The Westford Wardsman, December, 1913
Saturday, December 6, 1913
Center. A pleasant Thanksgiving gathering at Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Howard’s included Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howard and son John, from Concord, N.H., and Mr. and Mrs. George Howard and son Philip, from Littleton Common.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Wright and Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Nesmith were in attendance at the organization of the new Lowell grange on Monday evening of this week.
William E. Wright has sold the Blood homestead recently owned by him to his brother-in-law, Rev. William Anderson, with the exception of the apple orchards and berries. Mr. Anderson purchased his real estate instead of that at Forge Village as reported, and plans eventually to take up his residence here with his family.
Patrons of the branch line electrics are pleased with the, to them, new car which was put into use on Monday for the first time. This replaces the one that has been in use longest and is an improvement, making a good appearance with its garnet and yellow painting. This car was purchased from the Fitchburg & Leominster Street Railway Company.
Attention is called to the first of the entertainments in the academy entertainment course which takes place on Tuesday evening at 7:45 at the town hall. This will be an entertainment by Sidney Landon, character artist, comprising character studies of great literary men, past and present, done in costume. Humorous sketches of “Our folks at home” and “Man’s peculiarities,” instructive as well as funny. Those in charge of this excellent course hope that it will be commendably responded to and made a success.
Pleasant activity dominates the depot end of the village. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pickering, of Somerville, have moved into the Kittredge house [21 Depot St.] and being pleasantly identified in relationship with Westford families will not seem like strangers. The Harry Prescotts are moving into their recently purchased home, the Andrew Wright homestead, which has been nicely renovated for their occupancy, and pleasant and well-founded rumors have it for happy occupancy of the pretty Carver cottage [9 Depot St.] in the near future.
Tadmuck Club. The Tadmuck club conducted a successful travel talk on Tuesday afternoon at Library hall, when Miss Louisa Phillips Merritt, of Rockland, gave an excellent lecture on “Egypt and Palestine,” illustrated with many beautiful sketches done in water color. Miss Merritt is an artist of ability and her pictures were much appreciated as well as her treatment of her subject. She brought the mystic atmosphere of the pyramids and the sphinx to her hearers with fine delineation, and the pilgrimage to the Holy Land was done with the same clear and entertaining touch in reconciling the reverent spirit of the pilgrims to the scenes of the Christ with the modern Palestine.
Miss Loker, the president, called the members’ attention to the recognition of Ellen H. Richards day be the School of Home Economics, December 3. The names of Mrs. Vincent Ravi and Miss Rita Bickford, of West Chelmsford, were proposed for membership. Letters were read by the secretary, one from the Littleton Woman’s club, inviting the members of the Tadmuck club to the Hubbard opera talk to be given under the auspices of their club on Monday afternoon, and a number of members are planning to attend.
The second letter was from one of our club’s good friends, Mrs. Nellie Packard Draper, of Auburndale, sending pleasant greetings and congratulations on our recent federation. Special attention is called to the next meeting of the club, which will be “Our home interests,” in the Unitarian church parlors. Club tea will be served. These home afternoons have always been very much of a success, and with the efficient committee in charge this will probably prove no exception.
About Town. The first Farmers’ Institute of the season will be held on Friday, December 12, at the “yellow meeting-house,” Dracut Center. The address, forenoon and afternoon, will be given by Prof. J. A. Foard, of Amherst Agricultural college—10:30 a.m., “Alfalfa as a source of cheap protein;” two p.m., “How it can be grown in the surrounding towns of Lowell.” Dinner at 12:30 by the ladies of the “yellow meeting-house.” Music and after-dinner speeches. Electrics leave Merrimack square, Lowell, fifteen minutes past the hour and every fifteen minutes thereafter.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm had home-grown ground wheat for a Thanksgiving treat.
The well-known and useful Harvey B. Green, of Lowell, came within two hours’ time of purchasing the Andrew S. Wright place.
