65 Years Ago
In the winter of 1944 while war raged in Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, its effects were clearly felt at the Northfield Schools. Both The Northfield Star and The Hermonite were filled with articles about conservation, patriotism, war stamp drives, and faculty and alumni in the armed services. The issue of the Star cited below contains no fewer than 6 articles related to these subjects. At other times, this column has examined campus reaction to war, but now, in the midst of winter, it is worth noting that while Seminary students had an eye turned to the events happening in the world beyond our valley, they were just as concerned as you were two weeks ago about the arrival of Winter Carnival.
from The Northfield Star vol. 28, no. 3; pp. 1-3 (February 17, 1944).
Royalty Prepares For Date Carnival Itself is Late
During the week before examinations the staff of this paper set about getting some “hot” news that would outdo the distant and factual front-page material that is necessary of a paper published every six weeks. They planned to have a fresh “scoop” on the Winter Carnival, with a picture of their Majesties, the King and Queen, and the last minute list of the various winners.
Contrary to custom, then, the King and Queen were informed of their election before the Carnival Day, and were secreted away during one Monday morning chapel to the gymnasium to be photographed by Miss Kingsbury. To insure complete secrecy, they figured out deep alibis about their absence from chapel even to the extent of creating false illnesses, such as an injured wrist, which the King feigned carefully all that day.
Ah! The trials and tribulations of the journalistic life! The articles for the issue were shipped away to the printer, Mr. Gould, and he was duly informed to leave a blank on the front page for a “scoop” of the Carnival. The picture of their Majesties was made into a cut and then printed for a picture on the front page. Then, the inside workers patted themselves on the back and waited for the Carnival Day to appear.
Well, they waited and waited, but they stopped patting themselves on the back. There was no Carnival on the weekend before examinations because the general opinion was that there would have been many dissatisfactions in such a case. Everyone, it was said, intended to study, and besides, people seemed to like the idea of having it after examinations.
When snow began to fall on Friday, February 11, the staff regained their faith in the Carnival scoop. Not for long, however, because, in spite of the increasing snowfall there was no Carnival on the 12th. And there was the staff with a picture of the King and Queen going to the printer.
Now, however, the Star has issued a prophetic edition; for the front page boasts a picture of the future King and Queen of the Northfield Carnival ’44.
Editor’s note: And here is the picture of the future king and queen. Note that both are Seminary students. Winter Carnival was not held jointly with Mount Hermon until the 1960s. Years later, Nancy Bartram (Beecher) had a distinguished tenure on the NMH Board of Trustees, including service as the first woman to head the Board.
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