The Westford Wardsman, August 31, 1918
Center. Mr. and Mrs. John S. Greig are receiving congratulations on the birth of a daughter, [Priscilla,] born Saturday, August 24.
Mrs. C. A. Blaney has been enjoying a vacation with relatives in Framingham and Needham.
Mrs. Charles H. Wright has been spending a two-weeks’ vacation in Sterling.
Miss Helen Leighton and Miss Frances Leighton are visiting their Westford relatives this week. Miss Nellie Fletcher’s and her cousin’s birthday coming the same week, the anniversaries are duly observed.
Beginning the first of the month the J. V. Fletcher library will be open but one-half hour, Sundays, from 12 to 12:30.
Miss Maude Robinson has gone to Moniden [sic; perhaps Mendon is meant?], Mo., to teach.
William E. Wright has purchased a new Buick Six automobile.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Dunn are moving into Mrs. J. W. Bright’s house. Mrs. Bright is going to Maine to visit kinspeople.
A most interesting letter from overseas comes to Homer M. Seavey from his son Marden in England, telling of his trip across and much of interest since landing.
The single service of the vacation period at the Congregational church last Sunday evening was conducted by Harry Ingalls. Regular services will be resumed on Sunday and Mr. Lincoln will preach as usual.
We are told Miss Helena Denfield, who taught at the academy the past two years, has accepted a teaching position in New Britain, Conn.
Fred A. Meyer has a new Ford closed car for his R.F.D. route. A closed car in severe weather will be a great help.
L. B. Lincoln, of Houlton, Me., made a brief visit with his brother at the parsonage this week.
The members of Company L, M. S. G., came home last Sunday night from their four-days’ tour of duty in Framingham. About fifty-five men went and the experience was an interesting one, although the weather was pretty warm and the work hard. Most of the members undertook the four-days’ encampment with a sacrifice to their own personal interests, but it was done with a good spirit, and one of the results was much pleasant comradeship. It meant much care for the officers and the commissary department, in charge of A. W. Hartford, were a hard working group, but their work was satisfactory. There were quite a few cases of sickness among the three companies, who had to have treatment at the camp hospital. During the four days the men were there various groups motored down from Westford to visit and inspect the camp and were extended every courtesy.
Mrs. Evaline P. Robinson died Wednesday noon at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Perley E. Wright, aged 80 years, 5 months, 3 days. Mrs. Robinson was born in Hudson, N.H., where her early life was spent, but for a period of fully forty years her home had been in Somerville. Her husband has been dead for many years. She was the mother of seven children, four of whom survive her—Mrs. Perley E. Wright and Mrs. Perry E. Shupe, of this village, and Mrs. W. H. Youlden and Mrs. F. J. Anderson, of Somerville. Mrs. Robinson also leaves five grandchildren. During the time the deceased has lived in Westford she has lived quietly with her daughters, owing to advanced years, but she was a kindly, pleasant woman to meet, rich in the experiences of a long and well spent life. The funeral services will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wright this Saturday afternoon at 1:30 and burial will be in Hudson, N.H.
The work of widening and straightening Graniteville road is making a good progress and promises to be one of the finest undertakings in town improvements. With its steep grades and wooded and blind curves it has always been a hard piece of highway, but in later years, with the increase of auto traffic, positively dangerous, and there have been already many accidents. The group of two-horse gravel teams make many trips a day through the village when they are getting gravel down the Cummings hill road. With the elimination of curves and widening and improving the hard grades it will result in a good straight-of-way road to and from Graniteville.
Eightieth Anniversary. The eightieth birthday anniversary of Joseph E. Knight was very pleasantly observed at his home on Wednesday. Mr. Knight was in good health and good spirits to enjoy his birthday and the many manifestations of love and good will from kinspeople and friends and neighbors. Much of this was a surprise to Mr. Knight, but his good wife, in her own capable way, entertained a family party of sixteen at dinner. There were also many callers during the day and cards of greeting and gifts. One of the gifts, from his brother, was a handsome silver-mounted cane. Mr. Knight was born in Westbrook, Me., being the oldest of a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters. Six brothers and a sister are living. Although born in Westbrook much of Mr. Knight’s earlier life was lived in Scarboro, Me.