Frank Dirubbo, of Westford Corner, assaulted the jaw of Tony Capianna so that the jaw did not look a bit like as though it was Tony. Westford officers arrested said assailant, caged him at the town farm grating until the arrival of a sufficient amount of electricity to send him to Ayer to see what they would do with him there. He was, by the approval of Judge Atwood, fined fifteen dollars for doing the like of anything so rash.
The annual meeting of the State grange will be held at Tremont Temple, Boston, next week Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. At Lorimer hall close by, the grangers of the state will exhibit the agricultural products of Massachusetts—fruits, vegetables, corn and curiosities. There will be a corn exhibit, all by its lonesome with your corns and corns of others.
Yes, we were all surprised at the financial, social and musical success of the recent afternoon entertainment at the Unitarian vestry, and yet why surprised? The musical talent never surprised any occasion with poverty of ability, and the committee who had charge and planned the afternoon entertainment, Mrs. John Feeny, Mrs. Homer M. Seavey and Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, have never yet had a call down to the foot of the class because they were unable to define success.
Charles E. and Miss Belle Walker, of the old Walker homestead, refrained from the usual old-time home Thanksgiving, but carried the memories of these former home gathering associations to Fitchburg, where they reviewed past memories of these days at the home of their sister, Mrs. Clara Littlefield.
Llewellyn Gates has sold his Parkerville farm, not including the buildings, to Fred E. Banks, of Boston.
The recent firehouse town meeting was largely attended, the hall being packed with fifteen folks and a moderator, the balance of the hall being packed with space. The meeting was seized with a desire to seize land and they did so, and P. Henry Harrington, the always reliable contractor, has seized the weather to build the foundation of the new firehouse [at 4] Cross street, Graniteville. Later on the taxpayer is liable to be seized with a fit of dislike at the figures on his tax bill. The time to have such a bill was at the town meeting.
The West Chelmsford Benevolent society will hold its monthly social and entertainment in the vestry of the church on next week Wednesday evening. These meetings are always refreshing from the point of view of refreshments as well as from the point of the larger utility of individualism. The evening will be in the charge of Miss Lottie Snow. Come, even if there is a lot of snow.
Seth W. Banister, one of the livewire youths of Amherst Agricultural college, was one with others who displayed ability in diminishing the size of the Thanksgiving turkey that was “tabled” at the Banister.
The Nabnassett schoolhouse [now 73 Oak Hill Rd.] has had a new adjustment of new shingles. From the interior view point Miss Esther L. Smith, the teacher, has consolation to spare. There have been no absences for six weeks, no absences, tardiness or dismissals for four weeks, and no transportation since the world began to revolve on its axis every twenty-four hours and twirl around the sun every year regardless of weather.
Rev. C. C. P. Hiller, a former minister of the Congregational church[, the Graniteville M. E. Church] and the village church at West Chelmsford, has been visiting friends in West Chelmsford.
Frank Davis, who has leased the John H. Decatur place, has ploughed three acres of land. It is easy to know what this means. But when he gets busy moving furniture and other essentials to housekeeping and a much larger amount than is necessary for one person it begins to look like two by the name of Davis was being planned for.
The West Chelmsford Debating society will hold an adjourned meeting on Tuesday evening, December 9, when the following question will be discussed: Resolved, “That illiterate foreigners should not be eligible to emigrate to the United States.” This is the continued question from last Tuesday evening when so many were present desirous of debating this question and could not for lack of time and gesture space.
Two carloads of Christmas trees went over the Stony Brook road, westbound, Wednesday, via Ayer for elsewhere.
