Turner's Public Spirit, July 22, 1922
A look back in time to a century ago
Transcribed by Bob Oliphant (2022)
Center. Sunday guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Knight were Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Fifield, of South Hero, Vt.; Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Wells and John Sharp, of Lowell.
Another Sunday license for the sale of ice cream, confectionery etc. has been issued by the selectmen making fourteen in all in various sections of the town.
The barn on the premises of Mrs. Charles D. Colburn was struck by lightning on last week Thursday.
Miss Dora Hawkes, of Boston is spending part of her vacation with her uncle and aunt, Rep. and Mrs. A. W. Hartford.
Frank Miller has opened a blacksmith shop at the corner of Leland and Providence roads.
After many years of faithful service Houghton Osgood has resigned as trustee of the Congregational church, and Frederick Hanscom has been appointed to fill the vacancy.
J. Herbert Fletcher and son John started Monday evening for Jackson, N.H., where the latter is to enter a boys’ camp. The former returned on Wednesday and was joined in Farmington by his father, John M. Fletcher, who has been spending his vacation at that place.
Miss Hazel Hartford, of Boston, spent the weekend in town.
The orchard of Fred Stiles on the Littleton road is attracting much attention, the Red Astrakhans and Wolf Rivers being especially abundant.
The raspberry crop this year has been rather poor owing, no doubt, to the wet weather.
Perley Wright has purchased a two-ton Indiana truck.
Myron Taylor, who has had charge of the cattle at George F. White’s farm, has accepted a position elsewhere, and W. H. Davis, who has been employed by Mr. White for the past few months as foreman of the farm, has also left town, having moved his family last Saturday. Mr. Davis was formerly employed by W. R. Carver.
Principal William Roudenbush of Westford academy and Mrs. Roudenbush, who have been spending a part of their vacation at Manomet, have returned home.
The Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church held an outing at the Whitney playground last week Thursday. A basket lunch was enjoyed and a good time in general [torn page].
L. W. Wheeler, Miss Alice Williams and niece, and Mrs. Charles Colburn and daughter Eleanor motored to New Hampshire last week. Mrs. Colburn and Miss Eleanor were especially interested in visiting Lincoln, where the latter is to teach the coming year.
Mrs. J. Howard Blair, of Philadelphia, is spending the latter part of the month with her son, John H. Blair.
William Murphy, Jr., of Worcester, who is studying at the Gordon college, Boston, where Mr. Blair has been a student, is to occupy the pulpit of the Baptist church in Littleton on Sunday, coming as a candidate.
It is reported that Perley Wright has been receiving large quantities of yellow transparent apples to be shipped to the Boston market.
Mr. and Mrs. John O’Connell of the Nashobah farm attended the horse races at the Brighton speedway and had the pleasure of witnessing Monty Volo win the $1000 silver cup. Monty Volo is owned and was driven by V. C. Bruce Wetmore, the owner of Nashobah farm and a former resident of this town.
Miss Margaret Munroe has again resumed her duties as telegraph operator at Westford depot.
The house of A. B. Hartshorn on the Littleton road was struck by lightning on Tuesday but fortunately little damage was done.
There was a collision between an automobile and a motorcycle operated by Frank Dixon of Lowell on the Groton road early Tuesday morning, as a result of which the driver of the motorcycle is at the Shaw hospital, Lowell, with a broken ankle. The affair was reported to the police and although the clue was not very good, the driver not having stopped and the registration of the machine being unknown, he was finally located, being an employee of the H. E Fletcher Co. The police have interviewed both parties and at present their stories seem to be rather conflicting.
The piano forte pupils of Miss Eleanor Stearns Colburn gave a fine recital at the Congregational church on last Saturday afternoon, which was attended by parents and friends of the young players. Those taking part were Elizabeth Carver, Dorothy Anderson, Elaine Skidmore and Helen Desmond. Miss Colburn also played several selections which were greatly appreciated by those present. The good work of the pupils showed the painstaking efforts of their teacher.
Fred Clement and family, of Charlestown, are the guests of the former’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Clement.
Mr. and Mrs. Alec MacDougal and granddaughters, the Misses Alice and Dorothy Heywood, have returned home after a pleasant time spent at Chebacco Island, off Cononio Point, Essex. During their absence their home was occupied by their son Allister and family.
Little Jack Baker, of Hudson, has been the guest of his great-aunt, Mrs. George Walker, Main street.
