1947

We have just completed Thanksgiving weekend, as I write this, and have only one more day of November before "winter" sets in. Here in New Hampshire we've had a warm and sunny fall with a number of successive weekends allowing outside work to be done in rather pleasant conditions. We did things like turning over the garden, composting all the vines and stocks, manuring, and moving wood around in the sugar house for later use in February. In fact, our sugar house is getting propped up, after leaning nearly a foot from the prevailing northwest winds. A fair amount of insulating is done, including covering roots of bushes, small trees, and roses and allowing nature to wrap leaves in where needed. Our first light snow fell and induced me to string out our Christmas lights so that is done, too, as we head for December.

Another of December's signs is ice hockey, now entirely indoors. Dartmouth's varsity started out well, and I journeyed to Thompson Arena to see Dartmouth lead most of the way, on magical goal-tending and some solid hockey, but finally lose 3-2 to a heavy and fast Clarkson team, who used hustle to force their goals. It could have gone either way, but it seemed like Clarkson would have had five more goals but for the quickness of Alabaman goaltender Carey Gandy. A fine game to watch.

The above is intended to give you a flavor of the New Hampshire scene to encourage your visits, in any season.

I've just completed a reunion mailing, and you'll all notice a personal note to each class member. It took a while parked on my couch seeing the face and/or write-up in our 25th yearbook, but I did get to feel rather close to many of the names and places for 620 of us. It was amazing to see the high number of men still living at the same address as ten years ago. We have a diverse group of occupations, a large number of kids, many happy and thriving singles, and several nations represented. Also in our class are a high number of men who remain unheard from or whose whereabouts are unknown. This may not mean a lack of interest or desire to be part of the class, but may be the result of time passing and then simply the feeling of "what's the use, they won't know me anymore."

But one way or the other, all 620 of us spent time attending Dartmouth and have made a choice that '47 is the class with which we affiliate. Some started in 1943, others in 1944, even 1946; some left in 1943, 1944, 1945, or 1946, graduated in 1946, 1947, 1948, or 1949, staying for one semester, two, four, six, or eight semesters, or even more. We are the most diverse class, but I can tell you that for everyone coming back to Hanover next June for our 35 th class reunion, there will be someone you know, or someone with a tale of someone you knew well. Whatever the past, this is a fine year to join the group. Write a note to Townes Harris (Warm Brook Road, R.D. #2, Arlington, Vt. 05250) or to Ginnie Mather, Brucie's widow (163 Conant Road, Westwood, Mass. 02090), or to myself (63 Maple Avenue, Keene, N.H. 03431) and you'll be gratified at the response. So will we. It's the way to meet new friends as well as old.

Finally, we report on heavy matters. When I was asked to help out by writing this column, I soon found there were other jobs which have to be done as class matters. One of these is the reporting and recognition of deaths of classmates. The MAGAZINE'S policy is that all are recognized. The hard part is that we don't always hear the news in timely fashion. In the previous issue and/or in this one appear some "obit" notices which for various reasons went unreported until now. Some date back to 1975 and others to 1978 and 1980, although some are relatively current. But we think we are now up to date. We need help in these phases of reporting, so if you know of some event happy or sad concerning a classmate, tell me. If you wish to write a tribute, do so and send it to me. This is a class forum, and until I'm fired or released, it will be so.

That leads to reporting, with sadness, the passing this fall of two classmates —Jeff Mills in October, in Florida, and Marvin Midgette in November, in North Carolina. Marvin was a former Lebanon, N.H., resident. They will be thought of and missed.

I will close with a wish for a happy winter for all. Dottie and I, along with son David and his wife Callie, will be in the British Virgin Isles as you read this, bareboat sailing for a week up the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Come to think of it, when 1 read this, our long-dreamed-of trip will be over. There ain't no justice.

63 Maple Avenue Keene, N.H. 03431