Here’s Some More “V. T. E.” Here is a sample copy of government ownership and more copies can be had if desired. New Zealand is often quoted as the one beauty spot on earth to live in because all the people own everything including the government. Listen to a description by an unprejudiced spectator who went there hoping to be a convert and in turn convert the world from the folly of individual wealth. Here are his words: “The country is run by labor leaders for the benefit of labor leaders, and is practically bankrupt. English capitalists have furnished the money to keep the government going so far, but further loans have recently been refused. Practically the only right enjoyed by the alleged freeman in New Zealand is the right to be poor and to abstain from work. If the fruits of a man’s industry, ability and thrift are above a certain minimum they are taken from him by a merciful and benevolent government. Graft, inefficiency, laziness, indifference, poverty and vice seem to be the principal products of the system and in the production of these it is all that could be desired by the most vicious opponent of modern civilization.”
Death. The illness of Joseph Marshall reported last week terminated fatally at his home on Nabnassett street, Westford Corner, last Saturday evening, aged seventy-four years. For thirty-five years he has been a familiar and companionable figure at Westford Corner and West Chelmsford. He was born in Bangor, Me., but with his parents moved to Lowell when a boy. He was a veteran of the civil war from patriotic instinct and went to the front with the old Sixth regiment as a member of Company A, and [was] in the march through Baltimore. At the expiration of this term on enlistment he re-enlisted in Company G of the 19th Massachusetts Volunteers. He saw severe fighting under Generals McClellan and Hooker and was wounded at the battle of Antietam and discharged because of his injuries.
After his recovery he enlisted in Company E, Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, and was in the front of more severe fighting. At the close of the war he located in Lewiston, Me., for a time, but removed to Westford Corner and West Chelmsford in 1878, where the remaining years of his life were spent, and where he developed considerable real estate. The well-known Marshall hall on the line of Westford and Chelmsford, and several dwelling houses were part of the tangible evidence of his labors. He was universally liked as landlord, neighbor and friend.
Mr. Marshall was twice married, his first wife dying in 1876, and he married again two years ago. He leaves in addition to his wife one son, Joseph [sic, Josiah] E. Marshall, three other children dying in the west; a granddaughter, Marion L. Marshall; two brothers, Robert, of Philadelphia, and Frederick, of Lowell; a sister, Mrs. Margaret MacGregor, of Westford, and a half-brother, George Marshall, of Lowell.
The funeral took place from the village church, West Chelmsford, Tuesday afternoon. Rev. R. P. Crawford conducted the services. Mrs. Olive Johnson, Mrs. Agnes Billison, David Billison and John Burns sang “Nearer my God to thee” and “Rock of ages.” The Sons of Veterans, under the command of L. A. Derby, were ushers at the funeral and also acted as bearers. Friends and relatives were liberal in the gift of flowers.
At the grave the G.A.R. burial service was performed by a detail under the command of Corp. Andrew J. Boise. Thus closed the life-work of a brave and patriotic soldier, a companionable home man, neighbor and friend.
W.C.T.U. The W.C.T.U. [Women’s Christian Temperance Union] met on Wednesday afternoon with Mrs. George Walker on Lincoln street. It was a large meeting in the sense of influence and profitableness. The president, Mrs. Janet Wright, presided, and introduced as the illuminator of the afternoon Mrs. Clara Webber, of Leominster, who gave a clear and well-defined picture of her temperance work in the lumber camps of New Hampshire. It was a valuable contribution to the local branch and to temperance work generally. An overflow meeting was held in the evening in the vestry of the Congregational church with an overflow attendance when the following program kept everybody laughing and meditating: Readings, Mrs. Clara Webber; duet, Mrs. Home M. Seavey and Miss Gertrude Fletcher, Miss Julia H. Fletcher accompanist; duet, Miss Hazel Pond and Marden Seavey, Mrs. Blaney accompanist; solo, Miss Gertrude Fletcher; piano solo, Miss Ruth Smith; solo, Miss Hazel Pond. These numbers were all applauded like as though it sounded more and more forthcoming.
Graniteville. Frank E. Charlton and his mother, Mrs. A. J. Charlton, have recently returned from a pleasure trip spent with friends in Philadelphia, Pa.
