The Westford Wardsman, February 3, 1917
Center. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Bosworth entertained the former’s brother, Elmer Bosworth, of Lebanon, N.H., over this last weekend.
A daughter [Lillian Margaret] was born to Mr. and Mrs. James O’Brien on Monday.
John Feeney, who was taken very seriously sick with acute indigestion in the early hours of Wednesday morning, is reported more comfortable although weak from suffering. For a day or two Mr. Feeney required the close supervision of his physician.
Helen Greig, the little four-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Greig, fell down stairs last Sunday at her home and sustained a fractured collar bone. Dr. Wells took care of the injury and the little patient is doing nicely.
Mrs. Walter J. Merritt has moved back to Bedford, and is now living with the late Mr. Merritt’s aunt, Mrs. Lauretta Tyler.
Out-of-town guests at the Tadmuck club on Tuesday evening were Mrs. Joseph R. Draper, of Auburndale, the guest of Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, and Mrs. George H. Jenkins, of Marblehead, the guest of Mrs. Alma M. Richardson.
Mrs. S. B. Watson’s name should have been included in the list of entertainers at the social at the Congregational church last week. Mrs. Watson, with Miss Julia Fletcher, contributed a brilliant piano duet.
Mrs. Isles and Mrs. Bosworth [at 58 Main St.] happened to see an interesting and unusual sight one day last week. Mrs. Isles, looking out of the window, saw bounding up the street a young deer. The beautiful creature, a young doe, bounded along as if the main street in a village had no fears for it, but when about opposite E. J. Whitney’s [59 Main St.] it turned and galloped off through the grounds and beyond W. R. Carver’s residence.
The next meeting for the community sing will be held on Tuesday evening at the Congregational church at 7:30. Everybody is cordially invited to attend.
L. W. Wheeler has been confined to the house this week with an attack of the grippe.
Perry Shupe, living on the Boston road, is recovering from an attack of threatened pneumonia. Colds, grippe and coughs are very prevalent and it seems as though there is hardly a household but what has had one or more members afflicted.
The members of the Westford A.A. are busy completing arrangements for their tenth annual mid-winter dance to take place on Friday evening, February 10, at the town hall. The association have voted to serve a supper in the lower hall, Fogg’s orchestra of six pieces to furnish music. The following committees are in charge: Edward A. Hamlin, Oscar R. Spalding, Charles Roby, J. Herbert Fletcher, Harwood L. Wright, Alfred W. Hartford, William E. Wright, Frank C. Johnson, Edward Clement, supper; Inglis Wetmore, Robert Prescott, Edward Roby, John S. Greig, William R. Taylor, Arthur G. Walker, Edward T. Hanley, decorating; C. A. Blaney, hall; J. Herbert Fletcher, tickets.
Mrs. M. Elizabeth Whitney, of Westford and Brookline, accompanied by Miss Hulda Roussell, has gone for a four-months’ trip to California and other interesting points.
A. H. Sutherland, [Superintendent of the Westford Water Co.,] who has been among the shut-ins with sickness this week, is improving. Mr. Sutherland has been working very hard at the pumping station recently. Besides his regular duties the installing of the big new pump has been considerable of an engineering feat, and he and those working with him have had many difficulties to overcome. While Mr. Sutherland has been sick C. H. Pickering is helping out at the pumping station.
Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher is convalescent from a serious cold and threatened pneumonia. Her son, John Fletcher, is also reported gaining.
Guest Night. Guest evening of the Tadmuck club was heralded by auspicious weather and fine sleighing. A large number of the club members, with their guests, had assembled in the town hall when the gavel of the president called to order. Miss Alice M. Howard cordially welcomed members and guests and announced the evening’s program.
First in order came a piano duet; the selection being the first movement of a sonata by Beethoven, played by Mrs. S. B. Watson and Miss Julia H. Fletcher. Then followed a play selected by the art committee of the club, Miss Mary G. Balch and Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth. A beautiful old Greek myth, “Pygmalion and Galatea,” dramatized by W. S. Gilbert, was appropriately staged and exceptionally well rendered. The stage was decorated with drawings, casts, statues and draperies to represent a Greek studio. This was planned and largely accomplished by Miss Balch, assisted in other preparations for the play by Mrs. Hildreth. They took the leading characters in the cast, and Miss Balch also designed the graceful and picturesque costumes worn by the actors.
Miss Balch, as Pygmalion, the sculptor, was the star actor but Mrs. Hildreth, as Galatea, was an admirable second, and the other parts were finely rendered. With Mrs. Perley Wright as Chrysos and Miss Martha Grant as Daphne, his wife, the play was in truth a comedy. Mrs. Adrith [sic] Feeney and Miss Mabel I. Osborne, as Pygmalion’s wife and sister, were lovely Greek ladies in appearance, and realistic in their difficult parts. Miss Helena F. Denfield, as Leucippe, made a fine, spirited lover. The encounter between the two slaves, Misses A. Mabel Drew and Mattie Crocker, in the first act, was as sarcastic and aggressive as need be to introduce their respective masters. Each character was so well portrayed that it faithfully interpreted the old Grecian spirit of the play.
