1914
Station WDBS Announcer: "From the grand piano in the Hanover Inn, comes the introductory strains o£ 'lf I Had You' the theme song of Friday night guest performer, Ted Glazer This week-end, Hanover is welcoming back the (famous) Class of 1914 to the scene of their conquests and crimes. In view of this fact, Ted proposes to take a musical journey down memory lane and perhaps renew some pleasant, some sad, but all fond reminiscences of the Class of 1914. So what say we crank up the Stanley Steamer or if you are of the conservative type, 'Hitch Old Dobbin to the Shay' and begin our journey into that wonderful land of 'Re- member' \ou are listening to a special presentation of Guest Performance coming to you this evening from the lobby of The Hanover Inn and dedicated to the Class of 1914."
And with this program by the Dartmouth Broadcasting System, opened the sth Annual Sno-bird Reunion, the biggest, the best, and the busiest yet held. Twenty-nine classmates twenty-one wives, three daughters,—twenty-two sons—four sons' wives and thirty-one guests.
Friday found the Sissons, Farisees, Pianes,Remsens, Wescotts, Johnsons, Humphries,Fred Davidsons, Drakes, and Dutch Burnham, at The Inn. A cocktail party at the Pianes' and the broadcast at The Inn were followed by informal reunion and cards in various rooms.
Saturday was a continuous greeting of new arrivals, the Larmons, Aborns, Nichols,Greggs, Conners, Wheatleys, Kimballs, Grants,Newmarks, Nobles, H. Barnes, Elmer Robinson, Sherm Saltmarsh, Gordon Sleeper, BillBarnes, Rosie Hinman, Dick Barlow, MauriceHarvey, and the Bentleys. At six o'clock, a cocktail party in the lounge, given by the Westcotts, groups at dinner and a basket-ball game with Princeton were followed by reuning until late in Room 1, which was G. Hq., for the week-end.
Sunday. Sons' Night found twenty-seven classmates, twenty-two sons and six guests at the venison dinner which was preceded by another cocktail party. Professor Bancroft Brown gave a humorous and interesting address which he described as being three times in his life that he had been really scared. This was followed by a serious talk to the boys delivered by Trustee Sig Larmon, with special thought to the factors that make a good class and particularly those that make '14 famous. In the meantime all of the ladies were being entertained at The Outing Club, but later joined us to watch movies of Hanover and the highlights of the 1948 foot-ball season.
Monday was a full day. At a Class meeting in the morning, it was voted that the Executive Committee be authorized and instructed to appoint a Nominating Committee, which in turn shall bring in nominations for the various officers to be chosen at the 1950 Reunion. Voted: That the Executive Committee be instructed to appoint a Reunion Committee to take lull charge of the next Reunion, 1950. Voted: That Class Dues be raised to five dollars per annum, the same to begin with the next billing.
At 2:00 P.M., Class ski jumping for the John M. Piane trophy and slalom for the Chester Wescott trophy. The ski jumping contest was won by Jim Gregg, who nosed out Warner Bentley by only the thickness of his waist-line. The slalom event was easily won by Chick Grant, with Elmer Robinson a poor second. Following these awards, an attempt to choose a Sno-bird Queen ended in a tie for first place of all the wives, with the daughters and daughters-in-law also tied for the second award.
At six P.M., all classmates, their families and invited guests assembled in the lounge to be received by Prexy Mart and PrexetteKathleen at their annual cocktail party. This was followed by the venison-pheasant dinner. Dr. Hopkins was our special guest of honor. In his brief greeting to the class, he said: "I have always felt that the great strength of Dartmouth is its family aspect. I think there is something more to college than being an educational factory. All the sweetness of life, such as we have with one another, is something you could not get at another college." Informal singing by impromptu quartets, quintets, and sextets, with Piane as the daring young man on the flying trapeze helped to enliven a delightful party. Remarks by Bill Cunningham 'l9 added considerably to the humor of the occasion, followed by adjournment to the lounge for further singing and dancing, with WaltHumphry and Bill Cunningham at the piano. Report has it that the last salute was fired at 3:00 A.M., Tuesday. I would not know.
Tuesday, February 22, Bill Cunningham devoted his full column in The Boston Herald to The Famous Class. In part, Bill said.
"The reference to Mr. Remsen (see last issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE) promptly and unexpectedly began to show more life than a corn-popper full of Mexican jumping beans. Letters began to arrive from all over the country, demanding a correction. The correction, they all proclaimed in one voice, should be 'The Famous Class of 1914.' In the name of some 21,500 other living alumni, not to mention the undergraduate division, I presumed to demand how-come and says who, and out of that my Mrs. and I received an invitation to come up on Washington's Birthday and see. We're seeing! .... this all began six years ago, and now it's developed into something to see! .... They get my vote. I'm convinced.
