The Westford Wardsman, July 13, 1918
Center. The Donald Camerons have opened the Cameron homestead for the summer, although later are going to the seashore for a time.
John G. Fletcher, who so capably assists his father at the store and postoffice [on Lincoln St.], goes next week for a vacation at a boy’s camp in the Lake Winnepesaukee [sic] country in New Hampshire.
Mr. and Mrs. John P. Wright spent the Fourth with a group of friends, the same group that have spent this holiday together for a long time. The meeting place this year was in Brighton.
Mrs. C. A. Blaney and little son are enjoying a vacation at the home of her sister in Needham.
George H. Cadman, at the Old Homestead farm, has recently received the sad news of the death of a brother, an officer in the service, in his native England.
Friends recently calling on Miss Bunce, who has been ill so many weeks in Lowell, report that she is really gaining each day now.
L. W. Wheeler has purchased a new five-passenger Reo automobile.
Mrs. Robert H. Elliott entertained a company of Red Cross workers at her pleasant summer home on Thursday. Basket luncheon at noon, supplemented with hot coffee by the hostess, was much enjoyed.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry Colburn and son Clarence, and Mrs. R. B. Streeter went by auto to the latter’s cottage at Alton Bay, N.H., last Saturday. Mr. Colburn returned ready for work the first of the week, but the others remain for a longer stay.
Edmund Baker went this week to a sanitarium in Lawrence for care and treatment.
James D. Wilson lost a horse last Sunday. The animal was killed by lightning while standing in the barn. This was one of the freaks of lightning, for no special damage was done to the building. This was a real loss to Mr. Wilson for he has a large family to support. Adjustments for insurance placed the value of the horse at about $125.
Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Hildreth and Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Fletcher have been enjoying a ten-days’ combined business and pleasure trip in Maine. Mr. Hildreth, who returned in advance of the others, report much rainy weather.
A group of young ladies are managing a summer dancing party to be given at the town hall on Friday evening, July 19. The Colonial orchestra, four pieces, of Maynard, will furnish music. Those in charge are Misses Marjorie Seavey, Hazel Hartford, Lillian Sutherland and Maude Robinson.
Children’s Sunday at the Congregational church has been postponed one week, taking place on Sunday, July 21.
The school committee of the town is calling for bids for the transportation of the school children from the different sections of the town, to be in the hands of the committee before August first.
A pleasant group of neighbors and friends, about twenty in all, gathered together last Saturday evening and gave Mrs. Phonsie Isles [Westford’s local telephone operator] a surprise visit, the occasion being her [45th] birthday anniversary. The gathering was an impromptu affair, only arranged for that day, but was a very sincere and spontaneous expression of the love and good will that Mrs. Isles enjoys among her friends. There were greetings and tokens of appreciation and much pleasant sociability. Ice cream and cake was served.
The Fourth was quietly observed in town with the exception of the vociferous ringing of the church bells during the night. The ball game during the day at Whitney playground attracted lovers of that sport. There were guests in various homes and others went to the Lowell or Littleton celebrations. A group of young people went to Littleton to the dance in the evening.
Miss Catherine Allen, of Malden, was recently married to Forrest Nelson, a soldier at Camp Devens, and ready for overseas duty. The bride is a niece of H. V. Hildreth and has been a frequent visitor in town.
Mrs. Edmund Baker has been committed to Worcester for special care and treatment.
Mrs. George Minot Baker, of Concord, will give a talk on drying fruits and vegetables at the meeting of the Red Cross workers next Wednesday afternoon at Library hall. There will be no work on the sewing machines that afternoon, but the other work will go on. Mrs. Baker is a speaker and worker of intelligence and ability and her talk on this vital phase of food preservation is sure to be valuable. Make an effort for a large attendance.
