The Westford Wardsman, March, 1914
Saturday, March 7, 1914
Center. Owing to the bad walking but few of the members of the Tadmuck club were present on Tuesday last, but those who did avail themselves of the opportunity listened to a most interesting account of “Milk stations and district nursing,” by Miss A. R. Moore, who is in charge of these departments in Lowell. Owing to the absence of Miss Loker, president, and Mrs. Leonard Wheeler, secretary, their places were filled by Mrs. Goldsmith Conant and Mrs. Harold Hildreth, respectively. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, at the Unitarian church, when all mothers are requested to bring their children.
The W.C.T.U. met last Wednesday at the home of Mrs. Fifield, Mrs. Janet Wright presiding. The routine business was dispatched and a vocal duet rendered by Mrs. Blaney and Mrs. Seavey.
Mrs. Gleason of Winchester, vice-president-at-large of the Massachusetts W.C.T.U. will deliver an address Sunday evening, March 15, at the Congregational church, under the auspices of the local W.C.T.U. Mrs. Gleason is an able speaker and a large audience is desired. There will be special music. All are welcome.
Mr. Amesbury, owner of the Waller farm, lost a valuable cow and calf on Sunday.
An infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson died Sunday, March 1. The little one lived but a few hours.
Mrs. Weitz, mother of Mrs. Parker, was buried Monday from the Melbourne Hutchins place.
At the men’s supper held last week Thursday at the Congregational church a good time was enjoyed and fifteen dollars netted. The St. Paul choir of Lowell, under the direction of Mrs. Pickins, royally entertained the audience with songs, new and old, and added more glory to their already enviable reputation. Mr. Wallace and Mr. Roudenbush added much to the program by their excellent readings. The supper was all that could be desired.
The officers of the grange are planning to give a whist and dancing party in the town hall on March 13.
Mrs. Lumbert has been spending the past week in Brookline with her daughter, Mrs. Ivan Kenney.
Mrs. Peter Clement, who suffered a shock some three weeks ago, is still in a helpless condition, although somewhat improved. The family has the sympathy of the community in its affliction.
The last of the academy entertainments, which was scheduled for Friday evening, has been indefinitely postponed.
The Misses Edna and Jennie Ferguson, who have been at home for a week, have returned to their duties as teachers. Also, Miss Evelyn Hamlin has returned to the Fitchburg Normal school after a week’s recess.
The academy vacation this spring is from March 20 to 30, while that of the Frost school is from the 13 to the 30.
Mrs. Harold Hildreth spent the weekend at Campello with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence.
Mrs. Ida Mae Gould is in town after a visit in Providence, R.I.
A special goose supper was held at the fire house last Saturday evening by the Seaweed club, Mrs. Blodgett officiating as caterer. On Tuesday evening was the regular firemen’s supper, George Gould caterer.
Mrs. L. W. Wheeler attended the funeral services of her aunt, Mrs. William Brown, at Tyngsboro, Thursday of this week.
Death. Mrs. Mary Jane Wheeler died in Denver, Colorado, at St. Luke’s hospital, February 26. She had been spending the winter with her son Roy and had the misfortune to fracture her left hip February 8. In spite of the best care that could be obtained she could not recover.
She was born in Bow, N.H., October 8, 1832, and so was aged 81 yrs. 4 mos. and 18 days. Her parents were Leonard and Sarah (Hall) Russell. She was descended from George Abbott, one of the founders of Andover and from Dorcas Abbot, the first white girl born in Penacook, now Concord, N.H.
She was eligible to membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution through Benjamin Abbott through whose beard a British bullet cut a hole at Bunker Hill; also, through his father Benjamin, whose body was so wrenched by the wind of a cannon ball at the battle of Bennington that he was lame the rest of his life.
In 1856 she commenced school teaching in the Lyon schoolhouse in Westford and later taught in Concord, N.H. In 1850 her mother at the time of her [i.e., her mother’s] marriage to Bradley V. Lyon moved to Westford, where Walter Wyman now lives. Being of stanch Puritan ancestry she early became a member of Kirk Street church in Lowell and in 1858 removed her church connection to the Union church in Westford. In Sunday school and Ladies’ Social circle and other ways she was a valued worker in that church till age prevented. She was a charter member of Westford grange and held office therein.
