The Westford Wardsman, December 15, 1917
Center. Mrs. Fred A. Wright of Washington, D.C., is visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Wright.
Miss Susan C. Preston of Dorchester was an over Sunday guest of her long time friend, Mrs. Howard A. Lincoln, at the Congregational parsonage. Monday evening Mrs. Lincoln invited a group of friends to meet Miss Preston.
Mrs. George T. Day underwent a serious operation at the Lowell General hospital Saturday of last week. Her many friends sincerely sympathize with her in her suffering, but are glad to hear that she is doing well and resting as comfortably as can possibly be expected.
Donald Fiske Cameron of Lowell and Westford, a member of the class of 1918, Phillips-Andover, has recently received honors in chemistry, German and trigonometry.
Miss Julia H. Fletcher entertained the Christmas club at her home on Thursday afternoon of last week.
Mrs. Nellie Carkin has finished knitting her seventh sweater for the soldiers. Mrs. Carkin is somewhat of a shut-in and her health is not always the best and this amount accomplished represents much effort, especially as her knitting is of the best.
In a letter from Wesley Hawkes, jr., to his home people, written from “Somewhere in France,” he speaks of being well and as this letter was written just preceding Thanksgiving he told of preparations and plans for a pleasant recognition of the holiday for the men in uniform so far from home. He further told of one of his comrades, a Groton boy, receiving a copy of this paper and how much they enjoyed reading every bit of the news therein from this and the surrounding towns. We hope that more copies of this paper may reach these men in far off France to greet them with messages of greeting and good will from the people who know them here.
The snow storm of the first of the week for the amount of snow made the hardest kind of work to get the branch line electrics back to schedule. The intense cold on the ice-covered rails made them hard to clear and the car getting off the track added to the hard work.
The Public Safety committee met last Saturday evening and arranged plans for Westford to do its part for stricken Halifax. The town was divided into districts and canvassers appointed for each district. Those for the Center were Edward M. Abbott [Abbot], John P. Wright, Arthur E. Day, J. Herbert Fletcher and Charles O. Prescott. The others were Edward T. Hanley, George Wilson, Frank L. Furbush, W. O. Hawkes, Mrs. Etta W. Fletcher, A. G. Lundberg, Walter A. Whidden, Harry L. Nesmith, Alexander McDonald, Fred Blodgett and J. E. Woods. Results of the canvas will be given next week and it is expected that the response for the suffering and homeless people in Halifax will be worthy of Westford.
The meeting of the Tadmuck club next week will be in charge of the committee on public health, Mrs. W. H. Sherman, Mrs. O. V. Wells and Mrs. A. E. Loveless. Current events will be given by Principal Roudenbush of the academy, and Dr. W. H. Sherman will give an address on “Community health problems.”
The children of the Frost school will hold their Christmas exercises at the town hall on Friday afternoon, December 21, at 1:30 o’clock. All parents and friends are cordially invited to attend. The pupils of each of the four rooms contribute their share of the entertainment, and it is hoped that a good audience will be present to appreciate the children’s efforts.
The members of the home guard held a well attended meeting on Tuesday evening in the town hall. They were in the best of trim for the inspection, but owing to bad weather the inspecting officer did not put in an appearance.
The Ladies’ Aid society of the Congregational church met at the home of the president, Mrs. John P Wright, Thursday afternoon. The completion of some Christmas work occupied the afternoon.
The Red Cross held its meeting on Wednesday afternoon with an extra meeting Tuesday evening at the Library hall. There were good attendances at both meetings and much work accomplished on the special consignment of surgical dressings this branch is asked to do this month. A recent letter of appreciation has been received from Lowell headquarters for the fine quality and quantity of work sent in last week from this branch. In speaking of the large attendance and good work accomplished at Library hall much credit should be given to those who work so faithfully in their homes every week and who cannot come to the hall.