Mrs. Preston H. Skidmore entertained a group of eight Red Cross workers very pleasantly at her home last week Friday afternoon. These eight ladies are to each invite a group of six who in turn will each entertain four. The eight ladies, with their groups of six, plan to combine forces and have the combined groups together in one large party next Thursday afternoon, at the grove at Whitney playground. In case of stormy weather the gathering will be in the Unitarian vestry. Each guest brings her Red Cross work, knitting or sewing, and contributes the small sum of ten cents. Each hostess is responsible for refreshments, chairs, etc., for her six guests. The plan is on a summer-time schedule of simplicity as concerns simple refreshments, and the modest assessment but in the end the triple result will be gained of pleasant sociability, a good bit of Red Cross work accomplished and a sum for its treasury.
Company L, M.S.G., held its regular drill on Tuesday evening, doing the drilling at Whitney playground. Major Tuttle of Concord has ordered a battalion drill for Sunday at Prescott field, Forge Village, at nine o’clock in the morning, Westford company to report at 8:45.
Forge Village. Walter Precious, a resident here for many years, has joined the Canadian forces and is now at Camp Niagara, Lake Ontario, Canada. In a recent letter to relatives here he said: “I just got back from a twenty mile hike. There were 8000 of us in it. Our company, 1000 strong, won the honors, not a man fell out. The Red Cross wagons were filled with men from other companies. I am very anxious to get across. The Huns got a few of my pals and if they don’t get me first I’ll get a few of them. We had the last examination yesterday for overseas and [I] was in No. 1 class. I have been practicing swimming in case our boat is torpedoed.” Private Precious enlisted at Thornton, R.I., and his wife and baby son reside there.
Rev. Angus Dun preached a forceful sermon Sunday of the meaning of the Declaration of Independence. Rev. Mr. Dun is one of the most earnest and interesting speakers that has ever occupied the pulpit at St. Andrew’s mission. With Mrs. Dun and Little son they start this week on a month’s vacation. The Mission house will be closed, but St. Andrew’s church, Ayer, will hold services at 10:30 every Sunday for the benefit of the soldiers. Rev. Raymond Cunningham of Connecticut will occupy the pulpit.
Miss Sarah Precious spent the weekend with relatives in Townsend Harbor. Little Miss Olive Keefe of Townsend is staying at the home of her aunt, Mrs. J. Carmichael.
Miss Elsie Tyler and friend of Worcester spent Sunday as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. William Weaver.
A large piazza is being built on the residence of W. C. Precious.
The Abbot Worsted Co. have built a large bath house at the shore of Forge pond for the benefit of young men employees. The girls’ bath house has also undergone extensive and much needed repairs. The ice during the winter does considerable damage to the platform and steps.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dodge and daughter Viola of Lowell have been enjoying camp life at their cottage at Forge pond.
Miss Annie L. Cherry of Somerville spent the weekend with relatives here.
Mrs. Albert French of Bennington, N.H., is spending a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Fennemore [sic] Morton. A. P. Northrup of Lowell is also at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Morton. He expects to remain throughout the summer.
Miss Minnie White spent the holiday with her sister, Mrs. Albert Day, of North Foxboro
Michael Olshinsky and Conductor Malcolm Edwards of this village were both injured in the electric car accident that happened July 3 near Littleton. Neither of the injuries proved serious.
There were 118 babies weighed last week in the baby weighing campaign held in Abbot hall last week. This is not all of the babies in this village as quite a number of the children were not brought to be weighed.
Miss Priscilla Bennett returned on Monday from Walpole, where she spent the Fourth with her sister, Mrs. August Meyer.
Death. The funeral services of Samuel Luther Blodgett was held at his home, the Ridges, at Groton, Wednesday afternoon of last week at two o’clock and was attended by a large number of relatives and friends. Rev. George M. Howe of the Congregational church officiated. The bearers were Frank A. Torrey, George H. McKee and William H. Whitehill, members of board of selectmen of Groton, and Nesbit L. Woods. Burial took place in the family lot at Fairview cemetery, Westford. The floral tributes were very beautiful.
