The Westford Wardsman, February 8, 1919
Center. A new ruling from telephone headquarters is that the central office shall not be called up to give information concerning the no school signal. It congests the service on a stormy morning and the request comes mostly from children. Perhaps this ruling holds good better in the city where there are more calls, but it applies the same in our community.
Sergt. Ralph Yetton, a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Knight, who was formerly at Camp Devens and who later went to Camp Grant in the officers’ training camp, has recently received his discharge and Monday evening was the guest of honor at a gathering at Mr. and Mrs. Knight’s home.
Mrs. Frances B. Prescott, who was taken ill last week, is reported as much more comfortable. Her sister, Mrs. Charles Pickering, is also improved.
The reading circle of the Tadmuck club will meet with Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth next Tuesday afternoon. Another Shakespearian play complete in the afternoon is the plan for the afternoon. Any club member who would be interested is cordially invited to be present.
Frequent reports of robins seen come in these pleasant winter days. Also reported is very little frost in the ground.
Mrs. Augustus Prescott observed her eighty-eighth birthday anniversary January 23 in comfortable health and good spirits and surrounded with all possible comfort that loving relatives and friends can arrange in her pleasant home.
Another birthday anniversary was made pleasant for Mrs. David Desmond last Saturday, who lives at the south part of the town. She was the guest of Mrs. John Connell for the day in Lowell enjoying dinner and the theatre together, which was a return in neighborly kindness for helpfulness and sympathy during Mrs. Connell’s recent illness. Three handsome chairs and other gifts added to Mrs. Desmond’s birthday pleasure.
The teachers at the academy have carried on their work with difficulty this past week. Principal Roudenbush has had a severe cold and Miss Cohen was so sick with a hard cold that she did not return to school until Wednesday. Mrs. Hildreth, the third teacher, carried on extra work with characteristic capability.
Mrs. A. W. Hartford has been housed all this week with a hard cold.
That interesting document, the annual town report, has been received by the taxpayers this last week and warrants a careful perusal from cover to cover. Vital statistics for the year are births 91, marriages 32, deaths 68.
An additional electric light has been added on Main street near the town house.
At the Congregational church Sunday morning a Roosevelt memorial service will be held in unison with many other churches. At the morning service, “christian testimony,” with special music. Last Sunday the good attendance in the morning was supplemented by an evening attendance of about fifty. There will be an all-day Ladies’ Aid meeting at the vestry next Thursday.
Owing to sickness and other causes there was a smaller attendance for work on the Red Cross relief garments Wednesday at the library. Let all who can plan for next week and get this consignment of refugee garments completed with the expectation that it will be the last one.
A special meeting of the Board of Trade was held in the town hall Wednesday evening to discuss the warrant for town meeting. Informal discussion was very interesting and in some points quite instructive. Major Sprague, medical director of the extra cantonment zone of Camp Devens, was present and gave a short talk under the last article of the warrant, where a town nurse is suggested. Miss Eva Crockett, the public health nurse, also spoke. Both made convincing arguments.
Men’s Supper. The men’s supper, social and entertainment last week Friday evening at the Congregational church proved most successful and enjoyable. Mr. Hanscom, president of the men’s class, was the guiding spirit in all the activities and was cheerfully assisted by the other men of the church. The dining-room was filled to capacity for the roast beef supper with vegetables of mashed potatoes, squash and onions, supplemented with coffee, rolls and abundance of fancy pies. The entertainment consisted of music and Samuel H. Thompson of Lowell gave an address on “The pilgrims and the Puritans.” The other speaker was Rev. O. L. Brownsey, pastor of the church. A special musical number was by Mrs. Bartlett, Mrs. W. R. Taylor and Miss Sutherland. The assets were a good social evening and thirty dollars for the treasury.
Tadmuck Club. The speaker at the Tadmuck club Tuesday afternoon was Rev. Alfred H. Hussey, pastor of All Souls’ church, Lowell, who gave a delightful hour with Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre.” This time proven novel was cleverly reviewed by Mr. Hussey and the literary contemporaries of that period interwoven with equal cleverness. A good sized audience enjoyed this pleasant hour’s departure from the tenseness of the times. At the business session later the president, Mrs. Roudenbush, gave a good report of the recent presidents’ conference in Boston attended by her.
