Notes from
Cardigan
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POST AGE PAID
Canaan, N.H. Permit No. 1
Cardigan Mountain School Canaan, New Hampshire 03741
Volume 3, Issue No.
7
May-June 1975
Today the campus is unbelievably beautiful. Cool, clear air came in overnight and distance visibility is limited only by mountains that get in the way. Last week's rain restored all the lawns to a peak of lush greenness and brought out iris and other early summer bulbs. The huge maples have now leafed out to thei·r fullest and al 1 the growing things seem to be trying to look their greenest and bushiest. Puffy white clouds scudding briskly across a brilliant blue sky complete the picture. In and around, on top of and inside our buildings there is great activity. In the bookkeeping office, last minute items are being posted so that final statements can be sent. Summer Session tuition bills have been mailed; final grades are being typed; the bell on top of Hopkins Hall is being repaired so it will be operative at long last; vigorous cleaning is going on in all the dormitories and classrooms; bedrooms on Clark-Morgan I I have been turned into classrooms for the summer; and a new roof is going on Brewster Hall. What looked at Commencement to be a long month ahead of us now seems to be only a short time to prepare everything for the first Summer School faculty meeting on the 22nd~ and the arrival of students on the 25th. May was just as hectic as expected. Between the end of the Long Weekend on the 4th and Commencement on the 31st, there were filtered in among a busy athletic and academic schedule: Headmaster's Day, a trip to the circus in Boston, Grandparents' Weekend, three performances of two one-act plays by the Drama Club, Green and White Day, a trip to Eaglebrook with four teams, Baccalaureate Sunday, investiture ceremonies, review and final exams, finals of the spelling bee and a necktie contest. Also, classes met a few times. The annual school elections determined our School Leader for next year to be Paul J. Leahy. Paul entered Cardigan's seventh grade two years ago and it soon became evident that he had above average leadership qualities. Midway through seventh grade, Paul was elected to the School Council. He was selected by the 1975 Senior Cl ass to be a marshal at Commencement, and was elected floor leader for Greenwood House for 1974-75. In addition to his duties as a floor leader, Paul served on the School Council again this year and also earned varsity letters in football, hockey and baseball. Next year he will have his work cut out for him to follow the footsteps of Scott Powers who was one of Cardigan's finest School Leaders; and we are confident that Paul will rise to this challenge successfu ll y. A heartwarming ceremony took place one noon when the staff of the Blaze announced their dedicition of the yearbook to Mrs. Ruth Johnson. Mrs. Johnson started work in the office 18 years ago, and since then has done just about every office job at the School. For the past 6 years she has been the secretary in the admissions office where she is often the first contact new parents have with the Schoo l. Her cheerful smile and warm friendliness have helped many a boy over a rough spot in his day because she was always willing to give a bit of motherly advice and encouragement where needed. Her daughter-in-law Marilyn, who teaches at Cardigan, and her husband Douglas were all at School when the dedication was announced. This September Mrs. Johnson will start a well-earned retirement with her husband in their new home on Prospect Hill Road just around the corner from the School. Doug runs a small printing shop to keep his time occupied, and they plan to continue that as well as having time to enjoy visiting their chiJdren and grandchi ldren. We a ll wish them both many years of happy retirement.
-2The Awards Assembly which finishes the school year for underclassmen is always a happy ceremony . It offers parents a few moments respite from the task of trying to stuff all their son's belongings in the car. It is an opportunity for the whole school to join in recognizing those boys who have done outstanding work on the athletic field, in the woodworking shop, in the art room and in the classroom throughout the year. This year's ceremonies were highlighted by the unveiling of the beautiful harpsichord which represented so many hours of devoted work by Nathan Anable and Mr. Harold Finkbeiner. We're looking forward to hearing it played on many occasions from now on.
Seniors are privileged to have the campus all to themselves for the next day and a half. Parents arrive throughout the day Friday; fathers and sons play softball in the afternoon; mothers and sons stroll leisurely around campus; and in between packing and other last-minute jobs, boys reliVe for the last time the enjoyable times they had here. Mr. Harry Mahoney did the trick with a fabulous magic show after the Senior Banquet. His sleight-of-hand is amazing and spellbinding and was a great treat for all, especially for the younger brothers and sisters present. Fortunately the rain held off until mid-afternoon on Saturday. It was bright enough for pictures before and after Commencement and the lack of sunshine did little to diminish the joy of the occasion. There's so much excitement and happiness and sentiment onthis occasion that the significance of it doesn't fully register at the moment. We carry a mental picture of each boy at the instant he receives his diploma. Most are so serious; some almost scared; but once in a while the Headmaster receives a happy, friendly ear-to-ear grin with his handshake. Those are the most memorable. Eight prizes are awarded at Commencement . Much thought and time i s devoted to the selection of boys to receive this recognition, and it seems worthwhile to repeat here these awards and their recipients in the Class of 1975. The Headmaster's Prize : For most all around improvement during the year: Philip R. G. Lindstrom. The Senior Prize: To the member of the Senior Class with the highest academic standing: Joseph P. Jangro. Hinman Prize: A prize given annually in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Harold P. Hinman to the member of the School who, in the opinion of the faculty, by industrious application to his studies, through his attitude on the playing field, and by his behavior and integrity, most nearly approaches the ideals of manhood as conceived in the minds of the Founders of Cardigan Mountain School: Thomas E. Mitchell, I I I and Scott F. Powers. The Founders Prize: Awarded anonymously to the boy in the student body who has the will to complete any project, regardless of the difficulties encountered, without thought of personal gain, and whose objective is a job well done i n the same approach that characterized the life of Harold P. Hinman, one of the Founders of Cardigan Mountain School: Nathan F. Anable. The Caldwell Pr i ze: To the boy who has shown outstand i ng athletic achievement and good sportsmanship: Scott F. Powers. Addison Memorial Prize for Creative Writing : Given to the student who has demonstrated the most potential in the area of writing poetry: Scott F. Frankl in. The Pannaci Memorial Award: The award is to be given annually by the Class of 1959 as a memorial to Karl J . Pannaci, to that member of the Senior Class who in the eyes of his fellow students has achieved and best attained ideals of honesty, integr i ty, leadership , and general social and spiritual adjustment: Scott F. Powers. The Faculty Prize: Awarded to the student who, in the opinion of the faculty, through his integrity, his sympathetic understanding of others, and his school spirit, has made an outstanding contribution to the life of Cardigan Mountain School: Alfred J. Gastonguay.
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Notes from Cardigan 11 is published monthly by the Cardigan Mountain Schoo l Third Class postage paid at Canaan, New Hampshire 03741