The Westford Wardsman, April 1, 1916
Center. The funeral services of Mrs. Elizabeth Perham Tuttle took place from the family home on Friday afternoon of last week at two o’clock. Rev. Louis H. Buckshorn was the officiating clergyman, who spoke with sincere sympathy to those present and with loving appreciation of her who had passed beyond. There was a large attendance of relatives, neighbors and friends. The bearers were Oscar R. Spalding, Edward Fisher, Peter Clement, Alec Fisher, J. Herbert Fletcher and William E. Wright. Burial was in the family lot in Fairview cemetery.
Mrs. Winnifred Burnham and Miss Bertha Norris, two former popular teachers in town, have been visiting friends during the spring vacation. Miss Burnham was the guest for several days of Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth, and Miss Norris a guest with Miss Ella Hildreth and Mr. and Mrs. Galusha.
Genial Dick Wright of the firm of Wright & Fletcher has been confined to his home with a serious cold for over a week. He is gaining each day and his many friends hope to see him soon about town again.
The choir of the Congregational church, under the direction of Mrs. Charles H. Wright, are busy preparing music for Easter Sunday. A rehearsal was held at Mrs. Perley E. Wright’s on Tuesday evening. At the morning service last Sunday Mrs. Charles D. Colburn sang most effectively the beautiful solo, “O may my walk be close with thee.” At the evening service Mrs. L. W. Wheeler gave a sketch of Jane Adams and Hull house.
Reciprocity day will be observed on Tuesday afternoon at the Tadmuck club and promises to be the usual interesting event in the yearly calendar. Responses are promised from the clubs in Littleton, Ayer, Shirley, Pepperell and Lowell. The hostesses for the afternoon are Mrs. Eben Prescott and Mrs. Francis W. Banister. The meeting takes place at the Congregational church, not the Unitarian church as stated in the calendar.
Miss Lillian Sutherland, who teaches in Wilmington, is enjoying the spring vacation at home.
School was resumed at the academy on last Monday and the Frost school resumes its sessions on Monday after its vacation which was prolonged a week on account of the unusually bad traveling for the time of the year.
The big drifts on the branch line were dug out the first of the week and schedule trips resumed, for which everyone is grateful.
Many happenings incident to the bad traveling are reported, one being that while Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Taylor were returning from church last Sunday their sleigh was overturned in the badly drifted place below the Old Homestead farm [21 Depot St.]. These good friends were fortunately none the worse for their experience.
The quarantine card has recently been removed from J. Henry Colburn’s house after seven weeks of restriction. Clarence Colburn made a good recovery from his scarlet fever which fortunately proved an isolated case as well as a mild one.
Clarence Hildreth is recovering from an injured knee. This has caused him much inconvenience and discomfort, the accident happening while getting over a stone wall.
About Town. At the meeting of Westford Grange on next week Thursday evening, the first and second degrees will be conferred; music, Mrs. E. M. Wright; reading, Mrs. Eva F. Wright.
The next meeting of Middlesex North Pomona Grange will be held on Friday, April 7, at Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell. The lecturer’s program for the forenoon reads: “What interested me most at Amherst,” Harry Dawson of Tewksbury and E. B. Fox of Dracut; paper, “Kitchen utensils for the farmer’s wife,” Mrs. Frank Fitzgerald, of Billerica; discussion, Resolved, “That a kicker is a benefit to a society.” Samuel H. Boutwell of Andover, affirm. Samuel L. Taylor of Westford, neg. the afternoon’s program is to be announced.
William Curran, of Westford Corner, was found dead on the floor of his house on Monday morning. Medical Examiner Bulkeley of Ayer was called and pronounced death due to heart disease. Mr. Curran had been living alone much of the time since the death of his wife several years ago. He had lived in this part of Westford known as Westford Corner, near West Chelmsford, for many years, and where he owned two houses. He was an industrious man in various capacities and was seventy years old. He leaves a son, Henry Curran. The funeral was from St. John’s church, North Chelmsford, Friday morning. Burial was in St. Patrick’s cemetery, Lowell.