On Thanksgiving day, 1863, she became the wife of Rev. Winthrop F. Wheeler, a descendant of Richard Wheeler, one of the founders of Medfield and later of Lancaster. Three children were born, the second of whom, Mary (1866-1868), died in infancy. The others were Leonard W. of Westford and Roy B. of Denver, Colorado.
Her genius for friendship, her high standard of ideals, her staunchness of convictions, her strongly religious principles were points of a character whose influence will not soon be forgotten. All who came within the circle of her influence bear loving tribute to her upright Christian character.
The funeral was held at her late home in Westford at two p.m., March 4. Rev. David Wallace was the officiating clergyman, assisted by Rev. T. C. H. Bouton, of Hudson, N.H., a relative and friend of the family. Mrs. C. A. Blaney and Mrs. H. M. Seavey sang, “Abide with me” and “The Christian’s good night.” The pall bearers were H. V. Hildreth, O. R. Spaulding, A. E. Day and H. G. Osgood. Interment was in Fairview cemetery beside her husband.
Following is a list of floral tributes:
Wreath of roses, pinks and calla lilies; also, cut flowers, roses and pinks, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard W. Wheeler and Roy B. Wheeler; spray of calla lilies, Mrs. Clara Russell and Mrs. F. R. Wilson; spray of pinks and violets, Mr. and Mrs. Willard D. Pratt; spray of calla lilies, Union Congregational church; pillow of pinks and hyacinths, Westford grange; spray of narcissus and pinks, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Merritt and Mrs. Tyler; bunch of violets, Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Humiston; wreath of roses, callas and galax leaves, Mrs. Elizabeth Whitney; sprays of pinks, W. M. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. John P. Wright, Mrs. Edward Prescott; spray of white tulips, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Day and Mrs. Emma Day; wreath of roses and violets, Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Spalding; mound of roses, pinks and violets, neighbors and friends; spray of roses, Mrs. Rachel W. Reed; bunch of violets, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Hartford; spray of tulips, Mr. and Mrs. H. V. Hildreth; cut flowers, jonquils, roses and pinks, Denver friends.
About Town. Our dear old New England ideals lost another valuable representative in the death of Mrs. Mary Jane Wheeler. She was true to the New England type in conscience, in the courage of her convictions, in lofty reading and cultured conversation. Her life was aglow with the cultured and poetic phase of New England life and the writer recalls several profitable conversations with her. Her life carried a broad and humane toleration for difference of thought in others. We say farewell with a tear to thy womanly courtesy to thy nimble step and erect form that we shall behold no more on the loved streets of Westford.
The Fortnightly club was entertained at the last meeting by Isaac Ward and J. W. Merritt, who gave life and the club a variety change of humorous selections on the phonograph. The next meeting will be held on Friday evening, March 14, at which time and Wright schoolhouse a homegrown minstrel show will show.
At the democratic caucus on Monday evening John M. Fletcher presided. The following got elevated as candidates for service to the town: Selectman, Oscar R. Spalding; assessor, J. Willard Fletcher; overseer of poor, Albert R. Choate; collector, L. W. Wheeler; treasurer, Harwood L. Wright; auditor, William R. Taylor; cemetery commissioner, George T. Day; constables, Robert Prescott, Charles T. Brooks; tree warden, Robert Prescott; school committee, Arthur E. Day, John Spinner; library trustee, John P. Wright.
At the republican caucus at the town hall on Tuesday evening John P. Wright was chosen as chairman and Alfred W. Hartford as secretary. The following were selected from 2800 inhabitants as their guardians: Selectman, Oscar R. Spalding; assessor, J. Willard Fletcher; overseer of poor, Albert R. Choate; collector, L. W. Wheeler; treasurer, Harwood L. Wright; auditor, William R. Taylor; school committee, Arthur E. Day, John Spinner; library trustee, John P. Wight; constables, Robert Prescott, Frank Healy; cemetery commissioner, George T. Day; tree warden, Harry L. Nesmith.