Mrs. William E. Wright gave a very pleasant birthday party for her little son Kenneth last week Friday afternoon at her home on the Boston road. This commemorated his fifth anniversary and it was a very pleasant event with games, gifts and delicious refreshments. There were eleven little people in attendance.
About Town. The W.C.T.U. held a splendid meeting at the home of Mrs. James Kimball on Friday afternoon of last week. An excellent talk was given by Mrs. Charles Jones, who is the evangelistic superintendent of the W.C.T.U. for Middlesex county. Just before Thanksgiving the Union sent a box to the Frances Willard Settlement. A vote of thanks was given to Perley Wright for taking the offering to Boston in his truck, and another vote of thanks was extended to Emory J. Whitney for packing it for transportation. The Union decided to purchase some dolls to be sent to the children at the Frances Willard Settlement. Refreshments were served by the hostess.
Mrs. Herbert E. Fletcher, superintendent of the M.E. Sunday school in West Chelmsford, gave a dinner in the vestry to the teachers of the school last week. Over twenty were present and a fine time was enjoyed. It was a real rally time and Mrs. Fletcher, by this get-together dinner, aroused a fine esprit de corps among her assistants, as they discussed how they might best serve the church and Sunday school.
At the annual meeting of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau, held in Concord last week, the following officers were elected: N. I. Bowditch, Framingham, pres.; L. W. Dean, Waltham, v.p.; Gordon Hutchins, Concord, sec.; C. B. Willard, Waltham, treas.; N. I. Bowditch and Mrs. Mary A. Nash, members of the advisory board, with three other members to be appointed by county commissioners; Mrs. J. J. Storrow, chairman woman’s council; Mrs. F. I. Cooper of Wayland, Miss Alice M. Howard of Westford, Mrs. S. A. Chevatier of Holliston, Mrs. Edwin S. Miller of Wakefield, Mrs. L. P. Richardson of Pepperell, Mrs. H. F. Thompson of Arlington, members of woman’s council.
Miss Marjorie M. Seavey gave the Gamma Delta toast at the annual banquet of the Gamma Delta society of the College of Liberal Arts of Boston University on Wednesday evening, December 5. The bill of fare was strictly “Hooverised,” and the menu cards bore the heading “War banquet.” The Gamma Delta society is the largest social organization in the university. It is made up of all the young women of the College of Liberal Arts, regardless of their fraternity or non-fraternity relations.
Forge Village. A collection for the relief of the Halifax sufferers was taken up in the mills of the Abbot Worsted Co. Monday morning. The employees who are always generous, contributed willingly. The money was paid in Monday afternoon and was forwarded Tuesday to the relief headquarters by the Abbot Worsted Co.
As the Boston and Maine officials have refused to have the express on Saturday from Ayer to Lowell stop at this village, where about 100 to 150 people would be glad to patronize the train, attention is turned to the officials of the Fitchburg trolley line with the request that a little more consideration be shown the patrons of that line in this village. Last Saturday at noon the electrics were so crowded that for three hours they ran express to Lowell. The patrons of the line here are left shivering in the cold anywhere from one to three hours. Double headers would do much to relieve the congestion in the afternoon and evening. With the Christmas rush already begun the people here are very indignant at the means of transportation accorded them. An addition is being built onto the power house which when completed may help out some, but in the meantime extra trips should be made to accommodate the public.
Rev. Angus Dun announced Sunday at St. Andrew’s mission that a meeting of the Forge Service Unit would be held next Thursday evening. A large number are expected to be present. A meeting of the Girl Scouts will also be held. Rev. Mr. Dun also requests all boys over ten years of age, who wish to join the Boy Scouts, to be present. Only those who wish to become efficient scouts in every sense of the word as Mr. Dun expressed it, need apply, as it will not be a meeting for amusement.
Miss Eva P. Pyne requests all those who have sewing for the Red Cross to turn it in as soon as possible as there is a demand from headquarters for these articles. A quick response would be greatly appreciated.
