The Westford Wardsman, June, 1913
Saturday, June 7, 1913
Center. Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Brown and family, of Lunenburg, were among those present at the Congregational church last Sunday morning, coming in their automobile, and afterward staying to dinner at the parsonage.
Edward Clement has an interesting pet in the shape of a tame fox, which he thinks now is between two and three months old. Young Reynard is as tame and playful as a kitten and has every care and attention, spending his pleasant days in the yard at the end of a long leash. One day recently he was in attendance at the ball game at Whitney playground with the younger children. Notwithstanding the care and petting bestowed upon him we have no doubt that if he could secure his freedom he would soon follow his natural instinct for roaming through field and wood. He has recently had his pictures taken in various positions.
Mrs. Gertrude Carver Skidmore is enjoying a few weeks’ stay at her summer home in this village.
The pupils of the Frost school, under the direction of their teachers, gave very interesting Memorial day exercises at the town hall last week Thursday morning at ten o’clock. Miss May B. Raynes was in charge of the music and Miss Clara Smith, Miss Edith Forester, Miss Martha Grant, Miss Edith A. Wright and Miss Mattie Crocker were the teachers in charge of their respective grades. An attractive exhibit of the children’s handiwork in sewing, basketry, drawing, etc., was arranged about the hall. Much of the work showed skill and faithfulness of instruction, particularly was this true of the reed work baskets. The teachers regretted there was not a larger attendance of parents and others interested in the school, thereby manifesting the cooperation and interest that so inspire and rewards the faithful teacher.
Recent changes among the telephone subscribers are Dr. Wells and Dr. Sherman, being changed to private one-party lines, Dr. Wells being 6 and Dr. Sherman 7. Dr. Blaney had a private line some time ago, which makes all the physicians in town equipped alike, which is best for a busy doctor. Miss Edith Forster has been changed to a private line, 24, and Robert Cole to 49-2. It is just a year this week that the new central system was changed from the former automatic system and that has given such good satisfaction in charge of Mrs. Isles and Miss Hilda Isles at the switch board.
On last Sunday at the Congregational church, the newly organized girls’ choir wore the new white vestments for the first time. The full number of the choir is fifteen, but owing to sickness there was just twelve present on Sunday. These young ladies conducted themselves with much dignity and freedom from self-consciousness and used their fresh young voices with excellent effect, especially in the anthem entitled “Our anthems we raise.” To add to the attractiveness of the service the entire pulpit rail had been banked with the delicate white spirea and other flowers. The young ladies who sang were Misses Pauline Wallace, Rachael Wallace, Lillian Sutherland, Hazel Pond, Frances Wright, Florence Wilson, Elizabeth Kimball, Bertha Woodbury, Sadie McMaster, Mabel Prescott, Lillian Roby and Mabel Langhoff.
Memorial day has come and gone, the “memory day” of the year when the memory of the soldier dead is honored as well as others gone before. Fairview and the other cemeteries in town were beautifully decorated. The program arranged for the day was carried out without a hitch, with the exception of the dedication of the drinking fountain, which owing to delay and injury in transportation caused those exercises to be given up at the last moment until a later date. The day was fully taken up as it was, the beauty of the weather helping to make everything a success. The Nashua Military band never gave finer music than this year. There were many visitors in town for the day.
Samuel H. Balch is enjoying a new Ford automobile.
Mrs. Ida Cumming Allen, Mrs. Marguerite Bannister Barnes, Miss Bertha Norris, Miss Elizabeth Cushing and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Fisher were among a few of the many out-of-town guests at the Memorial day exercises last week Friday.
About Town. Perry Taylor Snow has obtained the measles. Others who have not had them can obtain them by applying at the northeast corner of School and Cold Spring road, West Chelmsford.
William C. Edwards disposed of a cow to the lowest bidder on Wednesday forenoon on the tracks of the Stony Brook railroad to a swiftly approaching freight train near the railroad bridge below Brookside.
An unknown man was instantly killed on the railroad track near South Lowell by the 9:50 express from Lowell to Boston on Wednesday forenoon, and an unknown woman was killed by the four o’clock express from Boston to Lowell on Wednesday afternoon on the same line.
Citizens of Westford and friends of Westford academy everywhere will be glad to learn that Ex-Gov. John D. Long and Rev. Edward A. Horton will be present at the graduation exercises this year. The graduating class are Marden Seavey, Hazel B. Hartford, Catherine Connell, Sadie McMaster, Lena Clement, Marion Connell and Alice Gilson. A reunion of former scholars as the guests of the Alumni association of Westford academy will be one of the pleasant, profitable features of the day. Another pleasant, profitable feature of the day, which will be of the night, will be the dance under the management of the class of 1914.
Representative Charles L. Gifford, of Barnstable, will give an address at the town hall on Wednesday evening, June 11. Subject, “The Massachusetts legislature of 1913—what they have done and what they ought to have done,” with special reference to laws relative to the preservation of bird life and how ought we to be taxed. Ladies and other folks, including children, will come and get it in the ear on the bird question and get taxed afterwards. Will the public tax itself enough to come forth and hear about how to lower their taxes by taxing the other fellow who is not wholly in taxable sight at the present time, nor never has been?
Three hundred or more gathered at the town hall and park on Memorial day. Thirteen veterans of the civil war convened at the Cavalry building on the Boston road and marched under the escort of the Nashua Military band, by the Sons and Daughters of Veterans and the Boy Scouts, with Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher as marshal, to the [Civil War] soldiers’ monument, where appropriate exercises were conducted by J. Everett Woods, commander of the veterans and Chaplin Fred A. Hildreth. The march was then resumed to the town hall, where the address of welcome was given by Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher. The afternoon was given over to sociability and the ringing appeals of the band concert by the Nashua Military band.
The recent act of the house in passing the nine hour bill for employees of the electric railroad has caused some apprehension in regard to its effect in curtailing of the service. In view of the fact that thirty companies do not pay any dividend and must either curtail the service or increase their help, and thereby their expenses under this bill, it was surprising that only thirty-eight members could be found with sense enough to see the cents the electric roads must lose or else curtail the running time.
Death. Mrs. Martha A. Dupee, who died last week Wednesday at the home of her daughter in Concord, N.H., was a native of Westford, the widow of the late Edmund F. Dupee, and daughter of Zacheus and Mary (Heywood) Read. It was on the familiar Read farm where her early life was passed as girl, wife and mother. As one of the older members of the familiar Stony Brook school and afterwards of Westford academy, she will be remembered as an industrious scholar and genial playmate. Both qualities were well preserved and blended with other important essentials in conduct and character that was 84 years, 8 months and 22 days exemplified. After living for many years as part of the happy and familiar life of the old Stony Brook district the family moved to South Chelmsford, and soon established themselves as one of the leading and successful farmers.
The funeral took place from the South Chelmsford home on last Saturday afternoon. So well and favorably known, the attendance was large. The services were conducted by Rev. E. A. Roadman, of the Central Congregational church, Chelmsford Center. Mrs. A. A. Steward and Miss Alice Stearns sang “Abide with me” and “Nearer my God to thee.” The bearers were Frank C. Byam, E. B. Lapham, Samuel Hagerman and W. A. Mitchell.
Burial was in the family lot in Fairview cemetery, Westford. She leaves four children, Misses Emma and Katherine, Henry F. and William Z. Dupee.
Forge Village. Miss Margaret O’Hara, of Concord, N.H., visited her sister, Mrs. Dare, on the holiday.
Cameron school closed on Friday for the annual summer vacation.
