The Westford Wardsman, October 18, 1919
Center. Anson L. Griffin, of Lawrence, has recently bought the Burland place on Hildreth street and a few months previous to this his son-in-law, Fred H. Meyer, bought the so-called Clarence Reid farm nearby, and formerly owned by Mr. Griffin.
Mrs. Sherman H. Fletcher is ill at her home and in care of doctor and trained nurse.
A dancing party was held at the town hall last week Friday evening with a good attendance. Broderick’s orchestra, of Lowell, furnished music for dancing from eight to one o’clock.
Miss Thorndike, of Boston, is substituting at Westford academy and in charge of the branches taught by Principal Roudenbush, the latter still being detained on state guard duty in Boston. Miss Thorndike is staying while in town with Mrs. Roudenbush.
Apple picking is in full swing and if more help were available it could be readily used. Apples are large and of good quality as a rule. O. R. Spalding and H. G. Osgood are having large yields from their orchards. Robert Prescott and William E. Wright, in addition to the apples they already have to care for, and in spite of being on state guard duty in Boston, have bought the apples in the Tarbell orchard on Boston road. With what help they can get and their furloughs home these last two manage their fruit interests as best they can.
Mrs. William H. Pollock, at the Lowell General hospital, is reported as comfortable as can be expected, and good reports come from Mrs. Robert H. Elliott at the Baptist hospital in Brookline.
Over three hundred dollars was the result of the recent agricultural fair of the Congregational church.
A good delegation from the Unitarian society attended the fall conference of Unitarian churches at Ayer last week Thursday. They were Miss Eva E. Fletcher, Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, Mrs. Sarah J. Drew, Miss Mabel Drew, Miss Austrice Flanders, Miss Emily F. Fletcher, Miss May Balch, Miss Ida Prescott, Abiel J. Abbot and Miss Grace Wood.
Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Goode, after closing their camp at Forge pond, will probably not be in Westford village this winter as no suitable house is available. They are moving their furniture from the Hamlin house recently bought by Robert Prescott. [They apparently had boarded in this house over the previous winter.]
Mr. and Mrs. James L. Kimball are in town boarding at Mrs. C. H. Bicknell’s. Later they may occupy their own house, as Mrs. William W. Sargent and children are planning going back to California.
Mr. and Mrs. George Lawrence have returned from a visit in Maine and will make their home this winter with Miss Ella F. Hildreth.
The young men are arranging for another dancing party at the town hall on Friday evening, October 24, with Broderick’s orchestra, of Lowell, in attendance.
Miss Winnifred Burnham, of Essex, a former popular teacher at the Frost school, spent over the weekend and holiday with Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth.
State Guard. Our local company H of state guard are on their sixth week of duty in Boston, much to the sacrifice of their own affairs and to most it is getting pretty wearisome, however willing at first they might have been to tide over an emergency. Superintendent of schools Walter K. Putney of Chelmsford and George H. Burke have been returned to their homes on account of sickness. Collector of taxes, L. W. Wheeler, through the deputy state tax commissioner at the state house, taking up the matter with the adjutant general, has been granted a furlough of one month, which will cover the busy period of taxes.
Beginning this last week ten furloughs of thirty-six hours were granted each day, taking the men of the company alphabetically. This is being more generous in the matter of furloughs than has been the case previously. Last Sunday evening the men were given a special treat at one of the theatres when a special performance of “A prince there was” was given for their benefit.
Neighborhood Alliance. The Woman’s Alliance of the Unitarian church entertained the branches of the neighboring towns last Saturday afternoon at the church parlors. It was a most successful gathering with a good program and pleasant hospitality. The president, Mrs. Alma M. Richardson, presided, and called to order at 2:30. The Precious orchestra of Forge Village opened the meeting with music and Mrs. Nettie H. Roberts, of Lowell, sang “Deep river,” Miss Julia H. Fletcher at the piano, followed by devotional exercises. Mrs. Roberts then sang “Today.” Ayer, Chelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Lowell, Pepperell and Shirley were represented in the roll call.
