The Westford Wardsman, August 5, 1916
Center. Mrs. Helen K. Frost has returned to her Westford home after several weeks’ visit in Providence.
Rev. Frank M. Baker and family, of Buffalo, N.Y., are visiting relatives in town, the J. W. Brights and John P. Wrights.
Charles O. Prescott and Dr. C. A. Blaney went down to Manomet the first of the week, where the Rev. Charles P. Marshalls are at their summer camp. Dr. Blaney has returned home, but Mr. Prescott remains for a longer stay. Albert E. Prescott is at home with his mother while his brother is away.
Miss Pauline Wallace visited in Providence over Sunday.
Harwood L. Wright returned the first of the week with the Henry M. Wrights to Marshfield, where he has been enjoying the remainder of the week.
Dr. O. V. Wells has returned from an enjoyable vacation with his home people at Bakersfield, Vt. He was accompanied by his little daughter Elizabeth.
A. H. Sutherland is out with a Maxwell runabout which will be of great assistance in getting to and from the pumping station and his various other duties connected with his work. Under his supervision the standpipes have recently been repainted.
Scoutmaster Roudenbush, accompanied by Otis Day, Morton Seavey, Fred Robinson and Harold Berry, visited the Boy Scout camp at Lake Massapoag in Dunstable, going Saturday noon and returning Monday night. The return hike in Monday’s heat was not an easy stunt. The local scouts, with Mr. Roudenbush, expect to camp next week, probably at Long-Sought-for pond, but arrangements will have final decision at their meeting this Friday night.
Mrs. Gertrude C. Skidmore and a party of guests motored to Marblehead and other points of interest on the North Shore on Wednesday of this week.
The Westford A.A. baseball team scored a sweeping victory in their game with the Milford A.A. in Milford, N.H., last Saturday by the score of 14 to 0. The game scheduled for this Saturday between Fitchburg and Westford A.A. has been cancelled, so the Westford team will not play this week. The association plans to give a band concert at Whitney playground the middle of the month, the date not yet being fully decided upon. Last season’s event of this kind was a real success and repetition of the same is hoped for.
The final services before the vacation took place Sunday at the Congregational church with a good sermon and music by the girls’ vested choir. At the evening service Rev. Frank M. Baker assisted pleasantly with singing and a short address. Mrs. Edna Ferguson Woods also gave pleasure with special singing. The Sunday evening services will be sustained during the vacation. Miss Loker and Mr. Osgood will each have charge of one meeting and other leaders will be announced.
The new teacher at the academy to take Miss Young’s place at the opening of the fall term is Miss Helen F. Denfeld of Westboro. Miss Denfeld is a graduate of Wellesley college, class of 1911, and the Bryant & Stratton business college of Boston. Miss Osborn is expected to return as Mr. Roudenbush’s other assistant.
The recent inspection of the branch line electric road by Railroad Inspector Ogden makes a change in the time of starting. The cars will leave the Center at twenty minute of the hour. Special note of this should be made concerning the first car in the morning, which makes a difference of ten minutes, while on the other trips but five minutes’ change is made. between the Center and Brookside.
Mrs. Edna F. Woods, of Somerville, has been spending several days this week with her home people.
It is hoped that the Westford friends will take an interest in writing to Walter Sleeper, Edward Blodgett and Charles Roby at the Mexican border. Word has not been received from the last named of this trio, but he is supposed to be at El Paso. It does not take long to send a short letter, a postal [i.e., postcard] or a paper, and it is very sure to be much appreciated by the recipients.
The committee in charge of the Cavalry association reunion for next week Thursday have arranged for an attractive event. Ladies are invited this year to attend the outing. There will be a clay pigeon shoot at Whitney playground at 2:30 in the afternoon. The baseball diamond on the playground will be in readiness for any members who may wish to engage in a ball game. The annual business meeting will be held at the association building at 4:30 o’clock and at six o’clock the dinner will be served in the town hall. The entertainment will take place in the upper hall at 7:45 and will include the University quartet of Boston and other entertainers. Interspersed with the scheduled program will be the friendly sociability which makes the real success of any reunion.
The J. V. Fletcher library will close at eight o’clock during August.
The summer reading circle connected with the Tadmuck club was to have met this week Thursday afternoon with Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, but was postponed to next week Thursday afternoon, owing to an ill turn of Mrs. Hildreth’s baby son Richard.
