1949

John Stock well reports that he has a new bride, Marie, with vows taken in Maine in late May. John's extended family is now nine children and 23 grandchildren. All '49ers extend their welcome to Marie, and we hope the Stockwells will get to upcoming events so we can meet her. John and Marie, and all the rest of us need to mark those dance cards for June 14-16,2004, for our big 55th.

Big news in Hanover is the joint effort by Dartmouth, Hanover and the school board to solve the problem of the need for more facilities for the local elementary and high school students. It looks like it might be resolved through some land swapping and a major contribution by the College to help build a new school.

Paul Woodberry finished first in his age group in his 10th Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod in horrific heat among some 9,500 runners. Paul is also basking in the glory of his and Sandys oldest grandson being in Dartmouth '06. My rascally granddaughter escaped our clutches and elected Wesleyan.

Had the opportunity to play the newly renovated Hanover Country Club golf course. The revisions are spectacular, with four new holes, some using the old nine-hole layout. Dirty secret can now be told: Bud Petersen, back in the summer of '46 often snuck on without paying since the first hole was not near the clubhouse. He saved about a buck and a half, which he invested in gas for that '40 Buick convertible in which he tooled back and forth to Colby Jr. to woo Elsie.

Nels Abrahamsen keeps as busy a schedule as anyone I know. Even though he must do three weekly rehabs since his open heart surgery, he is still active in Kiwanis, trips to the optometry practice he sold but visits to insure a good transition, and weekend trips to the family hideaway to communewith nature. He and Kay sound like they are having a pretty good time.

As you read this, we have just completed our fall mini-reunion. I will take a chance and tell you we had beautiful weather, a big turnout and we beat Yale. Corrections to follow.

Gold Pick Axe Awards were given this year to the Proom family, honoring our good friend, former president and '49er extraordinaire, Burt Proom, and to Geoff Farnum for his many good works.

BIG news in Hanover: Dartmouth announced budget cuts and a hold on future building not already underway. There, that should give cynics pause. The College has roughly 4,000 employees. Why isn't some Tuck School prof studying overhead?

P.O. Box 1194, Grantham, NH03753; bjndougtoo@aol.com