The ladies of the Congregational church are planning to hold a lawn party on Wednesday evening of next week. If stormy the affair will be held on Thursday. The committee consists of Mrs. Charles Wright, Mrs. George Walker and Miss Edith A. Wright. As the regular monthly indoor sociables are not held during the hot weather this outdoor affair should prove especially enjoyable.
Miss Laura Manchester, of Newport, R.I., is a guest at L. W. Wheeler’s home on Main street.
All are looking forward to the big carnival to be held at Forge Village by the local American Legion post on Friday and Saturday of this week, weather permitting. It promises to afford one of the best times of the summer. Don’t forget that the grand affair opens at five o’clock on Friday evening, continuing until midnight, and on Saturday will be an all-day affair, opening at ten o’clock in the morning and continuing until midnight.
The many friends of Mrs. J. W. Blodgett at the north part of the town will regret to learn that she met with an injury to the middle finger of her right hand on last Tuesday.
Miss Karen Grant has returned to her home after spending two weeks in Westford as the guest of her little cousin, Anna M. Whiting.
Miss Alice G. Manley of Lexington, is the guest of Miss Margaret Sullivan, Boston road.
The calendar committee of the Alliance met with the chairman, Mrs. Addie Buckshorn, Tuesday evening, and arranged a program for the coming year’s work.
The pocketbook containing papers and a small sum of money, which was stolen from the car of Miss Eva Lord some time ago, was found on last Wednesday. Fred Clement, who is visiting in town, came across it while berrying. Chief Whiting was notified and together they visited the spot and recovered it. The culprits had removed the money, and the pocketbook and papers were rather water soaked from laying out in the heavy rains.
Mrs. Mary A Prindle, of North Cambridge, is visiting her niece, Mrs. Charles Hildreth.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Elliott are entertaining Mrs. Elliott’s sister, Miss Blanche Craven, of Lowell, and little nephew, Edward Calvert, of Erie, Pa.
Upon request of the defendant the case against the Westford man charged with violating the automobile laws by operating a motor vehicle without a license was continued until Saturday.
Congregational Notes. There will be but two more cottage prayer meetings this season. This Friday evening the meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. Keyes on the Providence road at eight o’clock.
At the Sunday morning service the pastor will speak on the subject, “Our divine teacher.” Sunday school will meet regularly with classes for all.
The open-air meetings are continuing to be a pleasing and attractive feature on Sunday evenings. This Sunday the theme will be “Salvation by character.” Meeting at seven o’clock.
About Town. Our efficient caretaker of our electric lights, Mr. Sutherland, reports that sixty lights were put out of commission in the thunderstorm last week, and he has been busy replacing the electric bulbs.
D. L. Greig & Son have added a fine Reo automobile hearse to their equipment in the undertaking business.
Mrs. Harriet Sargent Hildreth, of Winchester, entertained “the girls” of her class in Westford academy at Humarock [in Situate] on the Atlantic coast last week Friday. The trip from Westford was made in the Sargent automobile and a most happy day was spent in a reunion at the beautiful spot.
Mrs. George F. Snow is at Bayview, York Beach, Me.
The old theory that lightning never strikes twice in the same place was disproved when the chimney on the house of Bernard J. Flynn was recently struck, this being the second time that this chimney has been hit by lightning. There is some authority for saying that there are certain spots on the ground that favor the attraction of lightning.
The Highland Methodist church of Lowell entertained the Epworth league circuit last week. A delegation of thirty-six members from the West Chelmsford league enjoyed their hospitality. More of these exchange social hospitalities would be an inspiration morally and socially.
Edgar H. Hall, of West Acton, is a candidate for state senator from the district now represented by Hon. Gardner W. Pearson, of Lowell. Mr. Hall is a most exemplary citizen and served with honor to his constituents two years in the house of representatives. We need more such men to do the law regulation for us; a man who will not trade us off for fame or side-step his conscience or judgment for the luring temptations of a money consideration. But alas, we have been politically disfranchised out of his senatorial district, so we cannot vote for him, but we can shout for him; thus we do.
The old saying is “A wet May makes a barn full of hay,” followed by a dry June and you will have an empty barn full of hay, according to the observations of our farm history. Last year was a good illustration of the doings of a dry June and a short hay crop all over the country, resulting in hay touching $40 per ton this spring. Now this year and fresh in everybody’s memory is a clear illustration of reverse extremes, for while the rainfall in May was normal, it was only normal the third and fourth of the month when we had two days’ continuous rain and prior to that and the rest of the month was so void of rain that all permits to set fires were suspended, but June came in and went out and left the unprecedented record of ten inches of rainfall, and July is following the trail of June. This being thus we are having the largest hay crop for years and the smallest crop of weather to hay the hay.
