The Westford Wardsman, April 15, 1916
Center. Announcements have recently come to the Westford friends of the marriage of Harrison C. Hall to Miss Ferne Hall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chase Ambrose Hall, of Oakland, Cal. Mr. Hall and his bride will reside in Oakland.
Mrs. Edward Fisher and daughters have been spending a week with the home people in Swampscott.
The Stiles family have moved this week from the bungalow on Depot street to the James Spinner house on Boston road. Mrs. Mary Morin has moved into the vacated bungalow which is to be her home for the future.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Holbrook on Wednesday of last week.
Frank E. Miller has a Buick automobile which he intends to make convertible from a passenger to a light trucking machine.
The Misses Atwood are expected home in a few days from Jacksonville, Fla., where they have been spending the winter.
Mr. Gumb, of Lowell, who bought the Spinner property on Boston road, has ground broken and the batters up for a new house on the vacant lot between the greenhouse and Miss Flanders’ home. Fred A. Vinal, a Dracut contractor, has the work in charge.
Dan Morgan Smith, speaker for the Anti-Saloon league of America, made an address at the Congregational church on Friday evening of last week. His lecture, “The inside of the other side,” made clear why prohibition is the only solution of the liquor problem of the United States.
The Ladies’ Aid of the Congregational church held an all-day meeting at the vestry Thursday. A basket lunch with hot coffee was served at noon.
Winter took a fresh grip last Sunday with another snowstorm. There were several inches of Heavy, wet snow, although the branch line electrics succeeded in making its regular trips. The attendance at the churches was much affected and at the Congregational church services were held in the vestry.
The meeting of the Tadmuck club on next Tuesday afternoon is in charge of the music committee, Miss Gertrude D. Fletcher, chairman. The meeting will be held in the Congregational church and Richard Platt, of Boston will give a piano recital, assisted by Harrison Keller, violinist. Both are artists in their line and a pleasing program is promised.
About Town. At the last meeting of the grange the first and second degrees were exemplified on three candidates. It was voted to endorse the bill pending before the legislature appropriating $200,000 for the state college annually for five years, and the secretary was instructed to so report to Hon. Charles A. Kimball of Littleton and Edgar H. Hall of West Acton, as the representatives from this district. At the next meeting, Thursday evening, April 20, the third and fourth degrees will be conferred, followed by the harvest supper.
The Read farm folks [164 Main St.] were the first to commence ploughing this spring on April 8, followed closely by the Prairie farm [76 Lowell Rd.] on April 11. The Old Oaken Bucket [70 Lowell Rd.] farm folks tried to get ahead of everybody by getting some of their ploughing done last fall.
At the recent corn show held at the Amherst State college in connection with farmers’ week, the popcorn sent up by Samuel L. Taylor won a third premium.
Word has been received of the marriage of Charles Trull and Miss Christina Park in Detroit Mich., on Wednesday, April 5. Mr. Trull is the son of Mrs. M. J. McGregor at Westford Corner, near the West Chelmsford line. He is a graduate of the academy and held a position in the office of the Brookside mill. He is now connected with an automobile concern. Mr. and Mrs. Trull will live in the Detroit.
At the flower show in the Grand Central Palace, New York city, this last week we note that E. C. Converse of Conyers Minot, Greenwich, Conn., G. A. Drew manager, won first honors for a display of twenty-five carnations, a splendid variety called Matchless.
Deaths. Miss Lillian E. Tower died last Sunday aged 62 years and 8 months. She was born in Westford on August 11, 1853, the daughter of the late Eli and Mary (Fletcher) Tower, whose home was on the Lowell road, now occupied by Frank C. Drew. She was schoolmate and playmate of many Westford people at the Old Stony Brook school and her genial companionship is pleasantly recalled. She is the second sister of this well-known family to pass on within a month.
The deceased is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Frances Prescott, Mrs. John Burbeck and Mrs. Charles Pickering.
The funeral was held from the home of her sister, Mrs. John Burbeck, on Tuesday afternoon, Rev. Louis Buckshorn conducting the service. The bearers were nephews, Judge F. A. Fisher, William J., Fred and Eli Burbeck. Interment was in Fairview cemetery in the Tower lot.
Mrs. Lillian E. (Whidden) Johnson died last Saturday at her home at Whidden’s corner, Groton road, aged forty years. She was a native of Westford and educated at the old Nabnassett school, then located at Whidden’s corner on the Groton road. For several years she was manager of the H. E. Fletcher Company’s boarding house on Oak hill. Besides her husband, Claus Johnson, she leaves her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Augustus F. Whidden, and three brothers, Walter A., Leonard F. and Elmer E. Whidden. The funeral took place from her home on the Groton road Tuesday afternoon, the services being conducted by Rev. Nathaniel W. Matthews of the First Primitive Methodist church of Lowell. Appropriate selections were sung by the Mendelssohn male quartet. The bearers were Graham Whidden, Frederick A. Snow, David Billson, J. Willard Fletcher. Burial was in the family lot at West Chelmsford.
James M. Boynton, who died in Lowell on Tuesday, was a frequent visitor in town when his father, James M. Boynton, Sr., lived on the farm now owned by Charles W. Whitney on the Lowell road. He was a nephew of the late Mrs. Sally (Boynton) Cummings. He leaves three brothers, Capt. Henry Boynton of Engine 2, Lowell fire department; Fred of the West 6th street house and Charles of Templeton, and a sister, Mrs. Abbie Nosette.