Between the acts Mrs. Watson and Miss Fletcher gave fine musical selections which rounded out a most enjoyable program.
The Tadmuck club is to be congratulated that it has an art committee of such marked ability that it can produce, entirely from the membership of the club, an entertainment so high in its ideals, and so satisfactory to the large and appreciative audience in attendance.
At the close of the entertainment adjournment was made to the lower hall where refreshments were served and a social hour was enjoyed. A buffet luncheon of chicken patties with garniture of peas, rolls, coffee, cake, olives and candies were served. Mrs. O. V. Wells and Mrs. H. E. Fletcher were the pourers and Mrs. L. W. Wheeler was the hostess in charge. About twenty of the ladies of the club assisted in serving and the club ushers and the reception committee assisted most capably toward the success of the evening. About 225 were in attendance.
About Town. At the republican caucus Monday evening Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher was chosen as chairman, Alfred W. Hartford as secretary. Nominations for town officers followed, with the following selections: Selectman, Oscar R. Spalding; assessor, J. Willard Fletcher; overseer of the poor, Wesley O. Hawkes; collector, Leonard W. Wheeler; treasurer, Harwood L. Wright; school committee, Arthur E. Day and John Spinner; trustee of J. V. Fletcher library, John P. Wright; cemetery commissioner, George T. Day; auditor, Edward T. Hanley; constable, William L. Wall; tree warden, H. L. Nesmith; moderator, Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher. The above are all renominations with the exception of Albert R. Choate as overseer, who after several years of faithful service declined further service. At the democrat caucus on Tuesday evening Joseph Wall was chosen as chairman and Edward Riney as secretary. The nominations of the republican caucus were ratified.
An inspiring talk was given in the vestry of the Unitarian church Monday evening on “Apple and peach growing” by Rev. L. H. Buckshorn and G. E. Labontley. Lantern slide pictures from the agricultural department at Washington were used to illustrate the theory of the speakers. It was a helpful push in the right direction to some farmers grey with age and green with inexperience. Rev. Mr. Fite, of Graniteville, was indispensable in handling the lantern. On Monday evening, at the same place, Rev. L. H. Buckshorn, by the courtesy of Washington, D.C., poultry department, will give a talk on “Poultry and poultry management,” with Harold Hildreth as interlocutor. Everybody interested in the subject should attend.
The first farmers’ institute of the season was held in Lowell last week Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. George S. Ladd were forenoon and afternoon speakers, the former on “Good roads” and the latter on “Household management.” Both were fine and many interesting facts were brought out.
Herbert Walkden has gone to Jacksonville, Fla., for the winter.
Mark Jenkins and Justin [father and son] of the old Chamberlin blacksmith shop have closed for the winter and moved to Lowell, the former working in the repair shop of the Boston and Maine railroad, and the latter for Cameron ice cream parlors.
At the vestry of the Unitarian church Sunday evening Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn gave an inspiring talk on “Hymns and hymn writers.” The choir, assisted by Henry Smith and Alvin Nelson, of Graniteville, sang the hymns and tunes of boyhood and girlhood days. It made some feel a half century younger, if ever they felt old enough to need going back that far.
Guy Decatur and Henry O’Brien are working for the Boston Ice Company at Sandy pond.
The adjourned meeting of the Board of Trade will be held at the town hall this week Friday evening at 7:15 for the election of officers. At 7:45 Hon. George P. Drury, of Waltham, will speak on “The new state of income tax.” Mr. Drury is an expert on this subject. The meeting is open to the public.
A daughter [Lillian Margaret] was born Monday [Jan. 29, 1917,] to Mr. and Mrs. James O’Brien on the Providence road.
At the home of her son Joseph Sargent, Mrs. Mary F. Sargent celebrated her eightieth birthday last Sunday. A party of twenty relatives were entertained at dinner in honor of the event. Among those present were her son and wife, and her grandchildren from Henniker, N.H.; also, her two daughters and friends from Leominster. Her son in town, Joseph, lives on the Edwin E. Hayward [Heywood] farm, near Chamberlin’s corner.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard W. Wheeler and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Taylor represented Westford at the farmers’ institute in Lowell last week Thursday. Great was the after-dinner with a male quartet and reader, both of which hit everybody in to a laugh. Mayor O’Donnell brought the greetings of the city, Robert Marden, president of the Lowell Board of Trade, brought the congratulations of “a broader, deeper and more useful Merrimack river when Massachusetts and the United States gets after it as a navigable water course to the sea.” The next institute will be held in Dracut in February, thence next in Tyngsboro.
