Turner's Public Spirit, April 7, 2023
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. A millinery meeting will be held for the women of Westford interested in the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Economics, April 26, from ten in the morning until four o’clock in the afternoon in Library hall. Women expecting to make a hat must bring new material and a frame, as well as other sewing equipment. Discount cards, which may be used for purchasing your material in Boston, may be obtained from Miss May E. Day. The class is open to all women of the town.
Before a large audience on last Sunday evening the Sunday school of the Congregational church presented the beautiful pageant, “The Easter light.” We hope that the Sunday school will be able to give us other such attractive services from time to time. The evangelistic meetings begin this week Friday evening at 7:30. Miss Reid will sing on Friday and again on Sunday evening. Miss Alice Morse will sing on Saturday evening. William T. Murphy will speak at each meeting this weekend. The pastor will preach on Sunday morning. Other Sunday services as usual. The Junior C. E. will observe consecration day, meeting at the home of Howard Felch
Carver Symmes, an old resident of the town, was found dead at his home in the south part of the town on last Saturday. Paul Wilson and James Loomis had stopped at the house to see if they could render any assistance to Mr. Symmes, who resided alone, and found him dead, seated in a chair in front of the stove. The police were notified, who in turn notified Coroner Bulkeley, of Ayer, who pronounced death due to natural causes, and stated that Mr. Symmes had probably been dead about thirty-six hours. An undertaker was called who took charge of the remains and the funeral service were held at Fairview cemetery on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Symmes is survived by a brother, Fletcher Symmes, of this town, and several nieces and nephews.
The floral decorations at the Unitarian church on Sunday were profuse and beautiful, the flowers being donated by relatives in memory of deceased members of their families. Following is a list of those who were remembered in this beautiful manner: Mr. and Mrs. John M. Fletcher, Mrs. Hiram Whitney, Mary R. Fletcher, Dr. Orion V. Wells, Mrs. Amanda Fisher and Rev. Louis Buckshorn, Mrs. Edith L. Hildreth, Grace M. (Robinson) Hartford, Mrs. Nelson Tuttle, Mrs. Etta W. Fletcher, Mrs. Cornelia A. Day, Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Fletcher.
The fire department held their regular monthly supper at the firehouse on Tuesday evening, and the affair was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Edwin Green and Everett Miller were the committee for the evening, and twenty-four were in attendance.
The fire department received a call to the Vose house in the Parkerville section on Thursday afternoon of last week, caused by a defective chimney.
The truck of J. Edward Clement caught fire one evening last week, but the blaze was put out before any serious damage was done.
Clayton Earl, the five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney W. Wright, passed away at the Lowell General hospital after a short illness. The little fellow, who was exceptionally bright, will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Besides his parents he leaves three brothers, Howard, Claude and Winston. Owing to illness in the family the funeral services were held from the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Wright, Monday afternoon. Rev. William Anderson spoke words of comfort to the bereaved family, and there was singing by Mrs. Edith Pond Blaney. The pall-bearers were Frank Wright, Warren Wright, Sidney W. Wright and Bert Decatur. There were a number of beautiful floral tributes and burial was at Fairview cemetery, the committal prayer being read by Rev. William E. Anderson. Much sympathy has been expressed for Mr. and Mrs. Wright.
There will be an all-day meeting of the Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church at the home of Mrs. Warren Hanscom on Thursday, April 12.
Robert Wetmore, Miss Fillebrown, Moreland Wetmore and Miss Griffin have been recent visitors in town.
The Legion will hold a dance in the town hall on Friday evening, April 20. Fogg’s orchestra of Brockton will furnish the music.
On Monday evening, April 30, “Buddy” night will be observed at the headquarters of the Legion. Among the speakers of the evening will be William J. Doyle, state commander. There will be other things in the entertainment line, and every ex-service man in town is invited to attend, and it is hoped that there will be a large attendance.
At the next meeting of the Tadmuck club on Tuesday afternoon, April 19, children’s day will be observed. The meeting is in charge of the health committee, and Coco, the health clown, from the Massachusetts Tuberculosis league, will furnish the entertainment. The meeting will be held in the town hall at three o’clock, and all children are invited to attend.