Clarence W. Whidden died in Lowell on Monday at the home of Henry W. Barnes, president of the Central Savings bank, and an intimate friend. Mr. Whidden was fifty-two years old and had been a prominent man in Lowell. He was a native of Westford, receiving his education here. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Chas. E. Whidden. When a young man he entered the employ of the Central Savings bank and because of his ability and efficiency he was steadily promoted, becoming treasurer and then president in 1907, which position he held until ill health caused him to resign in 1914. Besides his services at the bank he was treasurer of the High street church of which he was a member; treasurer of Kilwinning lodge of Masons, and of the Y.M.C.A. building fund. He was a member of Pilgrim commandery and identified himself with the best interests of the Y.M.C.A. and the Vesper Country club.
In 1892 he married Alice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Brown, of Lowell, who survives him; also, three children, Roswell B., Charles D. and Eleanor, and four brothers, Graham R. of Lowell, Ralph of Concord Junction, Chester and Arthur in the west, and a sister, Mrs. J. Willard Fletcher.
The funeral was held from the home of Henry W. Barnes, Lowell, Wednesday afternoon, the services being conducted by Rev. A. C. Ferrin of the High street church. Delegations from the different organizations he was affiliated with were present at the services. Burial was in the family lot in the Lowell cemetery.
Forge Village. Miss Helen Peabody, of Groton, gave an illustrated lecture on Thursday evening at St. Andrew’s mission. Her subject was “The Philippine Islands,” and the large audience which was present listened with marked attention. Miss Peabody recently made a trip through the islands and some of her experiences were quite novel.
Rev. Williston M. Ford has been conducting a mission at St. Andrew’s mission this week. The mission opened on Monday evening with an illustrated lecture on the life of Christ, for the benefit of the Sunday school children. The services were all well attended and a special sermon was preached each night. The singing by the congregation, assisted by the vested choir, was a feature of the services.
The many friends of Mrs. Annie Murray, of Ayer, formerly of this village, will be glad to learn that she expects to return home on Sunday after being confined to the Groton hospital for several weeks. Miss Murray was operated upon at the hospital for appendicitis.
There will be special Palm Sunday services at the mission chapel on Sunday.
The local baseball team is getting in practice work on the ball ground of Cameron park. They played their first game on last Saturday afternoon.
Graniteville. The little son of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Healy was christened Robert Bernard at St. Catherine’s church on last Sunday, also, the twin baby boys of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. LeDuc were christened Gilbert Francis and Robert Edward LeDuc.
Mrs. Mary Burke McDermott, of Lowell, who has many friends in the village, will spend the next few weeks in Seattle, Wash., as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Fred McDermott.
The Graniteville bowlers met the Westford bowlers in the first of a series of matches on the Lowell alleys last Saturday night and in this contest the Graniteville team scored a victory. These two teams will meet again this week.
Mrs. Peter Healy [nee Bridget Cross] with her daughter, Miss Lena, and son, Robert, left last Saturday for their new home in Chicago, where they will join Mr. Healy and John, another son. Miss Annie Healy and Philip will go out later. A few of Mrs. Healy’s intimate friends held an informal party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Healy on the eve of her departure, and after extending their best wishes for a successful trip and peace and happiness in her new home, Mrs. Healy was presented with a beautiful stickpin as a token of their affection. The Healy family was well known here and the best wishes of the Westford people go with them in their western home.
The members of the Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church met with Mrs. William Welsh on last Thursday for the annual election of officers.
The members of Cameron Circle, C.F. of A., held a well-attended and interesting meeting at their rooms on Tuesday evening. Business of importance was transacted and at the close of the meeting a social hour was enjoyed during which a fine entertainment was given.
Well Given. The M.E. church was the scene of the most brilliant and interesting event of the season on Thursday evening of last week when that all important affair, “The marriage of Jack and Jill” took place in the presence of a large and appreciative gathering. This pleasing affair, with all its accompanying characters so well known in song and story, was carried off by the little ones in a manner that would have done credit to those of mature years. Everything that usually takes place at a big society church wedding was performed by these children in “Mother Goose” characters, the vested choir of older people adding to the pleasing effect. The whole affair was given under the personal direction and supervision of Mrs. Clara Gray, for the Ladies’ Aid society, and much credit is due her for the painstaking efforts in bringing this about. She was ably assisted by Mrs. Frank Caunter, Mrs. W. J. Robinson, Mrs. Hannah Turner, Mrs. C. E. Eaton, Mrs. H. D. Wright.
The vested choir were Miss Alice M. Gilson, Miss Myrtle Blanchard, Albert Blanchard and George Wilson, who during the process of the play sung “Hearts and flowers,” “O promise me” and the bridal chorus from Lohengrin. Albert Day was the organist.
The wedding cake that attracted such wide attention was made and presented by Mrs. Sidney Gilson, while the bridal cake was presented by Mrs. Maria Wall. During the intermission candy was sold by the following young ladies, who also served as ushers: Misses Henrietta Lake, Stella Shattuck, Nettie Hanning, Olive Farrow, May and Lillian Macomber. As the cast of characters was a long one space does not permit the printing of the same at this time.