. Also the College now maintains 40 tennis courts.
"And finally to the campus: This, I think, is the sentimental heart of the College and since the additions of Baker Library and Hopkins Center it has not changed. A row of feet, some of them a generation or two younger now, still parks along the railing of the Inn porch. The perennial softball games are still in progress. It is here, that one really sees and feels 'Dartmouth Undying.' Who, then, could possibly wish to be anywhere else?"
Congratulations to Chet Bixby on his election as an honorary member of 1957. As a passing and not a chiding comment I think Barbara should have made it, too.
Congratulations also to son Ben '57 on his election as class secretary.
Sorry to learn that Jim Broe is under the weather. Do write him at Westboro Nursing Home, Colonial Drive, Westboro, Mass. 01581. Jim recently had an operation, and while he was in neither good health or good spirits, he discharged his responsibilities to the Alumni Fund, successfully, as-usual.
Thanks to Taylor Smith for a fine letter and for his news of our classmate George Hart, whose address had been unavailable for many years.
I am sorry to report the recent deaths of several who were either classmates or have been close in one way or another to 1923: HenryPerkins' wife Virginia, a faithful member of our Reunions and fall weekends. Joan Hier, who edited these notes so well and so sympathetically. We will miss her as an editor and as a good friend. She was a lovely lady. In the obituary section in this or a later issue will appear reports of the deaths of EdwardWackerhagen, George Morrell, Tom Norton,George Hart and Howard Barney. In addition we have also had news of the deaths of JamesLownsbery Wood, Roger Wolcott Saltmarsh, and George Victor Henderson.
To the loved ones of these men and women the Class of 1923 extends its deepest sympathy.
Secretary, Box 2 Francestown, N.H. 03043
Treasurer, 960 Longmeadow St. Longmeadow, Mass. 01106