The W.C.T.U. held their regular meeting on Wednesday afternoon of this week with Mrs. French at the home of Charles O. Prescott. Reports were read by Mrs. Ada Day, Miss May Day, and the president, Mrs. Janet Wright, gave a report on the big W.C.T.U. bazaar held in Boston last week. The organization recently voted to donate five dollars to the bazaar which entitled the president, Mrs. Wright, to be one of the patronesses. The society also voted money to the fund which is used to buy potted plants for shut-ins at Easter time. Music, vocal and instrumental, also formed part of the Wednesday afternoon program, those taking part being Mrs. Lily Meyer, Miss Edith Wright, Mrs. Edith Blaney and Mrs. Janet Wright. Fifteen members were present and the hostess, Mrs. French, served refreshments.
Academy Notes. Principal William Roudenbush attended the annual meeting of the Schoolmasters’ club held in Boston on March 24.
The boys have started baseball and soccer practice. The captain of the baseball nine is Edward Hunt, of Forge Village, and the school has arranged a schedule for the season, games with Littleton, Groton, Pepperell, Ayer and the Lowell Vocational schools being on the list.
Rehearsals for the prize-speaking, which will be given the last of this month, and for the senior play, which will be given in May, are being held frequently.
About Town. John Perkins and family have moved from the Pollock place on the Cold Spring road to North Chelmsford. Mr. Perkins has been working at the Cadman farm.
The New Hampshire legislature has refused to legalize Sunday baseball by a vote of 208 to 134.
The United States government is publishing a “booklet on saving.” A tightwad is designated as a man who saves sixty cents of every dollar and spends thirty-seven cents of the balance for living expenses and one cent each for education, recreation and giving. In a little book entitled “How other people get ahead,” the government saving systems is endeavoring to interest the American people, especially those with small incomes, in thrift. Alongside its designation of a tightwad it places the spendthrift, who is described as a man who saves nothing, spends fifty-eight cents of every dollar on living expenses, forty cents on recreation and one cent each for education and giving. The thrifty man is one designated as saving twenty cents on every dollar, expends fifty cents on living and ten cents each on education, giving and recreation.
Under the Townsend news last week in reading of the death of Herbert N. Wright, it recalled to memory that his father, George Fletcher Wright, was born in this town and lived here during his early manhood. I clearly recall how precocious he was as a scholar in Sunday school and how it helped out some of the dullness. He later moved to Harvard in company with deacon George E. Burtt [sic].
Miss Luanna B. Decatur is home from her school in New Rochelle, N.Y., for the Easter vacation.
Mr. Blanchard, of Graniteville, is moving to the Graves farm on the Graniteville road [37 Graniteville Road], and the Foster family, of Townsend, who have been living in the Graves house, are preparing to move elsewhere as soon as they can find a place to move into.
First Parish church (Unitarian), Sunday service at 4 p.m. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister. Subject, “The spirit’s reaction.”
Gov. Proctor of Vermont has signed a bill to check drunken drivers of automobiles—first offence three years’ forfeiture of license; second offence, twenty years, and third offence the license is revoked without any renewal ever being allowed. This bill was passed by the legislature as the result of statistics showing the majority automobile accidents were caused by drunken drivers. We need something more stronger [sic] in Massachusetts, for what does a few months’ suspension do towards safety first. Frank A. Goodwin, the registrar of motor vehicles, is strong in urging more stringent and drastic legislation, and prior to all, if there is any doubt about the drinking habit the party applying for a license should be compelled to give reliable references or submit to a public hearing. The present licensing is too loose.
I have received from our old friend Emery J. Whitney, a copy of the Kissimmee Valley (Florida) Gazette. I am always glad to quote a temperature hotter than zero, of which we have had a big crop this winter. The temperature in this valley for the week March 17-23, maximum 85, minimum 68; March 18, 87, 62; March 19, 89, 66; March 20, 88, 51; March 21, 74, 53; March 22, 88, 65; March 23, 87, 64, which sounds very agreeable.
The Morning Glory farm and the Old Oaken Bucket farm are both plowing with rush speed enough to throw their boat heels off, such is the spryness of their step behind the plow.
Someone has stolen about a cord of alderwood on the banks of the Stony Brook on the Old Oaken Bucket farm, evidently using a boat, thus giving us a chance to hurrah and hurrah again that the prohibition law is the only law that is easily violated and a widespread determination to do it.
The funeral of Mrs. Julia A. Holt [nee Julia Ann Sawtelle] took place on Tuesday afternoon from the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles H. Wing, School street, Lowell. The services were conducted by Rev. Edward C. Downey, minister of Grace Universal church. There were many floral offerings. The bearers were E. L. Lapoint, E. F. Farnham, A. E. Burnham and C. A. Torsey. Burial was in the family lot in Fairview cemetery in Westford, where the committal service was read by Mr. Downey.