Miss Lucy Lowell, of Brookline, the speaker of the afternoon, was introduced and gave a splendid address on “Alliance ideals,” starting with the Alliance code. Miss Lowell sounded a note of courageous optimism, patience, poise and strength and bespoke a recation [sic] of the turmoil of the last four years for fresh devotion to the ideals and service that the Alliance stands for, a solo, “Don’t you mind the sorrows,” by Mrs. Roberts, and music by the orchestra closed the program, after which a very prettily served and attractive luncheon was enjoyed.
The pleasant meeting was in charge of the officers of the society. The next meeting, November 11, the program will be in charge of Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, who will review Edgar A. Guest’s book, “A heap o’ livin’.”
Tadmuck Club. The opening meeting of the fourteenth season of the Tadmuck club took place Tuesday afternoon at the Unitarian vestry with a good attendance of the membership. The club starts its fourteenth season with 105 members and three new names proposed for membership. The president, Mrs. William C. Roudenbush, in her opening address, bade all a gracious welcome and reviewed briefly the work of the last year. The war relief work accomplished, the change in dues and the adopting of the care of a little French boy were the special points touched on. Mrs. Roudenbush read Mrs. Baker’s letter to the clubs, the latter being the new president of the State Federation, and in closing sounded the note of service rather than entertainment for the coming year in the Tadmuck club.
Mrs. H. V. Hildreth gave a clear cut and interesting report of the State Federation meeting in June in South Hadley, after which Miss Agnes Hassett, of Alston, was introduced and gave a practical and intelligent lecture on “Woman and finance.” Music was enjoyed during the afternoon by the Precious orchestra and at the close of the program a social hour was enjoyed and club tea was served by the reception committee, Mrs. L. W. Wheeler, Mrs. S. B. Watson, Mrs. A. E. Day, Mrs. John Feeney, Sr., and Miss Julia H. Fletcher.
American Legion Post Formed. The new organization of Westford service men have organized as the Westford post of the American Legion. At their meeting last week Thursday evening the following officers were elected; Ralph A. Fletcher, com.; Edward T. Hanley, vice com.; Fred Healey, fin. of.; Frank Johnson, sec.; Harold W. Hildreth, war sick of.; Carl Wright, hist.; Dr. Harry Colburn, J. B. Murphy, H. B. Gray, ex. com., this committee also including the commander, vice commander, secretary and finance officer; Joseph Thompson, Frank Johnson, Frank Charlton, entertainment com.; Jack Spinner, William Courchaine, Edward M. Abbot, George Perkins, Leon F. Hildreth, athletics; George Hanson, Leo Connell, John Spinner, dance. At the close of the business meeting refreshments were enjoyed and an entertainment was given consisting of songs by Mrs. Nettie E. Roberts, Miss Eva Thompson and Frank Charlton; violin solos, William Mahoney, Dorchester; piano selections, Luke Walton, M. I. T., of Cambridge, and readings by Miss Mary G. Balch.
Practically every Westford man is now a member of the American Legion and the next regular meeting will be held in Graniteville in two weeks.
About Town. George C. Spaulding, while picking apples last week Wednesday for Houghton G. Osgood, Francis hill, fell twenty feet. He was removed to the home of Fred L. Fletcher in Chelmsford and later removed to St. John’s hospital, Lowell. The fall rendered him unconscious for some time. Latest reports were that he has come back to his former conscientious consciousness.
The sudden death reported in the issue of last week of Fred A. Hildreth recalls to the memory of the writer his early impressions of him as an ideal boy as he came to town with his parents from Lowell. His intelligent and optimistic expression was contagious to the writer when in his presence, of which we never tired. We recall later, at the beginning of the civil war, the three who enlisted in the signal corps of the army and saw service around New Orleans—Fred A. Hildreth and Thomas E. Taylor, of Westford, and Daniel P. Byam, of Chelmsford. Of the three only one remains, Thomas E. Taylor, of Woodsville, N.H., who is quite well at seventy-six. All three were interesting conversationalists on the reminiscences of those army days. Mr. Hildreth we will especially miss in the role of chaplain on Decoration day.
Mrs. William Pollock is at the Lowell hospital and is reasonably comfortable after a surgical operation.
