Don Hairhoger ’54, attended Geneva College as an English major to prepare for his career as a teacher. While at Geneva, Don met his wife, Kay Graham, who took a job in Geneva’s business office after graduation. When a request came to the office for summer help for a professor, Kay immediately recommended Don for the job.
The professor was Clarence E. Macartney, the namesake of Geneva’s McCartney Library. Macartney had recently moved into Fern Cliffe , a house located on campus, after retiring as minister at the Presbyterian Church in downtown Pittsburgh. While working in Pittsburgh, Macartney lived at the Duquesne Club, where several other professionals lived. Don recognized that, while Macartney needed someone to help with his daily chores, he likely also needed some company as the quiet of Fern Cliffe was very different from the bustle of activity in the city.
At Kay’s recommendation, Don was invited to meet with Macartney about the job, and, after only one meeting, he started the very next day. Don mostly helped with household chores, including shelving Macartney’s library of books. Macartney was an avid reader and writer, and always had more and more books arriving at the house. Even in retirement, he continued to write — usually articles for the newspaper. Sometimes he would write on a religious topic and other times about his personal travels and ventures.
In addition to his various chores, Don remembers that at around 3 p.m. most days, Macartney would ask, “Don, do you think we could take the trusty Chevy downtown? I would like to get a Beaver County Times newspaper and go to the pharmacy.” Don would reply, “Sure, let’s go!” These drives would often provide content for Macartney's column in the newspaper.
In July of 1954, Macartney bought a beautiful new car — a two-tone, blue and cream 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 with all the bells and whistles. Don notes, “Now that he had a new car, he wanted to show it off and go places. It added the job of chauffeur to my list of chores, and it became a real pleasure and joy for me too.” A couple would often join the two of them for their afternoon drives, providing both Don and Macartney with the opportunity to enjoy the scenery, engage in good conversation, and experience genuine connections.
One of the notable adventures Don experienced with Macartney was a trip to the Naval Library in Annapolis, Md. As Don thinks back on the trip, he recalls that “Macartney wanted to get some information on naval warfare that had taken place during the Civil War period. I told him, ‘Sure, let’s go!’ It was a very interesting and pleasant trip — one day down, two days at the library, the next day home. Macartney spent his time researching his information and I spent most of my time sightseeing the area.”
After Don finished his summer of working with Macartney, he was able to obtain a teaching position at Chewton School District in Lawrence County. Don remembers, “When I told Dr. Macartney about getting a teaching position, he was very happy and congratulated me and said, ‘That’s why you came to Geneva and prepared yourself for your future.’” After two years of teaching, Don was drafted to service in the U.S. Army and served for two years. When he returned from service, he taught at Chewton School District for one year. He then transitioned to teaching at Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, and taught there for 30 years.
As Don fondly remembers his time with Macartney, he notes that “All of us have many connections with other people, places, and events, and have unexpected situations thrust upon us by accident, or maybe our Lord is showing His grace upon us. I believe the Lord did have a role in my connection with Geneva College, Dr. Clarence Macartney, Fern Cliffe, and helping to set me on a good path to follow the rest of my life.” As Don concludes his recollection of his time with Macartney, he “[thanks] God for all He has made possible for me to have had on this great journey of life and the many, many people, places, challenges, families, and things that go into making a happy and successful life.”
-Mattigan Burleigh, '24
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