Mice are reported girding the apple trees badly in some parts of the town, the state and the United States, climbing the wire protectors and in many cases gnawing so close to the roots that it is impossible to perform bridge grafting surgery. At the Old Oaken Bucket farm only one small non-promising tree was eaten, which had no protection whatever.
I reported last week that woodchucks had been seen out, or else one woodchuck several times, and that it was a sure sign that spring was here and time to plant beans. But listen to the false prophets, woodchucks and your false adviser correspondent—spring received a smashing K.O. haymaker blow last week Thursday morning when zero got into the saddle and drove spring out (if it was ever in the saddle) at the Old Oaken Bucket farm.
Water Storage. There has been some agitation, and it is still working, to build large reservoirs in the lake regions that supply the source of the Merrimack river with water, but the Maine legislature, now in session, is in the saddle to create the Kennebec Reservoir Co, to maintain storage basins on the Kennebec river. The bill passed, and Gov. Baxter vetoed the bill, and the legislature passed the bill over the veto. Such is the feeling in Maine for storage reservoirs. In passing the bill over the governor’s veto the legislature, by resolution, said “There is no reason for delaying the decision until 1924. We urge all good citizens of this state to join in signing petitions calling for an election at which this issue may be decided, the same to take place during the year 1923.”
The governor, with his veto, is clearly out of step with the trend of modern conservation of water power. We have allowed the unrestrained destruction of our forests without any attempt at their conservation. As a result of this hind-sighted wisdom we are afflicted with excess rains and floods, followed by serious droughts and for the want of storing this excess water supply manufacturing either has to shut down or shut up, and as farmers we sit and see our crops dry up with plenty of water close in sight, that the power of irrigation Gov. Baxter and all opponents of water storage are not as far advanced in the conservation of water supply in reservoirs as the people of India, whom we call heathens. They are planning to borrow one billion dollars to be used mostly in irrigation and forestry and anything left over after these two conservation projects are executed, will be devoted to building railroads and schools. Hurrah for Progressive India, and hurrah for the dam 400 feet high in Colorado and a reservoir covering over 700,000 acres. The Old Oaken Bucket farm is for it with about all New England farmers against it.
Wages Increasing. Manufacturers seem to be declaring a raise in wages all over everywhere, and that is a large territory. It is what we have claimed, that as a class they are disposed to treat their help humanely notwithstanding all this blustering of some labor leaders. They are disposed all they can afford to pay and give stockholders any interest on the money invested. Do labor leaders want to invest their money in the savings banks and not get any interest? It is just as humanely sensible as to expect stockholders in manufacturing to invest without interest. The recent strike in Lowell resulted in labor paying the taxes on the closed-down mills, there being no orders and temporarily the life of business dead. The mills were glad of an excuse to close and save enough in labor wages to pay their taxes. What new breed of wisdom are labor leaders trying to ball the laborer with to order a strike at that critical time of business? Labor has my sympathy in their struggles, but I cannot bring myself to take any stock in the wisdom of some labor leaders to order a strike when manufacturing is down to low ebb; so low that it is dragging anchor. When the tide ebbs in, instead of out, so that manufacturers can flood their business and give dividends to stockholders, who are laborers by proxy, they will increase wages to direct laborers. They will do it without striking to get it. They are not the grinding down labor hogs that labor leaders have pictured them.
Interesting Facts. In quoting Gilbert F. Wright at the institute I guessed from memory, having mislaid his typewritten copy. I desire to quote him more exact and fully:
“We should all be much better off if we only studied Mother Nature and her unbreakable laws more fully.” There should be a unanimous Amen to that. “We have been guzzling beef, hog and old hen so much for so many years, is there not danger of becoming cannibals. If nuts were used more freely children’s teeth would be in better condition in the future. It is reported that the meat-eating animals will thrive on nuts alone. In some countries nut-growing trees are planted by the roadside and the proceeds devoted to repairing the roads, and these nuts were inferior to the shagbark walnuts that grew in Westford fifty years ago. There is no better place in the world to grow nut trees for food and improve landscape beauty and the wood for special purposes than in the rocky, unproductive pastures around us.” Some more unanimous Amen is due that idea.