Kinspeople present during the day were H. F. Knight of South Portland, Me., G. W. Knight and wife of West Scarboro, Me., Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Merrill of Ogunquit, Me., the latter being Mr. Knight’s only sister, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and family of Hudson, N.H., Mr. and Mrs. Wells of Lowell and Mrs. Fifield of Moore’s, N.Y.
Many hearty good wishes to Mr. Knight for continued good health and many happy returns of the day.
Schools. Schools reopen next week after the long vacation. At the academy various repairs have been made. The building has a new equipment of screens for the windows, the chimney is being rebuilt, the desks varnished and the building thoroughly cleaned. The new electric range is being installed for the new domestic science instruction; also, the electric wiring. The Frost school pupils will also benefit by this course and Miss Judge will be the instructor, giving one day each week. Perhaps the average scholar in later life will not have as fine an equipment as an electric range, but the principals of cooking can be taught in the school better with this fuel. The teachers at the academy will be Principal Roudenbush, Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth and Miss Libby Cohen. The Frost school has been renovated and cleaned and the teachers are Mrs. Martha Grant Whiting, principal, Miss Crocker, Miss Wright and Miss Ranney. Miss Raynes will continue as musical instructor and Miss Staples as drawing teacher.
About Town. Henry O’Brien, whose home is on Pigeon hill, Stony Brook road, and who enlisted in the navy some time ago, is still working as ship carpenter in New York. His superintendent is Mr. Young, of West Acton, of whom he says: “As story-teller and humorist he keeps us all well preserved in the mood of laughter.”
Mr. Greenough, of South Acton, the contractor for the building of the road from Westford Center to Graniteville, is hauling gravel to surface the road with from the John H. Decatur place on the Lowell road, a distance of about two miles.
Amos Polley, on the Prairie farm, is digging for potatoes and finds 260 bushels to the acre, and the vines loaded into the millions with green lice, which authority said would injure the crop. Now assuming that the crop was badly injured by this age’s old pest, should we be able to stay proceedings this side of 500 bushels per acre.
George C. Moore has a new tractor plow with which he is upsetting the fossil mouse nests of the soil at Brookside and Nabnassett.
After the usual summer vacation Middlesex-North Pomona Grange will hold its meeting next Friday in Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell.
After several missings and skippings Westford Grange will hold its next meeting on Thursday evening, September 5.
President Wilson has recently issued a proclamation establishing three new national forests in the east—the White Mountains in New Hampshire and Maine, the Shenandoah in Virginia and West Virginia and the natural Bridge in Virginia.
James H. O’Brien has purchased two years’ worth of standing meadow grass on the westerly and easterly banks of Tadmuck brook, not far from its output in a merger with Stony brook.
Frank C. Drew has the real prize cornfield in the Stony Brook valley and many other valleys and hillside cornfields.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Day, of Foxboro, are rejoicing in the birth of a son [Robert Leslie] on August 25. Mrs. Emma Day is now a great-grandmother.
F. A. Snow has a new Reo runabout, to be used for business purposes. On account of the impossibility of cars being delivered by rail the car was driven from Detroit, a distance of 600 [more like 800] miles, by a mechanician [sic].
Mrs. C. R. Decatur, Guy Decatur and Miss Luanna Decatur took an auto trip last week with their friends, Mr. and Mrs. Forbush, of Somerville. They went to Nashua, N.H., and called upon Mrs. Jennie Fifield in the old ladies’ home. They found her very well and happy. Mrs. Fifield is more than eighty years old and a very cheerful woman.
For two nights in succession, about midnight, West Chelmsford has been rather startled by pistol shots. The moon shining brightly, the villagers were able to see a man going along with a pistol and very carefully shooting out electric light bulbs, one after another, by the roadside. An investigation is being made and a warrant is out for his arrest.
Otis Day, who is much interested in poultry raising, had a poultry demonstration at his farm on Wednesday afternoon. Two men from Amherst Agricultural college were present to give valuable suggestions.
Now that the new ruling goes into effect that pleasure autos shall not be used on Sundays, we shall look with interest to see how carefully it is carried out in our town. We have not begun to sacrifice as the English have. They have not had the use of pleasure autos at all, even on week days, for a long time.
