Turner's Public Spirit, April 23, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. J. Willard Fletcher has been appointed the third member of the board of assessors to
take the place of J. W. Rafter, resigned on account of ill health.
“Roger Hildreth is quarantined with scarlet fever.
“Last week Thursday three calls for help for fires made a busy day for the fire department.
Two were woods fires and one a chimney fire and all controlled before any extensive damage was
done.
“The Frost school was closed Friday of last week and the teachers were in attendance at the
teachers convention at the Normal school, Lowell.
“The Ladies’ Missionary society met at the home of Mrs. Clarence Hildreth Friday of last
week. The president, Miss Loker, presided and conducted the devotional service. Arrangements
were made for the meeting of this district to be held with this Congregational church May 10.
Mrs. L. W. Wheeler had charge of the program subject, ‘The leaves of the trees.’ The hostess,
Mrs. Hildreth, served tea and a social hour was enjoyed at the close of the meeting.
“Some interesting new books recently added to the J. V. Fletcher library are ‘Happy hunting
ground’ by Kermit Roosevelt, ‘Outline of history’ by H. G. Wells, ‘Autobiography of Buffalo
Bill,’ ‘Early memories’ by Henry Cabot Lodge and ‘Americanization of Edward W. Bok’ [an
autobiography of the Dutch-born longtime editor of ‘The Ladies Home Journal’ and noted
philanthropist; the book was published in 1920 and received a Pulitzer Prize in 1921].
“Narrow Escape. Westford friends are sorry to hear of the recent accident that happened to
Wesley Hawkes, Jr., of Melrose. He is employed by the American Express Co., Boston, in the
foreign exchange bond department, and while a fellow workman in the same room with him was
at work cleaning some revolvers kept there by the company a bullet was accidentally discharge
seriously wounding Mr. Hawkes. He was removed to the hospital and is making good recovery.
At best it was a nerve-racking scare for all concerned. Of course the man cleaning the revolvers
supposed them empty. Mr. Hawkes is an overseas man [in the U.S. Army during the Great War],
doing service at the front. He was gassed but escaped being wounded, but at home in the
supposedly peaceful pursuit of his daily work had a narrow escape from death. He is a frequent
visitor in this village, and his many friends here wish him a good recovery.
“Tadmuck Club. The last meeting of the season, excepting the annual luncheon of the
Tadmuck club, took place Wednesday afternoon at the Congregational church. At the session
Mrs. White, president, presiding, a nominating committee consisting of Mrs. Perley E. Wright,
Mrs. William E. Anderson, Mrs. W. C. Roudenbush, Misses Alice M. Howard and Maude
Robinson was appointed. Menus for the luncheon were submitted and discussed….
“The program for the afternoon was a lecture by Miss Josephine Chute, a director of the
Lowell Normal school, on ‘Art in home furnishing.’ Miss Chute was an accomplished speaker
and her lecture illustrated with samples of wallpapers, draperies and pictures, was an incentive to
all who heard her to make the arrangements of their homes in walls, floors, furnishing and
ornaments as attractive as possible up to one’s capability and means….
“Minstrel Show. A capacity audience filled the town hall for the minstrel show last week
Friday evening. Over five hundred tickets were sold, one man alone selling over 75 tickets. The
show was given under the auspices of the Republican League, Ralph P. Hawkes, manager and
song leader.
“The large stage adapted itself to the large cast and was handsomely decorated. There were
over 75 people in the cast but of course interest centered in Westford participants. Arthur
Walker, one of the end men, was good in his solo, ‘Parson Brown,’ and Warren Hanscom also an
end man, in his solo, ‘The minstrel parade.’ Westford men in the chorus were Clifford Johnson,
Charles Roby, Leon Hildreth, Alfred Hartford, John Greig, George Wilson, Frank Caunter, Mark
Palmer and Fred Perkins.
“For two hours the audience enjoyed the bright jokes of the interlocutor and end men with
local hits, the solo characters, and fancy dances and choruses. Albert Edmund Brown’s fine
singing added much and the final song, ‘America,’ and tableau, was effective and beautiful.
There was dancing after the entertainment.
“About Town. As a result of the recent view and hearing on the condition of the Lowell road
and petition for repairs, A. L. Cutting, chairman of the county commissioners, has written
Representative Alfred W. Hartford that the county surveyor will make a survey of the road with
especial reference to drainage, which is the chief ailment of the road. Modern repairs will
follow.”
Roger Hildreth (1909-1964), right, with his father and town clerk, Charles L. Hildreth (1879-
1978). Courtesy photo / Westford Historical Society.