The Westford Wardsman, August 11, 1917
Center. Mr. and Mrs. William A. Perkins were guests on Wednesday of Miss Loker and Miss Bunce, and during their stay met a number of former Westford friends.
The Spalding Light Cavalry association held its annual meeting on Thursday afternoon, August 9, at 4:30 o’clock. The meeting was for the election of officers for the ensuing year, and for the adoption of an amendment to the by-laws whereby members actually in the United States service, whether in the military or naval branch, may be excused from paying dues, and for the transaction of such other business as came before the meeting. At the special meeting held on June 15, it was voted that the sentiment was that on account of the war the annual outing for the current year be omitted.
Edmund Baker, who has taken such faithful care of the grounds at Whitney playground since it was presented to the town eight years ago, has been obliged, owing to ill health this summer, to delegate much of the work to James Scott, who is his helper.
Mrs. George Walker has been enjoying a visit from her sister, Mrs. King, of Canton, Ohio. Mrs. King returned to her western home last Saturday.
Miss Sarah W. Loker conducted a helpful Sunday evening service at the Congregational church last Sunday. The service was so well attended and sustained that services will be conducted again on Sunday evening at seven o’clock, and Mr. Roudenbush will be the leader.
Mrs. L. W. Wheeler is spending the greater part of this week in Newport, R.I., where she is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Arthur Manchester, and family.
Miss Dorothy Bunce, of Chelmsford, has been a recent visitor at the home of her aunt, Miss Mary P. Bunce.
Mail Carrier Samuel H. Balch’s auto and the electric car collided last Saturday morning at Drew’s corner. A disabled rear mudguard was the principal damage.
Miss Estella M. Blanchard, of New York city, is visiting at the pleasant farm homestead of her aunt, Mrs. J. W. Blodgett. Miss Blanchard holds an advanced teaching position in New York. Mrs. Blodgett and son, Fred A. Blodgett, have recently returned from a very pleasant trip to New York.
The blackberry harvest, the last of the small fruits crop, is under way. Naturally it will be affected by the heat and drouth [sic].
A “silent policeman”
Two silent policemen have been placed at the square [junction of E. and W. Prescott street with Pleasant St.], one near Union street [now E. Prescott St.], the most dangerous spot and one in the center of the square. Drivers will do well to observe the sign and keep to the right. The signs were placed Wednesday by the selectmen. Charles Flanagan will keep the lanterns in trim in the evening.
George D. Wilson, Herbert Smith and John Hobson have successfully passed the examinations at Ayer on Wednesday and will answer the call to the colors in September. The latter two tried to enlist in the navy several months ago, but were refused on account of not being citizens.
Shirley
Center. About thirty men, members of Company B, from Camp Devens, were entertained on Monday evening by Rev. and Mrs. H. A. Bridgman at Frank J. Lawton’s home on Hazen road. A good number of people from about the Center were present and enjoyed the singing and the company cheers given by the men. Refreshments were served. The evening was somewhat shortened on account of transportation difficulties due to an order issued that day which deprived the men of the use of the army trucks.
Littleton
News Items. The boys in training at Plattsburg await with great interest their commission, which will be received just before they leave camp next week.
Ayer
News Items. The exemption board of the fifteenth district held all-day sessions in the upper town hall on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week to examine men for military service, many coming from all the towns in the district. Owing to the small percentage of men accepted a new call will be issued, probably the first of the week, for more men to appear for examination. In addition to the exemption board and two stenographers, nine physicians assisted in making the physical examinations. They were Drs. Wells of Westford, Ayres of Groton, Bulkeley of Ayer, Qua and Heald of Pepperell, Royal of Harvard, Kilbourn of Groton, Christie of Littleton and Lilly of Shirley. The full data of three days was not available for this week’s issue of this paper. The complete story will appear next week.
Camp Notes. Two battalions of the 6th regiment, numbering 1200 men, went to Boston last Saturday to take part in the great military parade in honor of the Belgian Mission. Col. Sweetser and other officers went with the men. Two special trains, totaling twenty-two coaches, were necessary to transport the troops. They returned early in the evening.
Col. Sweetser took occasion to pay a tribute to Major William F. Dusseault, the chaplain of the 6th regiment, who retired last week. Major Dusseault has served as chaplain of the regiment since 1890, a period of twenty-seven years. He is succeeded by Rev. Harlan J Ballantine, who has been for years pastor of the Baptist church in Marlboro.
The war strength of a company of soldiers is 150 men. It is reported that this number will be increased to 200 men for each company.
A Washington dispatch says that unusual pains will be taken to weed out of the war armies all men whose nerves are in the least affected, and that a corps of 150 nerve specialists will examine every man under training at the national army cantonments. An official announcement says that no man can be expected to make a good soldier under present methods of warfare if he has any organic nerve disease, any mental defect or any touch of insanity, or if he is chronically addicted to the use of drugs or alcohol.
