The Westford Wardsman, August, 1912
Saturday, August 3, 1912
Center. Miss Grace Lumbert is enjoying a ten days’ vacation at the summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. McIntire at Munsonville, N.H.
Miss Beulah Rowell, of Hudson, has been spending a vacation at the home of her aunt, Mrs. Calvin Howard.
Rev. and Mrs. William A. Anderson and little son of Covington, Va., are enjoying a sojourn with Mrs. Anderson’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Wright.
In accordance with the vote passed at town meeting in the spring, and in compliance with the state laws, the town is having a Fairbanks standard scales erected to replace those discarded some time ago near J. Herbert Fletcher’s store. The location of the new one is at the east end of the common, between the triangle facetiously called Fort Santiago, and the common. A. H. Sutherland is in charge of the work, but who will be in charge of them after completion has not been decided.
The activities of many people in our village at the present time center in the berry fields. The raspberry harvest is nearly over and the yield has been good. The recent rains have been just in time to be of great benefit to the blackberry crop. The teams in charge of William E. Wright have been making their trips [to Boston] nearly every night. The shipments of early apples have also begun.
The one service at the Congregational church took place last Sunday evening at seven o’clock, and was conducted by Houghton G. Osgood, the subject being “Christian forgiveness.” There were about thirty-five in attendance and Mr. Osgood conducted a good service. The service on Sunday evening will be in charge of Miss Loker. Subject, “Christ’s spirit in the home.”
Miss Charlotte Prescott was the recipient of a surprise and shower party at Spalding camp at Forge pond last Saturday afternoon. Misses Ruth Tuttle and Eva Fletcher carried out all the plans for this very pleasant affair. The weather conditions were perfect and the party were conveyed to and from the pond by John S. Greig [Charlotte’s fiancé]. Refreshments of ice cream and cake were served. A miscellaneous shower of gifts, including the useful and ornamental, was presented the hostess accompanied by many loving good wishes. There was about twenty-five in attendance.
Miss Carrie Hill, of Lowell, has been making her annual visit with her Westford friends. Double curvature of the spine makes a frail body for Miss Hill, which she offsets with a strong, sweet spirit.
It was defeat for the Westford A.A. at Townsend last Saturday afternoon by a score of 8 to 5, but they report a good game and played well the part of cheerful losers.
Mr. Walker, who recently purchased the William L. Woods farm, is having the house wired for electric lighting.
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Tuttle are rejoicing over the advent of a little son, born on Monday, July 29.
Mrs. Gertrude Skidmore is entertaining a group of friends at her summer home.
Death. Thomas E. Symmes, a life-long resident of Westford, died suddenly at his home soon after midnight last week Friday morning. The deceased had been in failing health for a long time, but at the last the end came suddenly. He was found ill in a field near his home by a passing townsman and carried into the house and medical aid summoned, but he failed rapidly and death came in a few hours. The cause of death was heart disease.
Mr. Symmes was born in Westford sixty-nine years ago. He was educated in the town schools and at Harvard college. He was always a studious, quiet man, and a profound seeker after spiritual truths, uniting with the Union Congregational church while a young man, and he, with his family, had been a faithful attendant at all its services for many years.
He is survived by a widow [nee Nancy Almira Hale], one son Paul, and two daughters, Martha and Anna; also, three brothers, William, Carver and Fletcher Symmes. An only sister [Harriet Elizabeth (Symmes) Sargent] died many years ago [1879].
The funeral was held from his late home on Sunday afternoon, Rev. David Wallace officiating. Miss Edna Ferguson sang a beautiful adaption of the twenty-third psalm; also, “My Jesus, as thou will.” The bearers were Arthur E. Day, Houghton G. Osgood, William Pollock and Leonard W. Wheeler. Interment was in the family lot in Fairview cemetery.
Largest Taxpayers. Those paying a tax of fifty dollars or more in town are:
Abiel J. Abbot | $164.69 |
Mrs. Alice M. Abbot | 317.40 |
John C. Abbot | 302.49 |
A. J. Abbot, Moseley trust | 125.26 |
Abbot Worsted Co., Graniteville | 2297.72 |
Heirs of Caroline Atwood | 53.98 |
Abbot Worsted Co. | 5124.72 |
W. F. Balch | 53.85 |
Alvin J. Blaisdell | 63.07 |
J. M. Book | 56.24 |
Heirs of Mary E. Brigham | 187.69 |
Heirs of Augustus Bunce | 51.71 |
A. H. Burnham | 85.05 |
John Burbeck | 111.61 |
Donald M. Cameron | 98.65 |
Meta J. Cameron | 135.90 |
Julian A. Cameron | 74.03 |
Lucy A. Cameron | 160.06 |
J. A. and D. M. Cameron, trustees Allen Cameron | 1186.59 |
Mary E. Calvert | 64.91 |
Charles D. Colburn | 104.79 |
C. M. Cummings, heirs of | 55.95 |
George T. Day | 319.40 |
Quincy W. Day | 62.92 |
Wm. H. Decatur | 74.55 |
David Desmond | 76.58 |
Matthew F. Downs | 79.81 |
Frank C. Drew | 131.63 |
Wm. C. Edwards | 93.72 |
Mrs. Louisa Edwards | 64.18 |
John Feeney | 60.89 |
Alec Fisher | 151.72 |
Elbert Flagg | 165.51 |
Herbert E. Fletcher | 405.61 |
Harry N. Fletcher | 166.82 |
H. E. Fletcher & Co. | 347.30 |
John M. Fletcher | 81.35 |
J. Herbert Fletcher | 62.03 |
Mrs. Mary E. Fletcher | 56.63 |
Sherman H. Fletcher | 98.95 |
J. Willard Fletcher | 73.35 |
Mrs. Sarah J. Foster | 123.82 |
E. H. and H. E. Gould | 89.32 |
David L. Greig | 116.53 |
Harrison B. Hall | 56.07 |
Nathan Hamlin, heirs of | 60.55 |
John A. Healey | 162.21 |
Mrs. J. A. Healey | 52.85 |
J. Henry Healey | 68.82 |
Miss Ella F. Hildreth | 491.36 |
Frank C. Hildreth | 93.89 |
Calvin Howard | 74.94 |
Geo. O. Jackson | 81.51 |
Albert E. Jenne | 60.75 |
H. O. Keyes | 173.85 |
Geo. A. Kimball | 54.46 |
Ida E. Leighton | 57.38 |
Angus McDonald | 126.97 |
Mrs. G. H. McGregor | 52.85 |
John McMaster | 54.95 |
Walter J. Merritt | 199.66 |
Frank E. Miller | 68.29 |
Henry J. Murphy | 78.25 |
George W. Nesmith | 63.91 |
N. E. T. & T. Co. | 214.17 |
H. G. Osgood | 58.17 |
Lewis P. Palmer | 137.63 |
Mrs. Augusta Prescott | 55.87 |
Richard Prescott | 78.54 |
C O. and A. E. Prescott | 82.15 |
Mrs. David Read | 52.85 |
Mrs. Rachael W. Read | 341.77 |
Albert Reeves | 72.22 |
Mrs. Alma M. Richardson | 69.46 |
A. C. Sargent | 189.95 |
Frederic G. Sargent | 177.44 |
F. C. and A. G. Sargent and G. A. Griffin, trustees estate of C. G. Sargent | 1261.26 |
Homer M. Seavey | 64.43 |
John T. Simpson | 66.15 |
Fred L. Snow | 58.10 |
Mrs. Elizabeth Splain | 59.26 |
Oscar R. Spalding | 536.26 |
Stony Brook R. R. Co. | 67.66 |
Judson L. Sweetser | 141.64 |
S. A. Taylor, heirs of | 75.50 |
Mrs. N. L. Tuttle | 76.85 |
D. H. Waller | 50.32 |
O. V. Wells, M.D. | 73.84 |
Westford Water Co. | 163.84 |
Mrs. M. J. Wheeler | 51.34 |
Mrs. Elizabeth Whitney | 508.24 |
T. A. E. Wilson | 62.25 |
Wm. L. Woods | 106.95 |
Mrs. A. S. Wright, heirs of | 83.34 |
Charles H. Wright | 50.53 |
H. D. Wright | 102.50 |
Perley E. Wright | 67.54 |
S. B. Wright | 63.23 |
Walter C. Wright | 68.15 |
W. H. Wright, heirs of | 370.69 |
Wright & Fletcher | 58.89 |
Lowell and Fitchburg St. R. R. | 115.89 |
Non-Residents | |
J. Henry Fletcher | 210.61 |
Brookside Worsted Mill | 1489.07 |
Geo. C. Moore | 236.82 |
Wm. P. Proctor | 72.47 |
Geo. A. Drew | 132.13 |
Miss Martini [sic] Gage | 433.41 |
Geo. L. Lawson | 51.34 |
Edward J. Murphy | 61.91 |
Lowell Electric Light Corp. | 151.00 |
About Town. The George C. Moore Nabnassett farm is deepening the water well capacity at the farm house at the junction of Nabnassett and Oak hill road. J. F. Crockett, of North Chelmsford, is contractor and extractor.
