Musings on the Campus Fence

By Richard Teller ’70, Archivist

When I drive to work, I usually come down Brewster Avenue.  As I turn onto Park Street, I see the iconic Class Fence, stretching out of sight in both directions, each section with the date of a graduating class.  170 of them, so far, going back to 1842.

2012’s plaque debuts

It’s a powerful metaphor.  Every class is represented, plus one enigmatic “L.L.D.”  Last night, at the annual Senior Dinner, the Class of 2012 received their number plaque.  There will be many more.  Williston Northampton has a lot of fence left.  For our seniors, the placing of the plaque is the first traditional milestone in joining the rest of us alumni represented by that fence.  (But of course, it isn’t really the first milestone.  Enrolling is.)

The fence dates from 1916, when Headmaster Joseph Sawyer (served 1896-1919), as part of a campaign to celebrate the school’s 75th anniversary, challenged every class to meet certain fundraising targets.  Upon achieving them, the class could put its number on the fence.  That’s why the dates are not in order; classes met their goals at different times.  The campaign was 100% successful.  Even those classes which had no surviving members were “adopted” by other alumni groups.  At some point mid-century the tradition changed and classes were awarded plaques at the time they graduated.  From this point the numbers are consecutive.

L.L.D. plaqueAnd the mysterious “L.L.D.”?  They were one of Williston Seminary’s fraternities.  We don’t know much about them; they were a secret society that kept secrets well.  The frats were wisely abolished in 1926-28, but not before the L.L.D. alumni achieved a kind of immortality by pledging and contributing to the fund.

A number of years ago, a student wandered into the Archives.  He had no particular agenda; he’d simply noticed that my door was open, and he’d never been in.  I showed him a couple of things that I thought might be of interest, and let him poke around for a while.  Finally he said, “This might sound strange, but just knowing that this stuff is here makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger than just my couple of years at Williston.”

It might have been the best thing any student ever said to me.  And no, it didn’t sound strange at all.

Your comments and questions are encouraged!  Please use the space below.

2 thoughts on “Musings on the Campus Fence”

  1. Rick — Glad to see your blog, Rick! I’ll be following it with interest. Love the comment your visitor made, which is very gratifying for an archivist to hear. The school archives are much like the Class Fence — aside from the practical purpose it serves, it is also a visible reminder that we all participate within a succession of people and traditions and community.
    I’m reminded of the scene in “Dead Poet’s Society” (which I’m sure you know) where the Robin Williams character asks the boys to stare hard into he faces of the boys in the old pictures in the display case. “What do they all have in common?” he asks. “They’re all now dust.” Thus teaching them the meaning of the phrase “carpe diem.”

    1. Thanks, Peter! This is a new venture for me, and in the spirit of shared history, I’m hoping it turns into a forum for alumni stories and memories.
      As the son of a Latin teacher, I’m resisting the temptation to translate “carpe diem” as “Every day, another fish.” Or perhaps, not.
      — Rick

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