Graniteville. It was rumored here last week that Private Joseph Pelkey, of the 101st, who was wounded in France, had died, but a later report denied this statement. The latest report from Private Pelkey is that he is improving and will probably recover.
Edward T. Healy, of the naval reserves, who is stationed at Bumkin [sic] Island, has been a recent visitor at his home here.
Graniteville will play the Forge Village club in Forge Village on this Saturday.
Mrs. George Gower, with her two children, Virginia and Donald, and the Misses Laura and Ruby McCarthy have been spending the week at Revere Beach.
Miss Etta McNiff, of Hartford, has been spending the past few days with Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Furbush.
Henry J. Healy, Raymond V. Charlton and James J. Rafferty will leave this week for Camp Jackson, Columbia, S.C. It is expected that Anthony Pivirotto will be stationed at Camp Devens.
Alvin Nelson and Lester McLenna are taking a few days off from their arduous duties as overseers of the Abbot Worsted Company here.
Farewell Party. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Battista Pivirotto was the scene of a merry gathering on last Saturday evening, the occasion being in the nature of a farewell party tendered to their son Anthony Pivirotto, who has been called to the colors, and will report for active duties soon. The festivities opened with an excellent dinner served on tables under the trees, under the direction of a chef and waiters who were formerly connected with the Copley-Plaza, Touraine and Georgian hotels in Boston. The chef was Ernest Caffog, and the waiters were Patrick Baudinni and Louis Barretta. The menu was especially arranged for the occasion, and with the floral decorations formed a pleasing feature. It is needless to say that the dinner was thoroughly enjoyed by the large number of guests in attendance. The favors were paper hats with the national colors.
After dinner the merry party entered the house, which had been tastefully decorated with summer flowers and varied colored lights, while large emblems of Old Glory, the tri-color of France and the Italian flag held the place of honor in the home. Dancing was indulged in to excellent music on the Victrola.
During the evening refreshments were served, and shortly after 10:30 a bountiful supper was served that was the crowning feature of the evening. After all had partaken at the festive board Anthony Pivirotto was called forward and presented with a gold wrist watch, fountain pen and a full soldier’s kit from his relatives and immediate friends. This came as a surprise to the recipient, but he responded in a happy manner, assuring his friends that he was pleased to serve the U.S.A., and would always remember the very pleasant party that had been arranged in his behalf.
During the evening some pleasing solo dances were contributed by little Eugnie Caffog that were much enjoyed.
The whole affair was one great success and proved to be very enjoyable. Aside from those in attendance in the immediate vicinity, guests were present from Ayer, Boston and Fitchburg, and all had a good time.
Townsend
Center. The earthquake shock of Tuesday night was distinctly heard and felt by residents in town about midnight, many awakening, thinking something had fallen in their homes.
Shirley
Center. A company from Camp Devens, who came through the Center on a hike, Monday morning, furnished entertainment for the Center people for some time with their music.
Harvard
Public Health Meeting. Last week Thursday evening a meeting was held in the lower town hall in the interest and by representatives of the U.S. health service. Dr. Charles E. Woods presided over the meeting and introduced the speakers, the first being Major E. R. Sprague, health director at Camp Devens. He said that the war was a great educator and by it we were learning many things, one of which is, that the drafting machinery has proven that a large percentage of the defects from which men are suffering and for which many are rejected as unfit for military service, are remedial, now or were at some previous time, and might have been avoided had people known how and when to guard against them by using proper precaution. He then introduced Miss Mary E. Lent, director of public health nursing, who talked for nearly an hour in so interesting a manner that all in the audience would have been glad to have her continue longer.
She told of contagion, of infection, and how it is carried from one place to another, how epidemics are started, how the health of soldiers in the camps had been jeopardized by contact with civilian population and spoke particularly of the epidemics of measles at Camp Devens, many cases of which proved fatal. A great loss of precious lives which we could ill afford to lose. She said there was too little attention given to the infantile diseases—cases not reported and proper quarantine not established. Soldiers visiting at these places where there may be measles, mumps, chicken pox, etc., become infected and thus carries the contagion back to camp and an epidemic is started among the soldiers, often resulting in a fearful loss of life. She illustrated by several stories of actual happenings, where this had happened by lack of quarantine and thoughtlessly ignoring proper precaution and sane means of prevention.