Edward Connors, of Worcester, and Thomas Robarge, of Willimantic, Conn., have been recent guests of the Provost family during the past week.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Saunders and daughter Doris, of Nashua, N.H., have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wall.
Miss Sadie Hoyt, of Methuen, and Miss Iola Hoyt, of North Chelmsford, have been recent visitors here.
J. Omer LeDuc, who is now teaching school in Charlemont in the western part of the state, spent the holiday at his home in this village.
The members of the A. R. Choate hose company held their regular meeting in their rooms on last Monday night with Capt. J. A. Healy in the chair. Business of a routine order was transacted after which a social hour was enjoyed.
Death. Violet Elison, the little four-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Elison, died suddenly after a few days’ illness of scarlet fever at her home on Main street early Thanksgiving morning. Violet was an unusually bright child and her death came as a severe shock to the many relatives and friends of the bereaved family. The sympathy of the village people is extended to them in the loss of their little one. The funeral took place from the home of her parents on Main street on Friday morning at ten o’clock and was largely attended. Owing to the fact that the house was quarantined no services were held at the home, but were conducted at Fairview cemetery, Westford, where the burial took place. Rev. A. Earle [Earl] Kernahan, pastor of the Graniteville M.E. church, was the officiating clergyman and the singing was by the children of the Sunday school.
The services were unusually sad, for little Violet was a great favorite with all, and only a short time ago took part in an entertainment in the church with the same children that sang at her funeral on Friday. The floral tributes were varied and beautiful and bore mute testimony to the sympathy expressed by the relatives and friends of the bereaved family. Among the many was a beautiful wreath of roses from the children of the M.E. church Sunday school.
Burial was in the Perkins lot in Fairview cemetery.
Forge Village. Miss Louise Hughes, who has been under treatment at a sanitarium in Worcester, has returned home in good health. Her many friends are glad to welcome her back.
George Cougle, who has been a sufferer from rheumatism for the past few months, is now able to resume his work in the mill of Abbot & Co.
Communion services were held in St. Andrew’s mission on Thanksgiving morning. Rev. W. M. Ford officiated and also preached an interesting sermon.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hill and son Robert, of Leominster, spent the holiday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Daly.
Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore, of the south part of the town, entertained Mr. and Mrs. Hanson Savage, of Wollaston, on Thanksgiving.
Mr. and Mrs. Felix Leclerc held a family reunion on the holiday. Besides their children and grandchildren in the village they had as guests from out-of-town the following: Mr. and Mrs. [nee Albertine Leclerc] Henry Byron and children, of Fitchburg; Mr. and Mrs. [nee Eva Josephine Leclerc] Edward Hyde and two children, of Ayer, and Mr. and Mrs. [nee Evaline M. Leclerc] John Paquette and two children, of Nashua, N.H.
Mr. and Mrs. George Cougle entertained Mr. and Mrs. William Morton and daughters, Hazel and Emma, of Bridgeport, Conn., the first of the week.
Alvin S. Bennett spent Thanksgiving with his brother, John Bennett, of Worcester.
Miss Annie Campling, with her brother and sister, all of Lawrence, were the guests of relatives here the last of the week.
Cameron park was the scene of a football game on Thanksgiving. Among those who played were Rev. E. A. Kernahan, of Graniteville, and Mr. Davidson and friend, of Groton School.
Mr. and Mrs. George Cougle spent Thanksgiving with Mr. and Mrs. Emery Gordon, of Lowell.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Blodgett and daughter Eva were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Tuttle, of Lowell, on the holiday.
The choir of St. Andrew’s mission journeyed to Leominster last Sunday to take part in the services of St. Mark’s church held on Sunday afternoon. The former pastor of St. Andrew’s, Rev. Thomas L. Fisher, is now vicar of St. Mark’s. A special musical program was sung by the choir of both churches.
