Turner's Public Spirit, September 3, 1921
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“Center. Fifteen head of cattle from George F. White’s registered herd of Ayrshire cows start
this week in charge of Myron C. Taylor, herdsman, and Ralph Bacon, assistant, for exhibition at
the fall fairs. Hartford, Syracuse, N.Y., Springfield, Waltham and Brockton is the schedule of
places where these fine animals will contest for prize ribbons.
“Mrs. Phonsie Isles, who recently underwent a throat operation at the Lowell General hospital,
returned home on Monday and is gaining each day.
“Leonard W. Wheeler, who has been quite seriously sick and under the doctor’s care this
week, is improving.
“Reopening of Schools. On next Tuesday comes the annual reopening of schools after the
long vacation and of vital interest to so many families. At the academy Principal William C.
Roudenbush will be assisted by Miss Dorothy Latham, of Waltham, a Boston university graduate,
who will teach English and history. Miss Ott, of Shrewsbury, and a graduate of Salem Normal
school, is the new commercial teacher. Miss Ruth Sargent will teach domestic science and Miss
Mary B. Raynes music, the same as last year. It is expected that the enrollment at the academy
will be about sixty-one, about evenly divided, thirty girls and thirty-one boys.
“At the William E. Frost school there is to be a man principal, Mr. Carter, and he, with Mrs.
Carter, has arrived in town. Miss Crocker, who starts her fourteenth year of teaching in Westford,
Misses Ruth P. Tuttle and Edith A. Wright are the other teachers at this building.
“Birthday Anniversary. Joseph E. Knight had a very pleasant birthday anniversary
celebration last Sunday, when he rounded out eighty-three years of life….
“A happy coincidence came during the day when a telegram was received from Mr. Knight’s
son and namesake, Joseph E. Knight, of South Royalton, Vt., that a twelve-pound son, Joseph E.
Knight, 3 rd , had arrived. …
“About Town. Joseph Wall, of Graniteville, vice president of the Lowell Fish and Game
association, is on the reception committee for the annual outing to be held at Willow Dale,
Tyngsboro, on September 22.
“Edgar Nutting, of Graniteville, is building the new house on the Nutting road, and not Elmer
E. Nutting, of Forge Village, as we previously reported.
“Charles Robey is second crop haying for Amos Polley on the Prairie farm, the headquarters
for morning glories.
“The town appropriated $5000 for improvement of the Groton road and the state appropriated
a similar sum, and work will commence at once. It is proposed to commence at Chelmsford town
line and build a macadam road through the swamp and an oiled gravel road to the intersection of
the road leading to Graniteville, thence from there on we don’t know whence, when, where or
whither.
“Stephen Knight, the eighteen-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Knight, and Edmund
Whitney, the ten-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund B. Whitney, of Brookside, are
quarantined at their homes with infantile paralysis. The board of health has quarantined their
homes and Miss Eva Lord, the board of health nurse, is in charge. We have been informed that
these are the only cases of infantile paralysis in the state.
“Returning to California. Last Saturday noon Mr. and Mrs. Charles Decatur and three boys
and Albert Decatur started back in their Overland car on the ‘long, long trail’ to California. They
arrived here from California on July 13, having spent a month in coming, and they expect it will
take them as long to return….
“Forge Village. The Abbot Worsted Company soccer football club played a very interesting
exhibition game with the Gray & Davis eleven of Cambridge at Abbot field Sunday afternoon,
August 21, which resulted in a tie score of three goals each. The contest was enjoyed by a large
number. The Abbots will open the regular season here next month. Following is the lineup for
last Sunday’s game: Abbot Worsted, Edwards g., W. Kelly rb., Cosgrove lb., Lewis rh., Steward
ch., Duncan lh., Farquhar ro., Kane ri., Kershaw c., Ritchie li., T. Kelly lo…. Linesmen, J.
Costello of Forge Village and J. Morgan of Cambridge. Time, two 45-minute periods.
“Ayer
“District Court. Chester Lapniewski, of Westford, [aged 17,] who was before the court on
complaint of Edward E. Backus, game warden, for having in his possession twenty-three pickerel
under twelve inches in length, was found guilty and his case placed on file.”
Dr. Chester Lapniewski (1905-1973), from a 1920 photograph of Westford Academy students,
graduated the Academy in 1921, graduated Tufts and went on to Tufts Medical School for his
MD. Courtesy Photo / Westford Historical Society.