You Can Go Home Again

 

Dartmouth Hall

Dartmouth College, Hanover New Hampshire

 

In what seems a century ago I had the great good fortune to spend my junior year at Dartmouth. In 1970 women were not accepted for degrees and I was there as part of an exchange program. The following fall the Trustees voted to permit women to matriculate as degree candidates. I would have loved to stay, but alas, it was too late for me. Nonetheless Dartmouth held a corner in my heart. I've been back to visit several times, but the trip from New York is just far enough to make it infrequent. I spent last week visiting my friend K, in Vermont. She lives about ninety minutes north of Dartmouth and suggested it would make an excellent excursion. As usual, K was correct.   

 

For much of the year Hanover is chilly, very chilly. One of my most vivid memories of the winter I spent there was the cold and snow, and there were a number of nights in January when the temperature dropped to thirty below, wind chill not factored in. The day we were there, however, was as perfect a spring day in New England can be. Students studied on the Green in front of Dartmouth Hall, one of the first buildings on the campus. The college was founded in 1769 and the original Dartmouth Hall was built in 1784.

 

Baker Library

 

I turned to the left from my view of Dartmouth Hall and saw one of my favorite buildings on campus, Baker Library. In a different college environment, I probably spent as much time here as in my dorm room. My favorite place to study was the reserve room in the basement. This may sound gloomy, but it is also the site of an extraordinary set of murals by the Mexican artist,  Jose Clemente Orozco. In 1970 there were times it was difficult to find a seat there, but now most things on reserve are easily retrieved via computer. There were lots of seats in 2018.

Bikes and blossoms on a perfect New England spring day

 

The reserve room might be almost empty and the stores along Main Street for the most part are very different, but Hanover felt familiar and welcoming. With my apologies to Thomas Wolfe, you can go home again, and for one spring day in New Hampshire, I did.

 

I hope you've enjoyed this visit back in time. Tomorrow we resume the A to Z, which despite some comments I've gotten, I haven't forgotten. There are seven letters left in the alphabet and very interesting stops. 

 

As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for a wonderful Wednesday!