The fife and drum corps of this village escorted the members of Self Help lodge, I.O.O.F., M.U., last Sunday morning to its memorial services which were held in the Methodist church, Graniteville. The corps, under the leadership of John Edwards, has made rapid progress and is certainly a credit to the little village which is quite proud of such a band.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert E. Jones, of Worcester, were the guests of relatives here Saturday and Sunday.
Miss Marion Lord visited her sisters, Misses May and Helen Lord, of the nursing staff of the South Framingham hospital on Memorial day.
Mr. and Mrs. John Campling and family of Lawrence, are visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Hunt.
The Misses Annie and May Cherry, together with their aunt, Miss Christina Lowther, spent the holiday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Hargreaves, of Beverly.
Successful Concert. On last week Thursday evening, St. Catherine’s church choir gave a most interesting concert and drama for the benefit of the church and was very well attended as usual. Standing room was at a premium and long before the concert started hardly an inch of floor space was available. The stage settings were artistically arranged and the choir, under the direction of James Murphy, of Lowell, did excellent work. After the concert the stage was cleared for the one-act operetta entitled “The rose of Auvergne.”
Miss Leduc certainly acted her part well and is to be congratulated on her work. Mr. Byrnes and Mr. McCarthy also did fine and caused much amusement. Miss Lillian M. Moran, the well-known singer, was in excellent voice and was obliged to respond repeatedly to encores. Miss Rachael Wall accompanied her on the piano.
During the evening Miss Mary F. Hanley, the church organist, was presented with a beautiful bouquet of pink sweet peas and maidenhair ferns, Joseph Riney making the presentation speech. While Miss Hanley was thanking the choir members, Miss Catherine Hanley stepped forward and presented Mr. Murphy with a massive bouquet of red Killarney roses. At the conclusion of the program dancing was enjoyed and ice cream and cake was served.
Memorial Exercises. Cameron school held its Memorial day exercises in Abbot hall on last week Thursday afternoon and were very well attended. The stage and hall were very tastefully decorated with greenery, and the national colors were displayed at intervals. The little tots of the primary grades began the program and their singing and recitations were very much enjoyed. Miss Eva F. Pyne supervised them. Miss Abbie M. Blaisdell, teacher of the third and fourth grades, led her children with a most pleasing program. These two teachers are certainly to be congratulated on the work done by such young folks. The fifth and sixth grades were the next to appear and under the direction of Miss Garvey carried out a very interesting program. The closing numbers of the afternoon were given by the sixth, seventh and eighth grades, and the pupils did so well that they were obliged to respond to hearty encores by the audience. The children, as in past years, did themselves credit and the teaching staff of Cameron school are to be congratulated on the excellent work done. Miss Alice Leahy accompanied the children on the piano.
Graniteville. In the forenoon on Memorial Day many people from here attended the Memorial day exercises in the Westford town hall where the Home Glee club of Graniteville, under the direction of Miss Lilly Mae Moran, of the village, had a prominent part in the musical program. The other members of the Glee club are Mrs. Maybelle Downing, Mrs. Edith M. Brooks, Henry Smith, R. J. McCarthy, George Wilson. Miss Rachel Wall is the accompanist.
The members of the Self Help lodge, M. U., of Forge Village, held a memorial service in the M.E. church here on last Sunday morning. The members formed in line at Worcester’s Corner and headed by the Forge Village fife and drum corps marched down Main street up Broadway, then on Fifth street, and up to the church. A special musical program was provided for the service under the direction of George Wilson, leader of the choir. The pastor, Rev. Thomas C. Collister, delivered an eloquent sermon on “Fraternity,” laying considerable stress on the words, “Friendship, love and truth.” The services were largely attended.
Fred Casey, of Salem, and William Casey, of Worcester, have been recent guests of their mother, Mrs. Annie Casey.
Mrs. Maria J. Wall and Mrs. Catherine Dailey, delegates from Cameron Circle, C.F. of A., and Mrs. Julia B. Wall, a member of the executive council, attended the convention of the Grand Circle that was held in Nahant this week.
All the schools will close on Friday [June 13] for the annual summer vacation.
Israel Worcester and his son, Chas. H. Worcester, have recently erected a fine marble monument in memory of Mrs. Ellen Worcester at the family lot in Hillside cemetery.
Baseball. Under ideal weather conditions the fast Milford, N.H., baseball club visited here on Memorial day and in the morning game, with their reliable pitcher, Richardson, in the box, met with defeat at the hands of the Graniteville club by the decisive score of 12 to 3. The local club certainly had their batting eye, Hanson leading with a home run and a three-bagger. “Tug” Bridgeford was on the slab for Graniteville and held Milford safe at all stages of the game.
Graniteville met the Milford A.A. again in the afternoon, and in an exciting pitchers’ battle, that was filled with thrills every minute, Graniteville again defeated the Milford boys by the score of 4 to 2. The teams’ lineups were practically the same with the exception of the batteries. “Jack” and “Dick” Spinner did the battery work for the local club, while Chabat and H. McNulty were on the firing line for the New Hampshire boys. J. Spinner held the Milfords to three hits and struck out ten men.
The Tiger A.C. baseball club of Leominster played a return game with Graniteville on the home grounds here last Saturday and the local club put it all over them, the final score being Graniteville 21, Tiger A.C. 8. Plouffe, the star pitcher for the Leominster team, was knocked out of the box in the fourth inning, and McLaughlin, who followed, fared little better. The local club batted the ball to all parts of the field, while Spinner, the Graniteville twirler, held the tamed Tigers to four scattering hits for as many runs, when he let up in the ninth and the fielders getting careless, the Tigers scored four runs and made the score a little more respectable looking.
Graniteville will play out-of-town on Saturday, going to Milford, N.H., to meet the New Hampshire boys in the third game of the series. Both the club and the loyal rooters will travel over the road in automobiles, the start being made from the postoffice at 12:30.
The White Sox baseball club visited North Chelmsford and defeated the Cubs by the score of 18 to 10. The White Sox will play at home on Saturday, when the Ledgers of Lowell, or the Shirley A.C. of Shirley, will be the attraction.
Saturday, June 14, 1913
Center. A recent marriage in Lowell was that of Nathaniel J. Decatur, jr., to Miss E. Louise Best. Mr. Decatur is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Decatur living on Boston road.
The grammar and primary grades of the schools closed on last week Friday not to re-open until after Labor day, which makes a period of twelve weeks.
Paul Symmes, who has been delivering coal with his auto truck, one day recently put ten tons into the Frost school basement. This was teamed from Pine Ridge, a distance of fully two miles, which result would have been impossible to accomplish with horses.
Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Wright received the announcement one day last week that they were grandparents to another little granddaughter which was born to Mr. and Mrs. Irving Porter Wright at their home at Sebago Lake, Me.
Dr. Wells was among those present at what he could arrange the time for at the sessions of the Massachusetts Medical society convened in Boston this week with its lectures, clinics and demonstrations, and which closed the last day with a large banquet.
Samuel G. Humiston has recently presented the J. V. Fletcher library, for its historical collection, an old flint lock musket, which was used by his father-in-law, Daniel Flagg, in an old militia company in Acton, called the Acton Blues, some seventy-five years ago. The weight and size of this ancient piece of firearms makes one wonder how men ever used and carried them in those by-gone days.
Miss Elizabeth Perkins, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Perkins, was graduated from the Grafton high school this week.
There are a set of views on Egypt loaned by the Library Art club at the library.
Children’s Sunday will be observed at the Congregational church on the last Sunday of this month, June 29.