During the thunder shower on last week Thursday a pine tree in West Chelmsford cemetery was shattered from top to bottom, the lightning bolt passing over a monument and after tearing through the lot went into the ground some fifteen feet away.
Mathew F. Downs, in his ninety-seventh year, was at the ball game last Saturday in Graniteville and was smarter than some who are younger.
Almon E. Downing and his home-raised helpers picked a crate of blueberries on last week Friday in the bushy nooks of his farm in a short time.
Town Meeting Explanation. As there appears to be some misunderstanding in regard to Articles 7 and 8 of the special town meeting warrant, we wish to make a few amendatory explanations. Article 7 related to purchasing or otherwise taking land in Forge Village for school purposes. As the Abbot Worsted Company were present in a body and occupied the front pews they volunteered to give a lot of land containing about three acres to the town, so this soon disposed of seizing land. Under Article 8, relating to borrowing money to meet the expense of acquiring said land, the town voted $1500 (not $1800 as reported). On this lot of land is a barn which connects with a dwelling house-where dwelleth [a] man. This barn has got to be razed to the ground by the law of gravitation, assisted by man. After this barn has been razed the end of the aforesaid house has got to be covered in according to the laws of civilized inhabitations and this explains the use of the appropriation of $1500.
Wedding. Here is a marriage of interest to Westford people and others. John Carroll Monahan, of West Chelmsford, and Miss Frances O’Neil, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah O’Neil, of Churubusco, [town of Clinton,] N.Y., were married on Tuesday, July 11, at St. Philomena’s church, Churubusco, at a nuptial mass celebrated by Rev. R. Murphy. Miss Miriam O’Neil, a sister of the bride, was bridesmaid, and Walter T. Monahan, a brother of the bridegroom, was best man. Following the wedding ceremony a reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents. Among the guests present were fifteen classmates of the bride, who is a graduate of de Youville college, Buffalo, N.Y., class of 1919. The bridegroom is the son of Capt. and Mrs. John J. Monahan of West Chelmsford, formerly of Westford. He is a graduate of Dartmouth college ‘16, and is a veteran of the world war, having served as first lieutenant in the First Division Engineers. After the wedding reception the bridal couple left on an extended trip. Upon their return they will reside in West Chelmsford, where they will be at home after October first.
Thunder Storm Notes. At the expected and welcome shower on last Thursday afternoon several things happened. The Old Oaken Bucket farm had five loads of hay out and got in one before the rain. How many loads of hay were left out? Well, according to the little kindergarten primer arithmetic which we studied at the old Stony Brook school, with pictures of getting in hay to help make it true to life and easy figuring, there would be four loads of hay left out. Well, the little primer arithmetic did not figure on ten inches of rain in June. That has made the largest hay crop for a century or less, so that after getting in one load of our figured five we had five out after getting in five, according to modern arithmetic, based on ten inches of rain to push the hay crop. So if a teacher should ask a scholar in school, “If your father had out five loads of hay and a thunder shower overhead and got in one load, how many were there left out?” the answer would be “Five, as per rainfall arithmetic.”
Happening No. 2 in the shower – the brick chimney on the house of Bernard J. Flynn on Pigeon hill, Stony Brook road, was struck by lightning [two lines missing due to torn paper].
Happening No. 3—lightning struck a pine tree not far from the residence of W. R. Taylor on the old discontinued road over Frances hill to its intersection with Chamberlin road at the peak point of the hill. This pine was a handsome isolated tree and poison ivy twining to its top which got badly scorched. We have no regrets for the ivy, but of the isolated tree, alas! Alas!
Happening No. 4—similar to No. 3, many trees were struck by lightning around Lake Nabnassett, so that in connecting the lightning with so many trees we might call it lightning tree day, including several on Frances hill that we haven’t had time to tag since they were tagged by lightning.
Interesting Demonstration. Here are a few of our findings at the twilight demonstration last week Wednesday evening at the farm of our Stony Brook schoolmate, Gilbert F. Wright, in Chelmsford Center.
