1927*

This is a fine way for a fellow to spend the first day of his vacation! We must admit, however, that it is pretty pleasant sitting here on the piazza of our camp in North Bridgton, Maine. Our fifteen-foot sloop, Joseph Conrad 11, is in plain view at her mooring, just itching to be sailed. The breeze seems to be picking up, so pardon us if we seem to hurry through this business to get out on the lake.

On our way up here yesterday we stopped off at Portsmouth to see Lieutenant Bartlett. Charlie has very recently been made Captain of a ship which we had the pleasure of inspecting yesterday. He will sail shortly for where we cannot say.

About the middle of April, Joe Hardin enlisted in the Naval Reserve as Yoeman 3rd Class, and was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training School out in Illinois. Joe completed his basic training course on June Ist. In his letter which we received while in Hanover, Joe says: "I want to take this means of extending my greetings to you and all my classmates who are fortunate enough to be assembled on the Hanover campus. If it were possible to get a glass of beer I would certainly raise a glass in silent celebration on Friday the 15 th, but since our detention will still be in effect we must of necessity be total abstainers until our first liberty in about two weeks." We are surprised that Mickey Cochrane has not selected Joe to manage that Great Lakes baseball team.

We had a fine letter from Cam Clokey regretting his inability to get back for the reunion. Cam is still living in Youngstown where he is Commercial Manager for the Ohio Bell Telephone Company. He has two sons, Donnie, age nine, and Dickie, about age six. Together with a few others, Cam helped to start a Dartmouth Club in Youngstown last fall.

At reunion time Lieutenant Ross Nichols wired us from Providence, Rhode Island, as follows: "Many happy returns of the day. Duty and a few miscellaneous orders keep me away. Here's to a glorious Fifteenth!"

Shortly before the reunion we had a letter from Monty Phillips saying that because of gas rationing and other reasons he would be unable to come. We suspect that the "other reasons" were his anxious awaiting of a Commission in the Army Air Corps. Not long after reunion we received a phone call one evening from Lieutenant Phillips. Monty had just received his Commission and was paying a brief visit to his mother in Peterborough before leaving for the West Coast. He is stationed at the new training school at Santa Ana, California.

In a letter from Al Chabot he reports: "I had a phone call last week-end from the long-unheard-from Dick Hoskin who was in New York for the week-end and then proceeded to Washington to deal with the Government. He sounded as if he was in fine shape."

Sam Martin writes that George Friede has been drafted into the Army. His present address is Pvt. George W. Friede, Company C, 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion, A.P.P. No. 7, San Jose, California. Many of his friends gave George a send-off party which Sam attended. He adds: "George will make a good soldier and I think the Army life will be good for him. I know he would appreciate letters from some of his classmates and you might pass along his address."

Lee Gore wrote that he would be unable to attend the reunion because of a most unfortunate automobile accident suffered by his wife. She has been in the hospital since February first, but we hope by this time that she is well on the road to recovery. Lee is still working in Ogdensburg, New York, for E. D. Briggs Co., wholesale grocers.

Ed Fry is still working for Montgomery Ward in Chicago.

Spence Cook works in Rochester, New York, with the Cook Iron Store Company, purveyors of iron, steel and heavy hardware. Spence looked to be in fine fettle at reunion, although like many of us he has added slightly to his girth.

Bob Tobey was in Boston on business for several days about the middle of June. Bob is in fine shape and we enjoyed exceedingly having lunch with him two of the days he was in town. While here Bob spent an evening out in Waban at Sykes and Helen Hardy's.

Ross Lyon wrote that he would be unable to get back for reunion because Mr. Henderson and his gang came through with a lot of new regulations concerning the allocation of roasted coffee. These served to "change the picture of the coffee business to the extent that Ross did not feel he could be away.

Ken Ballantyne has been doing volunteer duty with the Coast Guard Auxiliary out of Stamford, Connecticut. Don Gardner and Rog Bury have been doing the same work around Salem and Marblehead.

Josh Davis has recently been elected to partnership in Reynolds and Company in New York. Josh is also Chief of the Montclair Auxiliary Police riot squad.

Chuck Baker wrote: "There were three judges in this community. The Army took one, and yesterday we buried the other, so it looks as though there will be no 15th reunion for C. P. B. Jr. Having missed the 10th to go on a honeymoon, we had hoped to be back for the 15th, but it is no soap."

Bob Reinhardt is now a Captain in the Army Air Corps, having reported for training on May 4th.

Jack Roe and his wife were unable to get back for the reunion because of a blessed event expected to occur some time in June.

From Fred and Eleanor Thompson down in Wagon Mound, New Mexico, we received a card announcing the arrival of James Holmes Thompson, born on May 24th.