The J. V. Fletcher library has just completed having a thorough cleaning.
Mrs. O. A. Foster went this week to Toronto, Canada, to join her husband who has been there for some time.
Will E. Wright has purchased a three-ton, sixty horsepower Universal auto truck with which he expects to transport produce to the Boston markets this season for the farmers.
Mrs. Merwin Steele of the Westford depot neighborhood, goes this week to Sherbrooke, Canada, for several weeks’ visit at the home of her parents.
C. A. and F. R. Blodgett have a young collie dog at their pleasant farm home on Mill Stone Hill road which has certainly caught the spirit of energy and executive ability characteristic of his owners. “Gyp” is only about ten months old and has a record to his credit this season of rounding up seventeen woodchucks. This is certainly some record for so young a dog and his teachableness and likeableness in every way make him much valued among the large number of other animals on this farm.
Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher and son John were guests over the week-end at Clifton, near Marblehead, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Jenkins, who formerly lived in Westford. An auto trip along a good section of the picturesque North Shore was among the things enjoyed.
Dr. W. H. Sherman was in attendance at the Massachusetts Medical society meetings in Boston this week.
Harold W. and Leon F. Hildreth have added another chicken house to their poultry plant. They have over three hundred birds in their enterprising village poultry enterprise.
A good number from this village responded to the annual lure of the circus on Wednesday of this week.
There were sixteen in the girls’ vested choir at the Congregational church on last Sunday, which made a full choir, and their singing was an attractive part of the service. A profusion of pink weigela was used to decorate the church. At the evening service, L. W. Wheeler conducted the service with “Peace” as the subject.
Among many little friendly groups on the common on Memorial day afternoon were noted three elderly gentlemen who were George T. Day, George W. Heywood and Isaac Day. It so happened that this octogenarian group were all ex-selectmen of our town. Mr. Heywood was formerly the station agent at Graniteville and now lives with married children in Belmont.
Harry L. Nesmith, tree warden, and his men have been busy spraying the shade trees through the village with the big power spraying machine this week.
Children’s night was very pleasantly observed in the grange on Thursday evening of last week. The children entertained with recitations, a flag drill, songs, etc., after which ice cream and cake were served in the lower hall. Miss Edith A. Wright was in charge of the program.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Nesmith have recently welcomed a baby daughter [Elizabeth Evelyn Nesmith, born May 31, 1913] into their home.
Graduation Day Program. Friday, June 20, is an important day for many interested people in our town. This will be the graduating exercises of Westford academy, which will take place at the town hall at ten o’clock in the morning. Previous to this, Principal Roudenbush, of the academy, cordially invites all alumni to meet at the new academy building at 9:30, and march with the graduates to the graduating exercises [at Town Hall]. The dinner of the Westford Academy Alumni association will take place at 1:30 o’clock, requirements for which we quote from the printed invitations:
“Any past pupil not a member of the association can join by signing a slip furnished by the secretary, Miss A. Mabel Dred, and the payment of one dollar. There are no annual dues. This initiation fee entitles a new member to a seat at the dinner. Members are privileged to invite their husbands and wives to the dinner.”
Preceding the dinner there will be a reception in the upper town hall from 12:30 to 1:30.
Hon. John D. Long and Rev. Edward A. Horton will be present and are to be the after-dinner speakers. The presence of these two distinguished men so well known to a Westford audience should ensure the interest of every alumnus. These gentlemen will also be present at the morning exercises. All those expecting to be present at the alumni dinner are expected to notify the secretary this week. The reception and dance for the graduates will take place in the evening.
Fire. The most disastrous fire in Westford’s history took place on Wednesday afternoon. We are told that railroad employees were burning rubbish near the track as is customary in the forenoon. During the noon hour this fire got beyond control of those at hand and in spite of what force of men could be hastily summoned the fire leaped a plowed fire guard. During the past winter O. R. Spalding has had a force of men and a steam sawmill converting a large lot of white pine between Stony Brook and Burge’s pond into lumber. This lumber, several hundred thousand feet, was piled for seasoning in an open pasture near the railroad track, a short distance from Westford depot. After leaping the plowed strip the fire reached this lumber pile and a fierce conflagration was soon in progress. It was at this time that the writer reached the scene. Flames were leaping fifty feet or more in the air and heavy clouds of smoke were rolling away.
As the wind was blowing toward the railroad buildings at the depot and several dwelling houses nearby help was asked from Lowell. An automobile hose wagon from there and the fire chief reached the scene. Other pieces which started were turned back on the road. As sparks lighted fire after flying a hundred rods over a branch of the Mill pond and over J. Willard Fletcher’s house the desirability of help was evident.
By this time a hundred men, including a delegation from Chelmsford, were on hand with numerous hand extinguishers and shovels and soon had the fire stopped from spreading in adjoining woodland.
Nothing could be done toward saving the bulk of the lumber. A few piles were saved at the end near where the mill had been. By moving a few piles a lane was made separating several piles from the rest. It so happened that the town spraying apparatus was at work near enough to get on the scene and wet some of the buildings most threatened.
Excellent work was done by our telephone operator during the fire. Her work was seriously interfered with by wholly unnecessary calls of the inquisitive. Those who have nothing to do with fighting a fire should remember that at such a time the operator is necessarily busy and that with every drop on the switchboard down as happened at this time it is impossible for her to attend to the legitimate users of the lines as the occasion demands.
About Town. On Monday night the degree of frost was conferred on all tender vegetable life that had a March start in the Stony Brook valley.
Rev. Seth H. Walker and family, of New Bedford, are spending a few of those “Oh what is so rare as a day in June”
The graduating exercises of the high school and Westford academy will take place at the town hall on Friday, June 20. Ex-Gov. John D. Long and Rev. E. A. Horton will add their presence.
Additional Facts. Some of the overlooked, strayed or mislaid thoughts about Memorial day, when printed read something like this: The memorial address was given by Rev. Albert F. Newton, of Dunstable. It vigorously emphasized the social, moral and industrial conditions that led to the unpleasantness in the national life, hence Memorial day with song and flowers, and the wise survey of the orator of the day. The address was not only an eloquent review of past conditions, but a wise call to “give heed to thy ways” in daily conduct of national and individual life. The Graniteville Glee club, consisting of Miss Lillian Moran, Mrs. Edith Johnson Brooks, Mrs. Downing, Henry Smith, Robert McCarty and James Wilson, with Miss Rachel Wall, as accompanist, stirred enthusiasm to the degree known as “encore,” with their “Faded coat of blue,” and “Sleep on brave hearts.” This last was an awakening affair, and no one heeded their advice to sleep on, and anyone who was in that condition was inspired to awake and get an ear on them for music.
The Nashua Military band added their musical congratulation to the patriotic fellowship feeling that prevailed. The closing number was the shower of flags, while the Glee club, the band and the audience got down to business with “America.” The arrangement of the miniature flags in festoons from chandelier to gallery, and to platform and to windows east and west was the devised work of love of Mrs. Eben Prescott, a daughter of a veteran [Benjamin H. Webster (1830-1890)]. When “America” was being sung in full glory “Old Glory” in miniature size was shaken in showers on the patriotism that was still giving expression to the familiar lines of “My country ‘tis of thee.”
Those who assisted in unloosening the flags by shaking them from their temporary holdings were Mrs. F. W. Bannister, Mrs. Jennie Hartford, Mrs. John Wright, Miss Lucinda Prescott, Miss Florence Wilson, Mrs. Eben Prescott, Miss Grace Lumbert, daughters of veterans.