That there is a big crop of apples there is no doubt; also, that there is a fair sized crop of champion apple-pickers, each claiming to be champion. We quote: “In the Westford items of Saturday William Pollock claims that a young man working for him picked 21 ½ bushels in an hour, which beats the champion George Burke, who picked 100 bushels in a day, and now comes forward Leroy Dutton, of Chelmsford, who has a young man, Elmer Kempton, who picked 103 heaping bushels in nine hours, and he claims the championship.” Not so fast my little fellows. Conditions must be as near equal as possible before anyone can lay claim to the championship.
The acreage of potatoes in Aroostook, by government reports, is 76,000; the average yield at 250 bushels per acre, and the total crop at 19,000,000 bushels, and the whole state at 21,812,900 bushels as per government reports.
Wallace Johnson is home from the Lowell hospital from an operation for a long standing complaint. He is around, but unable to do hard work.
The Fred A. Snows and other Snows motored to Jaffrey, N.H., Columbus day.
Harry C. Green has sold some more of the Brookside park lots.
The Greig farm folks are reported to have sold their large Lowell milk route. On this successful, progressive farm they estimate they have 2000 bushels of Baldwin apples. There are apples enough here to develop a champion apple picker.
Mr. Cutting, on the Amesbury place, is installing a water system. A Boston party is doing the plumbing. Mr. Cutting is spare engineer on the Boston and Maine, frequently running on the Stony Brook.
Deacon Charles L. Adams, who for several years was a resident of Westford, owning a small farm in Parkerville, died suddenly Thursday, October 2, at his home in South Chelmsford, having recently celebrated his eightieth birthday. He was born in Stoneham, Me., but had lived in this vicinity for a long time. He was a veteran of the civil war and member of the Chelmsford Veterans’ association. He is survived by his wife and a daughter Edna, and by a former marriage a son, Howard Adams, of Montreal, and two daughters, Mrs. D. J. MacLeon [McLeod?], of Lowell, and Mrs. C. C. Smith, of Winthrop. Funeral services were held from the Baptist church, with burial in Fairview cemetery, Westford.
Albert, Hugh and Miss Effie Tallent have been visiting their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew K. Tallent, in Bond, Miss. The trip was made by automobile. The Tallents will be remembered as living at one time on the Stony Brook road.
Wedding. It will be of interest to Westford people and others to learn of the marriage of Miss Luella M. Hutchins, of North Billerica, daughter of the late Henry M. and Mary Etta (Chamberlin) Hutchins, to George A. Stowers, superintendent of the Billerica water department. The marriage took place at the home of the bride in North Billerica by Rev. William L. Walsh, minister of the Unitarian church of that place, last Saturday afternoon, the ceremony taking place on the lawn. Mr. Walsh led the bridal party from the house, followed by the bridegroom and his brother, Burnham C. Stowers, who acted as best man. The bride entered on the arm of her brother, Henry M. Hutchins, who gave her away in marriage. They were preceded by the flower girls and the ring-bearer, little Ethel Blade, of Framingham, a grandniece of the bride, and great-granddaughter of the venerable Matthew F. Downs, of Westford. The flower girls were Misses Doris and Ruth Stowers, two little daughters of the bridegroom.
Following the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Stowers held a reception. In the receiving line with the bride and bridegroom were Mrs. Julia A. Fletcher, as aunt of the bride; Henry M. Hutchins, a brother of the bride, and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert M. Stowers, of Foxboro, parents of the bridegroom. Chase’s lady orchestra played the wedding march, and before the ceremony Miss Marion G. Conners sang “O promise me” with telling effect.
Guests were present from Boston, Lowell, Wilmington, Framingham, Stoneham, Methuen, Quincy, Oxford, Foxboro, Leominster and Westford.
The bride, with her parents, were residents of Westford for several years and were attendants at the Unitarian church. Her mother, Maretta Chamberlin, will be remembered as one of the bright scholars of the old Stony Brook school.
The bride has been prominent in Red Cross and charitable work, and served several years in the registry of deeds office in Lowell.
The bridegroom has been a resident of Billerica for six years and superintendent of the water department during that time.
The wedding was one of the most brilliant in the history of Billerica and was witnessed by about 100 people.
Forge Village. Gustine Carkin met with an accident recently, resulting in a broken arm and shoulder while picking apples at his home.
Little Miss Irene Comey is confined to her home with a slight illness. Her friends look for a speedy recovery.