The pine forest that shelters the Nabnassett school house on the north is being cut and the underbrush is so closely related to the withered grass in the school playground that a fire would make the school house a paid up fire insurance policy. As a wind-break and also as an object lesson in landscape beauty, it was hoped that this narrow strip of pines, only youthful in growth, would appeal to the woodman’s axe, but the temptations of cord wood won.
Daniel H. Sheehan will begin haying on Monday morning at his farm bordering on the Stony Brook and Rocky hill road, unless early apples come in plenty enough to make a pressing of cider.
Martha Taylor Howard, of Bound Brook, N.J., is spending vacation days by the cool, shady slopes of Francis hill, where the Old Oaken Bucket farm folks play lawn tennis.
Prof. Vernon P. Squires and family, of the University of North Dakota, have been visiting John A. Taylor at the Old Oaken Bucket farm, going Saturday by horse trolley to the inspirations of Concord.
The Spalding Light Cavalry association will hold its fifth reunion and annual meeting next Thursday afternoon and evening at the building headquarters on the Boston road, Westford Center. Sports, games and Troop F war stories will be part of the entertainment, the other part will be dinner as the hours of darkness hideth the avenues of outside sports.
At a meeting of the republican town committee on Tuesday evening to legalize preliminaries of the caucus act, it was voted to continue twelve members as a town committee. Nomination papers were signed for Col. Everett C. Benton for governor, Chester Williams for county commissioner and Edward M. Abbot and Samuel L. Taylor as delegates to the state convention. With the firmness of a hero, Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher has declined to become a candidate for congress in the new Lowell district, although seriously urged by all shades of political colors. The strong attachment for home life and business was a personal appeal that the appeal of the many for the United States life at Washington could not induce a persuasion. The conclusion bears the old-time marks of firmness and wisdom, much as one may regret that the decision were less firm and wise.
Matthew Smith, of Brookside, carpenter and varied handy man, has entered the service of usefulness at the Read farm. Fortunate is the farm that can secure help that is so helpful in so many helpful ways.
Edmund B. Whitney, of Brookside, who has been working in Lowell, and recently busy searching with others for more wages, has entered the outdoor laboratory of Houghton G. Osgood in his hay, berry and apple field.
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Whitney, who have been ill for a long time, remain about the same, which is one of those “about the same,” which is devoid of encouragement.
Mrs. Carr and daughter Hazel, of Woodsville, N.H., were recent guests of their cousin, Mrs. Esther Taylor Snow, at West Chelmsford.
Graniteville. Services were resumed in the M.E. church last Sunday when the pastor, Rev. U. H. Layton, returned from a three-weeks’ vacation spent in Vermont.
In St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning, both masses were celebrated by Rev. Edward Mitchell, who also delivered a short, but interesting sermon on the gospel of the day, and also gave a very interesting instructive talk to the younger members of the parish.
Rev. William Anderson, a former pastor of the M.E. church here, but now stationed in the south, with Mrs. Anderson [nee Clara Belle Wright] and their young son are now spending their vacation with Mrs. Anderson’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Wright, in Westford, and recently called on friends in this village. Mr. Anderson will preach at the morning service in the M.E. church here on Sunday.
Mrs. Harriet Wall with her daughter, Miss Helen M. Wall, of Waltham, has been visiting relatives here this week.
Miss Dora Hawkes, of Melrose, has been a recent guest of Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Hawkes.
The members of the A. R. Choate hose company had a practice tryout between two teams of the company on Tuesday evening.
Baseball. The Graniteville baseball team visited West Chelmsford on last Saturday afternoon and defeated the local club of that village by a score of 13 to 10. The game started off in an ordinary way, but finally developed into a batting fest by both clubs, with many errors sandwiched in between. It was a contest of the old-fashioned variety and keenly enjoyed by the large crowd present. “Jack” and “Dick” Spinner did the battery work for the Graniteville team, while Reid and Swanson were on the firing line for West Chelmsford.
The White Sox, of this village, met the Beacons, of Lowell, in a Suburban league game on the home grounds here last Saturday and defeated them by the score of 11 to 7. McCarthy and Pracknack did the battery work for the White Sox, while Wilson and McCann performed a like service for the Beacons. Although the Beacons are a much older and larger team than the White Sox, the local club won by superior stick work. The White Sox are a snappy little ball club and are now leading in the Suburban league.
Graniteville will play the Westford A.A. on the home grounds here on Saturday afternoon, August 3, and a great game is expected. There is keen rivalry between these two teams and the fans will be out in force to see the game. The Westford club has not played with the locals on the home grounds since that memorable day when Chester Coffin made his first appearance here, and it is not known at the present time whether the Westford boys will pull in another “ringer” or not. The game will be called at three o’clock.
Forge Village. Rev. A. L. Bumpus will occupy the pulpit on Sunday afternoon at St. Andrew’s mission. Mr. Andrews, who has been preaching during the absence of Mr. Bumpus, preached his farewell sermon last Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. James Sullivan returned on Monday night after a very pleasant visit with their nephew, William Daly, of Somerville.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Morris, of Boston, returned home last Sunday after a most enjoyable visit at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Burnett.
The bath house built by P. H. Harrington, of Graniteville, is now completed and ready for accommodation. A twenty-foot run, which will be used as a diving board, extends over the water.
Mrs. John Morton, of Lowell, returned home on Sunday after caring for her sister, Mrs. Fennimore Morton, who has been confined to her home for the past seven weeks.
Mrs. Miles Collins and little daughter Ethel are visiting in Southbridge, Peacedale and Providence.
Mrs. Hugh Wisely and children, of Newark, N.J., and Mrs. Maria Gallagher, of Kearney, N.J., are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Charles Smith.
Carl Canton and Eugene Deloria, who were brought into court a week ago for the illegal selling of intoxicating liquors on the Lord’s day, and whose cases were postponed, were heard on last Saturday. Canton and Deloria were both found guilty and a fine of fifty dollars was imposed on each.
The concert and dance given by the Y.L.S.C. in Abbot hall on Friday evening of last week proved to be a grand success, both socially and financially. The funds were used to pay for the building of the bath house recently erected on Forge pond. The concert lasted two hours and consisted of songs, recitations, piano and mandolin solos. The talent was exceptionally good and all received hearty applause. After the concert, dancing was enjoyed to the music of the Precious orchestra. Orangeade, ice cream and cake were served during the evening. The committee in charge of the affair were Nellie Byrnes, general manager, and Lena Wilson, Bertha Wilson, Edith Precious, Marion Lord and Annie Orr, assistants.
Saturday, August 10, 1912
Center. Mrs. Annie Barnard, of Allston, has been a visitor during this week at Mrs. Willis Hildreth’s.
Mrs. Fred A. Hildreth and Miss Catherine Allen, of Malden, have been guests for several days at H. V. Hildreth’s.
Charles O. Prescott is enjoying vacation days at Nanomet, near Plymouth, with Rev. and Mrs. C. P. Marshall.
The single service Sunday evening at the Congregational church at seven o’clock was conducted by Miss Sarah W. Loker, and proved an interesting meeting. The subject was “Christ as a guest in the home.” On Sunday evening Mrs. Martha Taylor Howard will be present and conduct the service, the subject being “God’s beautiful out-of-doors and what it teaches me.” Mrs. Howard’s many church friends will be glad to be present and welcome her and enjoy her leadership of this meeting.
A little daughter has been born this last week [August 4, 1912] to Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Heywood which they have named Dorothy Elizabeth Heywood.
Miss Jennie M. Chandler is the guest of Miss Clara Fisher. Since the close of school Miss Chandler has enjoyed a sojourn at Christmas Cove, Me.
Edmund Baker managed a respite from his various duties this last week and with Mrs. Baker was away from town for a few days’ vacation.
Quite a number of townspeople were in attendance at the midsummer fête at Littleton last Saturday, which was a real old-home day and general good time, the management being carried out in most capable and original ways. Those present from here report an enjoyable time.
Mr. and Mrs. Abiel J. Abbot and Miss Carnju [sic, Alice Carnzu] Abbot are expected home at the end of this week after several months of extensive foreign travel.
Mrs. Ida M. Gould is visiting for two weeks in her native city of Portland, Me.
The annual outing of the Board of Trade of Greater Lowell, which includes Westford, will be held at Canobie lake on Thursday, August 15, with a most attractive program scheduled.
William E. Wright has purchased the large Nashoba farm on the Concord road [at Hildreth St.].