S. L. Taylor attended the hearing on last Friday at the state house before the committee on fish and game on his petition for a Closed season on fish and game for five years.
Forge Village. John H. Brown, a resident here for thirty years, died at his home early last Saturday morning after an illness of a few weeks. He leaves besides his wife, Caroline, four children, John P., J. Harry of Clinton, Mrs. C. Precious and Katherine M. Brown of this village, and also three grandchildren. Funeral services were held at St. Catherine’s church, Graniteville, Monday morning, a requiem mass being sung by Rev. Fr. Scott. Burial was in St. Catherine’s cemetery.
Miss Corine Leclerc and James O’Hara of this village were united in marriage at St. John’s rectory, North Chelmsford, Monday morning by Rev. Fr. Hearney. A small reception was held later at the bride’s home on Story street, confined to the members of the immediate families.
William Kavanagh, Orchard street, entertained the football club at his home last Saturday evening, a large number enjoying a musical program. Refreshments were served by Miss Kavanagh, assisted by several others. Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan and family, Pine street, are to entertain the club Saturday evening.
Daniel Kavanagh, twelve years old, son of William Kavanagh, underwent an operation Sunday in Lowell.
Warren Sturgis will be with the Social club at St. Andrew’s mission on Thursday evening.
Alvin Bennett has recovered from his recent illness and is able to be out again.
The Daniel Gage Ice Company have finished cutting here and are now at North Littleton [probably Spectacle Pond]. The ice here has been of excellent quality, being fifteen inches thick.
Mrs. John Sullivan and daughter Mary have returned from a pleasant visit spent with her niece, Mrs. John Cunningham, of Boston.
Mrs. Annie Keefe, of Townsend, has been a recent visitor here.
A great many from here are planning to attend the ball in Westford to be held by the Westford A.A. on February 9—the event of the season.
Miss Elizabeth Plummer is reported as improving from a severe attack of indigestion.
Frank Corrigan, of Fitchburg, called on some of his old friends here Wednesday.
A very pleasant sight to see the past few weeks are flocks of pheasants in the door yards of several houses, feeding on crumbs and corn distributed there for their benefit. Several seem very tame and of handsome variety, both male and female.
Mrs. James Whigham is ill at her home on Orchard street.
Little Mildred Dugdale is able to be out after a slight attack of measles.
Graniteville. Many from here attended the open meeting of Westford Grange in the town hall Thursday evening. Joseph Wall and S. L. Taylor had charge of the meeting and Simon B. Harris and W. S. Holt, president and secretary, respectively, of the Lowell Fish and Game association, were heard in interesting remarks. There was also a short musical program.
The daughter recently born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry LeDuc [on Jan. 23, 1917] was christened Mary Claire by Rev. C. P. Heaney in St. Catherine’s church last Sunday.
The board of registrars met in Healy’s hall on Monday night and many new names were added to the voting list.
The republican and democratic caucuses were held in the town hall on last Monday and Tuesday nights, during which the different nominations for the various town officers were made. The election will take place at the annual town meeting in February.
The pastor of the M.E. church preached last Sunday morning on “The fringe of the crowd,” and in the evening on “The converted coward.” At the men’s bible class there was a general discussion on “The social sin,” under the head of the seventh commandment. Mr. Fite gave a talk to the juniors at the three o’clock meeting, using as illustrations a couple of chemical experiments. Percy Barnes gave a strong presentation of the topic “Half-hearted or whole-hearted christianity” at the Epworth league meeting. The cabinet met after church and elected George Wilson to the office of first vice president to succeed Albert Day, who has moved from town.
The members of Court Graniteville, F. of A., held their regular meeting on Thursday night.
Ayer
District Court. Charles S. Edwards, of Westford, pleaded not guilty to a complaint for assault and battery on Richard Yarnold, alleged to have been committed at Brookside last Monday. He was found not guilty and ordered discharged. John M. Maloney represented the government as counsel, and former Senator Edward Fisher of Westford the defendant. The trouble arose over a disagreement between Edwards and Yarnold over some property matter, Edwards being Yarnold’s son-in-law. According to Yarnold’s statement he tried to have a meeting with his son-in-law to straighten matters out, but that the latter avoided a meeting. Finally he went to the Brookside railroad station Monday, where Edwards is employed as station agent. While outside the station the elder man stated that Edwards struck him on the head and nose, inflicting injuries which he still suffers from. Charles S. Edwards, the defendant, denied assaulting Yarnold. He said that he had ordered Yarnold off his premises before the date of the alleged assault because of the belligerent attitude of the plaintiff. The other witnesses for the government were W. C. Edwards, an uncle of the defendant, and Mrs. Alice Holt, housekeeper for the defendant.