Town Warrant. The annual town meeting will be held on Monday, March 16 The warrant is posted with forty-two articles. The usual are always there and the unusual are also there. The following belong to the latter: Article 23 calls upon ourselves to petition ourselves to ask the Bureau of Statistics to audit our accounts. Article 25 asks for a new contract with Westford academy in place of the present contract passed in 1905. The trustees representing the academy and the school committee representing the high school interests are the parties to this renewal. Article 26 calls upon the town to give authority to the several boards of town officers to employ assistance in clerical work of said boards. Article 27 relates to purchasing a sufficient number of chairs to allow a chair to all who prefer to sit down rather than to stand. Article 28 relates to see whether the town will sell the building known as the Stony Brook schoolhouse. Article 29 calls for installing a fire alarm system that will wake and break the midnight sleep. Bell and telephone both failed in the recent midnight fire to cause disturbance of sleep vibrations to all who were in its advanced stages. Article 38 calls for an electric light at the railroad crossing at the town farm, and article 39, same piece of goods, asks for $100 for installing electric lights in the town farm buildings. If this large set of buildings can be lighted for the aforesaid sum show them the money right off Mr. Overseer before repentance overtakes the task or the town has time to come to a conclusion. Article 40 calls for the consideration of the town to see whether the annual meeting will be changed. The town accounts close January 1, as per state law and it would seem to be wise to hold the annual meeting earlier, when time is not so valuable as in March when some people are busy planting or busy with ideas in that direction. Article 41 calls for another hydrant in Forge Village. Article 42, the last one, reads: “To see if the town will vote that on and after the current year the number of constables to be elected annually be diminished.” The conundrum of the article is if one constable costs vastly more than it ought to what does a lot of them cost at the same price. Death. William Kelley, a life-long resident of Lowell, died at Saxton’s River, Vt., at the home of his niece, Miss Laura Dutton, on Saturday morning, February 28. The funeral services were held at Saxton’s River and then the body was brought to Lowell and the services were held at 2:30 on Monday afternoon at the Talbot Memorial chapel in the Lowell cemetery. He was laid to rest beside his wife who died a few years ago. The Lowell service was conducted by Rev. Appleton Grannis, rector of St. Anne’s Episcopal church, of which the deceased was a communicant. The bearers were Andrew Kelley, George Kelley, William Severance and George Hunt.
Mr. Kelley was in his eighty-fourth year. For many years he was overseer of the Booth Corporation, retiring about twenty years ago. He was a man of wide acquaintance and highly respected, a friend of the late Dr. Edson, rector of St. Anne’s.
Mr. Kelley was here at the home of S. L. Taylor during the spring of 1912. He was a great-uncle of the Walkden children, being a brother of Andrew Kelley, and a cousin of George W. Hunt, formerly of Westford, now of Tyngsboro.
Pleasantly Entertained. The West Chelmsford Debating society which has been doing educational business for the public for over a quarter of a century, gave extra tuition free to the public last week Wednesday evening. Stage, curtain and trimmings were part of the attractive show off. The hall was filled to fullness when President Charles Logue called to order and acted as interlocutor for the evening, introducing the “Kitchen orchestra” as the first skyrocket of the evening. They made a hit. After this wonder and love feast the sketch entitled “Wanted a servant” was acted out according to the rules of every-day life experience and the self-determined laws of Nature. Those who helped to explain were Harry Carlson, Clara Anderson, Theodore Robarge, Leonard and Frederick Burne, Jessie McNaughton, Betsey Nelson. The audience was intensely appreciative with applause.
After fun came facts, when Henry A. Smith, of Lowell, was introduced to speak on “Practical principals of life insurance.” He is not given to figures beyond facts that are not demonstrated by experience. Several cities were cited to show amounts paid out yearly. Lowell names were cited as evidence of disbursements by life insurance, $93,000 being paid to one prominent citizen of yonder city. Of those insured the average age at death was fifty-eight years. The audience voted away a lot of spare thanks to him that have been accumulating for some time on account of the dullness of debatable business.
Graniteville. P. Henry Harrington and J. A. Healy, two well-known horsemen of this village, officiated as judges at the speed trials for horses on the Merrimack river course on last Saturday afternoon. The races were an interesting event to all.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Healy of Concord spent Sunday visiting relatives in this village.
The people here are somewhat disturbed at present owing to the fact that the men in charge of the trolley cars on the Lowell and Fitchburg street railway have ceased to blow their whistles while passing through the village and that all traffic must use due care at the street intersection. This matter should surely be brought to the attention of the people.
William Buckingham has recently accepted a position in Groton.