Samuel Luther Blodgett was the son of Sarah and Luther Blodgett and was born in New Ipswich, N.H., and had he lived until July 31, he would have been fifty-nine years of age. He was a resident of Groton thirty-three years, where he was a successful farmer and for the past fifteen years has been superintendent of roads. Nearly thirty-nine years ago he married Miss Margaret Welch of Chelmsford, who survives him; also, five sons, William A., Chester L. and Charles R. Blodgett of the Ridges; Walter G. and Samuel Elmer of Ayer; four daughters, Mrs. Thomas McGovern of Ayer, Aaron Tuttle of Lowell, Miss Emma at home, and Mrs. Forrest Andrews of Nashua, N.H.; 13 grandchildren; two brothers, William of Lowell, George of Townsend, and a sister, Mrs. William Brown of Gardner.
Mr. Blodgett was an industrious citizen and was held in high esteem by all who knew him.
Graniteville. Owing to the bad weather of last Saturday the ball game between the Graniteville A.C. and the Giants of Lowell was declared off, but in some manner the message was not delivered and the Lowell team showed up after many of the local players had left town. A team was picked up for a practice game, however, and made things interesting for the Lowell boys during their stay here.
The Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church met with Mrs. L. A. Blood on last Thursday afternoon.
Both masses at St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning were celebrated by Rev. Henry L. Scott. At the first mass a number of the children received their first communion. The regular choir, under the direction of Miss Mary F. Hanley, sang special music for the occasion. In the afternoon there was a special service for the children, consisting of the consecration and renewal of the baptismal vows, followed by the benediction of the blessed sacrament. Rev. Henry L. Scott conducted this service.
William Perkins, of Cold Spring road, who is now a member of the Canadian forces, has been spending a few days in this vicinity this week while on a brief furlough, preparatory to going overseas.
The Regulars and the Has Beens played a very interesting twilight game of baseball on Monday, when the rain stopped the fun at the end of the sixth inning with the score 4 to 3 in favor of the Regulars. Batteries: Has Beens, Kavanagh and Healy; Regulars, Dailey and Reeves.
Cameron circle, C. of F. of A., had a very interesting meeting in the rooms of the organization on Tuesday evening, when plans were perfected for the gala day that will be held at Abbot athletic park on this week Saturday, both afternoon and evening. The attractions in the afternoon will include a baseball game between the St. Peters A.A. of Lowell and the Graniteville club, races for boys and girls, 100-yd. dash, novelty races and others. There will also be a mid-way with booths of all kinds, including holiday games of every description. Dancing will follow in the evening at Healy’s hall and a great time is in store for everybody.
Arrangements have been recently made whereby all wishing to buy thrift or war saving stamps can do so from the different overseers at the mills. This plan was started only last week and has proved to be a success from the very start. It is the intention to post the proceeds from each department every week and in that way a friendly rivalry will be created that will no doubt prove beneficial all around.
Mrs. Harriet Wall with her daughter, Miss Nellie M. Wall, have been recent visitors here.
The blueberry season is now here and many people return from the different fields and swamps daily with well filled baskets.
The baby weighing campaign that was conducted here in Healey’s hall by Miss E. E. Crockett, government nurse, proved to be a great success and a great number of babies were weighed here during the first three days of the week.
About Town. It looks now like a large crop of hay and a small crop of weather.
Chester Smith is soon to vacate as a tenant at the Charles W. Whitney house on the Lowell road and try the role of “Up Vermont way.”
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Crosby of Arlington were visitors at the F. W. Banister’s on Sunday. Mr. Crosby is a large and successful market gardener. Mrs. Crosby is sister to Mrs. Banister.
A large and heterogeneous crowd as usual assembled without roll call at the auction at Charles W. Whitney’s last week Friday and the purchaser and seller were each smiling with satisfaction at the auctioneer’s last word, “Sold.”