At Chamberlain’s Corner there are two alert and active women who have recently passed another milestone which takes them well along in the years of the octogenarian. Mrs. Delia Boynton [nee Fidelia L. Severance] was eighty-six years old a short time ago and Mrs. [Adaline] Clough, who lives on the McMaster farm, was eighty-four this week. Both women are interested in the affairs of the day. They have learned how to grow old gracefully.
Miss Agnes Naylor, for a long time the beloved teacher in the West Chelmsford school, is back in West Chelmsford for two weeks after spending the winter with relatives in Dorchester. She opens up her home for her nephew, Edwin Naylor, for whom she is guardian. He is a senior at Wilbraham academy, near Springfield. He and Walter Monahan are planning to enter Dartmouth college next fall.
Rev. Vincent Rair, formerly of West Chelmsford, but now pastor of the Congregational church in Cambridge, has just returned from a month’s trip to Panama. He attended the international conference of Christian Workers which was held there. The last conference was in Edinburgh. People interested in Christian work, especially in Latin America, were present from everywhere, the conference being international, and there were some very fine speakers. Mrs. Rair and her four children have been spending the winter in West Chelmsford in the place which her father, Rev. Dr. Virgin, built. We note with regret that this attractive and spacious house is for sale.
At a meeting of the trustees of Middlesex-North last week Thursday to hear the report of the committee to confer with the Lowell Driving club relative to holding the agricultural fair on their grounds this season, it was voted to hold another conference as the terms were not satisfactory.
The social which was held at the Unitarian church vestry on last Saturday evening was a great success in every way. The vestry was well filled to enjoy the amusing play, “A lost package,” which was very well presented by four young women who did excellent work as amateurs—Misses Mary G. Balch, Grace Robinson, Grace Bennett and Mrs. Edith Hildreth. An excellent musical program was given by the Fletcher sisters’ orchestra of Fitchburg. Refreshments were served and a thoroughly good time was enjoyed by all.
Former representative Samuel L. Taylor was in Boston this week, renewing his acquaintance with his former colleagues at the state house. At the invitation of Charles Baxter, the campaign manager for Gov. McCall, he visited the headquarters for the unpledged delegates to the republican national convention.
Old Oaken Bucket farm folks deposited early peas in the ground on April All Fools’ day. Come on the rest of you early April All Fools’ folks and listen to the dividends later on.
Charles W. Whitney is ill at his home on the Lowell road, and Polley, Pollock, Greig & Co., are taking his place in carrying five cans of milk to Lowell.
Graniteville. The members of the Graniteville Social club held a very enjoyable sleigh-ride to South Chelmsford on last Saturday night, when they visited the Paignon house, where refreshments were served and all had a very pleasant time. The party was chaperoned by Mrs. Clara Gray.
Masses in St. Catherine’s church on last Sunday morning were celebrated by Rev. Henry L. Scott, who gave interesting sermons. The usual Lenten devotions were held in the church on Tuesday evening at 7:30. The services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Edmund T. Schofield, who gave a brief sermon, followed by the benediction of the blessed sacrament. The regular choir was in attendance. The services were well attended.
The members of St. Catherine’s church choir are planning a pleasing form of entertainment that will be presented at the close of the Lenten season.
The members of Cameron Circle, C.F. of A., held a well attended and interesting meeting in their rooms on Tuesday night. Business of importance was transacted and during the session the following members were elected delegates to the annual convention to be held in Fall River in May: Miss Marion Lord and Mrs. Marion Wall; alternates, Mrs. W. J. Robinson and Mrs. Lena Ledwith. After the meeting a social hour was enjoyed during which refreshment were served and a brief entertainment given.