The next meeting, February 18, at the Congregational church will be in charge of the Economics and Conservation committees and will be a sale and entertainment. Each member is asked to contribute two articles, one to the fancy table and one to the food table. Mrs. Mary Baillie Bartlett, the author-entertainer, who has proved a favorite with Westford audiences, will give the entertainment of the afternoon. Tea will be served after the entertainment. Mrs. William R. Carver is chairman of the afternoon’s arrangements.
To the Editor: To explain an entry that is misleading in town report. In the treasurer’s report for the Red Cross please find on the debt side the entry—Mrs. Williams, care of Cutter children ($51); also on the credit side civilian relief $51. Both should have been entered under Civilian Relief. Mrs. Williams owes nothing to the Red Cross and I extend to her my sincere apology and hope she will have no further criticism.
Westford Branch, Red Cross:—H. M. Bartlett, treasurer.
About Town. The third farmers’ institute of the season under the management of Middlesex-North Agricultural society will be held at the Page street Baptist church, Lowell, Wednesday, February 19, beginning at ten o’clock, when Dr. George M. Twitchell, of Maine, will speak on “Economic, industrial and social conditions as they affect farming and farm life.” At the noon hour there will be the dinner and the usual literary fixings. At two o’clock Dr. Eleanor Mellen will speak on “Health helps.” Prior to Dr. Twitchell’s address there will be an informal discussion on “Should we not have agricultural colleges and experiment stations determine by actual farm tests, costs as well as production of the staple farm crops to help the farmer to obtain living prices for his products.” The place of meeting is only two-minutes’ walk from Merrimack square and it is hoped that there will be a large attendance.
Dr. H. L. McCluskey, of Worcester, a one-time scholar in our schools, has been visiting friends in town and resting from hospital treatment. As state president of the Y.M.C.A., he gave an address in Lowell on Tuesday evening in the interest of Y.M.C.A. work.
Mrs. Addie Day Keizer has been spending a week at the home of her brother and sister, Otis and May Day. She has returned to her home in New London, Conn., where her husband, Roy Keizer, is employed as machinist in making and repairing submarines.
Robins and bluebirds are reported seen and heard. Oh for a shot at those charming inspirers with the eye. It is not harmful to the birds and prevents their becoming as scarce as mosquitoes in zero weather.
A European authority says that $3,000,000 is a conservative estimate of the amount expended thus far in entertaining the royal family from America, and while this show is going on we are appropriating $100,000,000 to show them our bread to keep down starvation. God save the commonwealth of common sense, including silk dresses.
Yes, we plead guilty to “barking up the wrong tree,” but as we are barking at something about all the time it isn’t surprising that we sometimes bark where there is no game. About the only thing that we have not barked at for five years is a cold. So excuse us and we’ll start all over again in the railroad business some other time, but as government control in the interest of better efficiency and serving the public has closed up some stations and removed the timetables from all the rest, we are liable in starting a railroad again to meet with a head-on collision.
Mrs. Herbert E. Fletcher, after four years of ideal service as superintendent of the Sunday school at the village church, West Chelmsford, has declined further service and George Whitely has been elected. The school never was in a more flourishing condition.
A game of hockey last Saturday afternoon between Chelmsford Center and West Chelmsford was won by West Chelmsford by the score of 4 to 0.
A food sale last week Friday evening by the ladies of the Benevolent society of the Village church, West Chelmsford, was a success in victuals and money. Miss Lottie Snow had general charge, assisted by Mrs. Esther Taylor, Mrs. Thomas Brown, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. E. W. Jordan, Mrs. C. A. Naylor and the Misses Margaret Reid and Bernice Brown.
The Board of Trade held a special meeting Wednesday evening to practice oratory and speeches for town meeting.
Seth Banister, who is in the aviation department near Germany, writes home that he has got badly hurt, but gives no particulars.
Nearly all the sick ones are better and others are substituting in their places.
Warrant Posted. The annual town meeting will be held on Monday. Voting will start at eight o’clock, if anyone is there to start it. The afternoon session is listed as “may be closed at one o’clock.” That is the shut-off for the election of town officers.