We found peanuts growing as successfully as they were ever grown in Virginia. But they were vigorous growing and no hills missing, and made us think of pole beans with runners headed onward and upward. Sweet potatoes were close by. They, too, were loaded with promises, although Mr. Wright, who has been experimenting a few years, claimed that there had been too much moist rain for best results. As we had never seen any growing before we volunteered not to take the witness stand, but instead we said hurrah and hurrah as Mr. Wright stacked us up with sweet potato bulbs for another year. So the Old Oaken Bucket farm is going to raise sweet potatoes.
Close by all these peanut-sweet potato diversion sunflowers were growing for the hens, and they had a large umbrella to look at. Alfalfa was growing in all stages and ages, some just coming up after five-days sowing; some seven years old, from which twenty crops had been harvested, and it still looked a vigorous green. Another patch had been allowed to go beyond the cutting stage as a side show to visitors to illustrate how much and long it will endure before going to seed. On the whole the experiments seemed satisfactory and we are glad to report another progressive farmer and graduate of old Stony Brook school.
The Uneasy World. In trying to solve the cause of the present unrest a lady of culture says, “Sixty percent of the wealth is in the hands of two percent of the population. I think it can safely be said that we have had 20,000 new millionaires since 1914. In 1914 there were 10,700 people paying taxes on more than $40,000. There have been at least 4,000 added since.”
Much obliged for so many large figures; they are helpful if for nothing more than to prove that the wealthy pay taxes, or at least they pay taxes when we want to prove by income taxes how many dangerous wealthy people there are and then again they don’t pay any taxes when we want to prove that the working people pay all the taxes directly or indirectly. You can prove that it is and that it isn’t, all by the same fact. We have no reason to doubt these figures and we are glad that they are true, because they have nothing to do in any significant way with our current troubles. And now before we proceed to our terminal we want to ask an important question:
“Why is sixty percent of the wealth in the hands of two percent of the population?” This question is for anyone to answer, and especially “V. T. E.,” who did not say anything in his last article that we disagreed from, and some things that we agreed with—that the high cost of living is not coming down so much in reality as in talk. Well, if no one dares or cares to answer our question, we will proceed. I know we shall be pounced upon as an aristocrat.
Because sixty percent of the business brains are with two percent of the population, or in other words individual capacity. We have seen laboring men with large families lay up money and under the galling, grinding domination of millionaires and syndicates, and we have seen laborers without any family and not bad habits or misfortunes make their terminal at the door of public charity and blame the millionaires, trusts and tariffs for it. We have seen farmers nearly side by side with the sky weather overhead the same and under the same pauper-robbing millionaires, the same tariff that caters to “big interest” and the same beef trusts and all other pauper-robbing trusts and these equal circumstances, we have seen farmers retire with values of better than $75,000 and others retire in hopeless bankruptcy. Ignorance and improperly developed individuals are the mischief-makers at the present time. Individuality is the whole show in what we have illustrated.
Well, we have a railroad strike on our hands, and “L. T. E.” says it is perhaps less justifiable than the coal and textile strikes, but he justifies it on the grounds that if they meekly submitted to the cut it would soon be followed by another cut. There isn’t the slightest evidence to show it, unless it was necessary to prevent the railroads from going into the hands of the receiver, for be it known that the cut in railroad labor is not an attempt of capital to grind labor down because we can and so we will. They must be a silly lot to stir up nationwide trouble for the sake of adding a few dollars to the dividends. Labor has been getting two-thirds of the income of the railroads; must they have the sky while widows and orphans, who are stockholders in the railroads do not get any dividends? Who is suffering the most—labor cut in wages or widows and orphans who are cut out altogether? If the strikers can win to prevent a cut, what is to prevent demanding a raise to even a dollar a minute? If we are powerless in demands for a cut we are equally powerless to prevent a raise. When the railroad labor board a few years ago ordered a raise in wages labor leaders shouted the praises of the board with Hosanna and Amens, but now with the effects of world war conditions the railroad board finds financial figures that make it necessary to cut waste and the Hosanna-Ames crowd all chorus forth “Hark from the tomb a doleful sound,” and threaten to tie up the whole realm of Uncle Sam until the strikers are winners.
They are fighting the bondage of a cut in wages to a comparatively few by a tie-up bondage of more than 100,000,000 people. What a beautiful and inspiring picture of liberty to set up on some monument dedicated to ideal liberty; as “V. T. E.” says “It seems hard for [paper tear, three lines missing]. The lowest wage after the railroad cut was forty-seven cents an hour, while the widows and orphan stockholders do not get anything per hour for their money. To be continued next week—we have not finished the first round.