The democrats and republicans held their different caucuses on Monday and Tuesday nights, respectively. There is little variation in the selection of the different candidates, the only contest appearing to be that of tree warden.
The A.W.C. quartet will sing at the grange entertainment to be held in the town hall March 19.
There appears to be an epidemic of the mumps here at present and many people are suffering with the disease.
The writer of the obituary notice and the account of the funeral of the late George W. Heywood, as published under the Westford news in the Wardsman last week, should certainly be commended. It was certainly one finely written article and we suspect that Bro. S. L. Taylor was responsible.
Forge Village. The annual concert of the Groton School orchestra was held in Recreation hall on Tuesday evening and as usual was a musical treat. One of the features was the first public appearance of the Mandolin club. The music was exceedingly fine and the violin playing of Misses Helen Peabody and Mary Lawrence was most pleasing. Refreshments were served to the members of the orchestra at the conclusion of the concert by the members of the choir of St. Andrew’s mission.
The Ladies’ Sewing circle held their regular meeting in Recreation hall on Thursday afternoon.
The night school, which is conducted by the Groton School for all foreigners, who are unable to speak English, is being held in Abbot hall. Several from Graniteville attend as well as a large number from this village.
Wedding. One of the prettiest weddings of the season was held on Wednesday morning when Miss Nellie Viola Orr became the bride of Albert E. Little, son of George Little of the Willows. The ceremony was performed at the Methodist church, Graniteville, at eleven o’clock in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. The pastor, Rev. A. Earle [Earl] Kernahan, performed the ceremony. The bride was gowned in white satin with chiffon overdress, caught up with tiny pink rosebuds and wore a veil caught with the rosebuds. She carried a bouquet of lilies of the valley and white sweet peas.
Miss Effie Little, a sister of the groom, was bridesmaid. She wore a pink silk dress with shadow lace and a pink hat. She carried a bouquet of pink carnations. The groom was attended by Robert Orr, a brother of the bride. The bridegroom’s gift to the bride was a string of gold beads. The bridesmaid received a gold ring.
A wedding dinner was served at noon at the bride’s home and a reception was held in the evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Little left on a brief wedding journey, after which they will be at home to their friends after April 1 at the Willows. The young couple received many useful and valuable gifts.
Saturday, March 14, 1914
Center. Misses Sarah, Lillian and May Atwood are expected to arrive at their Westford home [4 Graniteville Rd.] the last of this week after spending a very pleasant winter in Jacksonville, Fla.
Capt. S. H. Fletcher is having a modern out-door sleeping porch added to the upper western side of his home [33 Main St.].
Roy B. Wheeler started last Saturday noon for the return journey to Denver, Col., after spending the greater part of the week at his boyhood home.
The last in the series of three in the academy entertainment course took place on Wednesday evening at the town hall. There was a good audience present to enjoy Ray Newton, magician and entertainer. Needless to say the children and the younger people enjoyed the various stunts. This completes the series of entertainments which have proved successful and enjoyable.
The Public Service commission at Boston has been notified that the first train in the morning will be discontinued after March 21, as will also be the noon train. This will be a hardship to our residents, especially the proposed discontinuance of the morning train, and a public hearing before the Public Service commission will very probably be held.
Miss Sarah W. Loker, president of the Tadmuck club, accompanied by Miss Edith A. Wright, the club’s treasurer, were invited guests of Miss Ward, president of the Middlesex Woman’s club, Lowell, on Monday afternoon of this week and enjoyed Dr. Marshall Perrin’s lecture on “The real Ireland.”
The Ladies’ Aid society of the Congregational church met with Mrs. William Roudenbush on Wednesday afternoon. There was a large attendance, a good social time and a good amount of work accomplished. Rev. David Wallace was present during the devotional service which he conducted. The neat folders prepared earlier in the season by the society, giving officers, committees, etc., are numerous enough for any and all who may wish them.
The town reports have been distributed this week and are very neat and have no doubt received their usual interested perusal by the taxpayers and others. Vital statistics for the year are births 73, marriages 32, deaths 44.
Many have of course seen their first robin of the season by this time, but an accurate and observing resident reports seeing six the last day of February.
The program for the next meeting of the grange will be a musicale in charge of Alvan Nelson. There will be a well balanced program of instrumental and vocal music, the latter including a quartet from Graniteville. It is hoped the members will come out and show their appreciation of these efforts for an enjoyable entertainment.