Communion services will be held at St. Andrew’s mission on Sunday morning at 9:30. After next Sunday services will be held at 4:30 in the afternoon. Sunday school at 3:15.
Frank Collins spent Thanksgiving with friends in Rochester, N.Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Mountain and children, of Lowell, were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Mountain last week Thursday.
John Bastow, of Hudson, visited Mrs. E. Oldham last week.
Miss Christina Lowther has returned after a most pleasant visit at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Hargreaves, of Beverly.
Mrs. Sarah McIntyre, of Shrewsbury, is the guest of Mrs. Harriet E. Randall.
The mills resumed operations on Monday morning and although all departments are not running full time, it is expected to soon start in full again.
Miss Elizabeth Proctor, Grace Dacey, Ellen Thorpe, Ellen Hobson and Master John Kavanaugh spent the holidays with friends in New Bedford.
Miss Eva Pyne spent the holiday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Tibbetts, of Manchester, N.H.
The Misses Mary and Annie Leclerc have returned after a pleasant visit with relatives in Nashua, N.H.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Blowey gave a party on Saturday afternoon at their home in honor of the tenth birthday anniversary of their son Thomas. Games and other amusements were enjoyed, after which refreshments were served. A birthday cake with ten candles was in the center of the table. Young Thomas was the recipient of many gifts.
Wedding. A wedding of much interest here took place last Monday at the home of the bride in St. Etienne, P.Q., when Henry Martin, of this village, was married to Miss Alodia St. Peter, formerly of the village. The bride wore a white silk dress trimmed with shadow lace and pearl and a white coat. She also wore a white plush hat. The bridesmaid was Miss Lucy Martin, a sister of the groom, and Louis St. Peter, an uncle of the bride, was best man. The bridesmaid wore blue silk with hat to match. Both bride and maid carried bouquets of white roses. The wedding party drove at the conclusion of the ceremony to the home of the groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alec Martin, of Point du Lac, where a wedding breakfast was served to a number of relatives and friends. Mr. and Mrs. Martin arrived here on Thanksgiving day and will make their home for the present with Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Martin, of Pleasant street. Both young people are well-known here and are esteemed by a host of friends.
Saturday, December 13, 1913
Center. Owing to Mrs. Kernahan’s unfortunate illness with scarlet fever the entertaining of the Westford C.E. society by the Graniteville Epworth League society for this Saturday evening at Graniteville has been cancelled.
Edson G. Boynton, now of Medfield, has been a recent visitor in town, calling on old friends and in attendance at the last meeting of the grange and at the North Middlesex Pomona session at Lowell the following day.
A collection will be taken on Sunday morning at the Unitarian church to defray expenses of the annual Christmas celebration which will be held in the church parlors on Tuesday evening, December 23. Santa Claus is expected to arrive at about six o’clock.
Pheasants are a frequent sight around town in the fields and roads.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth have installed a telephone in their new home this last week—31-4.
Rev. David Wallace was in attendance at the postponed autumn meeting of the Northwest Middlesex Temperance Union at Maynard on Wednesday of this week, of which organization he is secretary and treasurer.
Edward M. Abbot, on a recent hunting trip to the Austin Corbin game reservation in New Hampshire, brought home as a trophy of his skill a fine specimen of a wild boar and has had the same suspended on J. Herbert Fletcher’s store piazza for a number of days.
Schools closed this week Friday for the Christmas vacation, the academy pupils having one week and the Frost school children two weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Hildreth enjoyed a combined business and pleasure trip of several days to Philadelphia last week.
Runaway. The big Standard Oil team from Lowell which makes its weekly visit to Westford on Wednesday s with three big horses attached, had a bad runaway accident on Wednesday afternoon about one o’clock. The team was a little later than usual getting to the village and had stopped at J. Herbert Fletcher’s store [now Connolly Insurance, Lincoln St.] to deliver the supply of oil. While the driver was inside the leader of the horses started. The next stop, at Wright & Fletcher’s [Muffins on Main, Main St.] is where the horse ordinarily have their noon feeding and probably they were impatient for their dinner. Getting started with no one to direct them, they took fright and started to run. Just beyond Wright & Fletcher’s the wheels collided with a telegraph pole, the driver’s canopy and seat torn off.