Santa Claus in spite of the war has promised the Sunday school children of St. Andrew’s mission that he will visit them. He will be on hand Tuesday evening, December 18, at 7:30. All those who have attended Sunday school regularly will be rewarded. A concert pending the arrival of Santa will be given by the children, under the direction of Miss Sarah Precious. Everyone is cordially invited to the exercises.
Burton Griffeth has returned from Pascoag, R.I., where he spent Thanksgiving at the home of his brother.
Miss Hazel Comery of Boston spent the weekend at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Comery.
Robert Orr, jr., a private in the depot brigade, Camp Devens, left for Washington last week.
Twenty-five Russian residents of this village received notice to appear at Boston State House, Wednesday, as after eleven o’clock they are in the service of Uncle Sam.
The pupils of Cameron school will give the cantata, “Ye little old folks,” by Pollie Simpkins in Abbot hall next Wednesday evening for the benefit of the local branch of the Red Cross society
Cameron school will close next Friday, December 21, for two weeks Christmas vacation.
Graniteville. Raymond Wall, while driving a Ford runabout down what is known as the “town hill” from Westford Center on last Saturday morning minus chains on his tires skidded when near the bottom of the hill and the machine turned turtle, pinning young Wall beneath it. Fortunately, H. F. Leith of Concord soon came along in his auto and thinking that someone had abandoned the machine after the accident, seeing no one near, was about to continue his journey to Graniteville, when he heard an outcry and going to the opposite side of the car found young Wall pinned by the arm and leg. The top of the machine was smashed and after being righted was driven home on its own power apparently none the worse for the tumble. After Mr. Leith had pried up the machine young Wall was found to be no worse for the accident aside from a few bruises on the arm and leg. Slippery roads with other combinations caused the accident and it was a miracle that the accident had no serious consequences.
The children of St. Catherine’s Sunday school have already begun preparations for Christmas tree exercises that will be held in the church this year as usual.
The blizzard of last Saturday has put the skating out of commission, but the youngsters can console themselves with coasting for the time being.
In spite of the cold weather work still continues to be pushed on the new buildings now being erected in this vicinity.
Aldat Langley of this village, a member of the aviation corps, has arrived in France. Young Langley, who is deeply interested in this branch of the service visited his parents here a few weeks ago. Before his departure he was stationed at Mineola, Long Island.
Miss Stella Shattuck is now ill with pneumonia at her home here.
The members of Cameron circle, C. of F. of A., held a well attended meeting in their rooms on Tuesday night. Much business of importance was transacted and several new members were admitted to membership. At the close of the session a social hour was enjoyed and refreshments were served.
Mrs. Elizabeth Buckingham, who has recently recovered from an illness, is now visiting with relatives in Lowell for a few days.
Excellent sleighing has been enjoyed over the country roads in this vicinity this week.
The members of the Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church met with Mrs. Ellsworth York on Thursday afternoon.
Ayer
Camp Notes. One hundred seventy-five soldiers from the camp were the guests of the Rotary Club at its dinner at Hotel Brunswick Monday night. The club paid all of the expenses of the men’s trip from Ayer. Special trolley cars took the soldiers to and from the North station. No detail which could help to make the men enjoy themselves was overlooked. Each visitor was promised letters from the man at his right at the table provided that he would leave his name and military address. All accepted this offer.
Orders from division headquarters allow eighty percent of the soldiers four days’ leave of absence for Christmas. The remaining twenty percent will be kept at camp for guard duty as an emergency force in case of fire and for other necessary duties. The vacation period begins at noon on December 22 and ends on December 26, at 6:45 a.m. The new year’s holiday will extend from December 31 to January 2, under the same percentage as for the Christmas vacation.
The temperature at the camp last Saturday morning dropped to four degrees below zero, which made drilling impossible. It is planned to have an indoor shed to practice shooting when the weather is severe.
Twenty-six men were transferred last Saturday to what is known as the public utilities department of the camp. This department will keep the camp buildings and equipment in shape and then men assigned to it will probably remain at this work for the duration of the war. The large building formerly used as a restaurant will be fitted up for living quarters for the men attached to this department.
