The Westford Wardsman, December, 1907
Saturday, December 14, 1907
Graniteville. The ladies’ aid society of the Methodist church met with Mrs. C. G. Sargent last Thursday afternoon.
Saturday, December 21, 1907
Graniteville. The children of the M.E. church will hold their Christmas tree exercises in the main body of the church on Christmas eve. Miss Emily Prinn has general charge of arrangements.
Saturday, December 28, 1907
About Town. The engine house on Oak Hill owned by H. E. Fletcher & Co., was destroyed by fire last Sunday evening about ten o’clock. The engine which was stored in the building was badly damaged. The origin of the fire is not certain, but it is likely to have occurred from the smokestack of the engine. The property was uninsured. As a substitute for the engine in the transportation of stone to Brookside a small steam crane is being used. As a motor power it is slow, and the up grade return trip is limited in power usually to one car. Senator Fletcher, who was in Lowell at the time, was notified.
At the barn dance given in Chelmsford last week the first prize for best costume and general appearance was awarded to Mrs. David L. Greig of Westford.
The old Stony Brook school continued its reputation for entertaining the children in the Christmas holiday with enticing tree and literary exercises last Friday afternoon. The youthful Edward Read [age 9] as Santa Claus seemed to be just the right fit for he made a right fit in measuring each of his youthful associates with an appropriate present. These exercises received the encouraging approval of about fifty visitors. As teacher, Miss Mellen, who has had charge of the school for many years, is to be credited as the original stimulus and director of these exercises.
Christmas exercises at the Unitarian church for the children were held last Monday afternoon. The usual festivities including supper were listed on the program. At six o’clock a program of singing and speaking and instrumental music was given, followed by Santa Claus, who was finely impersonated by Harold Hildreth [age 20]. At the close of the exercises Rev. B. H. Bailey addressed the children in his usual entertaining manner.
Grange. The next meeting of Middlesex North Pomona will be held Friday, Jan. 3, at Lowell. The meeting will be open to the public for the installation of the newly-elected officers. The grange from the old, historic town of Lexington will furnish the dinner.
At the last meeting of Westford grange a committee consisting of Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Wheeler and Mrs. Carrie Woods was chosen to make arrangements for the farmers’ institute, which will be held in town about Jan. 15. Fred Smith was appointed to arrange for the usual dinners on such occasions. The grange in selecting this committee have made it secure that the program of the day will be arranged to make Westford an enticing resort for the farmers’ gathering.
Some of the after thoughts of the recent neighbors’ night were expressed in a rising vote of thanks to Mrs. F. W. Banister for the efficient and liberal arrangements that the visiting members were provided at the entertainment in the lower hall. Mr. Reid as delegate to the state grange at Pittsfield gave a detailed statement of the proceedings, which added new life and encouragement to the local grange. This was followed by a Christmas frolic in charge of Mrs. E. May Wright and Mrs. L. W. Wheeler, who prepared that ever-welcome laden tree, with John P. Wright as Santa Claus, who proceeded with his claws to distribute the goods. Santa had no lack of gifts, including speech. Mrs. Josie Prescott as lecturer prepared a literary and musical entertainment—piano and violin duet, Everett and Mabel Miller; solo, Mrs. C. A. Reid; harmonica, A. A. Hildreth; wit, Rev. B. H. Bailey. The annual installation of the officers of the grange will take place at the next regular meeting, Jan. 9.
Center. At the Congregational vestry Christmas eve there was a tree and entertainment for the children of the Sunday school. The entertainment consisted of songs and recitations, after which came the distribution of gifts to the children. Santa Claus appeared in genial good humor for this pleasant task. His voice somewhat resembled William Pollock’s [age 35]. The vestry was prettily trimmed with appropriate Christmas decorations. One of the gifts was an envelope presented to the faithful pastor containing a substantial sum of money. The arrangements for this gathering were in charge of the superintendent of Sunday school, H. G. Osgood, and Mrs. Osgood.
Among the young people noted at home for the holiday’s are Miss Edna Ferguson from teaching at South Dartmouth and Miss Edith Bicknell from her school at Royalston, Miss Blanche Waller home from Bates college and Miss Alice Howard from Simmons, and Fred Johnson from Amherst agricultural.