A fire with property loss and proportions seldom occurring in Westford took to the lumber yard of Oscar R. Spalding near Westford station on Wednesday at about one o’clock in the afternoon. The fire started as the result of a carefully planned and protected fire set by the orders of the Boston and Maine railroad to burn the pine needles along the line where this lumber was cut, but the dry weather and the wind drove the fire beyond the control of the path provided for it and into the lumber stored upon open land. The entire fire department of the town was called out and two chemical auto trucks responded from Lowell, besides a large force of men and chemical extinguishers from Chelmsford. But for all this heroic effort the fire doomed about 600,000 feet of lumber to ashes and an unmeasured amount of smoke.
The lumber was from the lot along the railroad track, and no one appears to be responsible for the reverse and adverse turn the original plans took. “What the wind would do if it were here” was well planned for in advance and wisely answered, but the fir e and wind are two deceitful combinations, and in this case had velocity to send large flakes of the aftermath a mile and a half easterly into the corn and wheat fields along the banks of the crooked Stony Brook, just what was needed to warm up the icicles that got attached to the crops during the chilling reception on Monday night.
Forge Village. The sympathy of the village is extended to Miss Mary Healy, of Graniteville, in the loss of her mother, Mrs. Winifred Healy, who died suddenly last week.
The many friends of Miss Eva Blodgett, of Groton road, will be pained to hear that she was obliged to undergo an operation for appendicitis at Groton hospital on last week Thursday. It is reported that she is resting quite comfortably.
Lillian and Lester Barley, of Lowell, spent Saturday and Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Miles Collins.
Mrs. Catherine O’Hara and son James are to sail for Keighley, England, on June 17, for a three-months’ visit to their old home.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Catchpole recently entertained Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Myers and family of Lowell.
Miss Elizabeth Plummer has returned from a visit in Salem and Beverly.
Mrs. H. E. Randall entertained Mr. and Mrs. John Bennett, of Worcester, recently.
Mrs. B. [Bridget] Gardner arrived recently on the SS Arabic of the White Star Line from Keighley, England. She will make her home with her son[-in-law] and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Charlton, who were married Wednesday morning [at St. Catherine’s Church], and who will make their home in Graniteville.
John and James McMurray sailed for Belfast, Ireland, their former home, on Tuesday on the Cunard SS Franconia. Mr. and Mrs. James Davis sailed also, and will spend the next few months with friends in Keighley, England.
The John Edwards hose company tested several new lengths of hose on last Wednesday evening.
Charles Flanagan, the well-known flagman of the Boston and Maine railroad crossing, was awarded a silver medal by the Massachusetts Humane society for saving the lives of Ephraim and Thomas Reed, aged fourteen and ten years respectively, last August. The youngsters had been fishing on the bank of the canal and lost their balance. Several narrow escapes have been averted by the sharp eyes of the flagman.
Children’s Sunday will be observed at St. Andrew’s mission on Sunday with services at 3:30 o’clock. The morning service will be held as usual, at 9:30.
Mrs. Marion Andrews and Miss Drew, of Groton, who have given their time and talents throughout the winter to help the young ladies of the mission, met them for the last time this season in Recreation hall on Thursday evening. To show their appreciation, the young people presented each lady with a beautiful bouquet of cut flowers, and also served refreshments of ice cream and cake. Miss Theresa Lowther had charge.
The operetta “The flower nymph’s surprise,” was given in two acts by the Sunday school children of St. Andrew’s mission in Recreation hall on last Saturday evening. The hall stage was a veritable fairy land and flowers were abundant. The singing of the children was especially good and their costumes as fairies were exceedingly pretty. After the play a most delightful musical entertainment was given, after which ice cream and cake were served. The success of the affair is due to Misses Sarah Precious and Emily Collins, who have worked unceasingly to teach the children, design costumes and arrange stage settings.
Mrs. James Wilson is now able to sit up after her serious illness of the past month.
Graniteville. The parishioners of St. Catherine’s church take great pride in knowing that their pastor, Rev. Edmund T. Schofield, has recently been made a member of the United States Geographical society, of Washington, D.C.
P. F. Clark, of Worcester, and Miss Mary L. Shea, of Wilton, N.H., have been recent guests of Mrs. Hannah Harrington.
Mrs. Albert Choate, with her daughter, Miss Irene Choate, of Lowell, and Mrs. Lillian Parks, of Boston, have been recent guests of Mrs. Clara Grey.
Mr. and Mrs. James B. Healy have recently returned from their bridal trip to Montreal and have taken up their residence in this village.
Baseball. The Graniteville baseball club, with the loyal rooters, journeyed to Milford, N.H., in four big touring cars on last Saturday, where Graniteville met the New Hampshire boys in the third game of the series and shut them out 6 to 0, in one of the fastest and best played games of the season. “Tug” Bridgeford was on the slab for Graniteville, and held the fast Milford team to four scattering hits, striking out nine men and not giving a base on balls. He was well supported behind the bat by Joseph Hurley, while the club as a whole backed him up in great shape, very few misplays being made.
Graniteville will play the Amesbury team of Lawrence on the home grounds here on Saturday.
The Ledgers, of Lowell, met the White Sox on the home grounds last Saturday, and the White Sox defeated them by the score of 9 to 2. McCarthy and Freeman did the battery work for the White Sox, while Lussier and Boucher were in the points for the Ledgers.
Accident. A very serious accident took place here at about four o’clock on Friday of last week, when Patrick McGee, who has been employed in the quarry of Michael Foye, at West Graniteville, was blown up by a premature blast. It is not known just how the accident occurred, but it is thought that the charge missed fire for the time being, and McGee going forward to investigate the cause, a spark ignited the fuse and the powder exploded. McGee was unconscious when fellow workmen went to his aid, and Dr. W. H. Sherman, having been sent for, was soon on the scene, and after a hasty examination ordered the man taken to the hospital at once. One arm and a leg were broken, he had a severe scalp wound, and it is not known whether his eyesight is injured or not. H. J. Healey and his fast car, with Charles E. Dudevoir at the wheel, and Dr. Sherman accompanying them, soon had the injured man placed in the automobile and a record run was made to the Lowell hospital, where the patient was at once placed on the operating table.
It is not known at the present time whether the patient’s injuries will prove fatal or not, but the chances for his recovery are very slight. This is the most serious accident that has happened at the Graniteville quarries for many years.
Death. Mrs. Winnifred Healy, an old and highly respected resident of this village, died suddenly at her home on Broadway on Thursday morning, June 5. She was a devout member of St. Catherine’s church and beloved by all. She leaves a husband and one daughter, Miss Mary E. Healy, the well-known milliner, as well as a wide circle of friends to mourn her loss. The funeral took place from the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Provost at seven o’clock on last Saturday morning, and was largely attended. At 7:30 o’clock a funeral mass was celebrated in St. Catherine’s church by the pastor, Edmund T. Schofield. The regular choir was in attendance, and under the direction of Miss Mary F. Hanley, sang the Gregorian chant. At the offertory, Miss Hanley very feeling sang the “Pie Jesu,” and as the casket was being borne from the church the “De profundis” was sung by the choir. There were many floral tributes.
The bearers were Joseph Wall, Peter Healy, Fred Provost, William Patrick, Ray Ball and John O’Neil. The body was taken on the 8:30 train to Lowell where burial took place in St. Patrick’s cemetery.
Saturday, June 21, 1913
Center. Miss Edith A. Wright goes this week for a visit with her sister, Mrs. Clara Wright Anderson, at Covington, Va.
