The Westford Wardsman, January, 1906

Saturday, January 6, 1906

Westford. The history of place-names is full of interest. The town of Westford, formerly a part of Chelmsford, was known in early times as the West Precinct of Chelmsford; and it is said that the name “Westford” was formed by taking the first and last syllables of this expression and uniting them, thus making the name as we now know it.

The name that we have chosen “Wardsman” is a rare word, and the definition given in the Standard dictionary is a guard, a watchman. The Westford Wardsman will be a guard over the far-famed town and will watch its interest with a watchman’s care. [ED.

Subscribers who wish to take the Westford Wardsman can hand in their subscriptions to Alfred W. Hartford at center of town, who is authorized to receive them, Mr. Bert Wall, Graniteville, Mrs. W. E. Parsons, Forge Village. [Perhaps these persons are also the correspondents for their respective parts of town.]

Center. The third lecture in the lyceum course on Thursday evening was especially good. Hon. Arthur K. Peck lectured to a large audience on “The grand canyon of Arizona and Mokiland.”

The funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Meers took place from her late home on River st., at two o’clock Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 27, and was largely attended by relatives and friends. The services were conducted by Rev. W. E. Anderson of the M.E. church. The choir is assisted by the Methodist choir and by some of the choir south of the common [i.e., the Congregational choir]. There will be a rehearsal Sunday afternoon at four. The public will be listeners sometime in the sunny month of May.

William Reuben Taylor and Miss Martha J. Taylor were the guests last week of George A. Whitney, a prominent business man of Springfield. On Sunday they heard two very fine sermons by Rev. C. C. P. Hiller, whom Westford people remember with much affection. Mr. Hiller is pastor of the Wesley Methodist church, which is one of the newest and finest in the city. Already Mr. Hiller has made himself felt as a strong power in that beautiful and cultured city.