On This Day in 1948—December 6

Students were eagerly anticipating the Christmas Dance scheduled for December 11, 1948, when illness spread across campus.

It fell to the headmaster’s spouse, Virginia Kimball, to write personally to every invited guest of Cardigan boys and share the bad news. On this day in 1948, she sent the following letter to Mary Ann Hayward, daughter of founder Sidney Hayward:

Dear Mary Ann:

During the past ten day interval the school has been subject to a minor, yet persistent, series of colds. We realize the contagious nature among young people and on the basis of the advice of our school physician we regretfully postpone the Christmas dance until after the reopening of school in January.

We believe that your parents will appreciate our concern and although the boys are tremendously disappointed it seems the intelligent approach to the situation here at school. We look forward to advising you of a date after school reopens on January 6.

Cordially yours,

Virginia A. Kimball (Mrs. Robert M.)

True to her word, Mrs. Kimball later sent Mary Ann an invitation to the postponed dance, which had been rescheduled for February 12, 1949.