Graniteville. The Abbot Worsted team met with defeat on last Saturday at the hands of the Winthrop K. of C. in a ten-inning game by the score of 5 to 2. Davidson and Sullivan did the battery work for the Abbots while Melanson and Sullivan were on the firing line for the Winthrop team. This Saturday the Abbots will journey to Salem, where they will meet the Salem town team in the third game of the series. Many local fans will accompany the Abbots to the Witch City for this game.
Both masses in St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning were celebrated by the pastor, Rev. A. Malone, and were largely attended. The pastor called for men volunteers to assist in improving the church grounds. Monday evening was the time set for this work and at that time there was a large number present and a great deal of work was done.
Rep. Alfred W. Hartford, of Westford, has recently been appointed as chairman of the big outing of the Massachusetts Republican league that will be held at the Whitney playground in Westford next month. Mr. Hartford will be a candidate for re-election as representative from this district. There does not appear to be much opposition to his candidacy.
Rev. William E. Anderson returned to his duties as pastor of the Methodist church last Sunday and appeared to be much refreshed after his brief vacation.
The regular meeting of Court Graniteville, F. of A., was held on Thursday evening with a fair attendance.
A son [Roderick Joseph Dola Richard] was born to Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Richard on Friday, July 14.
Many local fans attended the Ayer-Pepperell baseball game in Pepperell on last Sunday. This was the first of a series of three games and the Ayer boys appeared to have things much their own way.
The blueberry season is here, but the berries do not appear to be as numerous as they were last season, due no doubt, to the large amount of rain we have had of late.
This Friday evening and all day Saturday are the big days in Forge Village, when the second annual carnival of the Westford post, A. L., will be held. The committee in charge have arranged a fine list of attractions and there will be something doing every minute. Arrangements have been made to handle a large crowd and refreshments of all kinds will be served on the grounds.
Littleton
News Items. Littleton A.A. baseball team beat St. Mary’s ball nine last Saturday 9-3. The Littleton nine will play Chelmsford at Forge Village this Saturday afternoon at two o’clock instead of three as advertised, so there will be time for a soccer game after the ball game. It is hoped that a good crowd will accompany the Littleton boys on Saturday.
Ayer
Real Estate Transfers. The following real estate transfers have been recorded recently from this vicinity: … Westford—Joseph H. Allen to Joseph T. Bechard et al., land on Pine Hill road; William R. Carver to Clarence S. Whitney et ux., land on Boston road; Franklin R. Caunter to Gedeon P. Leduc, land on River street; Alice M. Hinton to Julia T. Sheehan; John Hutchins to Thomas O. Sullivan et ux., land on Acton road. …
District Court. The following automobile drivers were before the court for violation of the automobile laws in Groton: … Emile LaForme, Forge Village, for not having his registration certificate with him, fined $5.
The continued larceny case from Westford was also before the court on Monday. George Manekas, Angelos Balikas and Stathes Kastanas, of Lowell, were all charged with larceny of one dozen forks, one clock, one tank, one overcoat, two pairs of shoes, one raincoat, three coats, five shirts, kitchenware, one carpet, ten rolls of roofing paper and clothing from William Poulopoulos. It appeared the Poulopoulos had a house in Westford with some furniture and household goods in it, and that Kastanas had formerly lived there also, and had some household goods there.
Poulopoulos has been living elsewhere for several months, but upon returning to his house recently found some of his goods gone. A mop and a coffee percolator belonging to Poulopoulos were found in the possession of Kastanas. Kastanas testified that he had a truck go to the house to move his goods and that the house was locked. He gained entrance through a broken window. He said he took none of Poulopoulos’ property except the mop and coffee percolator, which were taken by mistake, and which he offered to return to Mrs. Poulopoulos, but she would not take them. Mrs. Poulopoulos confirmed this last statement. The cases against Manekas and Balikas were dismissed upon suggestion of the government and Kastanas was found not guilty. Atty. John M. Maloney appeared for the government.
D’Youville College in Buffalo was founded as D’Youville College in 1908 and named by the Grey Nuns after the patroness saint Marie-Marguerite d’Youville. It is now D’Youville University.
The hymn “Hark! From the Tomb a Doleful Sound” was written by the English cleric, poet and hymnist Isaac Watts (1674-1748) who published over 800 hymns. See hymnary.org/text/hark_from_the_tombs_a_doleful_sound.