The Westford Wardsman, January 26, 1918
Center. Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Hildreth and Mrs. H. W. Hildreth have been absent during this week on a trip to Camp Meade, Md., to see Harold W. Hildreth. This was supposedly a last opportunity to see Harold before he went to France. They expect to return the last of this week. Miss Mabel Drew has been taking Mrs. Harold Hildreth’s place at the academy during her absence.
Edward M. Abbot, chairman of the engineers of the fire department sends the following communication: “Mrs. Isles, the head telephone operator, tells me that in time of fire a great deal of valuable time is often lost because the person giving the alarm tries to notify the firemen himself, instead of notifying the operator, who will get in touch with the firemen, etc., and can do this much more quickly than an individual can. Would suggest that you call this matter to the [attention of the] readers of your column.” Among other progressive improvements for fighting fires Mr. Abbot also recommends the purchase by the town of a Ford chemical engine which would be of especial benefit to those outside the water district.
The Ladies’ Missionary society of the Congregational church met on Friday afternoon of last week at the home of Mrs. J. E. Knight for their regular monthly meeting. The president, Miss Loker, presided, and Mrs. H. A. Lincoln had charge of the program, continuing the study of Africa with “The soul of the black man” as the special topic.
In these days of uncertainties concerning public gatherings one hesitates to make announcements, but the meeting of the Tadmuck club is planned for February 5 and will take place as scheduled in the calendar on Tuesday afternoon at the Congregational church vestry. Mrs. Mary Kenney O’Sullivan, of Boston, will be the speaker and there will be music by the club trio.
William D. Pitkin, who is employed by George F. White, is very seriously ill with pneumonia.
The regular meeting of the Red Cross and French Relief took place at the library this week. The fuel problem may make it necessary to hold these meetings at private homes. The coal supply at the library is very low and at the other public buildings as well.
The republican town caucus is posted for Monday evening.
Obituary. Westford residents mourn the passing this week of George T. Day, one of her most esteemed citizens, a man of quiet courtesy and unassuming dignity, of sound judgment and keen insight, one whose council was often sought both by the individual and in matters pertaining to the welfare of his native town, where his long life was spent.
George Thomas Day was born in Westford on August 21, 1833, the son of Isaac and Betsey Proctor Day. The Day homestead was the house [at 16 Main St.] now occupied by Mrs. Edmund Day and Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Watson, and the house where the deceased had lived for many years was built by him for his married home. He was educated in the Edson grammar school in Lowell and at Westford academy. Besides being a practical and successful farmer, he has served as a member of Troop F, Cavalry, M.V.M., and was a representative in the Massachusetts legislature in 1859 and in 1863. He was also a selectman from 1865 to 1869, and from 1886 to 1890, and was a member of the school committee during the years 1856, 1857, 1862 to 1867. He was a director of public schools for 1872, 1873 and 1874, and was a trustee of Westford academy. He was agent for the board of health for suppression of contagious diseases among domestic animals and inspector of animals and provisions, and was a member of the building committee of the J. V. Fletcher library. Since the formation of the Westford Water Company, Mr. Day was active in its development and its president at the time of his death.
On January 8, 1867, he was married to Cornelia A. Fletcher, who died on December 16. Mr. Day had not been in good health for the past few years and when the long companionship of years caused by Mrs. Day’s death was broken he failed rapidly and death came on Saturday morning at six o’clock, just a little more than a month after the death of his wife.
The deceased is survived by a niece, Mrs. Sebastian B. Watson.
Mr. Day enjoyed many friendships among business and official associates. The late former Governor John D. Long was a long-time friend. Mr. Day was a staunch republican and a liberal supporter of many worthy objects. The recent Red Cross and Y.M.C.A. campaigns met with a generous response from him.
The funeral was held from his late home on Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock, Rev. Howard A. Lincoln officiating, assisted by Rev. Louis H. Buckshorn. Both clergymen paid fitting tribute to Mr. Day’s memory. Mrs. David L. Greig and Mrs. Charles H. Wright sang two beautiful selections, “Above the bright blue” and “No sorrow there.” The bearers were Charles O. Prescott, Julian A. Cameron, Alonzo H. Sutherland and J. Willard Fletcher. The remains were placed in the receiving tomb at Fairview cemetery, beside the body of his wife, to await interment later. There were many beautiful floral offerings, among which were some especially beautiful tributes from the officers of the Westford Water Co., the academy trustees and the Cavalry association.
About Town. Mr. and Mrs. Hammett D. Wright are grandparents by way of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Wright, of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Jeptha Wright [nee Mary Cheney Blodgett], listed up towards close to ninety years, is great-grandmother.
The talk to have been given last Saturday evening by Abiel J. Abbot on the South Sea Islands was postponed to be on the safe side of Garfield’s instruction orders, of the Japanese army. The general stated that he had come solely to bring a message of good will from the Tokio [sic] association. He stated also that Japan would not seek peace until the entente allies had won the war.
Discoveries have been made which strongly point to the suspicion that drugs are being sold at the camp; an offense against the federal law which provides for a very severe penalty. Recently a soldier was found near the camp with feet frozen and presented all the appearance of being a drug victim. The military police are on a sharp watch for people who practice this work.
Voice culture for the proper giving of commands by officers is now in vogue. A great deal of the success of an officer, according to army officers, depends on how he gives orders. The voices are adapted according to the number of men, and the distance in question is highly important.
Enlisted men are complaining of discrimination against them by two Boston hotel proprietors who do not allow soldiers in their dining rooms. The officers in several companies have been notified and official action is expected to be taken soon. Such exclusion is in direct disregard to military and federal laws.