Westford A.A. carried off the laurels in their game with Graniteville at the latter place last Saturday afternoon by a score of 9 to 2.
Mrs. Mary E. Fletcher remains very seriously ill at her home.
M. P. Maloney, who has been the gardener at Abiel J. Abbot’s for a number of seasons, moved this week with his family to Brookline, where he has a similar position and what he considers a better one.
The Edward M. Abbot hose company held its regular monthly drill and try-out on Tuesday evening, opening and testing seven different hydrants. S. B. Watson, first lieutenant, was in charge.
About Town. The H. E. Fletcher Company are more busy than just busy at their stone quarry on Oak hill. Cars are being loaded for Boston then by water for New Jersey, where several stone piers are involved, which also involves a long period of industry to complete the Oak hill part in it.
Four toes were broken last week Tuesday by a stone estimated to weigh two tons, falling on them at the H. E. Fletcher stone quarry. The toes belonged to Tony Mareno and were insured. Doctors were hastily summoned and he was taken home.
At the Frank A. Mallory ledge on Oak hill, William J. Donnelly had an uninsured foot badly crushed by its falling on a stone. He is at his home at Westford Center. He has the friendly sympathy of all.
Richard M. Yarnold, of the Texas road, Parkerville, who was severely cut on the foot by a mowing machine a few weeks since, has been removed to the Lowell General hospital. The laceration of the foot proved more serious than first symptoms indicated.
Somebody cut shade trees near the Nabnassett school that the town and state hold for the public, and somebody was compelled to ornament the roadside by setting out a row of rock maples as per order of Harry L. Nesmith, tree warden. It was a choice between rock maples or come down with rock bottom cash in court.
Daniel H. Sheehan has bought the William E. Livingstone grist mill in Lowell and proposes to move it onto his mill privilege onto Tadmuck brook near the Lowell road, where he will carry on the cotton, woolen, cider and grinding industry.
The grange will hold its next meeting after vacation days on Thursday evening, August 15. The lecturer’s hour of entertainment will be in charge of Mrs. J. Willard Fletcher, which is always worth the while.
The Misses Ruth and Edna Sargent, of the Edwin Heywood place, are spending vacation days at Warner, N.H., their former home, previous to moving to Westford.
The best display of Baldwin apples thus far seen by some who have not seen only partly all, is on the H. G. Osgood farm on the southerly slope of Francis hill, on trees that a live limb is never removed from. Mr. Osgood is a yearly success in raising apples in opposition to the modern emphasis on trim, trim, trim. It cannot be denied that here, as in the world of conduct, measurements must be on the basis of “By their fruits ye shall know them.” [Matthew 7:20.]
Mrs. Edgar Wallace, of Wellesley, was a visitor last week at the home of her aunt, Miss Belle Walker. Mr. Wallace was formerly a member of the police force in Fitchburg.
The old Walker homestead has a cool and cosy [sic] summer way with it, which makes a return trip easy for the visitor. Among those who have had many pleasant experiences at the old homestead, and renewing it this week, are Mrs. Solon Dodge, of Groton,, and Mrs. Clara Littlefield, of Fitchburg. The former is a niece and the latter a sister of Miss Belle Walker.
George C. Moore has taken the stump in the Nabnassett district in favor of stumping the land close to the Nabnassett schoolhouse recently cleared of forest by William P. Proctor, of North Chelmsford. Mr. Moore proposes to stump it with dynamite, plough and seed to grass.
Matthew Smith has leased a tract of land of Amos Polley on the banks of Stony brook and Tadmuck brook, and will engage in raising strawberries. Part of the land has already been ploughed, and the plants will be set soon.
James H. O’Brien is laying the foundation for a new, modern apple cellar at his farm residence on Pigeon hill, Stony Brook road. The upper structure will be used for the storage of hay. As farmer, Mr. O’Brien has prospered beyond his building capacity.
Pleasantly Located. The writer just received a letter from Harper Bailey, an old-time neighbor. He is pleasantly located in San Diego, Cal., and thinks the climate is the paradise of the world, never above sixty nor below forty. One of his neighbors, George R. Houghton, of Harvard, a cousin of Daniel G. Houghton, of Littleton, is homesick, and will return east in the spring. Another neighbor is George R. Harrison, for many years a resident of Westford, and well and favorably known here at the present time. He alluded to his school days when he attended the old Stony Brook school. Miss Belle Walker was his first teacher. By wisely directed effort he has led a successful business career. Mr. Bailey has traveled extensively in the United States since leaving Westford, his home being at Coon Rapids, Iowa, and as an agricultural state it is unsurpassed by anything in his travels.
Graniteville. Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Carmichael have recently returned from a very enjoyable vacation spent at Hampton Beach.
At the morning service in the M.E. church here last Sunday, the sermon was preached by Rev. William Anderson, now stationed at Covington, Va., who is now spending his vacation in Westford. Many of Mr. Anderson’s former parishioners were present to greet him on this occasion, for Mr. Anderson had formed many warm friendships during his pastorate here.
The members of the A. R. Choate hose company held their regular meeting in the rooms of the company on Monday night with Capt. J. A. Healy in the chair. Much business of a routine order was transacted and final preparations were perfected for the annual field day and list of sports held in this village on Saturday. There will be hose coupling contests, 100 yd. dash, half-mile run, boys’ races, girls’ races, flour race and others too numerous to mention. Everything will be run off on the main street here, and a great time is expected. In the evening there will be a social dance in Healy’s hall. Music, Colonial orchestra, of Lowell. There will certainly be a great time here on Saturday.
A son [William Edward Ledwith] was born to Mr. and Mrs. William Ledwith on Monday, August 5.
Mrs. John Horan, with her daughter, Miss Margaret, and her two sons, John and Harold, of Charlestown, have been recent visitors here.
Baseball. The third baseball game of the series between the Westford A.A. and the Graniteville club, and which has been looked forward to with such deep interest for the past few weeks, came off on schedule time at Hillside park last Saturday afternoon and was witnessed by a very large crowd, many ardent fans being present from all along the line between Lowell and Ayer, while of course, Westford had a very large delegation present to “root” for the boys on the hill. For the first two innings neither side scored, but each club annexed one each in the third. There was no further scoring and the game went into extra innings.
In the tenth the balloon went up and the Westfords scored eight runs. Graniteville got only one in their half and the game ended with Westford 9, Graniteville 2. The batteries were Sullivan and Morse of Westford, J. Spinner, Condon and D. Spinner for Graniteville. The umpire was Mr. Fitzgerald of Ayer.
These two clubs will meet again here for the next game of the series on Saturday, August 31.
The White Sox will cross bats with the Cubs of North Chelmsford on the home grounds on Saturday afternoon at three o’clock and a great game is expected.
The regular Graniteville team will play Shirley on Saturday afternoon.
Forge Village. Miss Stella B. Carkin has returned from her vacation spent at Hampton Beach and Portsmouth, N.H.
Miss Myrtle Healy is spending the remainder of the summer at the home of her grandmother, Mrs. Fred Emerson, of Dedham.
Mr. and Mrs. George Cougle are the guests of relatives in Yonkers, N.Y., and Hartford, Conn.
Allan Carkin, of St. Albans, Vt., has recently been a visitor at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Carkin.
Miss Eva Pyne is still sojourning in the mountain regions of New Hampshire.
Mrs. Doran is spending a few weeks with relatives in Limerick, Me.
Miss Sarah Precious and Miss Emily Collins were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Longbottom, of Arlington, on Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert E. Jones, of Worcester, are the guests of relatives here this week.
The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Tuttle, of Westford, are congratulating them on the birth of a son born last week at Dr. Killbourn’s hospital, Groton.
Charles Flanagan and lady friend, Miss Delia Drake, spent Saturday at the Caledonian picnic in Roxbury.
Miss Letitia V. Ward, Miss Kathlyn Ward and Mrs. Mary Ward are at Old Orchard, Me., for two weeks.
A meeting of the John Edwards hose company was held on Wednesday evening.
Rev. A. L. Bumpus resumed his duties at St. Andrew’s mission on last Sunday. On Sunday, holy communion will be administered at 4:30 p.m.
Misses Mary Gardner, Julia Delaney and Ellen Walsh are visiting in New Rochelle, N.Y.
The members of the Y.L.S.C. received the keys to the new bath houses on last week Friday evening. The houses are located on the shores of Forge pond and a run of twenty feet extends into the water. Next year a spring board and raft will be added, which will give all a chance at diving. The buildings were built by P. Henry Harrington, of Graniteville, the use of the land being donated by Julian Cameron, of Westford.
Thomas Mitchell, of Waltham, was the guest of friends here over Sunday.
Saturday, August 17, 1912
Center. Mrs. H. V. Hildreth has been a guest during this week of Rev. and Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn at their home at Vineyard Haven.