A Letter. The following letter was received this week by Principal William C. Roudenbush from Edward Blodgett, who is at the Mexican border, and will prove of interest to Edward’s Westford friends, the letter being dated El Paso, July 24:
I presume you have heard of my enlistment in the national guard. Several reasons prompted me to make the move. First of all, I considered it a duty. The firm I work for also advised all young men in their employ to enlist. We receive full pay while we are away. At El Paso, where we are quartered, Stone and Webster controls the street railways in and around the city. My own company (E of the 5th) is also guarding a smelter and two large bridges owned by the same firm, so you see it is doubly interesting to me to know that besides giving my time to Uncle Sam I am also looking after private interests in which I share.
El Paso is a city of 90,000 situated in a valley on the Rio Grande river. The city is divided into two distinct sections the lower or river section, and the higher or mountain section. In the lower sections are the Spicks (Mexicans) and colored people. In the other are the whites and wealthy Mexicans. The business part of the city reminds one of Boston. The public buildings are very beautiful. Adobe shacks are the common dwellings of the Spicks. They are easily constructed, cool in summer and warm in winter. As a rule the natives or peons are very peaceful, but sometimes lose themselves and throw bottles or stones at us as we come back to camp from the city. We have had very little trouble since arriving here, although last night we were under fire for over an hour. The weather here is not as bad as we expected. The temperature is very high, but we do not mind it, as it is a dry heat.
The only thing the boys really dislike are the sand storms which occur only on calm days; never when the wind is blowing. Sometime next month we expect to hike to Galveston, Texas; then its Washington, D.C., and home. I would like very much to have you write as mail is the only thing we have to look forward to.
A. E. Blodgett
Co. E 5th Mass. Inf.
Camp Cotton, El Paso, Texas.
It is sincerely hoped that many of Edward’s Westford schoolmates and friends will comply with this wish and send letters, postals, papers or any pleasant reminder of the home friends.
About Town. Lizzie Heywood Skinner, who died at the Newton hospital on July 20 [21], was a native of Westford, being the eldest of four daughters of Edwin E. and Mary K. (Fletcher) Heywood, and was born at the Heywood farm home on the Chamberlain road, now owned by Joseph Sargent. She will be remembered by the older residents and her school associates as a scholar at the Old Stony Brook school of comparative recent years, and afterwards as scholar at Westford academy. She was a bright scholar and pleasing personality. She was fifty-five years old and leaves, besides her husband, her mother and a sister, Mrs. Lottie White of Arlington. The funeral was in Arlington.
The death of Mrs. Rosina Q. Child, reported under the Ayer items last week, revives many dear old memories. She was one of four children of Daniel and Mary (Bemis) Falls. Her father, for many years, was station agent in Westford. With her brothers and sisters they were among the larger scholars at Stony Brook school when the writer [Samuel L. Taylor] attended, in the days of jolly times and unhampered individualism, except for an occasional flogging served as a sort of curb by the teacher. They were helpful in study and knew the law of obey.
The law on trout fishing took effect on August 1.
The household of W. R. Taylor are entertaining as relatives Mr. and Mrs. Warren Cushing and Warren, Jr., of Florida.
The monthly social of the village church, West Chelmsford, on last week Thursday evening was a village green gathering, Westford being well represented. The Middlesex Training School band of North Chelmsford furnished special delights of the evening. Much was for sale and much sold and into the treasury it went like gold.
The Cavalry reunion will take place on next Thursday afternoon and evening at Westford Center. The University quartet of Boston and other quartets of less than four will entertain. The rest of the entertainment will be mostly eating, talking and shooting dead doves.
William Graves has bought the standing grass off the John H. Decatur farm.
As planned at present the Middlesex Training School band will deliver music on August 24 to all who have the ear capacity to receive it on Whitney park, when Westford Grange will have an open-air field day with reader, band, speaker and sports. Should it be a poor hay day [i.e., raining] the goods will be delivered at the town hall.
Walter Perham and David F. Small, of Chelmsford, are candidates for representative from this district, eleventh Massachusetts.
Forge Village. The Boy Scouts held their meeting in Abbot hall on Tuesday evening. Mr. Kilbird[?] of Lowell is to take personal charge of the boys[?] here through the efforts of Miss Edith Foster.
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Day and little son Robert of Chelmsford were recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Precious.