Francis Lowther, a member of the state guard, now station in Boston, was home over Sunday on a furlough. He entertained as his guest at his home here Catchpole Kirk, formerly a resident of this village, who now makes his home in Clinton.
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Woodbury, formerly Marion Blodgett, of Medford, were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards for the weekend.
Miss Annie Lowther Cherry was the guest of the Misses Lowther over the holiday.
The Misses Pamelia and Mildred Precious furnished the music at this week’s meeting of the Tadmuck club in Westford.
The senior class of Westford academy are planning a dancing party which is to be held in the near future.
Miss Marie Reedy, who has made her home with Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards for the past year, has accepted a position in a sanitarium in the state of Missouri. She will be greatly missed in this village, and her many friends wish her good luck in her new undertaking.
Work is progressing rapidly on Abbot’s hall, which is being enlarged and generally improved by the Abbot Worsted Co.
William Weaver is spending the week in Worcester at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Alice Tyler.
The soccer football team played a fine game in Methuen last Saturday and defeated the Methuen team. They will play in Lawrence Saturday.
John Brown has recently purchased a new Ford machine.
Mrs. Annie Precious, who as correspondent for this column has served faithfully for many years, has now resigned. [She also served as the organist at St. Mark’s Church.] Anyone having news to be printed will kindly send same to Miss Marion E. Lord.
Graniteville. The mills and shops were closed on Monday for the holiday.
Miss Lillian Daley of Cambridge and Miss Margaret Tweed of Lowell have been recent guests of Miss Alice Harrington.
Henry and Leo Healy, students at Clark University, Worcester, spent the weekend and holiday at their home here.
Work on the Furbush garage is now progressing rapidly. The foundation has been laid and workmen are now busy with the building that will be of cement construction.
Miss Josie Provost has recently returned from the Lowell General hospital, where she underwent an operation, and is now much improved in health.
A social dance in charge of Dalord Cate of this village and Albert Morrisey of Forge Village was held at the Abbot clubhouse on last Saturday evening. The affair was well attended and a good time enjoyed by all.
Mrs. E. B. Richardson has recently returned from a very enjoyable visit spent with friends in the western part of the state.
Owing to the fact that it was teacher visiting day, there were no sessions of school held here on this week Friday.
Petty thieves have begun to plunder the gardens here again and several persons have lost a great deal of their produce. The wily thief watches carefully until the fruit or vegetables are ready to harvest and then he takes a nightly stroll with a bag on his back and gathers in the fruits of the other fellow’s labor. One man here who raises a little garden truck lost 75 cabbages one night recently. In fact only two were left for the man who did the planting. The other fellow got the rest.
Many local men of the state guard visited their homes here recently. The men are getting mighty tired of their job in Boston.
Mrs. Ida Harrington the cooking teacher, did not come this week, but will be at the Abbot clubhouse on Friday of next week at 2:30 p.m.
Ayer
News Items. The Hudson car driven by the K. of C. at Camp Devens went over a ten-foot embankment at camp on Wednesday night. Nobody was hurt but the top and fenders of the machine were badly damaged and a wheel was broken. The machine was taken to Yates’ garage for repairs.
Camp Devens is the finish for a 300-mile endurance test for cavalry horses, which is going on this week. The horses started on Tuesday from Fort Ethan Allen, Vt., going as far as Norwich university [53 miles, per www.google.com/maps/]; on Wednesday they continued to St. Johnsbury [50 miles]; on Thursday to White River Junction [60 miles]; on Friday to Concord, N.H. [62 miles], and on Saturday they are to finish at Camp Devens [54 miles], covering sixty miles each day. This endurance test is not a race for time entirely, but is judged on the bases of points for feed, condition, etc. The minimum time allowance for covering the sixty miles each day is ten hours, and the maximum is 16 hours. It is to make out the route for this endurance test that markers have been placed on the telephone poles along the highways.
District Court. On Friday morning John Robinson of Boston was given six months in the house of correction for the larceny of a bridle in Westford. The bridle was stolen from the barn of William P. Williams and Robinson admitted taking it. He also stated that he desired an open bridle so he cut the blinders off the one he stole. The prisoner was plainly a vagrant and the court sent him to the house of correction for the winter.