Mrs. A. W. Hartford, Mrs. O. V. Wells, Mrs. D. L. Greig and Mrs. John Feeney enjoyed a day’s outing at picturesque Marblehead on Tuesday.
Rev. David Wallace and family returned on Wednesday from a three-weeks’ stay at Long-Sought-for pond where they have been camping and are feeling much benefited from so quiet and restful a vacation. At present they are spending a few days with friends in Boston.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Fisher go the first of the week for a vacation at Camden, Me.
Dr. O. V. Wells and family are away for a two-weeks’ vacation, having gone to Bakersfield, Vt., making the trip by auto. During Dr. Wells’ absence, Dr. J. P. Tynan, from Boston, is in charge of the practice.
Mrs. Effie Bennett Cann and baby daughter, from Somerville, are visitors at the parental home.
Dr. and Mrs. Edward Atwood, of Daytona, Fla., are making their usual summer visit at the Atwood homestead.
The single service as the Congregational church on last Sunday evening, at seven o’clock, called out a good attendance for the vacation season. Mrs. Martha Taylor Howard conducted the service, the topic being “God’s great out-of-doors, and what it teaches me.” Mrs. Howard had prepared a most interesting, helpful and original paper, which was followed with the most appreciative attention. John A. Taylor read one of Henry Van Dyke’s splendid poems especially appropriate to the subject. On Sunday evening Miss Edna Ferguson will have charge of the meeting, the subject for the service being “Christian tact.” The next week the pastor will be back from his vacation and regular services will be resumed.
Miss Minnie Whitney, who recently underwent a surgical operation at her home on the Boston road, is making a good convalescence.
Miss Marjorie Seavey goes the first of the week to be the guest for a week of Misses Elinor and Marjory Cameron at their summer home, “Creigard,” Chebacco Island, Essex.
There will be a gospel service at Long-Sought-for chapel on Sunday afternoon at three o’clock. Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Lowell, will preach, and a good attendance is hoped for. If stormy, it will be postponed.
The Westford A.A. baseball team was defeated by the Groton A.A. at Groton last Saturday afternoon by a score of 4 to 1.
The Donald M. Camerons, of Lowell, are at the Cameron homestead for a few weeks.
About Town. Mrs. Samuel L. Taylor, Mrs. Frederic A. Snow and her two boys are spending a week with Mrs. Taylor’s brother, Thomas E. Taylor, at Woodsville, N.H.
W. R. and J. A. Taylor and F. A. Snow, of West Chelmsford, are stopping at the Hastings-Lyman, York, Me.
Mrs. Coate, of Lowell, has bought the small six-acre farm with cottage house and barn on the Lowell road adjoining the farm of Frank C. Drew, recently owned by Gaspera Deylele, and has renovated the house. The purchaser has already taken possession. Herman Purcell, who has recently occupied the house, has moved to the suburbs of Westford station.
Warren J. Gould has returned from California, but will return for permanent settlement as soon as he can dispose of his property interests in the east. While in California he purchased a house lot in Los Angeles, and built a dwelling-house on it, six miles from the attractions of the city. As an evidence of land values, the lot cost $700, for which he was offered $800 the day after purchasing. He admires the climate and is anxious to return. His daughter [Bernice Maud Gould], recently [August 1, 1912] married to Mr. [Ervin S.] Williams, of Baldwin street, Lowell, will return with them.
Rev. Seth Walker, the well-known Advent preacher, now located at New Bedford, has been a recent welcome visitor at his brother’s, Charles E. Walker.
Reunion. The Spalding Light Cavalry, the modern Troop F, held their fifth reunion at the clubhouse [at 20] Boston road last week Thursday afternoon and evening with an unusual cheerful good natured time. At the business meeting Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher was elected president; Capt. H. Waldo Wilson, of Carlisle, v.p.; Edward Fisher, sec.; Charles E. Bartlett, of Lowell, treas. The clay pigeon shooting contest at Whitney park was exciting and close and brought out the usual admirers of this phase of sporting life. The first trial of marksmanship resulted in a tie between Edward M. Abbot, of Westford, and young Kemp, of Pepperell. A new trial to untie the tie was won by Edward M. Abbot, 3 to 2.
Free for all sweepstakes was won by Henry A. Fletcher. He has a well developed reputation for sharp shooting targets not made of clay, like the spry, sly fox. This free clay pigeon shooting proved that his reputation was founded on realities and that he had the skill to deliver the goods.
The evening program at the clubhouse followed the good time supper at the town hall, and was a solo affair as far as the number of actors were concerned in it. Prof. Scott, of Waltham, was white man and negro singer, declaimer, inventor and executor of jokes, violin and tambourine ping pong musician, who got his audience into the attitude of laughter and they were unable to extricate themselves from said attitude until he had extricated himself from his funny ideas of life. The committee in charge of this reunion are to be congratulated on the best yet.
Old Landmark Erased. That old rough hewn shed storehouse, the modern overflow of the old grist mill at Westford station, and the roadside target, for bill posting, has surrendered to the good taste and judgment of its owner, George C. Moore, and is no more. This is an improvement to the highway and adds tone to the aesthetic element which is sometimes sadly pinched for want of room in the hurry up of materialism. What hath befallen the old shed is soon to be visited on the old, ancient historic grist mill which has been the meeting place of the farmers of early Westford when these hills and valleys were covered with the old familiar Indian corn. Much valuable and interesting history has been lived into this old mill. As we are about to take a farewell leave of this relic of our days and other days, how appropriate the sentiment: “How dear to my heart are [the] scenes of my childhood, when fond recollections present them to view.”
[The mills and railroad depots on Stony Brook at the Depot Street bridge. This image, which shows the grist mill on the north shore of Stony Brook just east of the Depot St. bridge, is a detail from the “Plan of Land in Westford, Mass., Surveyed May, 1900 for George C. Moore.”]
Graniteville. The Graniteville baseball club visited Shirley on last Saturday and defeated the strong semi-professional club of that town in a hard fought game by the score of 2 to 1. The batteries were Condon and Ledwith for Graniteville, and Pelotte and Stebbins for Shirley. Graniteville will play the strong Townsend A.A. in Townsend on Saturday and a big crowd of rooters will accompany the team from here. The party will leave here on the 12:18 train.
The Misses Mabel and Lena Cote, of Leicester, are now spending a few days here as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. William Gordon.
Fred Longbottom and Master Willie Longbottom, of Arlington Heights, have been recent visitors here.
William J. Murphy, of Manchester, N.H., a former resident here, has been renewing old acquaintances in the village this week.
Fred Eaton, of Hyde Park, has been a recent guest of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. E. Eaton.
Miss Belle Rourke, of Lowell, has been a recent guest of Mrs. Mary J. Sullivan.
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Sullivan and friends, of Marlboro, have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Healy.
A Gala Day. The members of the A. R. Choate hose company held a gala day with a list of sports here on last Saturday afternoon that was largely attended by people from this and surrounding towns. The interest in the hose contest was lessened to a great extent owing to the fact that the three companies in the town were not competing at this time, but nevertheless, the members of the local company were bound to have a contest of some kind and with this end in view two teams were selected from the A. R. Choate hose company here. One team was designated as the Regulars and the other the Old Men. Each team had seven men for the coupling contest, and were given three trials. After a spirited contest the race was won by the Old Men’s team, which had a twenty-five-yard handicap, and made the best time, the trick being done in twenty-nine seconds flat. The officials for the hose contest were J. B. Carmichael starter; Capt. D. J. Hurley, of Engine 6, Lowell fire department, and P. Henry Harrington, of Graniteville, timers; C. F. Stackpole, of Engine 2, Lowell fire department, referee.
Following are the members who composed the different teams: Regulars—R. J. Hemen, Edward Riney, Henry LeDuc, James B. Healy, Joseph Perkins, R. J. McCarthy; Old Men’s team—J. A. Healy, Frank Healy, J. H. Payne, Alfred Prinn, John Doucette, Austin Healy, G. P. LeDuc.
After the hose contest the following list of sports were run off in regular order and resulted as follows: 100 yd. dash, open, George Gower 1st, Edward Riney 2nd; boys’ race, 75 yds., Horace Heroux 1st, Ellsworth Rose 2nd; half-mile, open, Florence J. Sullivan 1st, James O’Hara 2nd; school boys’ race, 85 yds., John Socker 1st, Edward Daley 2nd. The flour race with dimes and nickels mixed with the flour and dumped on the ground, was one wild scramble and hard to decide. Hop, step and jump, Edward Riney 1st, R. J. Hemen 2nd; running broad jump, Edward Riney 1st, R. J. Hemen 2nd; three-legged race, Edward Riney and Austin Healy 1st, James Healy and Florence Sullivan 2nd.
