Notes from Cardigan
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POST AGE
PAID Canaan, N.H. Permit No. 1
Cardigan Mountain School Canaan, New Hampshire 03741
Issue No. 2
October 1973
By the time you read this issue, you will have received grades and comments for your son at the mid-point of the first marking period. These will have produced some wailing and gnashing of teeth along with many smiles, and will undoubtedly have resulted in discussions during the Long Weekend if you were fortunate enough to have your son come home. These mid-term reports are designed to let you know about your son's progress and, more importantly, to let him know how he stands at this point while there is still time to bring a failing grade to passing and to improve passing to honors. To those parents who shared their homes with boys living too far away to go home for a long weekend - many thanks. This change of scene and break in the routine provides an important 11 breather 11 in the schedule which is just as necessary for a boy from California as for one from Massachusetts. New Parents' Weekend on October 6th and 7th was a glorious event. Saturday was spectacularly beautiful and colorful as only northern New England can be in the Fall. Leaf colors were almost at their peak, the air was clear and crisp, and sunshine warmed the day to a comfortable temperature for watching football and soccer games. Photographers went wild. Registration and coffee were planned from 7:30 to 8:00 am, which seemed a reasonable hour, but the first parents drove in at 7:05 full of eagerness and ready to go. As always, the weekend was full. Parents attended classes Saturday morning with their sons, lunch, a short meeting at which the Glee Club performed, then out to watch the games. Both soccer teams committed themselves well, but went down to defeat. Football saved the day with a rousing victory. Then mass exodus as parents, sons and friends left campus for dinner 11 out 11 • A great many were back for chapel at 9: 30 Sunday morning, then off to enjoy a day of visiting and sightseeing. Sunday night study hall brought a happy weekend to a close and the normal routines resumed their relentless course. When a national holiday such as Columbus Day comes during the school year there is moaning and groaning about why we have to go to school when the public schools are closed. But what other school has a Mountain Day!! When the morning is sunny, the foliage brilliant and the mountains in sharp focus, we declare our holiday and take the whole school off to climb and enjoy the natural mountain beauty which surrounds us. Boys and faculty signed up in advance for the "hard cl imb 11 or the "easy cl imb 11 and were assigned to groups of 10 or 12 accordingly.: In busses, vans, station wagons and cars the caravan left on Tuesday, October 9th, soon after breakfast heading north - destinations known only to the drivers. The easy climbers stopped at The Flume and headed out at 10 minute intervals to conquer Mt. Pemigewasset, famed for the Indian Profile - one of the tourist sights on Route 3, The day couldn't have been more ideal - we climbed in shirt sleeves and even at the top didn't need sweaters or jackets. The reward for a couple hours of steady but not steep climbing was a panoramic view starting with the hills to the west, down the Pemigewasset Valley to the south, north east to avalanche-scarred Mt. Lafayette, and north into Franconia notch. Meantime, back at School, the support party left somewhat later bringing charcoal, grills, food, dessert and several cooks. What a joy to smell hamburgers cooking as we approached the picnic area at the bottom of the trail. It was truly 11 a table in the wilderness" - there never was a better cookout. The more rugged outdoorsmen, however, headed right up Mt. Flume, one of New Hampshire's 4000 foot peaks. The first mile and a half was easy going - nice trail through the woods with occasional mountain vistas - then the hard ~limb 1 ived up to its name. The trail became
very steep with hand over hand climbing, hanging onto roots, rocks and stumps to the summit. This was no plateau, but a narrow ridge with steep cliffs falling away on each side. The 3600 view included Mt. Washington where the smoke from the cog railway engine was clearly visible. They ate their trail lunches while enjoying this marvelous outlook, then headed north along the trail which went down for a while then headed up Mt. Liberty. This summit afforded much the same view, but they didn't linger to enjoy it as the sun was already getting low in the west. By the time this hardy group reached the parking lot, the shadows were long indeed, and they returned to campus just in time for dinner - having put in about seven hours on the trail. There was no murmuring when the Headmaster announced 11 1 ights out for everyone at 9:15 tonight". Each year on a Friday in October the members of the Boards of Trustees and lncorporators come to the School for their annual meeting. This event is little noted by the boys except for the temporary inconvenience of having to wear "Sunday dress" on Friday - partially offset by having a full course roast beef dinner at noon. This year's meeting will be long remembered because one of our lncorporators - Mr. Robert Stoddard - arrived from Worcester in his 2-seater helicopter. His landing in the parking lot broke up all classes and even disrupted the Trustees' Meeting momentarily. Excitement ran high when it was announced that Mr. Stoddard would take the Headmaster and 3 boys for a ride at 4:00 pm when the meetings were to be over. School Leader, John Petraglia, drew 3 names out of the hat: Tim Hollingsworth, John King and Don Montana. The Headmaster gave his turn to the School Leader - so 4 boys had a chance to see the campus from the top. The multiple take-offs and landings from the upper end of Catting Field drew a crowd of spectators and pretty well washed up any serious football practice going on at the other end of the field. Without doubt the most excited one on campus was Mr. Clancy's dog "Sissy". She loves to chase birds, and this was the largest one she had ever had a chance at. As soon as the helicopter was airborne, she raced after it at top speed. Round and round the campus she went in hot pursuit, and only when it landed did she too come to rest nearby. After a quick change of passenger, the same show was repeated. What would she have done if she had caught it? Trustees and lncorporators were also present for the dedication of Greenwood House. A plaque commemorating Mr. Ernest Greenwood was presented to the donors, Mr. and Mrs. Banks, as they and the house were officially welcomed into the Cardigan family. We expect to move in around the first of November, which will relieve our present situation with boys housed temporarily in a common room and at the Headmaster's House. The first mailing for this year's Annual Fund was sent out around the middle of October and as this is being written gifts and pledges already total over $21,000. A fine start towards the $70,000 goal.
Notes from Cardigan" is published monthly by the Cardigan Mountain School. Third class postage paid at Canaan, N.H. 03741 11