Gus Cummings, our hard working Treasurer and Class. Agent, has moved to Pittsburgh where he has a new job with the Koppers Company. His family are staying in Waban for the summer and will move to Pittsburgh early in September. oFr the time being, Gus' address is care of the University Club, 123 University Place, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Howie Camph is reputed to be around Boston this summer where he has a job at the Navy Lighter-Than-Air Station in South Weymouth. Hope we will have a call from him soon.

Dan Libby is on leave from his regular job and is now in Washington in the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, Insurance Section, for the duration. He is living in Alexandria, Virginia, and reports that Washington is not the most pleasant place in which to work during these times.

A clipping from the Nantucket Island Inquirer Mirror under "Who's Who on the Island" lists: "Robert Dinsmore Congdon. 5 Orange St. Partner, Congdon and Coleman, Insurance and Real Estate. Born at Nashua, N. H., 1904. Son of Charles E. and Anne Ramsdell Congdon. Married Helen Congdon, 1929. Children: Richard R. and Catherine C. (twins) '40. Education: Nashua, N. H., Public Schools, Allen Military School, West Newton, Mass., and Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H. Bank clerk and teller. Member: Unitarian Church, Maddequet Admiralty, Treasurer of Nantucket Historical Association. Recreation: Duck hunting and salt water fishing. Ancestor: Abednego Ramsdell, who was killed at the battle of Lexington."

Bunny Barde has enlisted in the Navy. He is a Store Keeper 3rd Class and is stationed at the Section Base in San Francisco, California. Bill French is also in the Navy. Ted Selig is a Mechanical Engineer working for Pando Constructors in Pando, Colorado. Hugh McGrath & Co., Insurance, is now located at 50 East 42nd St., New York City.

Paul O'Connell has made the excellent suggestion that we designate some weekend during the summer and perhaps" one during the winter for a 1927 gathering at the Inn in Hanover. This could develop into an annual party that would be most enjoyable for all who could attend and would at the same time do much to strengthen the class. One or two other classes are now doing this with fine success. Personally, we don't know a better place than to spend a week-end'with a congenial group. We would greatly appreciate comments from any of you who would be interested. Perhaps it is a little late to arrange one this summer and maybe the present times are not propitious. However, such a week-end might be planned for some of you skiing enthusiasts next winter.

Shortly after reunion, I received a wonderful letter from Mrs. Hall. Because it belongs to every man in 1927, and because it cannot help but give us all a thrill of pride in our close association with Dick's House, I am printing it in this column.

Mr. Doane Arnold Waban Massachusetts Dear Doane:

I want to thank you, and through you all our good friends in 1927, for the new books for Dick's Library which you handed me on the occasion of the Class's brief visit to Dick's House at Reunion.

There are no words adequate to express what it means to me to have you all come to Dick's House when you are back in Hanover for reunion and at other times when you are here. Your names in the guest book each time, stand as a record and a silent witness of your enduring interest and devotion.

Dick's House has completed its fifteenth year of service to Dartmouth men. Each year the presence of the many who come to rest or recover there adds much that is strengthening and enriching to the tradition of the House and it all helps Dick's House to fulfill its purpose, and Dick to live on as a part of the College he loved.

Each year since the house was opened, on November 8th, the anniversary of Dick's death, a lovely plant has come to the House, addressed to Dick and each year a card has been attached, with some personal message to Dick, and always signed "A Classmate." You can imagine, I am sure, the deep emotion and gratitude that this lovely act has stirred in the hearts of Dick's family down the years.

This year an additional plant came at reunion time with a card which read, "Dick Hall—Many years have passed since last I visited your House and, unfortunately, I won't be able to get to Hanover on our 'Fifteenth' but I will be thinking of you, your great Dad and Mother and of Dartmouth." (signed) Just—A Classmate in 1927.

Perhaps this is too personal a thing to pass on. I have not done it before because I respect deeply the desire of the Classmate to be anonymous, -for after all this is just between him and Dick and I would not have it otherwise. But, because it has meant so much to all of us and because I long to have the sender know what his beautiful thought has done to strengthen my faith and to increase my happiness and because I would like to share the knowledge of the gripping experience with all of 1927, I have decided to tell you all this. My hope is that the Classmate, whoever he may be, will read this and know that he has reached beyond the horizon into the realm of the infinite.

It was wonderful to see so many of 1927 back. I wish there might have been more but, of course, in wartime that cannot be. We will look forward to 1947 with the hope that we may be living in a peaceful world again and that the Class will come back full force.

With warm regards. Sincerely yours, (Signed) SALLY D. HALL

Secretary, 152 Waban Ave., Waban, Mass.