During the lightning and thunder shower Sunday afternoon James D. Wilson on the Boston road had a horse killed in the barn by lightning. The barn escaped with only a few scratches.
During the Fourth of July showers hailstones as large as something comparatively big fell in the easterly wing of the Stony Brook valley and extended over the westerly half of West Chelmsford. The writer [Samuel L. Taylor] living in both places that day received both serenades.
Charles W. Whitney has bought the standing grass on the W. R. Taylor Stony Brook farm. On farm No. 2 by the rocky, rocking waters of Tadmuck brook, where the trout leaps to catch his breakfast, the grass is still unmolested by the purchase of man.
Amos Polley has oats that stand five feet with or without your stocking feet.
Hon. H. E. Fletcher and family went by auto to the Maine coast, where they have been spending a week.
Miss Lottie L. Snow of West Chelmsford and her friend, Miss Maud Jarvis, of Lowell, have gone to York beach, Maine, for ten days.
Recently Mrs. Sarah Drew and her daughter, Miss Mabel Drew, went in their car to Greenwich, Conn. to visit L. A. Drew, who has charge of the wonderful Conyers Manor estate. They made the trip in one day and after a very pleasant visit made the return trip in another day. As Mrs. Drew is an octogenarian we think this was something of a trip for her and shows how “smart” she really is. Her son has three fine boys, Benjamin, William and George A., jr.
Theodore Pollock, who enlisted in the navy has been home on a brief furlough. He has already been across the Atlantic twice in this service for Uncle Sam.
Mrs. Annie Dupee was a recent visitor at the S. L. Taylor home.
John Adams Taylor has gone to New York city to report for overseas duty in the Y.M.C.A., as a part of the America Expeditionary Force in France. In common with others who will sail at the same time he will receive a week of intensive training at Columbia university in military drill, Y.M.C.A. work, etc. Fifteen of his relatives gathered at the Taylor homestead on Sunday afternoon to bid him Godspeed.
Relatives of Joseph Perkins, jr., and Paul E. Symmes have received word of their safe arrival in France.
The Banister family have just received a letter from Seth Banister and enclosed was a very interesting letter which the family will treasure. There are a few American soldiers in England and to each one of these King George of England sent a personal letter of welcome saying that the Allies would gain new courage from the coming of the Americans. He wished them Godspeed and wished he might shake hands with each one. This letter received by Seth Banister, who is connected with the American aero squadron in England, bore the seal of Windsor castle and the signature of the king. In the recent sporting contest which the aero squadron had Seth Banister won several medals.
Quite in keeping with the time the Grange held a patriotic meeting on the night of July 4 at the town hall. There was a good audience present to listen to the patriotic program which was as follows: Words of welcome by F. A. Hanscom; solo, “Star Spangled Banner,” by Mrs. C. A. Blaney; chorus by the audience; salute to the flag; reading by Miss Rita Jordan; song of liberty by ladies’ chorus; reading, “The building of the ship” by Frances Wright; “Le Marsellaise,” by audience; address by Prof. John Adams Taylor; song, “Keep the home fires burning,” by academy pupils; “America” by audience. Mr. Hanscom gave a true welcome and spoke fittingly of the occasion in his usual vigorous and sincere way. The readings and songs were much enjoyed. Prof. Taylor, who has just returned from the University of North Dakota, spoke from first hand observation of the patriotism of western states and the community spirit there. As Prof. Taylor is on a year’s leave of absence from the university that he may take up Y.M.C.A. work in France, he spoke of the opportunity of service which lies before us.
The Congregationalist for June 20 has a very interesting short story of a sailor told for children by Rev. C. P. Marshall [former pastor of the Union Congregational Church, 1905-1910].