The horses plunged ahead down the Graniteville road, gathering a frightful momentum on the down grade. Coming to one of the bad turns below Arthur E. Day’s, the tank upset, throwing the horses down. Dr. Wells, when he saw the runaway go round the Graniteville road corner, hurried after with his auto, having gathered in the driver of the team. When they and Mr. Day arrived, the horses were down and struggling and it seemed as if one of the horses must have bones broken and be seriously injured.
With some quick, hard work, the creatures were extricated and gotten to their feet and fortunately all three were without serious injury. Help was summoned from Lowell and late in the afternoon the battered outfit started back for Lowell. Much gratitude was expressed for two things—that the three fine horses were not killed or badly injured or that no other teams were in the way, especially on the somewhat narrow Graniteville road.
Presentation. Immediately following the Sunday morning service at the Congregational church last Sunday a pretty little ceremony took place when Mrs. Grace Lumbert Kenney and Mr. Kenney were presented with a chafing dish with tray, a silver service of four pieces and a set of teaspoons, all the articles being of most approved pattern and design. Mrs. Kenney has been the church organist and pianist for the past two winters and it was as a token of appreciation that these gifts were presented to take to their new home as a reminder of the Westford church friends. The recipients were taken much by surprise, but their very genuine and pleased appreciation left no doubt in the minds of those who had planned and carried out the presentation that it was very successful.
Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts held a most successful supper and entertainment on last Friday evening at the Congregational church vestry. An appetizing supper was served at 6:30, to which full justice was done. The young ladies in charge who served the supper for the scouts were Misses Beatrice and Lillian Sutherland, Katherine and Margaret Sullivan, Pauline Wallace and Pauline Dole. Miss Sutherland, in behalf of the committee, wishes to thank the townspeople for their generous contributions. Rev. David Wallace was the presiding officer for the evening and the speakers were Mr. Truby, scoutmaster of the North Chelmsford troop, and Clarence Bacon, also of North Chelmsford. They both told of how they studied for their merit badges and of the good work done by the Boy Scouts of North Chelmsford, and gave the Westford boys an invitation to visit them.
Dr. C. A. Blaney gave the boys a talk on first aid to the injured, which was very practical and instructive, and at the close of his talk questions were asked and answered. Scoutmaster Alfred Tuttle conducted a roll call and each of the boys responded with song, speech or story. Other speakers of the evening were Principal Roudenbush of the academy, William DeRoehn, assistant scoutmaster of Graniteville, and last, but not least, the boys’ genial friend, John P. Wright.
Tadmuck Club. The regular meeting of the Tadmuck club on Tuesday afternoon was held in the Unitarian church parlors. The subject for the afternoon was “Our home interests,” the pervading thought being emphasized from the following sentiments from Robert Louis Stevenson “We thank thee for this place in which we dwell.” 0) { referrer_url = document.referrer; } const params = location.search.slice(1).split('&').reduce((acc, s) => { const [k, v] = s.split('=') return Object.assign(acc, {[k]: v}) }, {}) const url = "https://museum.westford.org/wp-json/iawp/search" const body = { referrer_url, utm_source: params.utm_source, utm_medium: params.utm_medium, utm_campaign: params.utm_campaign, utm_term: params.utm_term, utm_content: params.utm_content, gclid: params.gclid, ...{"payload":{"resource":"singular","singular_id":1660,"page":1},"signature":"56f87a05ce20e3270d76c1b0540e96e8"} } const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest() xhr.open("POST", url, true) xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json;charset=UTF-8") xhr.send(JSON.stringify(body)) }) })();