Mrs. Sarah E. Perkins, who has been ill, is much more comfortable.
The H. V. Hildreths enjoyed Christmas with the T. A. Hildreths at Malden.
Mr. and Mrs. William Brown were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Leith for Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wright were at the Hiram Whitneys for the holiday.
Let the members of the Tadmuck club remember the change of date to one week later, Jan. 7, to accommodate the speaker of the afternoon, Miss Mary T. Stocking of Simmons college, subject, “Aids to good housekeeping.” This is Miss Stocking’s second appearance before the club this season and the members may be sure of a charming and interesting speaker.
Many Westford friends feel an interest in the marriage of Hon. A. K. Peck to Miss Tenney of Littleton. Mr. Peck gave a brilliant lecture in the lyceum course here on “Arizona and the grand canyon,” two seasons ago [see Center, Jan. 6, 1906].
Schools closed last Friday for one week. At the Center primary Miss Cushing and Miss Miller arranged a pleasing Christmas program for the pupils the closing afternoon of school.
Samuel H. Balch and Mrs. Clara P. Carkin, the latter of Forge Village, were married at Worcester last week Wednesday and have returned to the new home recently purchased by Mr. Balch [76 Main St.?].
Graniteville. In spite of the inclement weather of last Monday evening there was a large attendance at the Christmas tree exercise held in St. Catherine’s church. Miss Catherine Conley had general charge of arrangements, assisted by the other Sunday school teachers. All the children that took part acquitted themselves with credit and did excellently, considering the fact they had only a short time to rehearse. Joe Wall (age 51) as usual made an efficient Santa Claus and kept the children interested while the gifts were being distributed. The success of this affair was due in a great measure to the generosity of the Abbot Worsted Co., who presented the committee a substantial check that enabled them to present to every child a suitable gift. The program, which was a long and varied one, was listened to with great interest.
Joseph B. Riney of Westport, N.Y., is spending the holidays with relatives in this village.
Morris Doucette, an old resident of this village, died at his home on First st. last Sunday, aged seventy-eight years. Besides a wife, Elizabeth, he leaves four daughters—Mrs. William Perkins of Westford, Mrs. James Stuart, Miss Martha and Miss Lottie Ducette [sic], and one son John, all of this village. The funeral took place from the house on Tuesday morning at ten o’clock, Rev. C. P. Marshall officiating. The singing was by Miss Emily Prinn and Mrs. Arthur Blodgett, who gave “Rock of ages” and “Nearer home” in an effective manner. There were many beautiful floral offerings. The bearers were Joseph Perkins, Thomas Ledwith, James Stuart, John Perkins, John Ellison, and Harry Braman. Burial was in Fairview cemetery.
The Christmas tree exercises in the M.E. church on Tuesday evening were largely attended. The entertainment furnished by the children, under the direction of Miss Emily Prinn, was very pleasing and the tree, laden with good things, brought cheer to the little ones. J. Everett Woods (age 63) made his first appearance here as Santa Claus and made a decided hit. All the children did finely in their respective parts, showing the results of their careful training.
A series of winter entertainments will be given in the new Recreation hall at Forge Village. Two stereopticon lectures on Alaska will be given, one Jan. 2, and another Jan. 29. A dramatic play is now in course of preparation.
The Fortnightly Club of North Westford had a Christmas tree and general good time in the district schoolhouse on last Tuesday evening, the fine entertainment being furnished by the “old fashioned” children, in which the younger ones also had a share. The program was well balanced and every number was a gem. Mrs. S. E. Blodgett of Millstone road and Mrs. O. A. Nelson served on the entertainment committee and did good work. Horace Gould (age 46) was the Santa Claus and that means that there was fun galore from his entrance until the time he presented Fred Blodgett with a “jumping jack,” and Alvin Nelson with “The man on the box.” Everyone present seemed to feel the spirit of Christmas, and of all the entertainments in town the one held in No. 9 schoolhouse on Christmas eve carried off the honors for good fellowship and true enjoyment.