There are thirty-seven articles in the warrant, the first of which is to choose a moderator, and the thirty-seventh and last is to see if the town will raise money [$1,500] for the employment of a public health nurse. Article 34 calls for $300 for military purposes for Co. L, M.S.G., located in town. Article 29 calls for lawful cash [$1,500 plus unexpended funds previously appropriated] to aid the branch line from Westford to Brookside. Article 24 relates to a memorial to commemorate the patriotism of the young men from Westford who served in the recent unpleasantness. Article 23 doesn’t want any money, it wants you to receive money from the town monthly [i.e., all bills against the Town to be rendered monthly]; we shall be delighted to do so even daily. Article 22 is to see if the town will change the name of the town farm [left to the Board of Overseers of the Poor]. Article 21 calls for the selling of land on the north side of Cold Spring road. It will be nineteen years, February 28, since the town took possession of the land to settle some property bills.
Article 20 is desirous of knowing if the town wishes to sell the cottage house [now the Museum Cottage, 4 Boston Road], with or without the land, that said town came into possession when it bought property of the late Henry O. Keyes for firehouse pump uses. Article 18 is listening to the report of the committee to investigate the purchasing of a motor-driven chemical engine. Article 33 wants us to give someone fifty dollars worth of money to demonstrate how to raise farm “apple sass” generally [i.e., for agricultural and home economics demonstrations]. Article 26, and in some respects one of the most important, is to appropriate $50 as compensation to the fish and game warden. The report of Joe Wall as fish and game warden ought to be read by all who believe in protecting our birds against extermination.
Forge Village. Miss Nellie McGovern, teacher of the first grade of the Cameron school, has been confined to her home in Ayer by illness. Miss Bradley, of the Lowell Normal school, is substituting. Mrs. Griffith, of Littleton, substituted Wednesday for the principal, Mrs. Nelson O’Clair, who has also been on the sick list.
The many friends of William Burnett will be pleased to learn that the operation which he underwent recently for eye trouble, was entirely successful. The sight is gradually returning and it is only a matter of time when it is hoped he will be able to get about unassisted. His son, John E., of Clinton, and daughter, Mrs. Laura Jones, of Worcester, visited him over Sunday.
Mrs. Joseph Bennett, who has been ill for several weeks, is slowly recovering.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Healy attended the funeral of their little niece, Clara Lyman, of Dedham, Tuesday. Much sympathy is expressed for the mother, Mrs. Venia [Lavenia] Darling Lyman, formerly of this village, who lost both husband [John Arthur Lyman, died Nov. 22, 1917] and only child [Clara died Feb. 2, 1919] the past year.
The Ladies’ Sewing circle are planning a supper, and full information will be given later. A benefit party is also scheduled to take place before Lent commences.
The services on Sunday afternoon will be held at 4:30 at St. Andrew’s mission. The vicar, whose sermons have caused much favorable comment, will preach.
Judging by appearances spring has already arrived—the pussy willows are turning into catkins, the robins are here, baseball is being played, and girls are skipping rope.
Mrs. Walter E. Clough is rapidly recovering at the Lowell General hospital, where she recently underwent an operation for appendicitis.
Miss Mary Merrick, of this village, is spending the week with her sister, Mrs. James H. Brown, of Clinton.
The Abbot Worsted Company are planning to run on the forty-eight hour schedule, closing on Fridays.
Mrs. John Merrick received a very painful injury to her arm on Wednesday while at work in the mills of the Abbot Worsted Company. Dr. Cyril A. Blaney dressed the injured member.
Letter from Overseas. A letter was received recently from Private John O’Neil of the Medical Department, France. It is very interesting and runs as follows, dated Spincourt, January 2, addressed to his father and mother:
Just a few lines, hoping they find you in the best of health and happiness, which is my wish for the new year. I am fine and hope it wont be long before we are on our way back. So far we have not heard anything. Well, mother, I brought in the new year for you, although I am far away. I thought of how father used to be the first up new year’s morning, and how I used to try and beat him out as I got older. Well, it was a little better this year instead of being on the ocean and a slow old tub, looking out for submarines and a life belt around you, like we were last year.
Well now that the censorship is not as strict, I can tell you a little of my “bit” over here. After getting off the boat we stayed in the center of France after a couple of weeks, then the regiment moved up front, all but one company. Our lieutenant, the sergeant and myself were with them [i.e., with the one company that stayed behind]. That’s where I was working in the hospital dispensary. We were there until Good Friday, when we got orders to move up with the regiment, and we started the next day (Saturday), and arrived at the front Easter Monday. It was the Toul front, a quiet sector, or was until our boys took it. The 26th Division was in the line; that’s where I met the Boston and Lowell boys I told you about.