Five more recruits were ordered discharged last Saturday, after having submitted claims for discharge for various reasons.
Eleven men of the 301st ammunition train were transferred last Saturday and were assigned as privates in the ordinance enlisted corps and reassigned to the ammunition train.
To prevent the spread of communicable diseases through movements of troops, the war department last Saturday ordered careful physical examination of every man before the departure of any unit from one camp or cantonment to another or to a port of embarkment for transportation overseas.
Officers’ wives and girl friends who come here to visit the camp find in the Y.W.C.A. Hostess House an ideal place to remain during their stay. They improve the time by knitting and sewing for the men in uniform and doing other work about the house. Recently six officers’ wives made all new curtains for the many windows in the house.
The National Board of Fire Underwriters, who recently inspected the camp, say that the conditions there with regard to fire protection are extremely hazardous. According to the board, 800,000 gallons of water daily in addition to the present supply are needed for adequate protection. The fire underwriters were accompanied on their visit to the camp by Prof. Ira H. Woolson, an expert on building construction. As there is about $10,000,000 worth of property at the camp the problem of fire protection to properly safeguard it assumes the very first importance. More wells and tanks are needed to remedy the situation for the installation of which approximately $25,000 will be required.
The lack of an adequate supply has long been known by officers at the camp. At the present time the water, except for cooking and drinking purposes, has been shut off half the time. The entire camp is furnished with water from but a single well and a single system of main pipes.
Fire-fighting experts say that a fire, accompanied with a high wind, when the water supply is low, would endanger the whole camp, consisting of over 2000 buildings. The well is capable of furnishing a daily supply of 2,000,000 gallons; fifty-five gallons is the daily allowance for each man in the camp. This is not figuring on the enormous demand of the heating plants, which with the extremely severe cold weather, make it necessary for so much more for heating. Neither is the amount named supplied to the remount station and the base hospital.
Two hundred and eighty men arrived from Rhode Island on Monday to fill the places of those from that state who were rejected in the first eighty-five percent quota. The coming of these draftees caused surprise, as Governor Beeckman had stated that he would not send them until the cold weather had ceased.
It was announced last Sunday that men of draft age may enlist in the 33rd Engineers Regiment now forming at the cantonment. This regiment, as soon as it is recruited to full strength, will leave for France. Skilled labor of practically every kind is wanted for this branch of the service. Those who desire to enlist may apply at the headquarters of the regiment at the camp.
Two representatives of the Red Cross from Boston are completing details for a convalescent building for the comfort of soldiers discharged from the cantonment base hospital. The building will be built at once. Brigadier General Weigel, acting divisional commander, and Major Frothingham, commander of the base hospital, have approved the plan. The building will be a two-story structure and on the lower floor there will be a sun parlor, recreation rooms with piano, game rooms and other facilities. The upper floor will be used for sleeping rooms. There will also be rooms for cooking and serving food.
One of the largest Sunday crowds for a long time came to the camp on last Sunday in spite of the bitter cold weather. A great many of the visitors came from Rhode Island.
Seven more men were discharged from the service on last Sunday, following claims for exemption in appeals to divisional officials. The men came from cities in New York and Massachusetts.
Minstrel Show. The writer found it quite hard to get very much out of the boys up at Company C, 301st Field Signal Battalion, regarding the minstrel show they are giving in connection with the Ida McKinley chapter, O.E.S., January 30, in town hall, but after considerable snooping around we found out that the boys are working night and day whipping what is said to be an exceptional show into the very best possible shape. We know this will please our Ayer folks for the boys have no end of talent. One of the boys asked us to mention his dancing and according to the delightful, graceful figure he says he cuts on the floor, at least some of our girls will be well taken care of. This is only one soldier’s claim, but the whole recreation room full just shouted “say the same about me.”
Anyway the minstrel show opens at eight o’clock sharp and dancing begins at ten sharp. The C boys always put on great shows and this should be particularly fine, at least we think so (on account of their secrecy) and the fact that it is in conjunction with the Ida McKinley chapter should assure everyone of a crashing good time. Put away your slippers and hide the old pipe for your going bye-bye that night.
The following is the program in full:
First Part
Interlocutor Sergt. Frazier
Endmen—Corp. Bergen, Priv. Norton, Priv. Thorne, Priv. Cavanaugh, Priv. McAuliffe, Sergt. Coleman
Opening Overture – Entire Company
Sweet Emmaline – Private O’Hara
How’s Every Little Thing in Dixie? – Private Norton
Wreck on the Tide of Time – Sergt. Frazier
It Takes a Long, Tall, Brownskin Girl – Corp. Bergen
Good Old U.S.A. – Private McIntyre
The Wild, Wild Women – Private McAuliffe
Finale
Second Part
Company “B” Mandolin Club
Corp. F. H. Sabourin, Leader
March – Defend America
Waltz – Over the Waves
Duet – Alice in Wonderland – Sabourin and Dodge
Oddement – Danse di Cupid
Characteristic March – Meteor
Songs – Private Rice
Sketch, Exemption Board No. 13 of Ayer
His Honor – Corp. Donahue
Hard Boiled Egg – Private Norton
Spaghetti – Private Stratos
Jewish person – Corp. Newman
Heavens Bless Her – Private Emerson
Fat clerk – Corp. Bergen
Passed by National Board of Sanitary Ship
Scene- Ayer town hall
Time – Week days
Note – Military etiquette. Enlisted men will refrain from taking part in the first dance number.