1930
As Milt Mclnnes reported earlier, the Haffenreffers and the Marrs joined up for the local Dartmouth Club's luncheon honoring Dave and Judy McLaughlin. In addition we were joined by Ted and Betty Wolf, and we came close to making it a 1930 table of eight. The Wolfs were accompanied by one of their sons, Tucson attorney Roger C. '60, who was being congratulated that day for having secured from the Immigration Service and the State Department legal asylum for a Guatemalan refugee. Number eight was to have been Hank Bishop, but he got lost in the wilds of Tucson. His place at the table was taken by Louise Stearns, whose Dartmouth credentials are beyond question. She is the widow of Stewart Stearns '22 and mother of Stewart Jr. '54, who is married to John Dickey's daughter. She almost qualifies for the class of 1930, by having lived many years in one of the old colonial houses just off the Green in Woodstock, before migrating to Tubac, Ariz., where she has a hilltop home a couple of furlongs from the Haffenreffers.
Small world department: Parked outside one of Green Valley's banks the other day was a car with a Heritage Village sign on the front bumper. Now, what famous American lives in Heritage Village? I waited and accosted the owner when he emerged. Sure, he said, I know Milt Mclnnes; I can see his home from mine. We exchanged names, and I sent greetings, which Milt probably received long ago.
The mail bag this past month brought both good and bad news. We were saddened to learn of the death of Alex McFarland's wife Caroline, who had given Alex such wonderful support since his stroke eight years ago. The profound sympathy of the class is extended to Alex in his bereavement. Dick andGwen Bowlen represented the class at the small family funeral.
More small world: Bill O'Brion reported to Dick Bowlen that he is the administrator of a small estate in Guilford, Conn. Handling the (presumably) legal aspects of it is a nice little outfit, he says, called Tyler Cooper and Alcorn. Bill also reports that his marriage and his newly-acquired home are progressing beautifully, and he and Peg are looking forward to the fall reunion. In case you missed the new address, it's 22 Greeley Street, South Portland, ME 04106. Phone 799-5994.
I've had a nice letter from Henry Birge, still at the Moosehorn Farm address in East Hartland, Conn. Henry retired from his practice of ophthalmology in 1972, after Sylvia had several severe illnesses. She has recovered pretty well, but, he says, they can no longer travel. Henry himself had a detached retina last fall, which responded well to surgery, but it leaves them with "a bit more to get over." In spite of these problems, Henry's letter was very upbeat and closed with the cheery note that they're both lucky to be here and are enjoying life.
Pete Davis recently came across some letters he had written to his sister as a freshman. He favors us with a couple of interesting quotes: "There are 700 freshmen and only 300 or so sophomores . . . needless to say that we won the rush. The two classes lined up at either ends of the campus . . . sprinters in front, heavy men next, light men in the rear. There were three footballs in the center. When the gun went off, there was a race for the balls. The idea is to keep the three balls on your side of the campus. The sophomores got there first and threw the balls to their side. We then pushed one ball out of bounds, which put that ball out of play for good. With only two balls left, we tried to push the sophomore class back on to our side. We could go about three feet and then everybody would be piled up. The umpires blew the whistle and carried out those on the bottom (two of them on a stretcher). We finally got the balls back on our side and kept them there until the gun went off. Clothes were torn to shreds and everybody was limping, but we won." And from a vacation trip: "I have to order napkins and water here in London; each costs a pence. The 'hotel' where I am staying is some 20 feet wide and five stories high. My room is at the top. It costs only $1.40 per day for room and breakfast. Prices have gone up since last year." Pete says his bill at the Savoy the year before last was somewhat different.
P.O. Box 96 Green Valley, AZ 85622
