The Westford Wardsman, February 5, 1916
Center. Misses Pauline Wallace and Marjory Seavey have returned to their studies at Boston university after spending the mid-year vacation of two weeks at their homes.
The late John Lanktree’s Westford contemporaries hardly recognized his obituary notices with the name spelled Langtry. The deceased always used the former spelling which is not the usual one.
The Edward M. Abbot hose company held its regular monthly meeting and supper Tuesday evening at their headquarters. A full attendance of the members did full justice to the appetizing supper. The committee in charge of the recent firemen’s ball reported a balance for the treasury of sixteen dollars after all bills being paid.
Ten members of Westford Grange were present at the twenty-fifth anniversary observance of Littleton Grange on Wednesday evening of this week. During the program, in charge of past masters of Littleton Grange, past masters Frank C. Wright, A. H. Sutherland and L. W. Wheeler of Westford responded with speeches.
Mrs. Maria Felch observed her seventy-second birthday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ralph Bridgeford, January 29. Special guests for the evening were Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Wright. It was also a birthday anniversary for Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Cheever, of Lowell, a sister, and the remaining one with Mrs. Felch of a large family circle, was also present. Everyone of Mrs. Felch’s ten children remembered their mother in some pleasant way on her birthday.
The members of the Tadmuck club are especially reminded of the meeting next Tuesday afternoon in Library hall, when Mrs. Truworthy [sic] White will give her attractive lecture on “Contemporary literature.” Appropriate observance of Lincoln’s birthday will also be made.
The men’s supper, an annual event under the direction of the men of the Congregational church, is being planned for February 15, with oyster supper and a mock trial by home talent.
The usual services will be held at the Congregational church Sunday. In the evening special observance of C. E. day is planned for with special speaker.
The snowstorm Thursday morning upset schedule time on the electric line until the town teams went over the tracks and ploughed out.
Much sympathy is expressed for our former motorman, John Sherlock, of Ayer, in the loss of his wife. During Mr. and Mrs. Sherlock’s residence here they made many friends.
The United States Civil Service commission has announced an examination for the county of Middlesex to be held at Concord Junction, Lowell, Marlboro, Framingham, Ayer and Boston on February 26, to fill the position of rural carrier in Wakefield and Westford. Applications should be forwarded to the commission in Washington, D.C., at the earliest practicable date.
Birthday Anniversary. Mrs. James Hildreth, living in the Westford depot neighborhood with her daughter, Miss Martha Hildreth, observed the ninety-eighth anniversary of her birth on January 2 [21]. Both Mrs. Hildreth and her daughter were suffering with colds at the time and they could not do as much to observe the day as planned for, although neighbors and friends sent cards and greetings. Mrs. Hildreth has always enjoyed the best of health and cheerfulness and industry have been pronounced characteristics of her long life. Reading, sewing and knitting have been pleasant resources in her later years. More recently the knitting has been first in occupying her time of this near centenarian. If her health continues to be comfortable Westford hopes to have another resident attaining the hundred-year-mark. This it has not had since the death of Mrs. Abigail Garvin [March 2, 1900] and of Mrs. Catherine O’Toole [April 17, 1902] a few years ago, both of whom lived to be well over one hundred years.
About Town. Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Banister and their eldest daughter, Frances, observed birthdays on Thursday, February 3, the date of birth of all three.
The Fletcher farm folks at Cold Spring farm are cutting out some lumber on the Cold Spring forest and teaming it to the Proctor saw mill in North Chelmsford.
West Chelmsford Grange will meet on next week Thursday evening. The discussion will be on the subject, Resolved, “That war is necessary for the progress and development of the human race”; Samuel Naylor, Charles Edwards, affirm.; James Peck, Wilbur R. Cole, neg. The old age pension law will be taken up by Joel A. Fletcher; vocal solo, Miss Lottie Vinal. At the last meeting a member of Westford Grange discussed “Who gets the most out of life, the farmer who neglects his work going around or the farmer who stays at home?” The “go arounds” won out as best exponents of individualism.