Our engineers brought up ammunition and food, and it was while on one of these trips I got my first citation. The Germans were shelling Apremont. French artillery was stationed there; our railroad ran through the town, so we had to wait until the show was over; it lasted three hours, and during that time I held a first aid dressing station until everything was quiet—so I was busy. A week later my citation came from the French headquarters and I was sure surprised.
A few days later I was sent out with a company of men working within sight of Mt. Sec [Montsec], and we sure had some hot times. Then came the St. Mihiel drive, but it was not as bad as we expected. Oh, you should have seen the Germans run. We followed the doughboys and as they advanced our men laid the railroads until we connected it with the Germans at Thiacourt. When the drive was finished we were sent to the Argonne and got a lively time there.
October 18 we were sent to the Verdun front to a place called Ensnes [Esnes], just below Montfaucon; our second day there the Germans shelled the place, and we all had to run for our dugouts, and while on my way a shell hit in the middle of the road, a little way up the street. A French captain was hit in the thigh and shoulder, and one of our men got a piece in his head. He got to my dugout all right and I ran up and brought in the captain, fixed him up and later took him to the hospital. In a few days along comes a second citation with the award of the Croix de Guerre I told you of.
Well, I felt happy, but it was really nothing; anyone would have done the same, and of course the shells were coming over all right, but none landed very near.
On November 5 I was decorated in Rimage along with a few other boys; I have got a picture of it from a Chicago magazine, and I am sending it along in this letter; I guess you can make it out. I happened to be at the right of the line.
We have been on the move since we hit the front, Easter, and it sure feels good to have it quiet now. The major is doing all he can to get me my leave to England.
Well, dear mother, I guess I will close now with love to all, and God bless you, hoping to be back soon.
Graniteville. J. Ellsworth York is on a business trip to Canada for a few weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Brooks and family, who have been stopping at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. York, have recently secured a cottage house in Lowell, where they will reside in the future. Mr. Brooks still retains his position as road man with the C. G. Sargent Sons Corporation here.
Chief Machinist’s Mate W. Carroll Furbush of the U.S. Destroyer Tucker, visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Furbush, recently, preparatory to going to Detroit, Mich., where he will be inspector of machinery at the Ford plant for the U.S. government. He expects to remain in the automobile city until the expiration of his enlistment, which will terminate next August. The crew of the Tucker have seen such strenuous action during the world war that this position will serve as a great relaxation to the Graniteville boy.
The members of Court Graniteville, F. of A., held their regular meeting on Thursday night with a large attendance.
The members of the local Red Cross held their regular meeting on Wednesday afternoon and much work was accomplished. In order to rush things as much as possible another sewing machine has been loaned to the local Red Cross by the Westford branch, and this proved to be a great help.
The Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church held a very successful sale and entertainment in the church on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Thursday afternoon. The entertainment on Wednesday evening consisted of a Victrola concert, and on Thursday evening there were readings by Miss Mabel Kendrick and vocal solos by Miss Grace Kendrick of Lowell. The sale of ice cream, cake, home-made candy and fancy articles was held at all times and found ready purchasers. There was a large number in attendance and the sale and entertainment proved to be a great social and financial success.
The town reports have been issued and prove to be very interesting reading, particularly as to the report of the committee on public safety.
There is very little interest being shown in the coming town meeting, as there appears to be no contest for any of the town offices.
Candlemas day was fittingly observed in St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning, when two masses were celebrated by Rev. J. Emile Dupont. The ceremony of the blessing of the candles preceded the second mass, which was a high mass in honor of the feast of the purification. After the second mass a meeting of the holy Name society was held.
Pepperell
News Items. Regular meetings of the local Red Cross branch have been held on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, and a special meeting was held on Tuesday afternoon of last week. A request was forwarded [to] the society for “property bags” to be furnished the base hospital at Camp Devens, where the wounded are now coming in, and thirty of these were made on Wednesday, in addition to a large amount of sewing on the refugee garments, for which urgent appeal is made, that a certain number may be completed before March 1.
