1923
Long before you read these notes you should have a copy of my minutes of our combined annual class and reunion committee meeting, together with a detailed report by Bud Freeman of the status of our scholarship fund. I hope you are not allergic to third class mail, as these reports were sent that way for obvious reasons. Copies went to all classmates and widows.
The Harvard game weekend was a good one, even though it was compressed both as to space and time and was not particularly favored by the weather. Once again, the shortage of lodging space raises the question of switching our annual class weekend to an earlier, preferably Ivy League, game that provides all the color of fall football but not quite so much demand for accommodations.
We were particularly happy to have Clarence and Priscilla Goss with us during the weekend. Clarence had a rough time of it healthwise during the past summer. We are now used to seeing the Gosses' son Donald '53 marching with the College band, but we met the twin grandsons for the first time. They are smart, identical, good-looking boys who chose different colleges and are now in the same field of work but with different employers.
On October 23 Art Little's granddaughter, Deborah Little, was married to Richard Kelley, a teacher at Leslie College in the Headstart Program. Her father, Art Jr., lives in Longmeadow and works for Otis Elevator. Art Jr. also has a son at Princeton and a second son in high school. On the day after the wedding, Art Sr. and Barbara had a good visit with Babe and Florence Miner. Babe says Art is looking great.
I have a recent letter from Art Wilcox, newsletter editor for 1926, inquiring about George McKee. He had tried several times to reach George but had been unable to do so. I also have tried unsuccessfully to contact him or Loraine and would like to know if any of you have word of them.
I greatly appreciate a note from Nate Whiteside, 1920 class secretary, telling me of the death of Dorothy Kimball, which was reported in the November issue. Nate tells me that he is about to complete 62 years in the bank note business. Congratulations!
The "Dear Babe" notes bring the usual affectionate greetings to our treasurer. Following are a few highlights:
Russ Perley: "The first time I sat down in the wide-armed chair in the old [medical school] lecture hall, now gone, I noticed carved in the arm 'Dr. C. S. Abbott '9l, Laconia, N.H.' When I was growing up he was our family physician and I worked with him for several years here in Laconia. I mentioned those facts in a letter to the very nice alumni medical secretary who replied that all those chair arms had been saved and I could have that one if I would like it. She sent it and it is one of my prized possessions. Strange, and at times still a nice world."
Jack Osborne: "The Osbornes seem to be hanging on more great-grandchildren arriving now up to ten. Glad to see '23 did a good Alumni Fund job. Our friend Chuck Calder hasn't been in the best of health. Ran into Lyman King. He seems to be 0.K."
Al Reinthal: "Nothing much to relate except October 2 was my wife's 75th and January 11 will be my 80th. We are still active. I play billiards and she rides her horse every day." Jean adds the footnote: "And Talisman and I are still winning ribbons."
Erv Schultz: "My 1923 Carnival girl Betty and I are doing fairly well after all these years. Old age is made much sweeter with three great-grandchildren two in Montana and one here in Mentor [Ohio]."
Doug Weymouth: "I survived another hot and wet summer here in Bonita [Fla.] and enjoyed every minute of it. Can't add anything to my uneventful life except to say I am still free of aches, pains, pills, and doctors bills. Hope it stays that way for a few more years."
I am sorry to report the loss of three more good men: George Gordon Fisher on January 31, Harold Clark Buell on July 11, and Harold Francis Ballou in September. I have also had the sad news of the death on October 2 of Carl White's wife Christa.
It does not seem possible as I write these notes in contemplation of Halloween that you will be reading them during the year-end holidays. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Box 2 Francestown, N.H. 03043
