The Westford Wardsman, July, 1906
Saturday, July 7, 1906
Center. One of the priceless blessings of the new electric road was apparent Saturday night when a car on its way to Ayer was stopped at Westford town farm by an official of the road, who called for Constable Boynton who boarded the car, and three of the passengers were transferred to the lockup to await an interview with Judge Atwood at the Ayer police court Monday morning. As the three surrendered four full bottles of whiskey, a quart, a pint and two half-pints, besides their own tipsy condition which they could not so quickly surrender, it ought not to be difficult for the court to size up the situation. We have had all this sort of company we wanted in the past and we would be grateful if people in the towns above us would be quiet when traveling through our town.
Inadvertently a word was omitted from last week’s account of the graduation with the result of a rather senseless statement. “The quality of these young ladies’ essays was especially good and spoke eloquently of the careful and thorough training they had received.”
Miss Jennie M. Chandler is at her Westford home for the summer.
Congratulations are being received at the Congregational parsonage over the arrival of a baby daughter last Monday. The little lady’s name is Marion Belle Marshall.
It is a pleasure to have Miss Carrie E. Read visiting in our midst and renewing old associations.
Mrs. Louisa Leland has been transferred to the Tewksbury almshouse.
About Town. The labor troubles of H. E. Fletcher & Co. have been peacefully adjusted, not as a triumph for labor as a contest, but as a triumph for generosity on the part of Mr. Fletcher, who allowed eight hours per day as asked for and more wages per day than was asked for. How refreshing to observe close by a generosity that contrasts with the selfish, two cent spirit that occasionally attempts labor settlements.
The town has been treated to an early surprise in the resignation of the newly elected superintendent of schools, E. I. Willard, who has accepted a similar position in Newburyport. …
The Fourth was celebrated in a commendable way. In the morning came the interesting procession with its clever take-offs, followed by a game of baseball between the temporary teams of “Never hit ‘ems” and “Never catch ‘ems,” the score being 5 to 4 in favor of the latter. The Chelmsford band gave an excellent concert in the afternoon from three to four. Then there were some athletic sports on the common with the following victors:
Boys’ 100-yd. dash, Alson Kimball; men’s 100-yd. dash, Timothy Riney; quarter-mile run, James Healey; boys quarter-mile run, Alson Kimball; throwing baseball, Fred Johnson; hop, step and jump, Wm. Wright.
All the countryside was out to hear the evening concert which was even better than the afternoon one. At nine there was a fine pyrotechnic display on Patten Hill. Leonard Wheeler and Alonzo Sutherland were the efficient managers of the day’s proceedings. The money generously contributed by the townspeople helped to make the day one of real pleasure to many.
Our Town Fourth of July
Opened somewhat other than dry.
This dampened the starting of the parade,
Until the clouds threw off the shade.
The start was made not far from nine,
With only four jolly decked floats in line;
Treble this number were counted as “would have been,”
Only for the rain that paraded every now and then.
Albert A. Hildreth led the march with his drum.
The strains whereof enticed you to come.
As aids, Allister MacDougal represented Lincoln with great;
He exemplified the honors first-rate.
Rene Deziel, his servant in the colored line,
Kept watch and step all the time,
While young Feeney, the horseback clown,
Only the lack of a building would have brought the house down.
The Scotch lassie Cameron while riding the pony
Seasoned the parade with the grace of the “tony.”
Next came the representative picturesque floats,
Accompanied by a variety of discordant musical notes.
The North Westford fort night Discussion club,
Gave the rest of the procession a very close rub;
Their identity in masks was cutely disguised
So let us own up and say how surprised.
Little Bernice Upton represented Uncle Sam
And she only a tiny, darling little lamb.
The young ladies’ auto out “to do the sights”
Was more than a match for any old fossil “anti equal rights.”
But the latest in design and display,
The ladies ideal orchestra in musical array,
Any kind of noise they from their drum,
Everything nameless under the sun.
All sorts of parties now give the call,
In it are Hildreth and Hartford and Goode,
Fletcher, Fisher, Wheeler and the rest have taken to the woods.
The original Tadmucks in wigwam with bow, arrow, tomahawks and paint,
What a contrast with Emersonian saints!
Graniteville. Two teams composed of players from the Abbot Worsted Co., and C. G. Sargent’s machine shop played a game of baseball after working hours last week, which resulted in a victory for the A.W.C.’s, score 6 to 4. This game had to be played on the installment plan, as it were, five innings on Wednesday and the remaining four on Friday. The features of the game were the fine pitching of Tom Harrington and the fast base running of the old timers. This game proved very interesting and another between these two clubs will be played in the near future. The Graniteville-Groton game scheduled for last Saturday was postponed—same old story, rain. The Graniteville have not any game arranged for this Saturday.