Ayer
News Items. The Suffrage Coffee House on West Main street, which has been patronized by many local people and visitors during the last year, has been taken over by the government and is to be run for the use of wounded soldiers. It is to be run under the staff of the War Camp Community Service, located at the Soldiers’ club, West street.
There was a large attendance at the military concert and ball given by colored troops at Camp Devens and local colored people in the town hall on Thursday evening. Garfield Hazard was the chief representative of the town. The early part of the evening was given to a concert which was attended by many local people. The entertainers were from the camp. Following the concert dancing was enjoyed until four o’clock Friday morning.
During 1918 there were 433 married on licenses issued in the town by Town Clerk Remick and 400 of these were soldiers at the camp.
As is being done in many camp cities and towns throughout the country, War Camp Community Service has arranged for a memorial meeting for Theodore Roosevelt on Sunday evening at the Federation House, West Main street, at 7:30. There will be community singing led by a national song leader, Mr. Brown, who will come especially for this purpose. The Base Hospital orchestra will play. It was hoped to have Governor Coolidge present, but other engagements made it impossible. A prominent speaker will be secured. The best part of the meeting will be the gathering of the whole community. The local churches are giving up services to unite in the meeting. It is hoped that every person in Ayer will try to be present.
Camp Notes. Camp Devens will shortly cease to be a separate army post. Major-General H. P. McCain, now the camp chief, is to be assigned to other duty and the camp will pass to the direct control of the Department of the Northeast. General McCain will remain at the camp until the major portion of its demobilization activities is cleared up. After the camp is turned over to the administration of Major-General Clarence R. Edwards, as commander of the Department of the Northeast, it will probably be maintained in readiness for use in connection with universal military training should the necessary legislation be enacted.
At Camp Devens 250 cavalry horses were sold on January 7 and 8 at an average of $61.83; 110 artillery horses at $110.59, 249 draught mules at $100.84, and 40 pack mules at $75.44, making a grand average of $85.90 for 649 head. One week later, prices were much higher, 124 cavalry horses making an average of $80.30, 50 artillery horses $115.35; 121 draught mules $127.21 and 20 pack mules $111.12, the grand average being $105.34 for 315 head. On January 15 the average was $80.70 for 125 cavalry horses, $150.34 for 60 artillery horses, $95.47 for 130 draught mules and $100.75 for 20 pack mules, making a grand average of $92.04 for 338 head in the sale.
There are 6000 soldiers coming to this camp next week and 2500 men are due here the latter part of this week.
Eight motor buses are on the way here from Camp Holabird, Va. [sic, Baltimore, Md.], where they were ready for shipment to France. They will be used in the motor transport bus line.
The sub-depot quartermaster department will open a general department store next week for the use of the entire camp for the purchase of supplies in accordance with the new subsistence plan just put into effect. Material for the engineers, ordnance, signal and medical corps will be carried as well as other supplies.
Ten big automobiles made two trips Tuesday with convalescent patients from the base hospital through the country surrounding the camp. The drivers were members of the Red Cross motor corps, Boston chapter. They are guests at Groton Inn and will continue the service for at least a week. The automobiles accommodate forty soldiers on each trip.
Sergt. Robert J. Davidson Wednesday heard the formal charges on which he will be court martialed next week for alleged misappropriation of patients’ funds at the base hospital of which he was custodian. He is charged with violation of three articles of war—being absent without leave from December 23 to December 27; stealing $4214.50 of the patients’ money and passing a check drawn on the Commonwealth Trust Company, Boston, for $100, receiving $75 in change from the Vinal Taxi Service, Boston, when he had no funds in the bank, with intent to defraud. Davidson is 25 years old and enlisted September 22, 1917. Many of the officers and enlisted men of the base hospital and medical corps are to testify. Also, Alfred Smith of Ayer.
Maj. Charles Quigley adjutant of the 12th division has been made camp adjutant.
A sentence for five years and dishonorable discharge was imposed on Private Joseph Gramutas on conviction of attempting to rob the restaurant of Leo Gendrons of Worcester on November 9. He fired several shots at the proprietor.
Provost guards brought Private Texas Tracey back to camp in handcuffs. He is alleged to have been absent without leave from the 74th infantry since the fall. He was arrested by five policemen in Columbus, O., after a severe fight. He left the Texas Rangers to join the Canadian army and was the hero of a bare fist encounter with four German soldiers whom he beat into submission and captured.