We notice that Secretary [of the Navy Josephus] Daniels paid a “double compliment” to Chas. S. Hamlin and his daughter, Miss Anna Hamlin, when Miss Hamlin was specially designated as sponsor for the new destroyer Maury. C. S. Hamlin is one of the well-known Hamlin family here. He is a member of the Federal Reserve board and a friend of Sec Daniels. The new destroyer was launched at Fore River [shipyard, Quincy, Mass.] on July 4. The Maury slid gracefully down the ways as she was christened by Miss Hamlin, accompanied by the cheers of the workmen and the screeching of sirens. Miss Hamlin was presented with American Beauty roses and a souvenir of the occasion by General Manager Wakeman of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding corporation.
Rev. C. P. Marshall, formerly of our Union congregational church, now pastor of the church of the Pilgrimage, Plymouth recently sailed for Y.M.C.A. work in France. The following will interest Mr. Marshall’s friends here: “We have a rare lot of men, 237, from all over the country,” writes Rev. Stanley R. Fisher of First Congregational church, Fall River, of his party on the eve of sailing for overseas Y.M.C.A. service. “Mostly lawyers and business men, a number of professional musicians and about twenty parsons.”
Corn planted May 1 showed the tassel on July 1, or in sixty days and then one. In this sixty and one was a week lost in the head-on collision with frost which appears not to have left any permanent damage. Tender beans that looked like taking the “final count” have recovered and are sending out runners several feet or less long, and corn has unshackled its rusty yellow and pushing for the more tropical dog days.
Charles Hildreth has been appointed the proper person to see that all under draft age are in an employment which the government calls productive. It’s the war that makes this necessary.
Nomination papers for Governor McCall for U.S. senator have arrived in town and in the hands of Fred A. Hanscom. The papers for Senator Weeks have been in town for weeks and are well signed up.
A brief allusion was made last week to the death of Julian Buckley. A few additional facts might be interesting in the words of another: “He was born in Billerica, but of recent years had made his home in Cincinnati, where he was an expert civil engineer and a splendid type of the temperate, industrious young man, and for a young man left quite an estate. His mother was Louise Winn, of the well-known Winn family of West Chelmsford, the home being known as Billson’s Corner. His father, John A. Buckley, a veteran of the civil war and veteran of the Spalding Light Cavalry, had none other than friends in Westford and elsewhere. The death of Julian was due to pneumonia. He leaves an uncle, Bryant Winn, of Nashua, N.H.”
Early Potatoes. The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks plan to have new potatoes every Fourth of July. Having got beat for first place on early peas an attempt to come the flank movement game was planned on potatoes and here is the trail. The potatoes were the largest ever at the Old Oaken Bucket for the Fourth, measuring 7 to 9 inches and weighing the largest 5 ½ ounces. This looks large, but listen and note its smallness. At the Westford town farm potatoes were due one week prior to the Fourth and to use the language of another “That were as large as my two fists and then some.” Be sure and tell your story last brethren if you expect to win. The writer has slipped to the foot many times by telling first, but aside from good cheer, win or lose, the prospect for a potato crop was never better. The Fourth of July potatoes at the Old Oaken Bucket farm were planted on the 8th of April on nothing but chemicals minus potash. Plus nothing but chemicals last year on the same land and plus the general belief mixed with science that you can’t raise potatoes without potash, but it has been proved since the war that Germany can’t drive us out of our potato trenches by any potash flank movement.
Milk Below Standard. The milk inspector of the city of Lowell complains that nearly all the milk that supplies the city is below the standard and is informed that this is the condition throughout the state. Under these conditions he does not feel justified in prosecuting. He believes the trouble is in a cheap grain ration, a sort of war economy. Well hardly, for grain in the sack has its standard and printed analysis, and furthermore authority says “Feed does not determine the quality of milk. It is determined by the constitution of the cow.” This is largely true. You can’t make a Holstein cow give Jersey milk by feeding Jersey feed. If we milk the cream of the cow into sixteen quarts of milk instead of six quarts you are liable to milk below the standard and the proportion of cream per quart will be much less. Cows will give less milk and more cream in a severe warm drouth and our present low standard is due in part to cold wet sauerkraut weather and the rest is due to too much Holstein tendency or quantity disapportionate [sic] to the butter fat constitution of the cow, and the grain theory has got nothing to do with the present low standard. Said a farmer at one of our farmers’ institutes who had large experience in making butter: “I can make more butter in proportion to the quantity of milk on a meadow hay ration than on grain and upland hay.”