Children’s Sunday at the Congregational church is on Sunday, June 22, not June 29, as announced last week.
Miss Smith, of the academy teaching force, was in attendance at the commencement exercises at Smith college, her alma mater, this week.
Miss Adrith Carter is staying with her sister, Mrs. William E. Wright.
Miss Mary B. Raynes, who is school supervisor of music in this and several other towns, is to fill an engagement as a member of the Titania Ladies’ orchestra at The Weirs, N.H., at a large summer hotel for the season. Another member of the orchestra is Miss Mildred Brennon, the violin teacher of Lowell, who has had pupils in town.
Miss Dora Hawkes, of Melrose, is a guest this week of her cousin, Miss Hazel Hartford.
During the time the tracks were blocked by the wreck at Graniteville, Harwood L. Wright went back and forth to Lowell by auto with the mail. The tracks were cleared at about five o’clock Thursday evening.
Flag day was observed in town, a number of residences and public buildings having flags displayed, but June 17 seemed no different than any other of these beautiful early summer days. In fact when one or two of the daily commuters between here and Boston were at their homes enjoying their holiday they were obliged to enlighten some interested friends that it was the anniversary of the famous victory of Bunker Hill and which in nearer Boston is so general a holiday.
Dr. Wells has had his Reo car painted and overhauled as has W. J. Merritt his E-M-F machine.
Hugo Page, at Westford Depot, is driving an auto which he constructed himself, working on it during the winter, buying the engine and other parts at various times and putting it together himself. The result seems to be a machine that gets him about the country very successfully.
L. W. Wheeler reports the first green peas of the season for dinner on June 17.
Miss Edith Baker and George Courtney were married at the home of the bride on Monday afternoon of this week. Rev. David Wallace performed the wedding ceremony.
The West Chelmsford baseball team was defeated by the Westford A.A. at Whitney playground last Saturday afternoon by a score of 13 to 0. The Westford A.A. plays the Townsend team this Saturday afternoon at Townsend.
The railroad wreck at Graniteville early on Wednesday morning attracted many from this village. The scene of the accident was visited by many who stayed for a longer or shorter time to watch the operations of the wrecking crews.
Wedding. A pretty wedding took place at the Congregational parsonage on Tuesday. The young people were Ralph Bickford and Miss Viola Lancey. They came by auto on Tuesday morning from Lunenburg to have Mr. Wallace unite them in marriage. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Brown and Miss Bertha Lancey, Mrs. Brown being a sister of the groom, and Miss Lancey a sister of the bride. Mrs. Wallace had decorated the room where the ceremony took place with beautiful flowers and after the ceremony served refreshments to the wedding party. Mr. and Mrs. Brown took the newly-wedded couple in their auto to Lowell, where they departed for a wedding trip, and upon their return to Lunenburg a newly furnished home awaits their occupancy.
Entertained. The Ladies’ Missionary society of the Congregational society entertained the home department of the Sunday school on Wednesday afternoon at the vestry and the gathering proved to be one of the pleasantest events of the week. The home department of the Sunday school was established by Mr. Hiller during his pastorate and has been faithfully maintained since in charge of Miss Mary P. Bunce, assisted by Miss L. B. Atwood and Miss Louise Crosby. There were about forty present Wednesday. The vestry was decorated with some beautiful cut flowers. There were readings, music and speeches on the program, Miss Loker, Mr. Osgood, Mr. Wallace, Miss Bunce, Miss Gladys Fletcher and Mrs. Blaney contributing, at the close of which a pretty afternoon tea was served.
Fire. Westford had its second disastrous fire within a week when the large house, barn and other buildings owned and occupied by L. F. Gates in the south part of the town was totally destroyed late Monday afternoon. A small child, who was being boarded in the family playing with matches in an upper room, was the cause of the fire. The child, who was only two or three years old, had been having its afternoon nap upstairs and had come down and gone out doors playing.
While the family were at supper a crackling noise was heard and upon investigation a fierce fire was found in progress. Help was summoned and a call sent to the Center for all available help, but the fire had gained such a start that the buildings were doomed and the fire fighters gave their attention to saving what they could of furniture, stock and tools. No live stock, without it was a few hens, were destroyed. There was insurance on the property. Mr. and Mrs. Gates moved to Westford from Lowell about two years ago, buying the property from Donald McLeod.
This was a historic old house, having stood as a human shelter and home for nearly two hundred years. It had the solid oaken timbering of those early days, and much of the interior was quaint and interesting. Tradition tells of an old hidden stairway in the back part of the house and of one of the rooms with deeply set windows serving as an old fort. A tablet had marked the house for some years, stating the house was built in 1723 by Jonathan Minot. We are told that here lived for many years the Parker family for which the vicinity was named Parkerville and where at one time several households of this name lived, but where at present no one by that name is living.
About Town. Mrs. Alma M. Richardson and Mrs. Herbert V. Hildreth were chosen last Sunday as delegates to represent the Unitarian society at the Unitarian Conference at Wilton, N.H.
A. P. Warren, who recently purchased the H. B. Hall place, is making extensive repairs and improvements on the buildings. This work is being done under supervision of Geo. E. Gould, who has a handy turn of mind and a handy hand to drive it speedily to execution.
Mark Jenkins is the strawberry man of the town so far, and is picking about six crates per day and about six crates per day were lost by the frost he estimates. Other large raisers of strawberry vines complain that there is many plants to one berry and the prospects for strawberries seems to have got pinched between frost and drought.
The West Chelmsford baseball team got a zero mark as their part of the proceeds in the game with Westford A.A. last Saturday on the Whitney playground. The Westford team scored thirteen more than the nothing crowd.
The W.C.T.U. held a mothers’ day meeting last week Friday at the residence of Mrs. Arthur E. Day. The meeting was largely outdoor hammock swing affair with an abundance of refreshments, both eatable and sociable. About fifty mothers and thirty-eight babies were present with chin music.
Miss Luanna Decatur has been spending the Bunker Hill holidays at the old homestead on the Lowell road, returning to her teaching at the Salem Normal on Wednesday.
The railroad smash-up wreck of the Bar Harbor express at Graniteville early Wednesday morning was the worst wreck on the Stony Brook road since it was built in 1845. The cause is not clear, as the wreck obscures the cause, but speeding from Ayer to Graniteville, nine miles in thirteen minutes, around a curve where the accident happened might offer something of an inducement for the cars to leave the rails and try the ties. The miracle of the accident is that only two persons were slightly injured. This wreck and the fire at Tyngsboro on Monday afternoon that destroyed store, postoffice [sic], tenement house and part of the country bridge over the Merrimack river and the previous burning of 600,000 feet of lumber at Westford station would seem to foot up large and unexpected financial loss against the Boston and Main railroad.
Amos Polley, of the Prairie farm, lost a valuable horse last week from old age and other impediments to living.
Rev. Seth Walker and family leave Thursday for Virginia, where he is to engage in gospel service.
Graniteville. The Diamond Spring baseball club of Lawrence, a fast aggregation of ball tossers, who have won from such teams as the Woonsocket, R.I., and Nashua A.A. clubs, visited here on last Saturday and met with defeat at the hands of the Graniteville club by a score of 7 to 6, in a fast and interesting game. The batteries were Bridgeford and Hurley for Graniteville, and Pomelleau and Illingsworth for the Lawrence team. Graniteville will play the Centipedes of Lawrence on the home grounds here on Saturday.
A small fire in a rubbish pile near the lumber yard of the C. G. Sargent Corp. called out the local fire department early Sunday afternoon and after a few streams from the hose the blaze was extinguished.
