1947

The beauty of Hanover Spring, in fact of all New Hampshire, is unfolding daily. Sap buckets are out now, and when the buds show traces of pink, the sap flow is over for us as it turns bitter. This sugarin' season will be a short one, with low sugar content in the sap, meaning more boiling and higher prices. As we read this in May die buds will have turned into light green tendrils, a display of soft green and yellow blending.

It's so good to walk the streets of Hanover and the campus, noting the seasons, seeing what changes have come over the past 45 years and what has remained constant and familiar. Dartmouth Row and the Green, with Baker towering at it's head, are the timeless sentinels for our group.

From Eleazar's day in 1769 until 1895 the Old Pine stood guard. When it had to be removed for safety reasons, its stump was petrified, and it still squats in place for all of us, in our turn, to break our Class Day peace pipes. Bartlett Tower was erected to take the place of the Old Pine, given by all the classes from 1885 to 1895.

There's a great stone and bronze plaque marking the spot near the head of Tuck Drive where Eleazar cleared a space and used the wood from the trees for his first hut at the new school. Nearby Crosby Hall has long been a beloved landmark and was home to many illustrious Sons. It boasts a plaque commemorating the discovery that oil can be used as a fuel. This was learned through experiments conducted by Dr. Dixi Crosby in his home the first refining and the first use to replace whale oil in lamps, all done by Dr. Dixi in his home lab in Crosby.

And, you ask, where did all the history come from? With a big 'thanks' to President HughChapin, my inside knowledge comes from TheDartmouth Story, a Narrative History of the College Buildings, People and Legends. Written by Robert Graham '40, the book is a delightful tour up and down streets and campus walks, giving little known facts and relationships within the Dartmouth family. I recommend it highly to Dartmouth people.

How intricate is the Dartmouth fabric, from the Wheelocks, Hopkins, and Dickey down to all of us, each a single thread, woven and blended to create the Dartmouth panorama.

In this period of great need for alumni support, it occurs to me, we all have a continuing opportunity to buoy up an institution which is a shaping force in our world, just as it was in our own youth. Beyond the trivialities, decisions, and events where we may agree or disagree, we have a chance to fill in the color of the fabric, for ourselves and our class group. Others brought us the Dartmouth fellowship, and now it is ours, and we are building and passing it on even now.

Head agent Bob Mortimer urges us to tighten and color our fabric. It's a worthwhile call. See you soon.

63 Maple Ave., Keene, NH 03431