Turner's Public Spirit, March, 1905
Westford Wardsman
March 4, 1905
The funeral of Amos Leighton took place at his late home on Friday of last week. He passed his ninetieth birthday last December. He was born on the home farm where the fourth and fifth generations now live and spent his entire life there. His father [Deacon Reuben Leighton (1762-1844)] was a soldier in the revolutionary war, having served the last ten months. His grandfather, Reuben Leighton [sic, Francis Leighton (1734-1806)], was with Col. Robinson of Westford in the fight at old North-bridge, Concord, April 19, 1775. Mr. Leighton’s father was one of the founders of the Westford Union Congregational church in 1828. He leaves four daughters, one son, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Until the last year of his life he kept up his life-long habit of activity.
Item. Three gangs of men are at work in Westford, doing their best to ward off the approach of the brown tail moth.
March 11, 1905
Lunenburg
News Items. Mr. and Mrs. George Farrow of Westford visited Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Burrage last week. To Mrs. Burrage particularly, their visit was a most delightful surprise. Mrs. Farrow was formerly Miss Anna Pinkerton, an old friend and schoolmate of Mrs. Burrage, when they were girls together in England. Miss Pinkerton came to America first and was so well pleased with the country that she sent for her friend Alice, now Mrs. Burrage. For several years they lived near each other, then their paths separated and for twenty years they had not met until their visit last week. How much they did enjoy the meeting and talking over old times and the changes each had experienced during these eventful years.
Ayer
News Items. Gentlemen interested in the construction of an electric railway to Westford were in town Thursday looking over the proposed route from here that is to be constructed before long.
March 25, 1905
Littleton
News Items. Elmer Stiles of Boston spent Sunday last with his mother at the Littleton house. He came to attend the funeral of his former employer, H. S. Bemis, of the firm of Wright & Bemis of Graniteville.
A representative of the Fitchburg and Leominster street railway was in town Tuesday to get the local pulse in regard to extension from its present terminus in Ayer to Concord. They are a strong company, and if they can get the franchises will undoubtedly go ahead on the work. Every encouragement was given him by the officers of the town; also, several other citizens to whose notice the matter was brought. Now is the time if ever to show an interest in an electric road, for if this is diverted from us it will be a long time before another appears on the horizon.