The observance of children’s day in the M.E. church on last Sunday evening brought out a large attendance and proved to be a very enjoyable occasion. All the children did finely in their respective parts, and the singing of the Union male quartet was also very good. Miss Ruth M. Furbush was the accompanist. The affair was in charge of the following efficient committee: Mrs. Caroline Prinn, Miss Ruth M. Furbush, Mrs. Frank Caunter, Miss Martha Doucette.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Charlton have recently returned from their bridal trip and have taken up their residence on Fourth street. Several of the young men with a home-made band serenaded them at their new home on Tuesday evening and Arthur set up the cigars.
John Anderson, of Daviston, Me., has been a recent guest of Eldon Turner.
The mills of Abbot Worsted Co. are still running on four days per week.
Train Wrecked. It is regarded as nothing short of a miracle that out of the number of passengers on the Bar Harbor express derailed here on Wednesday morning on the Stony Brook branch of the Boston and Maine railroad, a short distance from the Graniteville station, nobody was killed or even seriously injured. Including the engineer, C. R. Goodfield, a Lowell man, the firemen and other members of the train crew, porters and passengers, there were about sixty people on the train. An engineer of the road named Armstrong, who was riding in the baggage to his home in Portland, was struck and bruised by an overturned trunk, and the baggage master was also slightly injured in the same manner. Neither the engineer nor fireman received a scratch, for the engine did not leave the rails. Two wreck trains, one from Boston and the other from Nashua, were soon engaged in the work of clearing the debris, laying new rails and getting the overturned cars back upon the track.
The train was made up of six sleepers, baggage, mail, buffet smoker and a private car—nine cars in all. All the cars, with the exception of the second, were either derailed or ditched. The rails were torn up and bent out of shape for a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile. It is thought that the rear truck of the tender left the rails and spread them, thus causing the other cars to be either derailed or ditched. At the rear end of the train was the private car of Mrs. G. F. Boardman, of New York, whose husband is said to be one of the directors of the road, and was not derailed. The train was on its maiden trip of the summer between New York and Portland. Another express from New York to Bar Harbor went around from Ayer to Nashua and backing up to the scene of the wrecked train took the passengers to their destinations.
The passengers on the train were generally all asleep at the time of the wreck and many were bruised by being thrown out from their berths, and many were obliged to be awakened from their sleep after the wreck who knew nothing of the wreck. The derailed cars put the telephone wires out of commission, but a large force of men were dispatched to the scene and soon had the damage repaired in short time.
[Townsmen and boys inspect the wreck of the Bar Harbor Express in Graniteville in this photo taken by Charles L.
Hildreth and sold as a postcard at the Wright & Fletcher Store.]
Saturday, June 28, 1913
Center. The Westford A.A. went to Townsend last Saturday afternoon for their annual game with that association, winning by the score of 8 to 6. There is much interest in this Saturday’s game when the Westford Center and Graniteville teams cross bats, the game to take place at Whitney playground at two o’clock.
Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Abbot and Miss Abbot are at home again after an extended trip of foreign travel.
Many people have commented favorably on the fine condition of Whitney playground. The flowering shrubs have done exceedingly well this season. The crimson rambler roses around the tennis court have grown enough to be beautiful this season, and the walks and lawns under caretaker Edmund Baker’s charge are certainly a credit to him.
Miss Edith A. Wright left on Thursday for a visit to her sister, Mrs. William E. Anderson, of Blacksville, West Virginia, and will be away for July and August.
While Miss Edith A. Wright, treasurer of the Tadmuck club is absent from town, Miss Loker, the president who is centrally located, will receive dues and deliver membership cards. Members are very kindly reminded that according to the revised by-laws, dues should be paid before July 1, to insure membership for another season.
The secretary of the grange, Mrs. Frank C. Wright, has received notification that the grange fountain has again been shipped and it is hoped that it will arrive without injury this time. In the interval the disabled town pump has been repaired for which no doubt the horses are grateful.
Mrs. Oscar R. Spalding entertained the members of the Thimble club and a few additional guests at her camp at Forge pond on Wednesday.
Dr. and Mrs. O. V. Wells attended the tenth wedding anniversary of the doctor’s brother and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Wells, at their home in Somerville on Tuesday evening of this week.
Misses Gertrude and Julia Fletcher are spending two weeks at South Hadley.
Percy Yarnold contributed two well rendered solos at the Sunday evening meeting at the Congregational church.
Miss Grace Lumbert goes to Oxford this week to visit her brother and family. Her little niece and nephew have parts in a historical pageant which takes place there during the week and which is of much interest locally.
The morning train from Pine Ridge station now leaves at 7:26 and makes connection with the Framingham branch which many times is a great convenience. The afternoon train time has also changed, leaving a few minutes earlier, at 3:57, which makes connections for the Boston train getting into the city at 5:45.
The annual picnic of the Congregational Sunday school took place on Thursday of this week. A good representation of the children of the Sunday school and their elders started on the 8:45 car laden with lunch boxes to spend the day at Lakeview. The weather was not very encouraging for a starter, but those who persevered and went had a good time. The carfares of the junior and intermediate children were paid as far as North Chelmsford by the church.
Lillian Draper received her degree at the recent commencement at Wellesley college. John Draper graduated at the Newtonville high school the same week. He has a position at “The Grand,” Mt. Vernon, N.H., for the summer.
Graduation Exercises. Friday, June 20, was a day of unusual interest to our residents. The best features of an “old home day” were embodied in the day’s exercises beginning with the graduating exercises of Westford academy as we still like to call it, even though its academic features have for some time been merged into the regulation high school. This was followed by the alumni meeting and banquet with its fine postprandial exercises. The closing event of the day was the reception and dance given by the junior class to the graduates.
Graduation exercises took place at the town hall at ten o’clock in the forenoon and proved of great interest to the large audience of interested parents and friends. The platform had been banked with greenery and cut flowers and the class colors of garnet and gold being skillfully blended in the decorative scheme. The class motto, “In action faithful, in honor clear,” in class colors was suspended above the platform. The class flower chosen was the American Beauty rose. The special guest of honor for the day was the academy’s long-time friend, Hon. John D. Long.
The members of the graduating class consisted of six young ladies and one young gentleman as follows: Lena M. Clement, Ellen M. Connell, Katherine M. Connell, Alice M. Gilson, Hazel B. Hartford, Sadie A. McMaster and Marden H. Seavey.
[Westford Academy Class of 1913: (left to right) Marion Connell, Hazel Hartford, Alice Gilson, Marden Seavey, Katherine Connell, Sadie McMaster, Lena Clement.]
A pretty feature was the marching of the members of the school to the seats held in reserve for them after having formed an aisle for the graduates on their way to the platform.
The opening number of the program was the march with overture played by Broderick’s orchestra of Lowell, after which the class history was presented by Miss Katherine Connell, the “Class grinds,” by Miss Marion Connell, and the class prophecy by Lena Clement. These were very well done and consequently well received. Prayer followed by Rev. David Wallace and music by the chorus under the direction of Miss Raynes, the selection being Offenbach’s “Lovely night, O night divine,” after which Miss Sadie McMaster delivered the salutatory with essay, the subject of the latter being “Ants and their social habits,” and which presented some discriminating parallels of the ant family and the modern human family.