Children’s day was observed in the M.E. church on Sunday. The church was beautifully decorated with various colored flowers and potted plants, and the children did finely in their respective parts. The concert which was to have been held one week earlier was all the better for having been delayed, and the large audience was highly pleased with the entertainment given.
The ladies’ aid society of the Methodist church met with Mrs. Lucy Blood on last Thursday and formed plans for their coming lawn party which will be given on the church lawn in the near future.
Miss Lottie and Blanche York of Boston have been visiting friends in this village during the past week.
Elmer W. Stiles of Waltham made a flying visit to friends here last Saturday.
Edgar D. Willard, a superintendent of schools for the district comprising Acton, Littleton and Westford, has resigned to accept a similar position in Newburyport. Mr. Willard has made many friends during his brief stay here, and the members of the district committee deeply regret to lose the services of so able a man.
John Hollows and John Bancroft of Fitchburg were guests of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Smith this week.
There was no special preparation for the celebration of the Fourth here this year and many of the people spent the day out of town.
Saturday, July 21, 1906
Mr. & Mrs. Henry M. Wright and Livingston are at Harwood Wright’s for the remainder of July.
Mr. E. M. Woodbury and daughter, Mrs. Boynton of Chicago, are occupying the Frank Fletcher House on the Boston road for a few weeks.
Abiel J. Abbot has had a very severe attack of illness. On Monday Dr. Carolin of Lowell made two trips to Westford to attend him, but at this writing he is pronounced very much better.
Miss Annie Hall sailed last week for Europe for two months of pleasure and sight-seeing. Miss Hall accompanies a friend who was one of the fortunate teachers to secure the requisite number of votes in the recent popular school teacher’s contest to have traveling expenses of this trip paid.
Miss Lenie Fletcher is the guest of Mrs. Oscar R. Spaulding.
Miss Elizabeth Lougee [Logue?], who for some years has made her home with her cousin, Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, has gone for a two months’ sojourn to South Londonderry, Vt.
The work of painting the Congregational church is making good progress.
A pleasant occasion of the ladies’ missionary society of the Congregational church is the summer meeting with the president, Miss. S. W. Loker, at Providence farm. In keeping with the season it takes the form of a social and lawn party. The weather for this occasion left nothing to be desired and after the devotional exercises and business meeting, adjournment was made to the lawn. Miss White, who is a guest of Mrs. Wm. A. Perkins, was present and gave an informal but very interesting talk on the work of the Leland university of New Orleans, where she is a teacher. It is to this school that the ladies are preparing a barrel to be sent later. Refreshments were served and a delightful social hour enjoyed.
About Town. The effort to secure grade crossing at Brookside for the new electric railway extension will have a hearing before the railroad commissioners at Boston next Monday. As location is a permanent affair it is desirable that this permanence should have the element of satisfying the traveling public. No underground, back dooryard, zigzag route ever will. The interested and wise will attend this hearing. The officials of the road have secured the blacksmith shop at Westford station, as a camp for the workmen for the Westford end of the route, and Historic hall at West Chelmsford for the West Chelmsford end.
Everett S. Brimmer has left the employ of Henry B. Read and returned to Chatham, N.Y.
The local members of the squad of Troop F cavalry are away on the peaceful camping fields of muster and the town is devoid of all military protection. But, then we are on a hill that even controlled electricity has been trying for five years to invade.
The Unitarian church will be closed until Sept. 1. Rev. and Mrs. B. H. Bailey will spend their vacation at their daughter’s summer home at Topsfield.
Miss Goddard, daughter of Dr. Goddard, a missionary in China, is visiting this week her cousin, Mrs. W. A. Perkins.
Mr. Hamilton of Phillips Andover academy and his sister are spending several weeks with Mr. and Mrs. Emory of Boston, who recently purchased the Whittier place.
Waldo E. Prescott was a week-end guest at Stratham, N.H.
Dr. Jaynes of Boston was here over Sunday with some of his friends.
James O’Brien of Stoney Brook road is ill with pneumonia.
We are glad to welcome back Mrs. Annie Barnard, who is staying with Mrs. Willis Hildreth while her daughter, Miss Florence Barnard, makes an European trip.
The spur track, which has been such a bone of contention for so long a time, begins it seems a reality now the Lowell and Fitchburg street railway company have a force of men at Westford depot unloading rails, which weigh 600 pounds each, 100 less than those on the main track. The sleepers will follow in a few days. An authoritative person says that work will be begun before August 1, and by Jan. 1, 1907, the road will be ready for rapid transit between Westford and Lowell.