Sno-bird sidelights John and Madeline Piane were receiving congratulations on recently obtaining a new daughter when son, John, was married December 4 to Tinette Irene Jenkins, U.N.H. '51, daughter of Mrs. Leon Royce Jenkins of Barnet, Vt. John Jr., is Dartmouth '5l, coming to college from K.U.A., where he was prominent in many extra-curricular activities.
Chet and Eve Wescott were the perfect host and hostess, always watching out for the welfare and entertainment of the Class and its guests. There was a continuous round of personally conducted tours through the new kitchen that kitchen is really something to see Chet says, "the best in the country."
Professor Brown brought many laughs from his audience with stories of past experiences and to some of us, fond memories with his recollections of Professor Haskins.
Jay Gile rested up a solid week in advance, to be sure of being present.
After five years of being ribbed on his Rhode Island Reds, Conners finally got back at Sisson in perfect style. Jack had raised a tough old Guinea Hen, portions of which were cooked with the pheasant, specially marked with copper wire and served to Rufe, whose only comment was, after the first mouthful, "You know, Ducky, this would cost fifty dollars a plate in New York." Jack Conners is still chuckling.
Both Cunningham and The Dartmouth challenged the Class title, flaunted at the world from a big banner across The Inn lobby. To quote from The Dartmouth,
"Yesterday afternoon in the Inn lobby, Mr. Cunningham glanced at the banner, shrugged his shoulders and then remarked, 'I can't understand why they call themselves famous. What have they to be famous about?' The above mentioned Mr. Remsen admonished several minutes later, 'Don't believe a word he says. We know we're famous and that is what counts.' "Explanations for 1914's celebrity (or possible notoriety) were numerous. 'Why, we're famous for our Sno-bird banquet.' .... 'We've created so much controversy with that banner that we are becoming more and more famous every day.' .... Another silver-topped celebrator threw a completely different light on the question. 'Maybe we're the infamous Class of 1914.' But he did not stop yelling."
Walt Humphrey conducted a personal tour for the ladies to the Hovey Grill, where he exhibited his murals.... Walt had a portrait of Fred Davidson with characteristic pipe in mouth pose, on exhibition in the lounge, creating much favorable comment. .... Barlow, Sisson, Remsen, Wheatley, Johnsoni, Piane, Bill Barnes. What voices!! What volume!! What tones!! 'l4 can still lay claim to the singingest class of all times.
Although Red Davidsons' son Dick and his new bride did not attend the sons' or Outing Club dinners, they dropped in Monday evening for a few moments. Congratulations, Red! She's a darling Dick Barlow's daughter was spending her honeymoon at The Inn and spent much time with the Class..... It was beautiful balmy wreather with little snow on the ground. The Carnival statues exposed their skeletons to the disappointed '14ers .... more like late March than February, bringing memories of duckboards Came home Tuesday to find many crocuses in bloom and now a foot of snow. Woo!
A letter from Mart this morning says, "The chatter up and down the main Hanover drag all week has been the Famous Class of 1914. Well, why not?"
More funny business! A challenge has been flung at the Hinman tribe, by the Sisson clan. Correspondence in our possession will appear next month. We understand the Davidsons are beating the war drums, preparatory to defending their own laurels. That picture in the February issue of the generations of Hinmans started the war. Any other candidates for the title of Dartmouth's biggest family?
Look at your bill for Class Dues and see if it was receipted. If it was not, and you have not paid, as yet, will you send three dollars to the Treasurer at once? We really need the money.
As a last thought, bear in mind that you are a member of the famous class of 1914, that the Alumni Fund Campaign has begun and that you have a job to do. Don't duck the issue. Dartmouth needs your help.
As we grow older, we recognize that most pleasure must be tempered with some sadness and it is with regret that we announce our latest loss to the Class. Burrell Wright passed away at his home in Indianapolis, on November 5, at the age of fifty-five. Burrell was only with us for a year but many remember him well and we take this opportunity to express our deep sympathy to his family in our mutual loss.
AT THE 1914 SNO-BIRD PARTY: The head table showing Coach Tuss McLaughry, Jack Conners 'l4 and President Emeritus Hopkins, is serenaded by 1914 songsters and a few ringers. The party was at the Hanover Inn, Feb. 21.
lOLLY SONS OF 'l4 band together at the Father-Son Dinner, February 20, in the Hanover Inn. (Front, I to r ) Jay Larmon '47, Jack Sisson '47, John Piane '5O, Sanford Pooler '5O, Henry Barnes '5O, Drew SI eoe'r '52 Williams Nichols '52, Gilbert Noble '52. (Back, I. to r.) Robert Hopkins '5l, John Dellinger '46 John Harlow '5O, James Gregg '5O, Donald Drake '46, Donald Cook '5O, James Wheatley '5l, James Robinson '5l Dekkers Davidson '52, Albert Warren '52, Buol Hinman T, Richard Barlow '4B.
Secretary, 88 Sea Street, North Weymouth, Mass.
Treasurer, 26 Garden Street, Potsdam, N. Y.
Class Agent, The Stanley Works, Bridgeport 7, Connecticut