The next number, according to the program, was an essay by Marden Seavey. This young gentleman had prepared a scholarly and practical essay on “Berry culture,” which met the hearty approval of his teachers, but was excused from reading it. Perhaps the fact of being the only boy in the class was justifiable excuse for diffidence. After an enjoyable rendering of “The Quaker” and “A June song” by the girls’ chorus, the class gift, a large framed picture of Sir Galahad, was presented by Miss Hazel Hartford in well chosen words and graciously accepted by Miss Pauline S. Wallace for the junior class. Miss Alice M. Gilson completed the students’ part of the program with a finely written essay on “China in revolution,” followed with the parting words of the valedictory.
The address of the morning was given by Rev. Lyman B. Weeks and was full of earnest and thoughtful inspiration to all who listened, old and young alike.
It was a disappointment not to have Rev. Edward A. Horton, who had been invited and expected to be present, but as chaplain of the senate was detained at the state house in Boston. Mr. Horton has graced many previous occasions of this kind with his wit and wisdom, but as Mr. Long said, speaking in his behalf: “Mr. Horton is chaplain of the senate and his presence is needed there today. Indeed, some people feel that there is nobody needing the prayers of a clergyman more than the present general court.”
The spontaneity of the ovation that greeted Mr. Long when he rose to speak showed the affectionate esteem of a Westford audience for him who in his young manhood was a preceptor of the academy [1857-1859]. The same keenness of intellect, the freshness of spirit and courteous charm of manner characterized Mr. Long’s remarks both grave and gay to the graduates. The program closed by the awarding of diplomas by Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher.
At a meeting of the alumni during the noon interval, the following officers were chosen: Sherman H. Fletcher, pres.; Henry M. Wright, v.p.; Miss A. Mabel Drew, sec. and treas. The treasurer reports receipts of $361.34, for the year’s expenditures $189.08, leaving a balance in the treasury of $172.26. The time was further spent preceding the dinner in a delightful social reunion. Many out-of-town guests were among those present. The banquet served at 1:30 was pronounced one of the best ever served by the Page Catering Co.
The graduating class occupied seats at a table on the platform behind a beautiful bank of class bouquets. Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher, as president of the Alumni association, presided and introduced as the first speaker Judge Frederick A. Fisher, of Lowell. Among the many good things Judge Fisher said was a splendid tribute to the memory of Mr. Frost, the academy’s beloved preceptor for thirty-two years, the part he had played in the school’s success and his influence in the lives of its pupils. After a duet by Miss Gertrude D. Fletcher and Albert E. Prescott, which was so well received that they were obliged to respond to an encore, Mr. Long was introduced and spoke in delightfully reminiscent mood in which he said he counted the Westford associations among the treasures of his life.
In reviewing the numerous graduation exercises he had attended in the last two weeks Mr. Long said in part concerning them: “What appeals to me is the pouring out of thousands of educated men and women at this season. What will they do? Even an optimist like myself must feel a doubt in view of the problems that seem to threaten our constitution, our social customs and our traditions. It is to such institutions as this in Westford that we must look for the welfare of the future.”
After Mr. Long had finished speaking Mr. Prescott sang Bullard’s “Sword of Ferrara,” and Mr. Roudenbush was the last speaker and concisely presented the work and aims of the school today and expressing the earnest hope that a third assistant might be added to the teaching force that since the introduction of the business course the regular school work might not suffer.
Letters of regret were read by the secretary, Miss Drew, from Miss Harriet Rogers and Miss Sarah White, former teachers, and the exercises closed with the singing of the national hymn.
In the evening a reception and dance was given for the graduates by the junior class. The Colonial orchestra furnished music for the dancing and the D. L. Page Co. catered. The matrons were Mrs. Homer M. Seavey, Mrs. Alfred W. Hartford and Mrs. David Wallace.
Children’s Sunday. The cool, fresh sunshiny weather after the rain made the pleasantest of weather conditions for children’s Sunday at the Congregational church last Sunday morning. The program in charge of Miss Grace Lumbert, assisted by Miss Edith Wright, was admirably carried out, sixty-one of the pupils participating in the exercises. The platform was banked with ferns, daisies, mountain laurel, roses and other cut flowers skillfully arranged by Mrs. Ida M. Gould and Miss Pauline Wallace. Following is the program:
Marching song, school; song “Fling out the banner of love today,” school; acrostic, “Welcome,” Harry and Walter Perkins, Kenneth Green, Paul and Norman Cutter, Ruth Spalding and Gladys Richardson; recitations, “Sunshine,” Carl Anderson; “This is children’s day,” Alice Wright; song, “Every voice should praise Him,” school; recitation, “A little boy’s advice,” William Pond; exercise, “A ladder of praise,” Mabel Prescott, Rachel Kimball, Frances Wright, Florence Wilson, Hazel Pond, Rachael Wallace, Alice Wright; duet, “Let the little ones come unto me,” Hazel and William Pond; recitation, “How bright the old world looks today,” George Perkins; exercise, “Music, beauty and sunshine,” Alice and Ruth Johnson and Mildred Green; recitation, “I wonder,” Dorothy Anderson; solo, “Gathering pretty roses,” Helen Kimball; recitation, “Four little birdies,” Clarence Colburn; dialogue, Warren B. Wright and Grafton Tarleton; song, “I’ve two little hands to work for Jesus,” primary class; baptism, six children; duet, “The Father’s love,” Lillian Sutherland and Pauline Wallace; exercise, “The Corner club,” Paul Wilson, Arthur Whitney, Theodore Pollock and Elmont Richardson; recitation, “Bob White,” Bertram Sutherland; exercise, “Pass it on,” Herbert and Raymond Shea and Fred Perkins; solo, Lillian Sutherland; recitation, “My Father’s field,” Hazel Pond; dialogue, “Suffer the little children,” Lillian and Alice Socorelis; recitations, Nathaniel Phillips; “Shine, dear sun,” Hawthorne Robey; song, “Children’s day again is here,” school; dialogue, “God’s little ones,” Helen Kimball and Marjory Pollock; recitation, “A little boy’s ambitions,” Eric Anderson; duet, “Sunbeams of love,” Hazel Pond and Florence Wilson; recitations, “There is a niche for you my boy,” William Socorelis; “The girls who are wanted,” Frances Wright; song, “Beautiful song of summer time,” Mrs. Lumbert’s class; offering, song, “All the works of our dear Father,” school; address, pastor; hymn “Coronation,” by the congregation; postlude.
The children receiving the rites of baptism were Genevieve Louise, child of Cyril A. and Florence E. (Pond) Blaney; Grace May, child of William and Rose (Murray) Green; Viola Miriam and Marion Gertrude, children of Arthur E. and Margaret (Gunther) Day; Helen Lucinda and Henry Edson, children of James D. and Lillian B. (Going) Wilson.
About Town. Mrs. John Warren Day has been ill with the grippe and bronchitis, but is back again to the usual.
At a special meeting of Troop F Cavalry association at the association building Saturday evening it was unanimously voted to hold the annual meeting and outing at Westford Center on August 12, with banquet in the evening at seven o’clock, followed by entertainment. Committee, Capt. H. W. Wilson, Hon. Edward Fisher, Capt. S. H. Fletcher, A. H. Sutherland, H. V. Hildreth.
The stone curbing on Stony Brook bridge on Stony Brook road has been tipped into the brook by those who are willing to work hard without compensation or limited hours to work mischief.
J. Henry Decatur is painting the cottage belonging to the estate of John H. Decatur.
Alexander Courtney, of Francis hill, and Miss Edith Baker were married at the home of the bride on the Boston road last Monday evening by Rev. David Wallace. They will keep house in the Whitney cottage on the Lowell road near Brookside.