Groton
Clipping. The following article is taken from the Boston Herald of July 8:
A correspondent recently asked for a description of the region where Camp Devens now stands, the region, the region as it was known to the Indians. We are indebted to Miss Mabel Lillian Warren of Groton for the following note:
“Maj. Simon Willard, born in the county of Kent, England, came to New England in the year 1634. He became active in Massachusetts state affairs towards the middle of the 17th century. In recognition of his service the General Court at its season beginning May 6, 1657, granted 500 acres of unappropriated land, wherever he could find it. A definite grant was given him of land, which lay in the southern part of Groton, now included in the town of Ayer, at its session beginning May 19, 1658. The neighborhood was called by the Indians Nanajcoyycuss. From a note in Judge Samuel Sewall’s ‘Nunnacoquis signifies an Indian earthen Pot as Hannah Hahatan’s Squaw tells me, March 24, 1698-9.’ Maj. Willard moved from Lancaster to Groton in 1671. Here he lived until his house was burnt by the Indians in Phillip’s War about 1675. He was married three times: First to Mary Sharpe of England; secondly, to Elizabeth Dunster of Massachusetts; and lastly, to Mary Dunster. Maj. Willard was the father of 17 children, nine sons and eight daughters. Two of his descendants were presidents of Harvard college. The station at Ayer stands upon land which was part of Nonacoicus Farm. Camp Devens is on land included.”
Ayer
News Items. The engineer corps is in need of skilled men in mechanical or other occupations. These men must be qualified for general military service. Volunteers may also be accepted from the 1918 class. Enrollment for this work ends July 17. Further information may be obtained at the office of the local exemption board at the town hall.
An entertainment for the soldiers will be given at the Federation House by the Swedish Congregational church of Lowell, Friday night, July 12.
The address for the Sunday evening service at the Federation House will be given by Rev. Robert Pierce, camp pastor. Mrs. W. C. Sargent and Miss Primrose Tapley will sing. Service at 7:45 o’clock. There will be a social hour for the soldiers at the close of the evening service.
A force of carpenters are busy building a new baseball stands on the Camp Devens field, near the Fitchburg division tracks. The field used for the national game is a part of what is commonly known as the Day farm, which is leased to the government.
A fine concert was given at the Soldiers’ club on Monday, which brought out a good sized attendance. The concert was given by Miss Hazel l’African, of Boston, cellist, of the American string quartet, a daughter of Edward l’African, a member of the Boston Symphony orchestra for many years, who is now the leader of the 101st Infantry band in France, at the age of sixty-six years; Bonis [sic] Saslawsky, baritone, of the Church of the Transfiguration, New York, and Miss Edith Quaile, accompanist. After the regular program there was singing of war songs by a chorus, led by Thomas Surrette, of Concord. Mr. Saslawsky sung [sic] several songs in French and Russian. After the concert there were comic motion pictures shown. Mrs. Andrew Squires, of Cleveland, Ohio, motored up from Concord for the concert with a party.
Monday afternoon, while the sun was brightly shining in Ayer, a shower, described as a cloudburst by a soldier, took place at Camp Devens scarcely a mile away.
