Turner's Public Spirit, January 29, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. The annual meeting of the Westford Water Co. was held Saturday, January 2, at the
home of Julian A. Cameron and the following officers elected by vote of the stockholders: John
C. Abbot, Julian A. Cameron, Charles O. Prescott, Hon. Edward Fisher and Capt. Sherman H.
Fletcher, directors; Charles O. Prescott, clerk and treasurer; Charles F. Kellogg, auditor. The
directors organized and elected John C. Abbot, president; Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher, manager,
and Alonzo H. Sutherland, superintendent. A committee consisting of Julian A. Cameron, Capt.
Sherman H. Fletcher, Harvey W. Tarbell and Alonzo H. Sutherland, was appointed to investigate
the cost of a fire-proof building at the pumping station and report at a future meeting.
“The faithful Ford truck at Wright & Fletcher’s went out of commission Saturday. Austin
Fletcher was driving it on Boston road near Alec MacDougall’s, when the steering gear broke and
collided forcibly with a telephone pole. Capt. S. H. Fletcher and Gordon Seavey were also riding
in the truck at the time and it was fortunate that all escaped serious injury. The machine was
badly wrecked.
“American Legion. Westford post, A.L., held its first meeting in its new quarters, the
Cavalry building [20 Boston Road], Monday evening, January 24….
“About seventy-five members and guests were present, among which were four of our Civil
war comrades. After the entertainment, smokes, ice cream, cookies and coffee were enjoyed by
all. The pooltable [sic] played its part before and after the show. A Jitney loaded to full capacity
brought the boys and their friends from Graniteville and Forge Village and the outlying districts
of the town were well represented….
“Tadmuck Club. The annual musicale of the Tadmuck club Tuesday afternoon at the
Congregational church was well attended, notwithstanding the cold weather.
“The entertainers of the afternoon were Miss Edith Wright, who played a piano solo, Miss
Mabel [probably Maud] Whitely [sic, probably Whitley] with songs, Miss Doris York with
readings and Miss Etta Thompson of Lowell, soloist. In deference to the Robert Burns
anniversary [Burns was born January 25, 1759] Miss Thompson sang a group of Scotch songs.
Miss Julia Fletcher was the accompanist. The meeting was in charge of Mrs. F. H. Meyer, Mrs.
C. H. Wright and Mrs. A. M. [Miriam] Whitley.
“About Town. Wallace Johnson commenced cutting ice on Burgess [Burge’s] pond last week
Friday and finished early this week. He has enlarged his icehouse to meet his growing trade.
About twenty-five men were employed in filling the house. The ice averaged about eleven inches
before this last zero sting.
“A small acreage of grassland was burned over early Wednesday morning belonging to Amos
Polley, located on Stony Brook road. The fire was caused by sparks from the engine on the Stony
Brook railroad, which bounds the land on the north and the Stony brook on the south and Stony
Brook highway on the east prevented burning over a larger territory of the Stony Brook valley.
“The local freight train on the Stony Brook railroad has reduced its running to every other day.
“The East Littleton station of the Nashua and Acton road [on Littleton Road in Westford] has
been closed and the business will be transferred to West Graniteville.
“Installation. The officers of the grange were installed last week….
“The following were installed: Clifford Johnson, m.; Austin Fletcher, o.; Mrs. Clara Greig, v.;
Ruth Sargent, l.; Harry O. Hartford, a.s.; Mrs. Walter Fletcher, l.a.; Leon F. Hildreth, s.; Gordon
Seavey, g.k.; Eleanor Colburn, Ceres; Freida Johnson, Pomona; Gladys Ingalls, Flora; Mrs.
Aurilla Wright, sec.; Alonzo H. Sutherland, treas.; Clyde Prescott, ex. com.
“Visitors were present from Shirley, Ayer, Littleton, Chelmsford, Groton and Dracut.
Refreshments were served … which was followed by dancing in the upper hall with music by the
grange orchestra. Anderson Bros. playing trombone and drum; Gordon Seavey, cornet with Miss
Rachel Wall, pianist, who also played during the installation service. The music for the dancing
by members of the Abbot Worsted Co. band showed clearly the training they have received in
time, tune and harmony and even those who never danced came near being tempted by the
harmonious appeals of the music.
“Graniteville. The cold weather arrived Tuesday on schedule time and the high wind that
prevailed at all times made things very disagreeable. The mill pond is in fine condition for
skating, but the extreme cold weather has somewhat killed the sport.
“The moving pictures to be shown here Friday night will be Will Rogers in ‘The strange
boarder,’ a Mermaid comedy, ‘A fresh start,’ also, the Pathe news. The same bill will be
presented in Forge Village on Saturday night.”
Filling Wallace Johnson’s ice house on Burge’s Pond. Courtesy photo / June Kennedy