Last Saturday evening was an unusually busy one for the local railroad officials in handling the great throng of camp workers who were leaving to spend the weekend at their homes. Several special trains and regular trains were crowded to their extreme limit in transporting the men. On two long special trains for Boston even standing room in the cars was taken up and many even rode on the steps and platforms of the cars. The main travel was toward Boston; many others went to other places. The ticket office at the station was for several hours a decidedly busy place, long lines of men standing waiting for tickets at the two windows of the office during the rush hours. Guy B. Remick, ticket agent, and his assistant, Daniel W. Mason, handled the great crowds in efficient style, although the work was of a most strenuous nature.
A whistle has been installed at the main building of the cantonment as a fire alarm to summon all available men, including camp firemen. In case of emergency all men employed at the camp, including soldiers, are pressed into service. The watchmen constantly on duty at the tower on a knoll overlooking the cantonment, equipped with proper field glasses, are enabled to see a fire as soon as it starts. Word is soon sent to the man in charge of the fire alarm and the men are all hurriedly summoned. At night the military guards stationed at many points over the vast area give the fire alarm by firing two shots. The merits of the system are such that very few fires are allowed to get under headway. The fires, so far, have been confined to the brush and have done little or no damage. While the other camp activities are carefully watched, the matter of fire protection is of prime importance. A bad fire at the camp would be a calamity under the present conditions. The destruction of the buildings would result in the undoing of a vast amount of time and labor devoted to their construction, as well as seriously delaying the work of getting the buildings ready for use at the time set for the contract, September 1. In view of these facts the importance of fire protection can hardly be over estimated.
The practice of riding on freight trains which has been indulged in by some of the soldiers has been ordered stopped by Col. Sweetser, because of the danger attached to it.
On last week Friday night a rifle in the hands of a soldier suddenly went off while he was preparing to remove the bullets. Owing to the precaution taken by holding the barrel of the rifle upwards when doing this work no one was injured, although the incident caused quite a stir for a short time.
The fact that the population of the camp is composed wholly of adults, who are used to outdoor work and its attendant hardships, probably accounts for the small number of prostrations compared to a town of the same size, which has people of all ages, many of whom are unable to withstand the abnormally high temperature as was experienced during the recent heated term.
The regular camp routine work of drills, guard duty and other service by the soldiers is broken by the men in their leisure hours by athletic sports, including boxing, and in impromptu musical entertainments. Many men are granted leaves of absence in which they may visit their homes or indulge in the social life of nearby cities and towns. Many friends and relatives of the soldiers come to visit them, carrying delicacies for the men, all of which is much appreciated.
On last week Friday Private Robert J. Lawson, of Company G, Lowell, was tried at a court martial session at the camp grounds for leaving his post at Penacook, N.H., on June 15, without permission and for appearing in civilian’s clothes. Lawson was doing guard duty at the time of the alleged infraction of the rules. He was found guilty and sentence will be pronounced later. The following officers comprised the court: Lieut. Col. H. W. Damon, pres.; Maj. William H. Dolan, Capt. J. J. McDowell of Co. G, Capt. Arthur H. Paine of Co. F, Capt. M. J. Dee of Co. I, Capt. E. J. Connelly of Co. A, Capt. Thomas E. Ireland of Co. H, Lieut. Parker of Co. E, Lieut. Corkum of Co. B, and Judge Advocate Lieut. James F. Coburn of Co. D.
The recent hot spell and particularly the weather of last week, was a severe setback to construction activities. During such weather men are unable to do but a fraction of the work that is done in normal temperatures. The most serious detriment to the work lay in the fact that many men were obliged to quit work altogether to prevent prostrations. The small number overcome by the heat was a great surprise, considering the fact that there are 4500 men at work, a number large enough to make a good sized town.
Many mules are used in doing the work at the camp. At the quarters of the 6th regiment two of the animals, who because of their decided vicious tendencies, are called “Dynamite” and “Nitro-Glycerine.” The latter mule, as its name would imply, is the worst of the pair and so far has successfully resisted being shod by the camp blacksmith, although the “Smith” has been assisted by the soldiers in this work.
A fact, perhaps not generally known, is that a soldier in war time is not allowed to wear civilian clothes at any time. It makes no difference where any of these men go, he is obliged to wear the regular olive drab uniform. This rule is not broken even when the men attend church services.
Secretary of War Baker, who spent the weekend at Nantucket, appeared much interested in the Ayer camp and made several inquiries as to how to reach here.
When Camp Devens is finished and the fine roads which are to be laid out there are completed, it will probably be without equal in the country in appearance.