First-class Private John Lewis Francis, of the 301st Ambulance Company, Sanitary Train, whose home is in North Adams, was instantly killed last Sunday afternoon at two o’clock when lightning struck a steel flagpole about twenty feet from a tent in which were Private Francis and several other soldiers. The dead man was twenty-four years of age. The others knocked down and stunned were First-class Private Edward A. Sitzer and Wagoner William Clark of Leo., First-class Private F. J. Tracy, of Stockbridge, and Privates Wilson and Burns, new recruits. Francis was a fine football player, coming here as one of thirteen men from Briggsville, a part of North Adams, to volunteer with this ambulance company last June. The body was removed to his home on Monday afternoon. A military escort, with band, accompanied the remains, which rested in a flag-draped casket from the camp to the depot, where the body was placed on the 5:10 train for North Adams.
Headquarters of the War Camp Community Service has wired H. E. Robbins, the local representative, authority to build a lodging house on the property adjoining the Soldiers’ club on West street, formerly Ward’s stable. The plan is to convert the old livery barn into an attractive rooming house for soldiers and their women folk. This work marks the passing of one of the best known stables in the state, which has been conducted by Mr. Ward successfully for years.
Barbecue. Approximately 1000 sailors of the first naval district came here on last Saturday to enjoy the hospitality of the Soldiers’ club which had prepared a fine time for the guests. The sailors came over the road from Boston in automobiles which were kindly volunteered by leading citizens of that city. After touring Camp Devens the party came to the Soldiers’ club on West street, where they arrived at 5:45. After selections by the naval band Judge George A. Sanderson of the committee of the Soldiers’ club called the great crowd to order from the piazza of the clubhouse, where the speaking took place. Judge Sanderson heartily welcomed the sailors in behalf of the Soldiers’ club, the idea in having the fighters of the sea here being to bring out a closer feeling of friendship between the soldiers and the sailors, who comprise the two great arms of the national war service.
The judge then introduced Andrew J. Peters, mayor of Boston, who made a stirring, patriotic address, in which he highly praised the work of the navy in keeping the channels of the ocean open for the safe transportation of troops. Judge Sanderson next presented H. E. Robbins, who is in charge of the Soldiers’ club, who made brief remarks, extending the hospitality of the club to the guests. Miss Bernice Olcott Taft, of Somerville, sang “The Star Spangled Banner.”
After this program came the feast, which was served in the open lot near the clubhouse. Eight hundred pounds of spring sheep had been roasted by John S. Holt, of Worcester, who is widely known as an expert barbecue chef, whose work was first-class. In addition to the meat, cucumbers, potatoes, iced tea and watermelon were served. After the supper the guests of the day returned home.
Arrangement had been made for the reception to Ambassador Ishii, of Japan, who was expected to be present, but who failed to appear. The party was met here and escorted through the camp by the following committee: Harry E. Robbins of the war and navy departments on training camp activities; Judge George A. Sanderson, George H. Brown and A. W. Locke, assistant secretary of the local club. Upon arriving at division headquarters a military escort was furnished and the sailors were driven about the camp to the Depot Brigade trenches and tunnels, and then to the athletic field. Many points of interest about the camp were eliminated because of the separation of the cars.
The athletic contests consisted of a 100-yd. dash, tug-of-war and three-round boxing contest between representatives of the army and navy. Sergt. E. A. Morrison of the 11th company, Depot Brigade, was the winner of the 100-yd. dash, with Yeoman Paul T. Kendrick of South Boston second, and Seaman F. P. White third. The tug-of-war was won by a team representing the Depot Brigade. The exhibition boxing bout was between Al Whitse of the Depot Brigade and Barney Snyder of the first naval headquarters.
The Soldiers’ clubhouse was finely decorated inside and outside with the national colors. Moving picture operators and other photographers were on hand getting views of the big gathering, and 200 automobiles were required to transport the party.
The volunteer waiters who served food to the sailors were Misses Elsie Hubachek, Winnifred Bryant, Beatrice Quinn, Edith Davis, Margaret Thomas, Josephine Baker, Frances O’Brion, Georgie Bryant, Beryl Bigelow, Gertrude Farwell, Grace Willard, Marion Dickson, Carrie Houghton, Viola Parker, Anna Scorgie, Eleanor Haskell and Mr. Benjamin Keyes, all of Harvard.
