1931

FIFTIETH REUNION

"Nice to see you!" was the byword as 284 '31ers gathered on June 12 to celebrate our great 50th reunion. 150 classmates, 112 wives, 9 widows, and 13 other close friends comprised the group. The mood of all matched the weather, and the weather was beautiful.

On Friday, Bunce Clarkson and EdBrummer led 18 golfers to a 10 a.m. tee-off, but for some reason or other the results of the tournament were never made public. Maybe the Callaway system broke down.

After registration, at 5 p.m., the initial class reception was held in the tent in front of Middle Mass, where the beer and the set-ups flowed freely. The tent was large but not large enough, and the crowd spilled out onto the lawn. Much talk and good humor prevailed as everyone sized up everyone else to see what damage 50 years had done. At 6:30 we took the short walk to dinner at Thayer Hall, the incredible dining facility located behind the old College Hall. There, in a private dining room, we had our class dinner.

After dinner there was enough temporary rain to move the reception given by President and Mrs. Kemeny indoors to the Top of the Hop. The receiving line was long, involving the senior class as well as the five classes having reunions at that time. The Kemenys stood up well under the onslaught. Following the reception, we attended a Glee Club concert in Spaulding Auditorium. It was 11 p.m. before we got back to the tent for a last round of greetings and drinks. Things became very quiet around midnight, for everyone had suddenly gone to bed.

Saturday, after breakfast at Thayer, we attended the 1931 memorial service at St. Clement's Chapel, down at the end of fraternity row. Jim McElroy occupied the pulpit and yours truly sat at the organ console. The service for our 228 deceased members was brief but impressive. A collection of $485.25 was taken and turned over to the Upper Valley Hostel, a facility open to families and outpatients having treatment for cancer at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital, as well as for families who have a member terminally ill at the hospital.

Following the service, we went to the class meeting at 105 Dartmouth. New officers elected include Orodon S. Hobbs, president; Doug Woodring, vice president; Rog Burrill, secretary; Bill Wendell, newsletter editor, and Lucy Cogswell, treasurer. The other officers and the 20 members of the executive committee are listed in Bill Wendell's recent newsletter.

After the business meeting, we attended the alumni luncheon given by the Trustees of the College. President Kemeny was the speaker. At 1:30, the annual meeting of the Association of Alumni took place in Spaulding Auditorium, with John Benson presiding. John deserves a lot of credit for his efforts over the past year in dealing with the sensitive problem of electing alumni Trustees. John Martin gave the 50-year address. College Secretary Mike McGean presented outgoing Class President Hank McCarthy with, two cups representing (1) the highest percentage of living classmates present and (2) the highest overall total number present.

At 5:15 p.m. the class cocktail party took place at the Top of the Hop, chief feature of which was mountains of Maine shrimp, provided and prepared by Peanut and Marge Wirislow.

At 6:30 we adjourned to Alumni Hall once more, for the class banquet. Outgoing president Hank McCarthy was presented a Dartmouth chair, slightly used by incoming College President Dave McLaughlin '54, who sat in it as he waited his turn on the program. Toastmaster Peanut Winslow wound up the banquet with kind words for everyone, especially for his longsuffering wife. Peanut managed to leave us all weak with laughter.

After the banquet, we were back at the tent at Middle Mass for the tent party. There was dancing to a live orchestra. There was an auction, conducted despite the high noise level. VicRockhill bid high for the original drawing of Abner Dean's 50th reunion logo; proceeds were donated by Abner to the Alumni Fund. There was a brief period of loud and inaccurate singing featuring "Eleazar" and other folk songs of our era. Suddenly, everyone disappeared, presumably to bed.

Sunday, we marched with the seniors at commencement and watched with pride as Bob Oelman received his honorary degree. Then we packed, said goodby, and left Hanover, bound homeward with warm feelings. There never seemed to be any time to chat. Otherwise, everything was perfect.

The class of 1931 found a warm welcome when they came to town for the fiftieth.

R.F.D. Box 33 Chebeague Island, Me. 04017