With the promised rapid transit and the easy means of communication provided by the rural free delivery and the new telephone system, Westford has its advantages which make life in the country more enjoyable than ever.
The pungent Littleton correspondent indicated that if the Westford A.A. won over the Littleton boys in the game last Saturday at Stony Brook park the Westford eagle would scream loudly. But it ill becomes the victors to exult over the vanquished and so we shall simply let the score speak for itself – 15 to 5 in favor of Westford.
This week the W.A.A. will play with the Elms of Lowell at Stony Brook park. The visiting team is considered one of the fastest amateur teams in the city. Let there be an enthusiastic crowd to cheer the home team on to victory.
Thomas H. Elliott, who has his summer home on the Concord road in the Nashoba district, was at the Isles of Shoals with Mrs. Elliott and their two daughters, Esther and Margaret, for the Unitarian conference, which closed July 15. Mr. Elliott wished to resign his position as president of the conference, but because of his efficiency the conference refused to consider his resignation and unanimously elected him president again.
Graniteville. James Hall, who fell from a staging while painting on the Abbot Worsted Co.’s large storehouse last week, breaking his leg, is now confined to the Lowell general hospital and is getting along finely, considering the result of his injuries. It is thought that Mr. Hall will come around all right, although it will take a long time, as he is a man over sixty-five years of age.
Lawn party. The ladies’ aid society of the M.E. church held their annual lawn party on the church lawn on Thursday evening, July 19, and the event proved to be a great success, socially and financially. The grounds were beautifully decorated with various colored Japanese lanterns, artistically hung, and the different booths where ice cream, candy, popcorn, and fruits were sold presented a fine appearance. Mrs. W. C. Wright had general charge of arrangements, while the refreshments were under the careful guidance of Fred A. Smith. The Graniteville orchestra, composed of W. G. Blodgett, Miss Della Blodgett, O. A. Nelson and Arthur Blodgett, furnished excellent music during the evening, while an informal vocal contest was given by well-known singers. Those who helped to make the affair a success and who served on the different committees were as follows:
Ice cream committee, Mrs. C. H. Wright, Mrs. W. H. Beebe, Mrs. J. Everett Woods and Fred Smith; committee on decorating and lighting, W. H. Beebe, Rev. W. E. Anderson and Wm. Sargent; music committee, Miss Harriet C. Sargent, Miss Clara Belle Wright and Miss Edith Wright; fruit committee, Wm. Wright.
Quite a neat sum was realized on this event and everyone had a thoroughly good time.
Forge. A baby boy [girl, Leona R.] came to the home of Mr. & Mrs. Oliver Biron [Byron] last Monday.
Mary Madden of New York is visiting her mother, Mrs. Madden.
Gertrude White of Lowell is at her aunt’s Mrs. Splain.
Allan Carkin has returned to Gardner, having spent his vacation at his father’s, A. W. Carkin.
Myron Carkin is at muster this week as he is a member of troop F cavalry.
Mr. Marshall and family of Everett, also, Mr. Crowell and family and Mr. and Mrs. Reid and children of the same place, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy of Lowell are occupying the cottages of John Edwards on the shores of the pond.
Thomas Mellor is failing very fast.
Mr. and Mrs. John Colbert and family spent Sunday at Mr. Hanley’s.
Miss Katharine Ward from Boston is at her home for vacation.
Mr. and Mrs. Hersey of Somerville are spending their vacation at Fensmere farm with her mother, Mrs. Wright.
Miss Marian Blodgett is working in Worcester.
Saturday, July 28, 1906
About Town. Edward Fisher, town clerk and town counsel, won the case of the town against a Lowell express company on the rights of said company to deliver intoxicating liquors, a seizure having been made by the constables of the town. Judge Atwood of Ayer imposed a fine of fifty dollars.
At the next meeting of the grange, Aug. 16, the Chaplain, Mrs. L. W. Wheeler, will give an address on “The bright side of farm life.”
James H. O’Brien, who has been ill with pneumonia, has graduated into the hayfield.
Owing to the presence of haying, the “scream of the Westford eagle” was postponed, so here is to postponement. The Elms of Lowell, the crack team of the city, were defeated last Saturday by the Westfords by a score of 2 to 1, at Stony Brook park.
The summer college socials have been such jolly and interesting occasions that it is enough to announce the annual one to be sure of a large attendance for Friday evening, Aug. 3. Harvard, Amherst, Dartmouth, Wellesley, Bates, Bowdoin, Mt. Holyoke, Smith and other colleges will be represented by graduates from Westford and neighboring towns. They will give glimpses of college life. Rev. C. C. P. Hiller of Springfield will sing with his old-time enthusiasm. Jolly songs will be sung by a college chorus. Later college ices will be served. All who do not come to the Congregational vestry next Friday evening will have regrets when they hear the echoes the next day.