Mrs. James W. Ireland and son William, Mrs. Minnie Hartwell and sons, Austin and Albert, with Miss Mary Robbins, of Littleton, are all enjoying camp life at the Splain cottage on the shores of Forge pond.
Mrs. Clarence Hill and son Robert, of Leominster, and Miss Catherine Sheehan, of Leominster, spent a few days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Daly.
On last Sunday Rev. W. M. Ford conducted the services at St. Andrew’s mission. The mission will be closed until September 10, in order that Mr. Ford may have his vacation.
The berry season is now on and many pickers have been seen returning with well filled pails.
The Misses Rose and Margaret Dare spent Saturday and Sunday with friends in Lawrence.
Mr. and Mrs. John Paquette and family, of Nashua, N.H., are occupying Dr. Murray’s cottage on the shores of Forge pond.
Mr. and Mrs. William Kelley had as their guests on Sunday Martin Judge and Mr. Hoyle, of Lawrence.
Miss Rhoda Kilmister, of Providence, R.I., is spending her vacation at the home of her sister, Mrs. Fred Naylor, Pine street.
Mrs. V. C. Bruce Wetmore and sons, Robert and Moreland, are at the White Mountains.
Rev. and Mrs. Williston M. Ford are spending their vacation motoring in the different states.
Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett were entertained at dinner Sunday at the home of Rev. and Mrs. W. M. Ford at their home in Ayer. Later, they motored over to Leominster to the summer home of Rev. and Mrs. Thomas L. Fisher at Legate hill, where all were delightfully entertained.
Rev. Thomas L. Fisher will occupy the pulpit at St. Andrew’s mission on Sunday, August 27, when a communion service will be held. With the exception of this service the church will be closed throughout the month.
Mr. and Mrs. James Kelley motored over 200 miles on Sunday. They went as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Wheeling, of Lowell. The party first went to Hampton Beach, where dinner was enjoyed. They then motored to Salisbury Beach and homeward through the various cities and towns.
An auto truck with a large party from here and Graniteville motored to Revere Beach last Sunday.
Miss Elizabeth Simpson, of Boston, returned Sunday after a pleasant week’s visit at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Splain.
Little Florence Blodgett of the Ridges is ill at her home with measles.
Mr. and Mrs. Alvah Bicknell of Somerville, spent the weekend as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. John Carmichael.
Arthur Blodgett, of Medford, spent Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards.
A large bull dog was found floating in Forge pond last Sunday by the board of health agent, Albert A. Hildreth. A large stone had been tied around the animal’s neck and thrown into the water. There is a fine of $100 for anyone throwing dogs or cats into the pond. If anyone has animals to dispose of they should notify the board of health. It is hoped that the guilty person will be found.
The annual picnic of St. Catherine’s church, West Graniteville, will be held on Saturday, August 12.
Graniteville. Mrs. A. R. Wall, with her two daughters, Mary and Cecilia, are spending a few days in Revere.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Couture have recently returned from a very delightful vacation spent in Canada.
J. Omer LeDuc was taken to the Lowell General hospital by Dr. W. H. Sherman on last week Friday, suffering from an attack of appendicitis. An operation was performed on Saturday morning that was entirely successful and the patient is now getting along as well as can be expected.
Mrs. Emma Fite and son Wilbur, of Philadelphia, Pa., have been recent guests of Rev. and Mrs. A. F. Fite at the [Methodist] parsonage. Mrs. Fite, who is the mother of Rev. and Mrs. A. F. Fite, pastor of the M. E. church, will remain here for a brief time, but Wilbur Fite has already left here for his home in Philadelphia.
Mr. and Mrs. William Gilson, of New York city, are visiting relatives here.
The blueberry season is in full swing and the many people who pick them daily return home with well filled baskets.
Miss Nettie Hanning and Miss Drina Gagnon are spending their vacation at Revere Beach.
The parishioners of St. Catherine’s church met at the church on last Monday evening for the purpose of making arrangements for the annual picnic in Forge Village on Saturday, August 12. The following were appointed on the general committee: Picnic in charge of Rev. Henry L. Scott; A. R. Wall, general manager; Edward Riney, assist.; Francis Gower, sec.; Edward T. Hanley, treas.; H. J. McCarthy, chairman of committee on sports. There will be music by the North Chelmsford Training School band, baseball game and sports of all kinds during the afternoon, to be followed by a dance in the evening.