The Many Friends of Spike Dickman

I purchased an old college yearbook at one of the vendor markets at which we had a booth a few months ago. Most of the vendors were selling new merchandise or other services (and one booth was offering genealogy services!). But of course my eye drifted to the table with antiques and collectibles. There were a few yearbooks among some odds and ends in a box in that booth. I purchased the book that looked the oldest, and without looking at any other details. Then I took it home and immediately put it in my own box of odds and ends.

It turns out the yearbook is the 1932 album from Macalester College in St Paul, Minnesota. The name written inside the front cover is John Dickman. John, known as 'Spike', was an underclassmen during the 1931-1932 biennial. He only appears on one page, as a member of the glee club. The yearbook is also available online, so at first I was somewhat disappointed in my purchase.

But as I leafed through the pages, I noticed how many classmates had penned notes to Spike.

Billy Davis appears to have been John's roommate. I can't tell whether Willard or Alvin was "Stretch."

Notes from Wenzil Dolva of Morris, Minnesota; Dwight "Curly" Early of Windom; and Mary Edwards of Elysian

Since John was an underclassman, his hometown or any other identifying information is not included in the yearbook. However, a genealogist is undeterred!

A newspaper article from April 1931 refers to the end of the glee club's season. The members' names are included as well as their hometowns. From there, it's easy to connect the biggest dots of John's life. And it's easy to understand how his college yearbook from 1932 ended up in a box of random items in an Iowa county fair barn. John Dickman died at the age of 60, leaving a very small family.

I didn't know John Dickman. After I put this book into yet another box of odds and ends, I probably won't think of him again. So I don't have the words to conclude this post that was sparked by his name inside a faded book. I think what Spike's fellow classmates Nye and Charlie wrote ninety years ago, when they were young and looking ahead to their futures, are much better tributes:

"Gee, Spike. I hate to leave this place. It's been too much fun. You have surely been a pal to me. Thanks so much for all the financial help and other favors, and for your friendship. I'm hoping for you all kinds of joy and success."

And

"May you always be the happy smiling Spiker. So long."