The next race was a novelty race, in which quarters, dimes and nickels were put in paper bags, strung on a rope and slug across the street. This was where the boys got their innings and incidentally gathered in the coin, as well as furnishing great amusement for the large crowd. This ended the racing for the day and the crowd wended its way to Hillside park where a red hot game of baseball was played between the White Sox of this village and the Cubs of North Chelmsford. It was a Suburban league game, and although the Cubs were a much older and heavier team, the local boys had the baseball ability and the do-or-die spirit that enabled them to land the game in the ninth inning by clever stick work. The score was 8 to 7.
In the evening a social dance was held in Healy’s hall under the auspices of the A. R. Choate hose company. The Colonial orchestra, of Lowell, furnished music. The affair was largely attended. Dancing was enjoyed from 7:30 to 11:30, with a short intermission, during which refreshments were served.
The dance was a fitting climax to a very enjoyable day, and the members of the A. R. Choate hose company are to be congratulated on the fine entertainment and list of sports provided, which reflects great credit on the following committees: Frank Healy, Edward Riney, R. J. McCarthy, gen. com.; R. J. Hemen, floor director, G. P. LeDuc, assistant, dance com.; Edward Defoe, chairman, James B. Healy, John Doucette, sports com.; Fred Provost, J. H. Payne, W. H. Healy, supper com.; J. A. Healy, Alfred Prinn, Henry LeDuc, soliciting com.; R. J. Hemen, J. Austin Healy, Joseph Perkins, printing com.; H. J. Healy, secretary-treasurer.
Forge Village. Communion services were held at St. Andrew’s mission last Sunday afternoon, Rev. A. L. Bumpus officiating. Services will be held on Sunday afternoon at 4:30 o’clock.
Miss Eliza Daly has returned home after a lengthy visit with her nephew and niece, Mr. and Mrs. William Daly, of Somerville.
Mrs. Joseph Leclerc and baby daughter Irene have returned from a visit with relatives in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Leclerc have returned with them for a visit with relatives and friends.
James O’Hara, Ellsworth Rose and Joseph Socha won honors at the annual firemen’s field day at Graniteville held last Saturday.
Henry Byron, of Fitchburg, visited relatives here last Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. John Paquette have returned to Nashua, N.H., after a most enjoyable visit at the home of Mrs. Paquette’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Lecerc.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Jones, of Worcester, who spent last week as guests of relatives here, returned home last Saturday. Mr. Jones, who is corporal of Co. A, 2nd regt., in the Worcester City guards, joined the regiment on Sunday morning for maneuver practice with the Blue army, which took place this week.
Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Bennett, of Boston, are guests of Mrs. H. E. Randall.
Mrs. Elizabeth Richardson, of Townsend, returned home on Sunday after a most pleasant visit with Mrs. Mary I. Drake.
Mrs. Lucretia Reed is confined to her home by illness.
Mrs. Susan Reed, of Lowell, has been visiting her mother, Mrs. Lucretia Reed.
Miss Grace Lawrence and Alvin S. Bennett are guests of friends and relatives in Reading this week.
Fred Longbottom and Master William Longbottom were visitors here in Graniteville last Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday, August 24, 1912
Center. A book of interest recently added to the library is “The life of Ellen H. Richards.” It is a well-written volume of the life and work of this gifted woman and of special interest are those chapters recording that part of her life spent in Westford and also in Littleton.
Conductor Walter Cutter is having a much needed change and rest of about a week from his duties on the electric car. This is the first vacation Mr. Cutter has had since he came to Westford twenty-seven months ago.
Mrs. H. G. Osgood has been enjoying a vacation at Nantasket and Cambridge.
Mr. Patten and family, who has been living in Frank Miller’s house and working on the town roads, has moved this last week to Brookside.
Mrs. Calvin Howard has been visiting her son, Charles Howard, and family, at Concord, N.H.
The J. Herbert Fletchers enjoyed an outing at Provincetown this week where Rev. and Mrs. Weeks also joined them.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Hildreth and son Roger returned this week from a very pleasant vacation spent at Temple, N.H. Mrs. Hildreth also enjoyed a day at Lancaster renewing associations of seven years of teaching before her marriage.
Mr. Flannery, the new gardener at A. J. Abbot’s, with his family, has moved into the tenement vacated by Mr. Maloney. His goods came over the road on about as large an auto truck as ever came into town.
Miss Winnifred Burnham was in town on Wednesday of this week calling on friends. Miss Burnham, with Miss Norris, is camping for a week at Forge pond.
William Sutherland’s and Warren Carkin’s capable activities this week have been shingling and doing other repairs on John P. Wright’s house.
Miss Wood, of Keene, N.H., has been the guest during this week of Miss Loker and Miss Bunce at their pleasant new home.
Will Bunce, who has been a member of the Bunce household for many months, and who assisted in the care of his uncle, the late Mr. Bunce, during his last illness, has returned to his home in Worcester.
A second nurse has been installed to assist in the care of Mrs. Mary E. Fletcher, who has been so ill for many weeks.
Miss Ruth Fisher is visiting in Providence, R.I., and Mrs. Alvan Fisher is at camp [at their cottage on Forge Pond] with Miss Lila Fisher.
Edward Clement has been taking Mr. Cutter’s place on the car during the latter’s vacation.
The first meeting of the season of the North Middlesex Pomona grange will take place on Friday, September 6, at Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell.
Miss Edna Ferguson conducted the service on last Sunday evening at the Congregational church and which, in spite of the rain, proved a good service. Miss Ferguson proved a versatile leader, for besides speaking well on the subject of “Christian tact,” she presided at the piano and led the singing. On Sunday the regular services will be resumed morning and evening.
Mrs. Oscar Anderson and three children returned last week after nine weeks spent in Philadelphia, during which time the Anderson home has been quite extensively renovated and remodeled by Mrs. Whitney. These changes result in more room and more convenience. Needham & Fletcher have had charge of the work.
Schools reopen the day after Labor day. Principal Roudenbush is the new man in charge at the academy [now the Roudenbush Community Center building] and his assistants will be Miss Norris and Miss Hickey. At the Frost school Miss Smith and Miss Foster will teach the seventh and eighth grade, Miss Grant the fifth and sixth, Miss Crocker the third and fourth, and Miss Wright the first and second. At the academy workmen are busy whitening the walls and other repairs, after which it will receive its thorough annual cleaning. The pretty new Frost school building has been put into the very best order for the opening of school by its caretaker, Edmund Baker. He has varnished every inch of desks, chairs and other woodwork and oiled all the floors and cleaned the rest of the building.
Miss Jennie Sutherland is spending a vacation at Watch Hill, R.I., and before coming back to Westford will stay a week in Boston and vicinity with friends.
The J. C. Abbots are absent on an auto trip in Maine and expecting to cross into Canada before coming home.
The new Standard Fairbanks scales at the east end of the common have been finished and the grounds graded up in workmanlike manner. Miss Mary Bunce will have charge of them.
The H. V. Hildreths were at camp for over the week-end this last week.
It was a splendid victory for the Westford A.A. boys on last Saturday afternoon on the home grounds when they played the strong Manhattans of Lowell, winning the game by a score of 11 to 1. This Saturday afternoon a game has been arranged between the Westford A.A. and the M.A.C.A. nine of Lowell. Preceding the game the Boy Scouts have arranged for a series of sports.
A shirt waist party is one of the social events being arranged by the young ladies of the village for the evening of Labor day.
Burglars again tried to see what they could get at Westford depot during Wednesday night. They gained entrance to the waiting room and tore the telephone to pieces. This is a pay station and they probably secured some change, about fifty cents it is thought. How much else they gained has not been reported, not much anyway, for since the place has been broken into before, anything of value has not been left in the station over night. It is reported that other stations along the line were also visited.
Mrs. Homer M. Seavey is entertaining her mother, Mrs. Mary E. Mitchell, of Cambridge, and her aunt, Miss Sarah Pear, also of Cambridge.
About Town. George C. Moore, who is always up to something that adds improvement to the roadside, the field or building, has pluckily commenced ploughing the recent stump land adjoining the Nabnassett schoolhouse. This will add light and landscape to the outlook from the north view of the schoolhouse and ere long Mr. Moore and nature will paint the landscape the color of green grass.
Mrs. Charles Prudhomme, formerly Miss Alma Decatur, is visiting friends at Conway, N.H.
Miss Ella Wright, of Cleveland, Ohio, is making her usual annual summer visit at the old Fletcher homestead on the Lowell road at Brookside. As the owner of this estate she has ordered many improvements to the roadside, the field and the buildings. The latest is the clearing of the rivulet that has its rise on Francis hill and assists in turning the water wheels on the Stony brook and Merrimack river. Augustus F. Whidden still continues as superintendent of improvements. He has skill and taste.