District Court. The case of Jennie Ricchio, of New Haven, Conn., for assault and battery on Dominick DeFelice, of the same city, which was continued until last Saturday, was heard on that date. The husband of the woman, who is a soldier at Camp Devens, appeared and spoke for the woman. In view of the fact that the defendant has three small children to care for in New Haven, Judge Atwood concluded that she ought to be allowed to go and care for them. She returned to her home later in the day.
Called for Examination. The following list of registrants were called for physical examination on this week Friday for war service: …
Forge Village—Jacob Halko, …
Westford—Ernest T. Wright, …
Order List Class of 1918. The following is a list of the registrants of the class of June, 1918, in the order of their liability for military service as determined by the local board:
Order No. | [Name, Home] | Registration No. |
1 | Chester E. Blaisdell, Westford | 101 |
7 | James A. Allard, Graniteville | 97 |
27 | Harry S. Brown, Westford | 98 |
38 | Clarence H. Dane, Westford | 96 |
40 | Chas. M. Griffin, Westford | 94 |
44 | Ernest T. Wright, Westford | 119 |
52 | Jas. J. Rafferty, Graniteville | 102 |
59 | Henry J. Healy, Westford | 111 |
68 | Calvin J. Dandley, Westford | 114 |
79 | Anthony Pivirotto, Graniteville | 128 |
83 | Albert Duffy, Westford | 118 |
85 | Clifford E. Hall, Westford | 115 |
103 | Dan. Damsewich, Forge Village | 127 |
116 | A. J. Ducheaneau, Graniteville | 120 |
128 | M. P. Ricard, Forge Village | 126 |
138 | Ed. W. Johnson, Westford | 121 |
152 | P. A. Kilmister, Forge Village | 187 |
161 | Henry F. Sears, Westford | 117 |
163 | Ed. T. Healy, Graniteville | 99 |
172 | Fred E. Longley, Graniteville | 116 |
179 | Albert F. Hobson, Forge Village | 95 |
182 | James J. McKniff, Forge Village | 95 |
From William J. Robinson, Forging the Sword, The Story of Camp Devens (1920), pp. 110-112:
“Then came the Fourth of July. It’s always a big event here in God’s Country, but the Fourth of July of 1918 was probably next to the biggest in the history of all New England. For that historic day found at least part of the 76th Division on its way to the transports that were to take them to France. No more appropriate day could have been selected.
“Hundreds in New England knew that the 76th Division had gone. Most of the men got to their homes just before they sailed, and they had told the home folks that this would probably be their last visit for some time. But there were hundreds of thousands who didn’t know; who had no idea that 28,000 sturdy New England lads had quickly and quietly passed from their home shore to huge transports, which had immediately put out to sea on the first leg of the race to the big adventure.
“And not until July 24, twenty days after the first unit of the 76th Division had sailed was it possible for the newspapers to tell the world the biggest story in the history of the National Army Division that had its beginning at Camp Devens on September 5, 1917; that story of the period between July 3 and 15, when Yankee hosts forsook their homeland for the blood-soaked fields of France, and did it happily and gladly. For thirteen happy days the sons of the Pilgrim country went out of Camp Devens singing and shouting, happy in the thought that the thing for which they had trained and worked and sweated through ten long months was at last to be realized. They sailed from several different points, including New York, Boston and Halifax, Nova Scotia. …
“Six weeks ahead of time it was known that the division would pull out. But not until two or three hours ahead of time did officers know when they would start. And the enlisted men were on the anxious seat for days, not finally being sure that they were off for the front until they heard sudden orders: ‘Fall in outside—ready to start.’
“The Artillery Brigade, for example, went to bed at taps at 10 o’clock on the night of July 15, and were awakened only an hour later by ‘First call for France.’ They piled out into the night and were all gone out of camp before daybreak, the whole three regiments of them.”