On Saturday afternoon, Aug. 4, the Congregational Sunday school will have its annual picnic at Nabnasset. Various committees are planning to give all a good time.
John Waldron Walker, youngest son of Seth W. Walker, formerly of Westford, died in Los Gatos, Cal., July 14, aged thirteen months.
Graniteville. The Lowell and Fitchburg street railway company are now running cars through from Ayer to Merrimack square, Lowell. This arrangement will prove a great convenience to patrons of this line, as it does away with the long and tedious wait that has previously been experienced at North Chelmsford. The cars leave Lowell thirty-three minutes past the hour and the ride is a very enjoyable one.
The Healey [Healy] brothers, John and James, have recently purchased a new canoe and are now enjoying the cool breezes at Long-sought-for pond.
No steps have been taken as yet toward the widening of Main-st., near Greig’s corner, although it is thought that this work will be commenced in a few days.
W. H. Wall of Lynn, whose serious illness was reported last week, is now improving slowly and it is thought that he will be able to walk about in a few days.
Michael Rafferty has accepted a position with the H. E. Fletcher granite company and assumed his new duties this week.
Miss Sadie Rafferty and Miss Angelina Brisson are enjoying a short vacation with friends in Salmon Falls, N.H.
Mrs. Mary Fletcher, widow of the late Samuel Fletcher, one of the pioneer Granite dealers of Graniteville, died at her home on Main st. this village, on Wednesday, July 25, at six p.m., aged seventy-one years.
Miss Mabel Tripp of Concord Junction is now visiting friends in this village.
L. S. Gilson with a party of friends took in the sight at Wonderland Revere beach last Sunday.
Fred Defoe of this village, Fred Harris and Frank Murphy of Lowell caught one of the finest strings of pickerel out of the upper brook here last Saturday that has been seen in this vicinity for a long time.
F. L. Fletcher of Lawrence is visiting friends in this village. As Frank brought his rod with him the fish will be scarce in Forge pond after this week.
Grange. Owing to the warm weather and the busy season, the attendance at the grange last week Thursday evening was very much less than usual. In consequence of this, at the business meeting it was voted to omit the first meeting in August. Those who were present felt well repaid for any effort they may have made in coming out, by the excellence of the program. Mr. Howe, past state master, was the guest of the evening and gave a fine address. Before beginning his address he presented to the grange, in behalf of the master, two beautiful ebony gavels for use at the master’s and overseer’s tables. The hearty thanks of the members was given to Mr. Wright for his appropriate and generous gift. The subject of Mr. Howe’s remarks was “Thoroughness,” as exemplified in grange ritual and principles and following into the affairs of every-day life on the farm and in the home. He gave many interesting illustrations of the man who was thorough and had the ability and patience to do some one thing well, principally of Luther Burbank [1849-1926] and his wonderful achievements in floriculture. Although setting a high standard, Mr. Howe is a helpful and encouraging speaker to listen to, and behind all that he says is a genuineness of personality that makes itself felt. The grange gave him a rising vote of thanks at the close of the address. Solos were rendered by E. G. Boynton and John L. Greig.
Center. This has been a busy week with tax collector Wheeler. Added to the duties of haying, berry picking, etc., has been the issuing of about 1100 bills to the tax-payers of the town. Possibly at this season of the year the pleasure of the possession of a portion of this world’s goods to said tax-payers is a little modified.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cameron are absent on an extended automobile tour.
Miss Florence B. Reed of Barre has been a recent welcome visitor to town.
Much sympathy is expressed for our town clerk, Edward Fisher, for the accident he met with while at muster. He was thrown from his horse and sustained a bad fracture of the right arm between the elbow and hand.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Wright and Master Livingston were week-end guests at H. V. Hildreth’s camp at Forge pond.
Mrs. Paul Litchfield and Miss Grace Litchfield are guests for the summer at G. W. Goode’s camp.
Mrs. Josephine Barnard, Mrs. Annie Barnard, Mrs. Willis Hildreth, and Miss Emily F. Fletcher made a trolley trip to Whalom Park Tuesday.
Mrs. Martha F. Cooper has returned to Westford from a two week’s stay in Shirley at the home of her sister.
Miss Alice M. Howard has returned from a visit at the home of her brother, Charles D. Howard of Concord, N.H. Mr. Howard is a chemist of the state board of health of New Hampshire.