William Buckingham has proven to be some bowler, for he won his match with John Hall in Lowell last Saturday afternoon by a good margin that left no doubt as to which was the better man. Isaac Hall also put it over Ellsworth York on Saturday afternoon. Frank Charlton, also some bowler, had the best individual score of all the local bowlers during the afternoon.
The weather of the past few days has given cause for baseball talk and the fans here are wondering whether Graniteville will be represented on the diamond this year or not. It appears to be simply a case of available grounds. We have a fine new park in the making, but it is hardly probably that the field will be in shape to use this year, at least until late in the season. It is rather early to predict such things, but the ball club will hold a meeting in the near future when plans will be outlined at this time as to just what will be done in this matter. Graniteville certainly ought to be represented in some way after the fine showing which the club made last year.
J. Omer LeDuc, a teacher in the North Truro school, has been visiting relatives here for the past few days.
The C. G. Sargent Sons’ Corp. are building another addition to their shop in the form of a boiler house that will be used when the new boiler is installed.
Forge Village. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Whigham recently. [Wallace Iliffe Whigham was born March 14, 1916.]
Mrs. Mary Morin of Westford was the guest last Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. Fennimore Morton.
Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Pendlebury have welcomed a little son into their home. [Roland Francis Pendlebury was born March 20, 1916.]
Misses Margaret C. and Clara Dare, daughters of Mrs. Jane Dare, were the guests last week of their aunt, Miss Margaret O’Hara, of Concord, N.H.
The sympathy of the village people is extended to the family of Mrs. Elizabeth M. Tuttle, who died in Westford last week.
Mrs. Martha Harty is disposing of her household furniture and expects to leave for Lowell by the end of this month.
The Lenten services at St. Andrew’s mission last week were held on Wednesday evening and in spite of the storm a large number were present. S. W. Sturgis of Groton delivered an excellent address on “Opportunity.” Rev. Williston M. Ford conducted the service in the mission chapel this week. A most interesting sermon was preached.
Through the kindness of Stephen Healey the sidewalks of the village have been kept clear of snowdrifts during the heavy storms of the past two months. The work necessitates an early start in the morning and is very unpleasant and the village people thoroughly appreciate Mr. Healey’s good services.
Many of the school children are at home suffering from the prevailing epidemic whooping cough.
Mrs. R. E. Longbottom of Charlton Depot is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett.
Cameron school reopened on Monday after a vacation of two weeks.
Miss Violet Collins of Providence, R.I., who has been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Myles Collins, has returned to her duties as nurse in that city.
Miss Ethel Collins is still confined to her home with a severe cold.
The Y.P.S.C. met on Thursday evening and still continues its good work for the soldiers in France. Pillows to be used by the wounded soldiers have been made, also blanket bath robes, together with a large quantity of sponges and bandages being cut and rolled. The work is open to the public and is proving of much interest.
The very severe weather of the past month has driven many species of birds to the village for food. Pheasants have been seen and fed by many, the birds becoming so tame as to light on doorsteps to await their meal. Blue jays in plenty have been fed by one neighbor and a flock of quail daily visited the Nashoba farm for their meal of grain. From all parts of the village interesting stories are told about the many kinds of birds.
The sacrament of confirmation was administered to the largest class in the history of St. Andrew’s mission on last Sunday afternoon. The Right Rev. Samuel G. Babcock, suffragan bishop of Massachusetts, officiated at the services which were witnessed by a very large congregation. Special music by the large vested choir was rendered and the altar of the chapel was decorated with white flowers and greenery. The vicar Rev. W. M. Ford assisted the bishop, who spoke briefly on the necessity of being confirmed. There were many former parishioners from out of town present.
Mrs. Laura Jones of Worcester was the guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett, on Wednesday and Thursday.
Mrs. Charles Blodgett and Mrs. William Blodgett spent last Wednesday in Boston.
Mrs. William Burnett, who has been ill at her home, is now about again.
Mrs. John Edwards is suffering with an attack of bronchitis.