“The new legume koday [sic] will smother out poison ivy.” I speak for a smothering dose at the Old Oaken Bucket farm. “If the second crop of potatoes will give us a potato free from blight and rot, why not have it? If the propagation of fruit and nut trees, with the top root development, the budding and training with the retarded leader bud, the straight, perpendicular trunk and lateral limb will give us fruit and nut trees much quicker from the budding and last many years longer, ought we not to have them? If the poultry feed almonds, which poultry eat so greedily, will keep our poultry and grow so easily and save half our grain bills, ought we not to be interested in raising them? If the snow beans will stand eight below zero why should we not have them? If, as reported, rice is growing in colder countries than ours, in fresh water marshes, why not have it in our own swamps, mud holes and sloughs?”
“When a boy here in Westford highland, wine cranberries were growing on a rocky hill and the owner ploughed them in. If any of you know of such now I would be grateful to you to let me know. I believe that wheat can be grown with profit for home use. Reports come from the west that alfalfa is used for human food in many ways and when it can be grown so easily and save half of our grain bills, are not the farmers foolish not to go to it in a small way at first and work up? If my health allowed, I wish I had ten hours to discuss each one of these questions, but am limited to a few minutes. If you wish to ask any questions go to it and I will quit when the chairman says my time is up, as there are educated agriculturalists to follow and I am only a hayseed farmer.”
Walk on the Left. During last year, in Massachusetts, 250 children were killed and over 4000 injured by automobiles. Frank A. Goodwin, the registrar of motors, advises a more rigid enforcement against drivers under the influence of intoxicating drinks. He also advises foot motorists to use the left hand side of the road so that an auto approaching a foot passenger from the rear will pass a safe distance apart right and left of the road, whereas if the pedestrian foot passenger walks on the right side of the road the auto and pedestrian will both pass on the right hand side of the road. On a narrow road is where most of the auto accidents happen to non-riding passengers.
The registrar’s advice is most sensibly common sense, but it is hard to learn to become left-handed. I find that it is a good plan, after you have been knocked down several times into semi-consciousness to tie a long string onto your left big thumb or big little finger as a constant reminder that you are to take walking orders from your left hand; it will also remind you which is your left hand. Try the string remedy, all who are still in a conscious state, and you will find that it is the cheapest insurance policy that you ever didn’t take out or pay for.
Now just a closing-out thought, Mr. Registrar, if there is room on the state law book for another law (which is doubtful) I would like to add one: “That two automobiles and a pedestrian shall not pass each other at the same time.” This frequently happens on our rural roads, where bushes are unlimited in their space rights and the roadway is limited in its width to what the bushes haven’t had time to grow to occupy. It is a reckless violation of the law of safety first to pass under these circumstances, bushes or without bushes. I am not trying to pull something onto the tree and bush warden. He will cut all the bushes we will tax ourselves for and he must not be expected to cut several hundred miles of bushes with a few hundred dollars. Besides, there is but little danger on our Back Bay bush roads, where one rarely ever meet, and frequently not even one has a meet [sic]. The automobile too often gives the impression of owning a monopoly of the whole roadway, and too frequently the foot passenger has the same disease, a sort of “I have got a right of way on this road and I dare you to run over me.” Both are wrong in the width of their road rights and it would be impossible to build a road wide enough for such rights to meet and pass each other.
Farming Statistics. The total value of New England foodstuffs in 1922 was $300,000,000. Yet for all this we imported eighty percent of our food. We paid out $500,000,000 for food brought in from other states and other countries, some of which, of course, we could not raise; but a considerable part we could have raised; and we are on the way to doing so—thereby adding to our prosperity. It costs $20,000 on the average to embark on a farming career in some of the western states and only $7500 in Massachusetts, something for the man with limited capital to consider. That this is a serious consideration is the fact that 120 young men came back from the middle western states last year to engage in farming in Massachusetts. Inflated land values, the high cost of labor and transportation difficulties are responsible in a measure for this state of affairs (and I will add 750 bushels of potatoes for $1.30 [per bushel]).
In the west 66 farmers out of every 100 own their farms; in Massachusetts 93 out of every 100 own their farms. Otherwise expressed, tenancy is 40% against 70%. Fifty-two out of every 100 New England farmers have lived for ten years on the farms they occupy, but only thirty-three in the western states are in a like position. Massachusetts farmers spend three dollars per acre every year in restoring fertility to the soil, and the westerners spend three cents on the same extent of land. They are ruining their soil.