John A. Taylor, of the University of North Dakota, is at the Old Oaken Bucket farm.
Seth W. Banister, of Amherst Agricultural college, is rooming at present at the Banister, corner of Lowell and Providence road.
Miss Belle Walker, of the cosy, comfortable cordial Walker homestead, has been visiting her sister, Mrs. Clara Littlefield, of Fitchburg.
David L. Greig, so long in the shackles of illness, is now able to walk about, ride about and talk about, and nurse and physician have both been given leave of absence, and it seems like Westford again to meet something active on street and farm.
Mrs. Quincy Day and Miss May Day are now busy planning every day and way to leave some day to visit the Provinces, the home of Mrs. Day. As now planned it will be some day next week.
The Greig farm is harvesting about eleven crates of strawberries daily. The crop is light, owing to frost and other hampering devices of nature.
William H. Lynds, of Lowell, the historian with a history, was in town on Sunday visiting the old Lyon place on the Groton road, otherwise known as the Wright-Wight place.
The “Truant” band of North Chelmsford gave a concert on Cameron park, West Chelmsford, Wednesday evening for the benefit of the village church. Much else was also coming and going by the order of Mrs. Frank Bickford.
Graniteville. Mrs. W. H. Sherman has recently returned from a brief visit spent with relatives in Damariscotta, Me.
The Ladies’ Aid society of the M.E. church are now making active preparations for the lawn party to be held here on Saturday, June 28, both afternoon and evening. In the afternoon there will be a sale and sports. In the evening an entertainment will be given in the church vestry.
Mrs. Maria J. Wall is now ill at her home.
Mrs. Annie Jolly Walker, a former resident of this village, but now located in Vermont, has been a recent visitor here.
Arthur Brothers, aged nine years, who has been visiting here for the past three weeks, died suddenly of typhoid fever here on last Saturday and the body was taken to the home of his parents in Fall River.
A daughter, Phyllis Gertrude, was born to Mr. and Mrs. John Hall, on June 14.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert McNabb, of Boston, have been recent visitors here.
Mrs. Andrew Moyniham, of Lowell, has been a recent guest of Miss Bertha Galbraith.
Workmen under the supervision of J. A. Healey are now straightening out that part of Broadway in front of C. G. Sargent’s machine shop. A fine, substantial retaining wall of stone has been built, two large catch basins have been installed to take care of this surplus water, during the rains, curbing is being put in on each side of the street preparatory to laying out a sidewalk from the mill bridge to the machine shop. This improvement was sadly needed and when the work is completed the public can walk here with a great deal more convenience and pleasure than they have here-to-fore.
The mills of the Abbot Worsted Company will remain closed during the Fourth of July week.
The members of Cameron Circle, C.F. of A., held a well attended meeting in their rooms on Tuesday evening. Considerable business of importance was transacted and several applications for membership received.
The members of Court Westford, M.C.O.F., held their regular meeting on last Thursday night.
Baseball. The Centipedes of Lawrence, a very fast baseball team, visited here on last Saturday and defeated the Graniteville club by the score of 8 to 5 in a game characterized by heavy batting on both sides, but sad to relate the batting of the home team came too late. The local infield was very much off their game and it was mainly through errors by them that the Lawrence boys were able to get such a commanding lead. Graniteville made a great sprint in the last of the ninth and by timely batting aided by bases on balls, scored three runs. There were three men on bases and two out with the crowd howling loudly for a two-bagger to tie the score, but the best the batsman could do was a grounder to the pitcher, who promptly threw him out at first and all was over.
The feature of the game was the sensational fielding of McSweeney, who accepted six difficult chances in left field without an error. Graniteville will play the Westford A.A. on the Whitney playground in Westford on Saturday, June 28, and needless to say that this game is causing great interest to the fans.
Wedding. Announcement is made of the recent marriage in the Church of the New Jerusalem, Bowdoin street, Boston, of Miss Dorothy Reed Stuart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George R. Stuart of Everett, to James Minter Sargent, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allan C. Sargent, of Graniteville. He is a grandson of the late James Minter, who was a lifelong and prominent citizen of Lowell.
The ceremony was performed by Rev. James Reed, for more than half a century minister of the Bowdoin street church, and it is interesting to recall that he married the grandparents of the bride, on the maternal side, in the same church nearly half a century ago. The bridegroom of that wedding is a cousin of Rev. James Reed. The grandparents were among those present at the marriage of Miss Stuart to Mr. Sargent.
After spending a few days at the North Shore and a brief visit with relatives at Nyack-on-the-Hudson, Mr. and Mrs. Sargent will sail on July 3 for a tour abroad. On their return they will make their home in a new residence now in process of building for them in Graniteville.
The bride comes of a notable ancestry, as she is descended from thirteen of the passengers who came over in the voyage of the Mayflower, and her ancestors include Capt. Myles Standish, John Alden and Priscilla, who became his wife. The bride numbers among her ancestors patriots who have fought in every war, with the exception of the Cuban, in which this country has been involved. Mrs. Sargent is the honorary “daughter” of the Forty-fifth (Cadet) Regiment of the civil war, recruited from the Independent Corps of Cadets.
Forge Village. Mrs. Walter Brooks, of Boston, is visiting at the home of Mrs. Harriet E. Randall.
The Imperial Campers, of Lowell, have engaged the Harty cottage for the season.
Miss Emma Murray is enjoying a vacation at the home of her sister, Mrs. William Morton, of Bridgeport, Conn.
The Abbot Worsted Company closed their mills on Thursday night for a vacation of ten days.
Mrs. Annie Jolly, of Lynn, and her daughter, Mrs. Erving Wilcott, of Charlestown, Vt., were guests at the home of Mrs. M. A. Lowther on Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett spent Sunday and Monday as guests of their son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Blodgett, of the Groton Ridges.
Mrs. M. A. Lowther is entertaining her grandson, Edwin Cherry, of Bellevue hospital, New York.
Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Prescott attended the funeral of their relative, Flora Whitcomb Prescott, at Hudson, on last Sunday. The deceased is well known here as she taught for some time in Cameron school a few years ago. She married Crawford Prescott, a brother of Richard Prescott, of this village, who died several months ago. There are no children.
Mrs. Catherine O’Hara and son James left Boston on Tuesday for Keighley, England, for a visit to their home. They sailed on the Cymric of the White Star Line.
A reception and strawberry supper was held at St. Andrew’s mission on last week Thursday evening in honor of the newly appointed vicar, Rev. Williston M. Ford, and his young bride. In the receiving party beside Mr. and Mrs. Ford were Mrs. William Fernald, Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett and Mr. and Mrs. Miles Collins. A large number were present who took the opportunity to meet Mr. and Mrs. Ford, and also to extend their well wishes. Ice cream and cake were served by members of the Ladies’ Sewing Circle, and during the evening a sum of money as a wedding gift was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Ford.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Prescott are entertaining their niece and nephew, Miss Emma and Master Herbert Holt, of Andover, for a few days.
The annual Sunday school picnic of St. Andrew’s parish, including Ayer and this village, was held on last Saturday at Sandy pond. The children, accompanied by their Sunday school teachers, were conveyed to the picnic grounds by special car. Luncheon was enjoyed at noon and the afternoon was spent in out-door amusements, prizes being awarded to the winners in the different events.
Congratulations are extended to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hildreth, of Westford, on the birth of a little son born last Sunday [Stuart B. Hildreth was born June 22, 1913].
Miss Eliza Daly is visiting at the home of her nephew, William Daly, of Somerville.