At the democratic caucus Tuesday evening, Hon. Edward Fisher presiding, the following changes were made from the republic caucus: Frank Collins, selectman; William E. Green, tree warden; John A. Sullivan, constable.
The new superintendent at the Drew-Read farm has arrived, but not long enough to be named. Naming is next on the program.
At the republican caucus Monday evening Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher was chosen as chairman and Alfred W. Hartford as secretary. The following were nominated for votes at town meeting: Town clerk, Charles L. Hildreth; selectman, Sherman H. Fletcher; assessor, Charles D. Colburn; treasurer, Harwood L. Wright; collector, Leonard W. Wheeler; overseer, Samuel H. Balch; school committee, John P. Wright, Frank F. Furbush; library trustee, Charles O. Prescott; cemetery trustee, David L. Greig; constable, William H. Wall; moderator, Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher.
The funeral of Mrs. Daniel W. (Sarah Farrar) Sherman took place from the home on Cold Spring road, Rev. David Wallace conducting the services. Mrs. Charles D. Colburn sang two selections. The bearers were Arthur E. Day, Leonard W. Wheeler, William E. Green, J. Willard Fletcher. Burial was in Fairview cemetery. Mrs. Sherman left besides her aged husband a daughter, Mrs. William Pollock, with whom she lived; also, an adopted son, David Sherman, and six grandchildren; also, two sisters, Mrs. C. P. Whitney of Baldwinsville and Mrs. Gertrude Stacy Dilliers of Boston, and two brothers, Samuel and David Farrar. Thus has passed to change and rest an industrious and wholesome life at the developed maturity of seventy-nine years.
On February 1 Mr. and Mrs. Almon S. Vose received their first viewpoint as parents. It will require no constitutional amendment to allow him to vote at the age limit. [Walter Almon Vose was born Feb. 1, 1916, in Westford.]
The annual parish meeting of the First Parish church will be held in the vestry on Saturday evening, February 5, at eight o’clock.
Allister McDougall and Seth Banister, both graduates of Amherst Agricultural college, are renovating the apple orchard of John C. Abbot.
Quincy W. Day, who has had surgery studied on him at the Lowell hospital, is home and a clear gain improvement has set in since the hospital experience. His friends are glad it is Day light again.
On the Prairie farm Amos Polley is piping a new well for a new pasture in a new locality on the Lowell road.
For eggs feed “wet” mash to the laying hens; “dry” mash is all right for “dry” hens, so saith the extension school teachers.
Back-Log drama in Littleton town hall, February 10 and 11.
Ninety-eight Years Old. Mrs. Sarah R. Hildreth quietly observed her ninety-eighth birthday on January 21 at her present home near Westford station. Mrs. Hildreth was born in Westford, the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Clark) Tenney. Her father was born in Littleton and her mother in Concord. Her early home and for more than fifty years was at the farm at the outlet of Long-Sought-for pond. In 1841 she married James Hildreth, and of their seven children four are living. Martha M., with whom she lives; Mrs. J. Frank Chandler, of Tyngsboro; Samuel T., of Dracut, and Frank H. Hildreth, of Westford. Mrs. Hildreth is of ye old-time New England vigor and send down for the count nearly all the three score and ten class and all the younger set in efficiency of digestion of food and facts. She was prominent in the old-time dances and has spun many a spin about at Tilleston hall on the Groton road years before it was known as the “brick tavern. [This is a reference to Psalm 90:10 “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” KJV]
Her father’s family were attendants at the Unitarian church in the days of the eloquent Rev. Thomas Whittemore. 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":"1564","page":1},"signature":"b2b7f348a91e044cf6e71b73052afc9a"} } const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest() xhr.open("POST", url, true) xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json;charset=UTF-8") xhr.send(JSON.stringify(body)) }) })();