As a member of the Passaconaway tribe of Red Men of Lowell, Edmund B. Whitney, of Brookside, after passing through the various chairs of the order, was presented a handsome gold Past Sachem’s jewel.
Another boat is being loaded at Boston for New Jersey with Oak hill stone from the quarry of the H. E. Fletcher Co., the capacity of the boat being forty carloads.
Much of the blue joint meadow grass that grows on the winding banks of Tadmuck brook is four feet tall which is good height.
The campers at Nabnassett held the first dance of the season at Pavillion hall on last week Friday evening, about 150 campers and their friends enjoying the bracing effects of music and dance. The management was mostly North Chelmsford style and developed pleasure at every twirl of the dance. Mrs. Joseph Mullen, Mrs. Charles F. Scribner, Mrs. Henry Dutton, Mrs. Alexander Gardner, Mrs. Hannah Barrows were head ushers of the management and Henry Dutton was general manager of the managers.
At a meeting of the republican town committees representing the eleventh district, it was unanimously voted to select a representative candidate from Westford again this year. A candidate has been selected and the legal papers served on the secretary of the commonwealth and it remains with him to serve legal papers on the voters.
As the days begin to shorten business begins to lengthen at the Oak hill quarry of the H. E. Fletcher Co. Supt. Harold Fletcher has just returned from a week’s trip on business for the company.
The old grist mill at Westford station owned by Geary [sic] C. Moore, which is being torn down by his progressive orders, will be teamed to his worsted mill at Brookside and changed into ashes and steam for motor power. In place of the old grist mill get your surprise guesses ready and guess that a 100-horse power electric motor will be installed. This will make lighting cheap and lighting easy, and the town may get a chance to light the Lowell road to Brookside. Mr. Moore is a genuine dictionary progressive and never tears down except to build larger and more useful. He is a live wire.
Mr. Parkes, draughtsman for the H. E. Fletcher Company, has returned from New York on a business trip for the company and is laboring under the impression that he has typhoid fever. Dr. Wells coincides with his impression and so far it has been kept down to the mild point. Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher has also been disturbed in temperature, but not in temperament. A little of Dr. Wells’ company and he expects to be able to resume his place in the circle of advisers to Gov. Foss.
By invitation of the Lowell Board of Trade, the Westford Board of Trade enjoyed an outing at Canobie lake last week Thursday afternoon. Hon. Joseph Walker and Congressman Samuel W. McCall were entertaining speakers and appreciated to the realm of echoes. Among those present were Capt. S. H. Fletcher, Edward Fisher, John M. Fletcher, Emery J. Whitney, Wayland F. Balch, John Feeney, Walter J. Merritt, Joseph Wall, S. L. Taylor and possibly others who were covered in the crowd.
Mrs. John Warren Day has gone to Bolton, where their cousin lives.
Mrs. Greenville Keith Cutler, of Andover, has been a guest of her classmate, Mrs. Martha Taylor Howard.
At the last meeting of the grange the lecturer’s hour was in charge of Mrs. J. Willard Fletcher, and was fully up to enjoyable expectations. The Fletcher musical trio, of Fitchburg, nieces of J. Willard Fletcher, were very enticing in their entertainment with cornet, violin and piano, and were cheered for response. Other features of the evening that had a good carry to it were a song by Rachel Wall; song, with violin accompaniment, Mrs. Blaney; reading, Mrs. Perley Wright. Dancing followed and after that everybody followed home.
Graniteville. Both masses in St. Catherine’s church on last Sunday morning were celebrated by Rev. Edward Mitchell, who delivered a strong and forceful sermon on “The love of God and the love of neighbor.” Mr. Mitchell is an eloquent speaker, and although in St. Catherine’s parish but a short time, he evidently thoroughly understands the conditions here and his sermons are always followed with the deepest interest and leave a lasting impression on the large congregation present.
The apparatus to be used at the children’s playground here near the Sargent school has already arrived and has been set up. The list includes balancing boards, a merry-go-round and several swings, and to say that the children greatly enjoy them would be putting it mildly. It may be said in passing that all the fittings for the playground have been installed by the town of Westford and are to be used exclusively by the children. Already several of the young people have used them and this is to be regretted, for the fittings will not last long if used by heavy weights.
Miss Rose Dunn, of Dracut, has been a recent guest of Mrs. W. J. Healy, in this village.
Alfred Hughes, Frank, Arthur and Henry Charlton are now enjoying camp life at The Weirs, N.H.
Mr. and Mrs. Lester McLenna and family are now enjoying a brief vacation that is being spent at Revere Beach.
Miss Kathryn Ward, of the office staff at the Abbot Worsted co., has recently returned from a very enjoyable vacation that was spent at Old Orchard, Me.
Miss Mabelle Loftus has been a recent guest of Miss Annie Gower.
Baseball. The White Sox met the Tiger A.A. of North Billerica on the local grounds last Saturday and the White Sox kept up their winning streak by putting it all over their opponents and won handily by the score of 13 to 2. McCarthy and Pracknack did the battery work for the White Sox and the game was never in danger from start to finish. These two clubs will meet again later in the season, the game to be played in North Billerica.
The Graniteville baseball club visited Townsend on last Saturday afternoon where they met with defeat at the hands of the strong Townsend A.A. by the score of 5 to 3. It was a great game and Graniteville really ought to have won, but things did not break right for them and they lost. Such is baseball. Though Graniteville lost, the Townsend people were so deeply impressed with the fine article of ball Graniteville put [up] that they made arrangements with J. E. York, the Graniteville manager, before he left the grounds, for a return game in the form of a double-header on Labor day, the game to be played in Townsend.
About fifty loyal rooters accompanied the team from here and the Graniteville cheering section enlivened things during the innings with some fine singing, led by Frank Charlton, the well-known vocalist. The popular songs as sung by the “Honey boys” made a decided hit.
Forge Village. Mrs. William Burnett and Mrs. John Edwards spent Wednesday as guests of Mrs. Joseph Teele, of Methuen.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Blodgett, of the Ridges, and Mrs. Chester Blodgett recently visited relatives in North Ipswich, N.H., Ashby and Gardner. While at Ashby they had the pleasure of climbing to the top of Mt. Watatic [1,832 feet above sea level].
Miss Caroline Precious is spending the week with her aunt, Mrs. Michael Keefe, of Townsend Harbor.
Miss Annie Duffy is visiting in Wamesit as guest of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bradley.
Mr. and Mrs. James Dugdale, of Haverhill, are guests of Mr. and Mrs. Miles Collins.
Misses Christine Lowther, May and Annie Cherry were recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. William Baker, of Worcester.
The John Edwards hose company made a good showing at their practice meet last week. They flushed out several hydrants.
W. Corney Precious is to have electric lights installed at his home.
Mrs. M. A. Lowther entertained at her home over the weekend Mrs. Samuel Marshall, of Pepperell, and Mrs. Mary Thorpe, of Marion, Conn.
Mr. Northrup, who has been visiting one of his daughters in Milo Junction, Me., has returned and is the guest of his daughter, Mrs. Fennimore [Lillian E.] Morton.
Parrott cottage is rented for two weeks to a number of well-known young men of Ayer.
A crowd of young folks from here attended the Townsend A.A. and Graniteville baseball game at Townsend on last Saturday afternoon.
Robert Orr and two daughters, Annie and Nellie, spent Sunday at Revere Beach.
Mr. and Mrs. John Carmichael have returned from a most pleasant visit to Nahant and Somerville.
Mr. and Mrs. Archie S. Bennett, of Boston, spent last week as guests of relatives here.
Misses Bertha Collins, Marion Lord and Edith Precious spent Saturday and Sunday at Revere Beach.
Mrs. John C. Babb, of Shirley, and John Shattuck, of Hudson, N.H., spent last Friday as guests of Mrs. Mary I. Drake.
Miss Elizabeth Plummer has returned from Beverly, where she went to attend the funeral of her brother, James E. Plummer, who died after a long and lingering illness.
Mrs. F. T. Holden, of Yonkers, N.H. [sic], who has been staying at Lancaster, visited at the home of Mrs. Mary I. Drake recently.
Charles Flanagan, the flagman at the Boston and Maine railroad crossing, rescued Ephraim, jr., and Thomas Reed from death by drowning in the canal of the Abbot Worsted Company on Monday afternoon. Young Thomas was fishing on the banks but fell into the water and sank beneath the surface. His brother Ephraim, who is a good swimmier, dove in to rescue him, but the current was so strong that he was unable to help himself. Flanagan, when notified, dived after Ephraim and after landing him safely returned after Thomas, who at that time had come to the surface. Although both were pretty frightened no serious results will follow.
There will be an entertainment and dance under the auspices of Cameron Circle, C.F. of A., in Abbot’s hall on Friday evening, August 30. Music by the Cadet orchestra.