Last Saturday’s arrival of recruits to fill up the ranks of those rejected included 589 from Massachusetts, 57 from Connecticut, 16 from New Hampshire and one from New York.
Three hundred and sixty officers who have received commissions at the close of the second Plattsburg training camp will report at the camp for duty this Saturday.
There has been a marked increase in the number of colds since the steam heat was put into the barracks, which bears out the statement of health experts, who say that more colds are contracted in overheated quarters than those underheated.
Two military prisoners, Privates Frank Lyons of Company M, 101st Infantry, and Joseph E. Gaudreau, of Company M, 23rd Infantry, were taken to Fort Banks last Saturday to serve sentences for failure to appear to be transferred to a southern training camp with the rest of their comrades. Ten others tried to escape going south with several hundreds of others the past week.
Four more men who belong to the national army, classed as deserters, were brought to camp last Saturday. They failed to appear when men from their cities were sent to the camp. Two were from New York city and two from Bridgeport, Conn.
One thousand men left the camp for other cantonments during the past week. One group of 327 men went to the aviation training school at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and other contingents to Camp Greene, Charlotte, N.C., Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga., and to the mechanics’ school at the quartermaster’s department in Washington, D.C.
Charles Guerin, a private in Battery C, 301st Artillery, who overstayed his leave of absence, and who was found guilty of desertion by court martial, was sentenced to two month’s confinement at hard labor and the loss of two-thirds of his pay during that period last Saturday.
Townsend
West. The terrible disaster in Halifax touches even this little village, and one of those in deep anxiety over the fate of relatives is Mr. Ensor, the overseer at the town home, whose sister’s residence was situated near the water front in the devastated section.
Ayer
News Items. A social time was spent Thursday evening when fifteen soldiers from Camp Devens were entertained. The men were former teachers or pupils at the Mt. Hermon school, a former secretary of state, made an unexpected visit to the camp last Sunday, remaining for two hours. While at the camp he was the guest of Kenneth L. Robbie, of the Y.M.C.A. After paying his respects to Maj. Gen. Harry F. Hodges he motored about the camp, and later spoke at the Y.M.C.A. hut. Mr. Bryan had a good word to say of the excellent work of the Red Cross, the Y.M.C.A., K.C. and all other relief and welfare organizations. Mr. Bryan visited the quarters of Company C of the 25th Engineers’ regiment by invitation and had lunch.
Among the soldiers transferred to the mechanical trades school in Washington, D.C., last week, was Harry A. Davis, of Ayer. A letter from him told of his safe arrival with the others at the national capital.
Fifty men from the Depot Brigade were transferred to Fort Day, Governor’s Island, N.Y., the latter part of last week.
A total of $19,763,500 worth of insurance has been taken at the cantonment.
Men of draft age may enlist in the medical corps if they so desire. This information was given out by Major Glenn I. Jones commander of the base hospital, Tuesday.
The men of the 301st Field Artillery had their first instruction in cavalry practice on Tuesday.
Further orders came from division headquarters on Wednesday urging complete secrecy regarding army affairs and troop movements.
Twelve hundred 22-calibre gallery rifles will arrive at the camp this week from the Springfield armory which will be used for target shooting in the indoor ranges which are to be constructed.
Fifty men picked from the Depot Brigade had their first all night stay in the trenches on Wednesday night under actual war conditions. The men spent the time in trenches twelve feet deep in zero temperature, wearing blue denim uniforms and steel helmets. Their feet were covered with sacks as a protection against the cold. During the night they met an attack of an imaginary enemy with great success. Hot meals were served in the trenches by a cook, Thomas Terrio, of Sherman Station, Me. In spite of the hardships encountered, chiefly by the frigid atmosphere, the men enjoyed their experience. This practice was continued the remainder of this week with contingents of men from various commands.