Dr. Charles D. Woods of the Division of Agricultural [sic] Department, points out that while the area of all New England is less than that of the state of Iowa, in proportion to its area, it produces a larger crop than North and South Dakota combined. The percentage of improved land in New England, for all its forests and swamps, rocks, lakes and sand dunes, and its many cities, towns and villages, is 67 against 36 for the west. New England agriculture represents the investment of $860,000,000 and produces an annual income of $300,000,000. Either John D. Rockefeller or Henry Ford would deem such an investment and such an income worthy of respectful attention. How true the Rockefeller and Ford statement is and how equally true and more so is the fact that if they had as managers in proportion to the money invested as the farmers have, they would have been known financially as Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller. For every few thousand dollars invested in farming as a business there is a separate manager. Right here in town, where the capital invested in farming pays less than one-fifth of the taxes, there are more than 100 managers of this capital. I would like to be timekeeper for Rockefeller and Ford and see how long a time they would last financially in splitting up their management into as many parcels as agriculture is sub-let into. I should expect that in a very short time that congress would be memorialized to come forward with cheap money to bloc [sic] up the oil and automobile industry.
As bearing on the farmers transacting business together, of the more than 500 farmers’ cooperative organizations for selling farm produce, the overwhelming majority have jumped the track and turned turtle in doing so and without the head of the turtle to get back onto its feet again. Several causes contributed to turtle turn in affairs. Right down stealing, dishonesty, lack of sufficient capital and honest but extravagant management we have got to learn and unlearn much before we can cooperate in selling even a pint of peanuts.
Library Notes. This is just the season of the year to read nature and outdoor books with [which] the library is supplied. “Everyday adventures,” by Samuel Scoville, is a book of rare delight with the very breath of the woods in it. The wonder of the book is in its everydayness. It will open the eyes to a variety of experiences that all may enjoy. To the author a walk through the country at any season reveals a million happenings by the roadside that most of us would never be aware of. “Wild folk,” by the same author, is a book of dramatic stories from the life of wild animals. “Wild brother,” by Underwood, is the “strangest of true stories from the north woods.” Other books similar to these are “Jonathan papers,” Morris; “Wild life near home,” Dallas L. Sharp; “Human side of trees,” Dixon; “Jungle peace” and “Edge of the jungle,” Beebe; and “Outline of science,” Thompson.
“Nature Magazine” has just been added to our collection of periodicals which can be borrowed from the library. This is an attractive magazine well illustrated with pictures of animal, bird and plant life.
Graniteville. The glorious festival of Easter was observed in St. Catherine’s church on Sunday morning when two masses were celebrated by the pastor, Rev. A. S. Malone, both of which were largely attended. The second was a high mass and was celebrated at 10:30 o’clock. The choir, under the direction of Miss Mary F. Hanley, sang St. Cecilia’s mass, the solos being sustained by Mrs. J. B. Gray, Miss Rachel Wall, Miss Laura McCarthy, James May, R. J. McCarthy and Albert Reeves, jr. [sic] The altar was beautifully decorated with flowers that added greatly to the impressive service.
Mrs. William Craig and daughter Mary of Salem have been recent guests of Dr. and Mrs. Fabyan Packard.
At a meeting of the board of trustees of the M.E. church held recently George E. Chandler was elected president and George D. Wilson, secretary-treasurer.
Owing to the M.E. church conference that will be held in Holyoke this week, there will not be a regular service held in the Methodist church next Sunday.
The Abbot Worsted soccer team defeated the Shawsheen A.A. at Shawsheen Village last Saturday afternoon in a state cup game, 4 goals to 1. On Saturday, April 7, at Forge Village the Abbots will meet the Clan Sutherland team of Brookline in an American Cup game and on Sunday afternoon at Forge Village the Abbots will play the American Woolen club of Lawrence in an Industrial League game. Both visiting clubs have strong teams and the games promise to be largely attended. These games will mark the spring opening of the soccer season at Forge Village.
Charles McLenna of Norton has been a recent visitor here.
A daughter, Doris Josephine, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Graham on Sunday, March 31.
A whist party in aid of St. Catherine’s church building fund was held in Abbot’s hall here on Tuesday evening and was largely attended.
All the schools in town again resumed sessions on Tuesday, April 3, after the regular spring vacation.
Business continues to be good here in the mills and machine shops, but not much work has been done on the quarry as yet.
Townsend
West. Miss Persis Ormsby, who attends Westford academy, has been enjoying her Easter vacation at her home.
Ayer
News Items. Mrs. Abbie M. Smith has rented her home on Cambridge street to Mr. Larkin, who has been occupying one of the Hamel tenements on Maple street. Mrs. Smith will make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Everett Miller, in Westford. Her son, Walter Smith, is living with his sister, Mrs. Ida Gregory, on Park Street.