Townsend
Baseball. As usual, Townsend was the winner in last Saturday’s ball game on the home grounds with the Graniteville team, who made their first appearance, but the plucky little club held them down to a closer score than most of the games have been this season, and started out with a good lead. Both clubs were about evenly matched and the visitors worked hard to keep their lead. After the visitors’ first two runs were scored Whitehead, who pitched for Townsend, steadied into form and grew better with each succeeding inning played, getting ten strike-outs and allowing only two hits during the remainder of the game. Graniteville used two pitchers, Spinner being relieved in the fifth with one down, a tie score and two on bases. Condon, his successor, had fine control, but was hit hard, Whitehead’s triple being the best in the contest. The summary:
TOWNSEND A.A. | |||||||
ab | r | bh | tb | po | a | e | |
Keefe, ss | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Lancey, 2b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Eastman, c | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
Greene, 3b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Parker, 1b | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Swicker, rf | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Teehan, cf | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Whitcomb, lf | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Whitehead, p | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Totals | 31 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 27 | 6 | 1 |
– | |||||||
GRANITEVILLE A.A. | |||||||
ab | r | bh | tb | po | a | e | |
Riley, 1b | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
D. Spinner, c | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
Buckingham, cf | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Nystrom, lf | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Hughes, ss | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Hanson, 3b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Gaudette, 2b | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Brule, rf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ledwith, rf | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
J. Spinner, p | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Condon, p. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Totals | 31 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 8 | 4 |
Innings | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
Townsend A.A. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | 5 |
Graniteville A.A. | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Three-base hits—Whitcomb, Whitehead, Hanson. Hits off J. Spinner 4 in 4 1/3 innings, off Condon 4 in 3 2/3 innings. Double plays—Keefe to Lancey to Parker, Greene to Parker. Bases on balls—by Whitehead 3, by J. Spinner 4. Struck out—by Whitehead 10, by Condon 7. Stolen bases—Keefe, Parker 2, Nystrom. Passed ball—D. Spinner. Hit by pitched ball—Riley, Whitcomb, Whitehead, Eastman. Umpire—McGrail. Time 1 hr. 50 m.
Saturday, August 31, 1912
Center. Mr. and Mrs. John P. Wright spent over Sunday with Rev. and Mrs. C. P. Marshall at their summer cottage at Manomet, near Plymouth, this week. Charles O. Prescott was also of the group. Mrs. Lumbert took charge of the Wright home and little folks while Mr. and Mrs. Wright were away.
The J. Herbert Fletcher’s spent Sunday with Waltham relatives, who came after them in their auto and returned them home the same way.
Mr. and Mrs. Will Carver entertained Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, of Somerville, over Sunday.
Allen Frink has joined the working force at the Old Homestead farm and is boarding at J. H. Colburn’s.
Mr. and Mrs. C. Willis Hildreth had a beautiful night blooming cereus [a genus of cacti] come into perfection on last Saturday evening and they very thoughtfully telephoned to as many friends and neighbors as they could to come in and inspect it and enjoy its fragrant, evanescent beauty. There were five blossoms measuring eight and ten inches across, as well as two or three buds, which did not come to maturity. True to its name the following morning the beautiful blossoms had deteriorated.
The Ladies’ Sewing Circle of the Congregational church of Lunenburg, where Mr. Wallace was formerly pastor, made a long-planned for visit to Mrs. Wallace on Wednesday. Twelve of its members came by trolley and enjoyed a basket picnic at the parsonage. In departing they expressed themselves as greatly pleased with our church, public library and village.
Dr. and Mrs. Wells, who are enjoying an automobile trip in Vermont, visiting the doctor’s native place, expect to get back to Westford on Friday evening, bringing with them his brother, Leon Wells, with his wife and daughter Helen.
Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Sutherland and daughter Thelma of Newton are spending vacation days at William Sutherland’s.
A good-sized group of men interested in orcharding and general farming were on hand to witness the very successful demonstration of the use of dynamite in subsoiling and stump blasting at the farm of Joseph E. Knight Friday afternoon of last week. Mr. Amlot, the man in charge, managed the demonstration most skillfully and made it evident that for this particular sort of work when rightly manipulated, it was a good helper.
The regular services were resumed Sunday at the Congregational church after four weeks’ vacation. Mr. Wallace, who is feeling much better after a restful vacation, preached and again conducted the evening service. Mr. Yarnold, living at Parkerville, added to the interest of the morning service by singing a beautiful solo entitled, “Eternal rest.” Miss Edna Ferguson also contributed an offertory solo. Miss May Atwood was in her old place at the organ after several months’ vacation from choir work.
The young ladies of the town are to hold a dance in the town hall this Saturday evening with dancing from 7:30 to 11:30 o’clock. Thayer’s orchestra will furnish music for the occasion.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lewis of Newton have been visiting Mr. Lewis’ mother at the Wright homestead this week. Mrs. Lewis’ brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Garvin of Brookline, are also staying with her.
Mrs. Eliza Carter, who has boarded the teachers for several seasons, making such a pleasant home for them and other boarders, is to give up her home in Westford and move to St. Johnsbury, Vt., to live with her daughter, Mrs. F. A. Merrill.
Miss Gertrude D. Fletcher is enjoying a week’s vacation at home from her office duties and making a few short trips.
Mrs. L. W. Wheeler is enjoying a vacation with friends in Boston and vicinity.
This Saturday afternoon the Westford A.A. cross bats with the Graniteville team at the Graniteville baseball park, the Shirley A.A. at Shirley on Labor day at ten a.m. and Shirley A.A. at Whitney playground, Labor day afternoon at 2:30 o’clock.
The county training school band of North Chelmsford will give a concert at Whitney park, Labor day afternoon at 2:30 o’clock.
A Most Enjoyable Occasion. Mrs. Frank W. Banister entertained a party of friends at her home on last Saturday afternoon which proved the best ever of her popular clambake parties. There were about twenty-five in attendance and the perfect weather, the merry sociability, and the tempting spread made it a genuine good time. The long table was spread under the trees back of the house, with an improvised screen of birch boughs on each side, filled in with golden rod and other flowers. Bright flowers also trimmed the table. The juicy bivalves were cooked just right, flanked with potato chips, green corn and pickles, after which came salads and rolls, sherbet, cake and coffee. These were followed with toasts and conundrums. These latter were prefaced by Miss Evelyn Hamlin.
After adjournment from the table, the party grouped themselves for photographs, and the several camera experts among the number took pictures of the party. This was followed by some lively games and the time came all too quickly for to say good bye with many hearty assurances to their hostesses of a thoroughly good time.
Boy Scouts’ Meet. Whitney playground fully justified its name last Saturday afternoon when the Boy Scouts had their meet and list of sports the first of the afternoon and the ball game later, between the Westford A.A. and C.M.A.C. ball team of Lowell. The Westford team took the laurels with a score of 6 to 2. It was an interesting and spirited game with some good playing on both sides. The Boy Scouts had their tent, new this season, pitched attractively near the grove in the park and carried out their program in good sportsmanlike manner. The winners of the sports were as follows:
One hundred yard dash, Leon Hildreth; throwing baseball, Marden Seavey; one-half mile run, Edward Blodgett; rope pull, under twelve years, Hildreth’s team; over twelve, Blodgett’s team; barrel race, Dane; relay race, Hildreth’s team; potato race, Baker; obstacle race, small team, Hildreth; large team, Blodgett; pole vault, Blodgett; running high jump, Blodgett; hop, step and jump, Blodgett; standing broad jump, Hildreth; high jump for Hildreth’s side, Hildreth and Sears; Blodgett’s side, Baker and Blodgett.
About Town. Mrs. Herbert Coffin and daughter Minnie, who have been enjoying the fragrance and beauty of the meadow flowers in the native parks of Tadmuck brook and other delights of the old Walker homestead in friendly visits with their uncle and aunt, Charles E. and Miss Belle Walker, have returned to their home in Berwick, Me.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Snow have been spending vacation days with Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Woodbury in the suburbs of Boston.
After those restful days and quiet meditation that accompany the church vacation days, the Unitarian church will open for action on Sunday. Rev. Lyman B. Weeks will conduct the services.
The next meeting of Middlesex North Pomona grange will be held at Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell on Friday, September 6, at 10:30 o’clock in the morning.
Young Josiah Crosby, of Arlington, while visiting his aunt, Mrs. Frank W. Banister, broke his arm while playing automobile with an empty barrel. Dr. Wells was called and at once got the arm into position to act like a temporary knitting machine.
The old Peletiah Fletcher house [at 54] Lowell road, after these many years of plain, early New England simplicity, is yielding to the pressure of modern progressiveness with its new showy north view piazza.