Of course the meeting was for the purpose of awakening interest in the procuring of a health nurse for the town and it is quite likely something will be done about it at the next town meeting, if not before. At the close of Miss Lent’s remarks the meeting became informal and questions were asked and answered in a manner highly instructive and pleasing to all.
Ayer
News Items. The request made by President Wilson that “The Star Spangled Banner” be sung in every city and town throughout the United States at nine o’clock Tuesday night was observed generally about town.
Accidents. … In the evening about nine o’clock an automobile driven by Exios Tremblay of Manchester, N.H., and occupied by several soldiers in addition to the driver, bound for Camp Devens, side swiped an open, Ayer bound, electric car from Fitchburg near the Federation house on West Main street. The impact drove the running board of the automobile against a rear wheel of the machine which stopped its progress. The soldiers were more or less cut by the flying glass from the broken wind shield of the automobile. The injuries were not serious. The electric car was stopped for a time in order to make an investigation. The collision held up the great traffic, which comes Sunday evenings when the soldiers are returning from visits to their homes. The automobile was not badly damaged and the electric car escaped damage and no one of its occupants was injured.
News Items. The order issued by the authorities at Camp Devens that soldiers and officers shall obey the law regarding the speed regulations in regard to driving automobiles in the cities and towns outside the camp is heartily commended by those who have the enforcement of the law in charge, as well as the public generally. The order came as a result of the many serious accidents since the establishment of the camp, many of which resulted fatally.
A fine entertainment was given at the White Ribbon Home on last Saturday evening for over fifty soldiers from the camp.
The suggestion has been made on several occasions that the 12th Division at Camp Devens will be trained in the shortest time possible, consistent with the keeping of perfect organization and standards of efficiency. The officers of the division were given a demonstration of the training of troops Tuesday afternoon on the main parade ground by Lieut. Elvid Hunt of the general staff, and were told that they were going to have “a magnificent division in the time of training allotted.”
Two hundred and fifty draftees from New Hampshire arrived at camp on Tuesday and were assigned to the first and second companies of the Depot Brigade; 225 arrived from Rhode Island on Wednesday, and Maine sent 600.
W.C.C.S. Notes. As the work of War Camp Community Service has many varieties of activities, it was found necessary to devise a means whereby all these activities could be readily brought to the notice of the enlisted man. This has been accomplished by means of bulletins and joy-books. The bulletin is published weekly and posted where the soldier can easily read it. This gives him complete information of the activities of the week. By this means the soldier is able to select whatever most appeals to him.
The joy-book is published for the soldier and also for his friends. in the joy-book mention is made of all activities connected with War Camp Community Service, places of interest near the cantonment, how to obtain accommodations for a night, where good food may be had, information about trains, street cars, roads for motor travel; in a word, the joy-book is to furnish as much as possible a complete guide for the soldier and his friends when on leave from the cantonment.
District Court. Mrs. Doris K. Sibby, of Springfield Vt., and George M. Bartlett, a soldier, pleaded guilty to the commission of a statutory offense, Wednesday morning. The woman was sentenced to three months in the common jail at Cambridge. The soldier, as is the usual custom in the district court, was turned over to the military authorities at Camp Devens for punishment.
Mary Brandon, of Fitchburg, and Private Miller, of Camp Devens, were found guilty of a serious offense. The woman was committed to the East Cambridge jail for three months. The soldier was given over to the military authorities at the camp, where his case will be attended to.
Newly Registered. The following named men of District 15 registered last Saturday for military service, they having attained the age of twenty-one years since the annual registration on June 5: … Joseph A. Dureault, Alfred H. Sutherland, Westford; …
New Lot of Draftees. These men go to Camp Devens from Division 15, September 3: [none from Westford]
The following go to Camp Upton, Yaphank, L.I., September 5: [none from Westford]
These go to Camp U.S. Troops, Syracuse, N.Y., September 6: [none from Westford]