Around the Table
Exoniana D O YO U R E M E M B E R ? A
Answers to the winter 2013 issue:
We have two winners for this issue, which illustrated a few winter scenes on campus. Exonians were quick to identify classmates and share memories of outside skating, “skitching,” snow fort-building, hockey and more.
Carmichael ’39—good guy, baseball team shortstop.”
A
PEA ARCHIVES (3)
Our two randomly selected winners are: George M. “Bill” Sanford ’39, Greenwich, CT, who received an Exeter pen. “The person in (B) is John E. ‘Snapper’
B
Stephan C. “Steve” Hansbury ’64, Chester, NJ, who received an Exeter pen.
“The outdoor skating rink was present during my years, 1960–64. As to winter activities, there was usually a pickup hockey game at the rink on Sundays. One of the most unforgettable winter activities at Exeter or anywhere was skating down the river by the athletic fields. At certain times, you could skate for miles. I have never experienced anything so peaceful and memorable. Coming from New Jersey, we could skate on lakes and ponds but rivers rarely froze. I can still see that experience and remember the black ice untouched by skaters before me.” The Good Old Days
Growing up in Exeter in the ’60s (preComputer Age), there was no end to the activities winter provided us.These included public skating, photo (A) ; hockey 14
The Exeter Bulletin
S PRING 2013
PEA ARCHIVES (2)
Principal’s Day is always a welcome spring surprise on campus, giving students an extra day to relax, have fun…or get caught up with sleep or homework. Originally the brainchild of PEA’s ninth principal, William Gurdon Saltonstall ’24 (1946–63), the day was first known as “St. Gurdon’s Day.” With the actual date of Principal’s Day a secret until the day before, announcing it has become a creative, fun challenge over the years—from flying planes to cryptic messages from Dan Brown ’82. How was your Principal’s Day announced? How did it feel to have an extra day off, and what did you do with your time? Please share your reflections and/or photographs with us. Email us at Exoniana@exeter.edu. Or, send your responses to Exoniana, c/o The Exeter Bulletin, Phillips Exeter Academy, Communications Office, 20 Main Street, Exeter, NH 03833-2460. Entries may be edited for length and clarity.
C (upper rink, lower rink, river); skiing; sledding; bobsledding (with Dr. Heyl); snow fort-building; and in the ’70s, “skitching.” If you wanted a change of pace, there were ways to sneak into the pool, art gallery/studios, gym, the Cage—always a favorite of mine—and even the science building. As a skater, my typical weekend consisted of Friday night: public skate. Saturday a.m.: peewee hockey, breakfast, then public skating. Saturday afternoon: varsity hockey game, dinner, then public skating. Sunday morning was the best—open
B pickup hockey which could include notable varsity alumni—Stevens, Gillespie, Clark and others, townsfolk, students and us—the “fac brats.” That about did us in, but for the adventurous among us, there was stealing onto the ice during offhours, often to be rerouted by none other than “Gramps” Carbonneau—the keeper of the ice. Countless hours were also spent warming our bones, spying on the figure skaters during public skating, or lamenting the loss of a game as the opposing team cheered next door in the old warming rooms. The sadness of watching this iconic facility being razed was soon eclipsed by the fabulous new facility—the likes of which not seen before. Gone were days of patiently awaiting the weather, scraping the ice by hand, or having the ice to yourself. The new rinks operated well, and gave ample opportunity to both skaters and audience. In my senior year (1970), the JV hockey team traveled to Holderness where I got my last chance to skate on our old rink. It had been sold for $1, and was resurrected at that school. How great it felt to shoot, and hear the muffled thud of those venerable old boards, as opposed to the loud crack heard at most new facilities. Following our victory, the team celebrated in the locker room without me. Once more, I had the ice to myself—so familiar—so many memories! Coach Drummey had to yell at me several times before I could bear to leave. Alexander G. “Lexi” Krause ’70 Rockport, ME