Preparations are being made for the large conscript army which is soon to arrive at the camp. A long line of storehouses for supplies is being built. Reserve officers of the quartermaster corps are expected to arrive soon, by order of the war department.
The work of construction goes on with great speed. Sewers are rapidly being constructed, roads mapped out and all of the many other activities incident to the camp work are being rushed.
The 6th infantry is daily putting in hard work in drills and other maneuvers connected with actual warfare.
Brigadier General Edwards made an inspection of the camp this week. He is well pleased at the progress made and says that 20,000 recruits will be at the camp by September 1.
Company M of the 5th regiment, of Hudson, visited the 6th regiment on Wednesday afternoon. The Hudson boys made the trip in automobiles and carried their band along.
Major James E. O’Donnell, of Lowell, visited the camp on Wednesday.
It is reported the 15,000 New York troops, coming from Albany and vicinity, will encamp here next month.
The nine Y.M.C.A. buildings, known as huts, are completed. They will be used for recreation centers for the men. There will be a writing-room, halls for lectures and concerts, and a large auditorium capable of seating several thousands.
The recruits in the 6th regiment are rapidly getting into first-class shape. The drills and other routine work are very interesting and attract a good deal of attention from visitors. The regiment, as a whole, is in fine condition.
A police station has been built at the main cantonment where violators of the law are confined before being taken to the district court at Ayer for trial. Military court has also been established at the soldiers’ quarters, where a session is held every morning at nine o’clock. Most of the offenses for which the men are tried are minor infractions of the rules of the camp.
Boxing matches are a favorite form of recreation at the military camp, where several good bouts are witnessed daily.
The stories in circulation in regard to the departure of the soldiers for a southern training camp are causing much speculation among the men as to the time they will leave. Thy probably will not leave Ayer before August 20.
Plans for a recreation center at Sandy pond for the soldiers were presented and accepted at a meeting held at St. Andrew’s vicarage last week Friday afternoon. About $50,000 will be required for the work. The committee in charge of the work comprise prominent citizens throughout the state, who are familiar with this kind of work. It is expected that the task will begin at once.
A big searchlight, which has been installed at the headquarters in Mitchelville was used for the first time Monday night. The light’s powerful rays penetrate into every corner of the vast camp and its surroundings. Every person approaching the camp can be distinctly seen as well as the guards doing outpost duty. When the first rays of light were directed toward Ayer there was considerable speculation in regard to the strange light which swept over the town. The camp is now under the strictest surveillance night and day.
A small brush fire brought out the entire body of soldiers at 4:15 Tuesday morning. Another slight fire occurred later in the day.
President Hustis of the Boston and Maine railroad has asked General Edwards for soldiers to guard the railroad bridges. The General is quoted as saying that this duty could be performed by the home guard.
The extreme hot weather of last week had a very depressing effect upon some of the members of the motor truck company. One of the men hailing from the south, where the weather is at times very warm, says that last week’s weather was a record-breaker. He “hoped it would rain seven days and nights.”
Dr. Green Visits Camp Devens. Dr. Samuel A. Green, a former mayor of Boston [1882], and a distinguished historian and surgeon, who is spending the season at his summer home in Groton, his native town, was a noted visitor at Camp Devens last week Friday afternoon. The doctor showed a very keen interest in the work at the great cantonment and was amazed at the huge undertaking. He made the journey about the grounds in a carriage because of his impaired physical condition and was accompanied by his faithful nurse, Miss Mabel Warren, and James J. O’Brien. A pass, which is necessary for all person entering the grounds, was procured through the courtesy of Capt. Jones of the military staff, having headquarters at the government office in Mitchelville.
An idea of the vast proportions of the camp may be gained when it is stated that a large part of it was not visited, although the party kept almost constantly on the move for three hours. Incidentally it may be stated that Miss Warren wears a badge for her heroic conduct in saving the doctor from danger at the fire at the Hotel Lenox, Boston, a few months ago, 0) { referrer_url = document.referrer; } const params = location.search.slice(1).split('&').reduce((acc, s) => { const [k, v] = s.split('=') return Object.assign(acc, {[k]: v}) }, {}) const url = "https://museum.westford.org/wp-json/iawp/search" const body = { referrer_url, utm_source: params.utm_source, utm_medium: params.utm_medium, utm_campaign: params.utm_campaign, utm_term: params.utm_term, utm_content: params.utm_content, gclid: params.gclid, ...{"payload":{"resource":"singular","singular_id":346,"page":1},"signature":"e23b1efb20bc1d708e04ddba8aa725ac"} } const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest() xhr.open("POST", url, true) xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json;charset=UTF-8") xhr.send(JSON.stringify(body)) }) })();