1950
Scarlet and gold, the dominant tones. The backdrop: bright green fields, reflecting night's dew; dark green pine woods. River mists, shimmering under the rising sun, traced the route to Hanover. Autumn splendor reigned.
Harvard weekend; the spell of Dartmouth Night. Excitement mounts at sunset Friday. Bands arrive, and alumni. Torches light; the parade wends around the green. In the throng 1950's banner touts "a touch of class." Charlie Gardner and George Jewett bear the standard. Cheers. Freshmen extol 'B6. Speeches promise victory over a mighty foe. (The format always the same, always different.) No rain and no moon. The bonfire crackles, flames climb the pinnacle and roar into the skies. The towering ties crash inward to burn through the night. Traffic stands still. Parties flow across the. campus and into the night.
Saturday morning is all business (a summary report next month) before the mini-reunion begins with brunch at the Outing Club. The rustic setting enchants. New faces, and old. Pat and Gene Carver again reap the laurels for the longest trip from Palos Verdes. Dave Beeman, trim as usual, stands tall beside Fizz Nichol. Perfect flying weather allows Ben and Joy Shaver to share eve and morn with Betsy and Gordie Pinkham, resident gurus of Eastman.
On Chase Field, a surprise. Until this year the women's soccer team had posted few victories and none over an Ivy. Vaunted Harvard was the potential champion. The script changes as the Green forges an upset, winning 2-1 in overtime. Ecstasy. (On the following Monday Ed Tuck proclaimed: "That bounteous and welldeserved recognition is herewith bestowed upon all players, coaches, and staff of the 1982 Dartmouth women's soccer team for its fantastic first victory over Harvard . . . " A 1950 tote bag was the tangible reward for everyone.)
One victory portended more. Memorial Field is packed almost full. Dark clouds chase away the sun. Harvard scores a field goal. Tight defense. A sudden storm spills drenching rain and hail. One score. Then another on a long, brilliant pass covering 68 yards. Harvard retaliates with a field goal, a touchdown. Dartmouth stonewalls the try for two points. Three minutes left and the sun bursts forth with Dartmouth in control and marching. The season is reborn with the 14-12 win.
Revelry moves to Woodstock for cocktails and dinner arranged by Len Matless. The mood at the Woodstock Inn is. warm and mellow when Dan Featherstone arrives. Ed Gulich rolls in to cast his warmth and charm. John DeGrafFand Ed Poole, the Albany crew, join us as Jim Birney asks blessings for the class and for the 64 convened. Tom Ruggles and D?ck McSorley set the beat and call the tune with able help from Ort Hicks '49 and Bob Longworthy '5l; others pitch in, sometimes less expertly.
Frost comes with morning. The air is nippy for tennis; the winds brisk. Then the hiatus ends. Raging fall colors soften the reality of the long drive home.
Gridiron gleanings: All is forgiven. One game. One win. It was fun and exciting (as the game should be).
First and final notice: 1950's winter minireunion in 1983 is scheduled for Winter Carnival weekend, February 11—12. Come early and stay late. See the center-of-campus sculpture emerge. Ski, downhill or cross country. Watch ski races. And hockey games. Or plays and concerts. Mingle with undergraduates at Collis. Stay at the Hanover Inn, where a block of rooms is reserved for 1950. Dress: informal, but warm.
Headlines in the Globe: "Boston Mulls the Truth." The city's board of health plans to post this sign in all non-residential buildings: "Warning: No occupant of this building will survive a nuclear attack." This concern relates to the regional conference of the Lawyers' Alliance for Nuclear Arms Control attended by Bob Kilmarx (R. I.), Jim Moore (Mass.), and Pat Brewster (Maine). At the conference, the featured speaker Admiral Lee (U.S.N., retired), described " . . . the prevention of nuclear war as the precondition for all our other hopes and goals, the absolute priority of our times." As one measure of constructive action, Jim proposed a large-scale exchange of high school students between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. Knowledge begets understanding. Pat, who organized the Maine chapter, has membership information for anyone interested; he urges all classmates, but particularly lawyers, to join the alliance.
Tidbits from here and there: The response to Nev Chamberlain's request for greetings to John Sloane Dickey was overwhelming. For the Freedom campaign in 1983, Fritz Jewett promotes two 12-meters, Spirit and Magic, to defend the America's Cup. Jim Strickler, with Pegge, has returned from Thailand after six months as a "hands-on doc," a practical refresher course, at a Khmer refugee camp; Norwich is now home. John Van Zoeren has left I.T.T. to become vice president and treasurer of the Howard Savings Bank.
Finalfinal notice: 1950 at Winter Carnival on February 11-12, 1983.
The sun falls lower. Another year ends. Holiday cheer prevails. Wassail. Greetings for the day and holiday; bright wishes for a tomorrow brimming with success and joy. Wassail. And peace.
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