News Items. While returning from Lowell last week Thursday evening in an automobile John M. Wallace met with an accident in trying to avoid running into a party of small boys who were coasting in Graniteville. In trying to prevent injury to the boys Mr. Wallace swerved the machine sharply to one side and ran into a stone wall. A light, the two forward springs and the number plate were broken.
A rumor that the government is to establish a big munitions plant in town is in circulation. The story cannot be confirmed.
The triduum at St. Mary’s church ended last Sunday evening with a congregation that completely filled the church. During the three evenings of prayer, services were conducted by chaplains from Camp Devens in addition to the priests, Frs. McGinn and Houston, who are connected with the church. Soldiers from the camp assisted the choir during the three evenings. The closing sermon on Sunday evening was delivered by Rev. George O’Coonnor of the 301st Field Artillery at Camp Devens, and made a deep impression upon all who were fortunate to hear it.
Monday afternoon a delegation of Grand officers and other members of the order [Harbinger lodge] paid a visit to Camp Devens, where a fine ambulance purchased by subscriptions of Massachusetts members was presented to the government. The presentation was made by Clifford E. Jones, grand chancellor, at division headquarters. The gift was received in behalf of the government by Colonel Powell.
District Court. David Martin, of Boston, another jitney operator, was arraigned on complaints for reckless driving and overspeeding. The alleged offenses were committed within the limits of Camp Devens, near what is known as the “four corners” on December 1, when Martin’s machine ran into an automobile in which were Lieut. Horace Gray and Major Joseph Pratt of the medical reserve corps, painfully injuring both officers. The two officers and chief Beatty were the witnesses for the government. Martin denied that he was guilty of either charge. The case was continued until this week Friday morning in order to get the testimony of an important witness, who was not on hand Thursday. The witness failing to appear, the case against the defendant was dropped.
Harvard
Clipping. The following clipping was taken from the Boston Post of November 27:
“Sawmill men doing big work. Yankees in Scotland out for a record.
“The New England sawmill units are credited by the British war department with doing more work at a lower cost than any similar organization in the British Isles. According to a report just received by James J. Phelan of the executive board of the Massachusetts committee on public safety and vice-chairman of the committee on New England sawmill units. These Yankee lumber jacks—360 of them and 10 sawmills—have been felling big timber in England and Scotland for war work since last spring and were Uncle Sam’s initial contribution to the allied cause.
“The report was brought back by Harry Hackett, chief engineer and assistant manager of the units. He declares that up to October 27 the units had cut 5,224,273 board feet and that his men though separated many miles from the big guns are filled with the American spirit and intend to stick to the job until the Kaiser yells, “Nuff.”
“Leland A Whitney and Robert P. Sheehan of Harvard are enlisted in this unit. They report that up to November they were working full ten hours a day and using the day light saving scheme. Now owing to the change in darkness at 3:30 o’clock the work is but eight hours as no lights are to be used outside the camp and very little light used inside the camp and that is concealed inside, the officials fearing they might be spied by Germans. They also write that since reaching there the first of July they have had only twenty or thirty fair days, the ground being covered all the time with mud and water three or four inches deep.”
Public Safety Committee Notes. The second entertainment of soldiers from Camp Devens, under the auspices of the Public Safety committee, took place in the vestry of the Baptist church at Still River Sunday night. Fifty soldiers were present from the 303rd Infantry. The men were mostly from northern New York. They were taken in barges by the Public Safety committee to Still River in the afternoon and were heartily greeted by the townspeople on arrival. Acquaintances were quickly made, various forms of entertainment carried out and a fine supper served by the committee in charge. The celebrated pie makers of Still River contributed generously and every soldier had as many helpings as desired, and still the pie held out. The soldiers themselves contributed greatly toward the enjoyment of the evening by some fine chorus singing of war songs, including Miss Sears’ patriotic hymn. At eight o’clock the party broke up and the soldiers were taken back to camp, voting the affair a great success.
The next party will be in the town hall at the Center on December 20, for members of the 303rd artillery band. This will be in charge of the Woman’s club. The entertainment and supper on the first Sunday in January will be in charge of the Men’s club.