The next meeting of Westford grange will be held on Thursday evening, September 5. State chaplain, A. H. Wheelock will be present and lay bare the subject, “Is honesty the best policy?” To those who have heard him, he is clear, wise and witty. Reading by Mrs. Perley Wright and other helps will give an evening that the lecturer is always equal to.
The work train of the Boston and Maine was busy on Monday removing the old timbers of the bridge that spans the Stony Brook highway, an improvement to the highway and the railroad.
Oscar R. Spalding is growing Japanese millet, measuring six feet and eight inches in height. The dry weather of June and July is responsible for its shortness of stature.
It is reported that Duanne H. Waller has sold his farm to a Boston party.
The long, cool evenings bring back the seasonable activities of the season. In conformity to the life of the season the young ladies of the town will open the season with a social dance at the town hall on Saturday evening. Music for the event will be furnished by Thayer’s orchestra, of Pepperell.
Miss Esther Whitney had one of her fingers badly crushed while working in the Brookside mills on Tuesday.
Westford and Brookside stations were investigated by burglars one evening last week. Many things were pryed [sic] open and broken open without any regard to the effect it would have in scratching the paint. Some folks haven’t any manners and it is evident that it is some of this class who have a so often habit of an unmannerly way of entering these stations.
Mrs. Julian Whitney and daughter Minnie are visiting relatives in Maine.
Benevolent Society. The reorganized Benevolent society of the village church at West Chelmsford gave an open-air entertainment on Cameron park last week Thursday afternoon and evening under the clever good management of Mrs. Olin Johnson. Among those who served in the capacity of assistant managers were Miss Agnes Naylor, Mrs. John Quessy, Mrs. Frank E. Bickford, Mrs. Rudolph Haberman, Mrs. George Billson, Mrs. Charles Byard, Mrs. James Peck, Mrs. Thomas Brown, Miss Margaret Reid, Miss Lottie Snow, Mrs. Paul Quist, James Dwyer and Ralph Bickford. The park was illuminated with electricity. The truant school band of North Chelmsford was a more powerful factor than electricity in lively sweet strains of music afternoon and evening, which made everybody feel like a dance. The whole affair was attractively forgetful of dog day weather. Westford, Brookside, Westford Corner and Oak hill were part of the inaudible roll-call of those present.
Forge Village. Communion services will be held at St. Andrew’s mission on Sunday morning at 9:30 o’clock. There will be no evening prayer.
Misses Lena, Bertha and George Wilson, with a party of friends, enjoyed a trip to Nantasket beach recently.
Miss Annie Duffy has returned from her vacation spent with Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bradley, of Wamesit.
Mrs. Nellie Grooves, of Lynn, was a recent guest of Mrs. M. A. Lowther.
Miss Annie Campling, who has been the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, has returned home to Lawrence. Her cousin, Miss Maud Hunt, accompanied her for a visit of several days.
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Blodgett, of the Ridges, are visiting in Yonkers, N.Y., as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Ireland. Mrs. Ireland was formerly Miss Minnie McKeel, of this village.
The Misses Emily and Ethel Collins spent last week in Haverhill and Newburyport. They were guests of Miss A. Luella Prescott, of this village, at Newburyport, where she has charge of a summer school.
Miss Elizabeth Sufort [sic, Dufort], of Leominster, who has been spending her vacation at the home of her sister, Mrs. Hugh [Kathrine] Daly, returned home last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Sweatt made a trip to the Rockingham fair in their automobile.
Mr. and Mrs. James Sullivan spent a brief visit at Old Orchard, Me., last week.
Frank Collins is spending his vacation at Hampton Beach.
Walter Longbottom, of Arlington Heights, and nephew, Master William Longbottom, spent Friday and Saturday in Graniteville and this village, making the trip on his motorcycle.
The Misses Agnes and Mary Sullivan, of Nashua, N.H., spent Friday and Saturday as guests of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson.
Alvin S. Bennett has returned after a most pleasant visit spent with his brother, John Bennett, of Worcester.
Francis Sullivan, who has been spending the past few weeks at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, returned to Nashua on last Saturday.
The Boston and Maine railroad station was broken into by thieves some time last Wednesday night, but got hardly anything for their trouble. One of the windows had been pried open and the office door was smashed in. The gum machine was also broken into, but they were only rewarded by a few pennies.
Miss Sarah Hunt, of Gilbertville, is spending this week as the guest of her brothers, William and Edmond Hunt.
Miss Emma Dufort, of Leominster, enjoyed this week as the guest of her sister, Mrs. Hugh Daly.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Smith are entertaining Miss Mary Ryan and Miss Theresa McCann, of New York city, and Miss Mollie Clark, of Lowell.
Mrs. William Blodgett [nee Mary Cottrell] and children spent Monday with her sister, Mrs. James Wigham [nee Ada Cottrell].
Mrs. Richard Prescott has as guests her two nieces, the Misses Charlotte and Helen Holt, of Andover.
Cameron school re-opens on Tuesday, September 3, with the same teaching staff as last year.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rose, of Belmont, are visiting Mrs. Rose’s mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Splain. Miss Carmel and Master Ellsworth Rose are also with them.
The Y.L.S.C. held a successful party in Abbot hall on last week Friday evening for the benefit of the bath house fund. Willard Parker and Roland Black, of Lowell, were secured to present a sketch entitled “The point of view,” and were heartily applauded. Piano and vocal solos finished the program, after which dancing was enjoyed to the music of the Precious orchestra. A sale of ice cream, cake, orangeade, candy and a fish pond did a rushing business and a neat sum was realized.
Miss Emily Catchpole visited her sister, Mrs. Joseph Mason, of North Chelmsford, last Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. William Blodgett and family spent last Saturday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mason, of North Chelmsford. Mrs. Mason was formerly Miss Annie Catchpole, of this village.
Miss Ellen Byrnes, who has been ill with tonsillitis, is now much improved.
Miss Helen Sheehan, of Leominster, is visiting her cousin, Miss Gladys Daly.
Miss Thelma Clement, of West Chelmsford, is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. George Jackson.
Timothy and Joseph Kitchen, of Lowell, were entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Catchpole on Sunday.
Herbert Kirk and daughter Hazel, of Clinton, were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Catchpole last Sunday.
Graniteville. Mr. and Mrs. Hallows, of Fitchburg, and Mr. and Mrs. J. Gill, of Darlington, R.I., have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smith.
Commencing last Monday, and until further notice, the machine shop of the C. G. Sargent Sons’ Corp. will continue to run on a basis of thirty-two hours per week.
Miss Bertha Galbraith has recently returned from a very enjoyable vacation spent with relatives in Springfield.
Otis White, of Taunton, grandson of William White, with his wife and family have been recent visitors here, coming over the road from Taunton in Mr. White’s large touring car.
The members of the A. R. Choate hose company flushed out several of the hydrants here on Monday evening, the work being in charge of Lieuts. Alfred Prinn and Edward Defoe.
The M. E. Church Sunday school held their annual picnic at Lakeview park on Friday and this event was well attended.
Baseball. The Graniteville baseball club played the Highlands, formerly known as the Y.M.C.A. team, of Lowell, on the home grounds here last Saturday, and defeated them by the score of 5 to 4. McVey and Byam did the battery work for the Highlands, while Spinner and Ledwith were on the firing line for Graniteville. On Saturday afternoon Graniteville will play Westford A.A. on the home grounds here and a great game is expected. This without a doubt will be the great game of the year. Graniteville has already won two games and Westford one, and the boys from the hill will certainly try hard to land another. Both teams will be greatly strengthened for the battle and the contest will be worth going miles to see. Without a doubt there will be a record crowd in attendance. The batteries will be Condon and Ledwith for Graniteville, and F. Sullivan and possibly W. Sullivan for Westford. Game called at three o’clock at Hillside park.
Wedding. Miss Nellie McCullough, a well-known young woman of this village, and John J. Shea, of St. Peter’s parish, Lowell, were united in marriage at the parochial residence of St. John’s church, North Chelmsford, on last Sunday afternoon at three o’clock, Rev. Edmund T. Schofield being the officiating clergyman. Miss Rose McCullough, a sister of the bride, was bridesmaid, and the best man was William Shea, of Lowell, brother of the groom. The bride was becomingly attired in a costume of white lace and carried a shower bouquet of white asters. The bridesmaid’s costume was white serge and she carried a bouquet of sweet peas.
Immediately after the ceremony carriages were taken for the groom’s home in Lowell, where a reception was held that was attended by many relatives and friends of the young couple. Shortly after the reception, Mr. and Mrs. Shea left for a brief honeymoon trip that will be spent at the numerous beaches, and on their return will take up their residence at 19 Richmond street, Lowell, where they will be at home after September 15. The happy couple were the recipients of many beautiful presents and start on their new life with the best wishes of a host of friends.