Holter Anderson Tells of Hurry in Making Shell for 1934 Yale Race

Almost alone among the rows of shells in the Newell boathouse, Holter Anderson, boat-builder for the Harvard crews, has dug in for the winter's work of constructing a new eight and two or more singles.

Succeeding old Bill Lutz, who died last spring at over seventy years of age, as the premier boat builder here, the 43 year old Dane takes great pride in his craftsmanship. Just now he is recovering with a veneer of Spanish cedal the hull of an eight which was wrecked this fall in a head-on collision with another shell. Two weeks of work will make it serviceable.

"The fastest work I ever did was last spring, when Carley Whiteside asked me if I could make him an eight-oared shell in six weeks, to be ready for the Yale race. The usual time is at least nine weeks, but I got busy and finished her just about on time. It was the first eight I ever built, and the crew broke the record in it though they didn't win the race. I've heard it said that it's the best boat they've ever had in the house.

"It was just an accident that led me into this kind of work. I came over from Denmark in 1913, not knowing a word of English, and just stumbled into a job with Davy's, over on Hay Street, who at that time was in the business of making shells. I worked with them until 1925, when Harvard employed me. We had made shells for boat clubs all over the country during that time.

"I went back to Denmark last summer, and in spite of the many changes there are since I last saw it, I would have liked to stay there. But then sometimes I feel pretty well off here at Harvard, even though it is hard to support a wife and family of five children. I make a few singles on the side each year to carry me over.

"I hope my second eight-oared shell will be good enough to take Yale."