On next Wednesday afternoon, at 2:30 o’clock, the Ladies’ Missionary society of the Congregational church will hold their regular monthly meeting at the vestry. An interesting speaker from Boston has been secured and member s of the W.C.T.U. will be the guests of the afternoon. Refreshments and a social hour will be enjoyed after the program.
The fine, clear night on Wednesday made the almost total eclipse of the moon an event worth watching by those interested.
Tadmuck Club. The regular meeting of the Tadmuck club was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Unitarian vestry. There was a large attendance of the members as well as a good many children who were the special guests of the club for the afternoon. Owing to this fact the entertainment was planned for them and was certainly enjoyed by them and incidentally the older ones as well.
Miss Ruth Coons, of Boston, a reader and entertainer, who has especially trained and devoted her talent to the entertainment of children, gave the program of the afternoon. Miss Coons appeared before her audience in costume and in her first group of readings was charming and quaint in the guise of a fairy godmother. These included the story of “Jean and the wolf,” “The story of the elephant, the whale and the rabbit” and a beautiful adaption from the story of Miss Alcott’s “Little women.” After a piano duet by Hazel Pond and Mildred Fletcher, Miss Coons gave the story of “The city mouse and the country mouse” and “Jimmy’s story to his little sister.”
In the second part of the program Miss Coons appeared as a beautiful Indian maiden, giving an Indian legend. While thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining a note of strength and sweetness dominated the program, making it very worth while. Many were heard to express the wish that Miss Coons might be secured for another season’s program.
About Town. The Willard Fletchers and the Greig farm folks attended the village entertainment at the Village church on Wednesday evening at West Chelmsford. Mrs. Frank Edwards was in charge of affairs. It was entertainingly charged with merriment and supper.
Charles E. Walker is visiting the western slopes of Fitchburg at his sister’s Mrs. Clara Littlefield.
The water which has been occupying the middle of Stony Brook road at the Stony Brook arch bridge has returned to the brook channel and it is now comparatively “low tide.”
The Traders National bank, Lowell, which got crippled in declining embarrassments, has been ordered to assess the stockholders 100 percent. How fortunate sometimes not to have anything to hold but your hands and a portion of your breath.
Mrs. Lucretia Reed died at her home in the north part of Westford last Saturday aged eighty-five years. She was the widow of Merrick Reed, who was a veteran of the civil war. She was a sister of Alvin S. Bennett of Forge Village, the oldest man in town. Mrs. Reed was a decidedly bright, cheerful and intelligent woman of the old-fashioned type and home was her chief recreation which she measured out daily in a beneficial manner. The funeral took place from the Forge Village [Graniteville] church on Monday afternoon conducted by the minister of the church, Rev. A. Earle [Earl] Kernahan. George Wilson and Miss Bertha Wilson sang “Sometime we’ll understand” and “The christian’s good night.” The bearers were J. Everett Woods, Andrew Johnson, Walter C. Wright and Harvey Barnes. Burial was in the family lot in the Hillside cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Lull, of Stony Barn farm, West Chelmsford, are at present installed as managers of the Nashobah farm [on Concord Rd. at Hildreth St.]. The modern poultry plant just erected at this place will be to the liking of the Lulls as they have had extensive experience in the poultry branch of farming and it is safe to predict that there will be no lull with the Lulls in their new venture.
Whidden’s Corner witnessed a wedding last Saturday at the home of the bride’s mother, Mrs. Charles Byard, when her daughter, Miss Florence Vera Holland, was married to Harry Saxon, of Billerica. The service was performed by Rev. Franklin H. Reeves, of North Chelmsford. The bride is a theatrical actress of note and with her sister is known on the stage as the Jewell Sisters. Their future home will be at the Byard’s on the Groton road.
Under the auspices of the W.C.T.U. an address will be given at the Congregational church on Sunday evening at 7:30. The address will be given by Mrs. Etta Gleason, of Winchester, who has a state reputation as a speaker. This will be a union service, including the Unitarian and Methodist churches. Aside from the address Mrs. Homer M. Seavey and Miss Gertrude D. Fletcher will appear in a duet song and Miss Hazel Hartford in piano movements. The last meeting of the W.C.T.U. was held at the home of Mrs. Jennie Fifield with a full attendance and a full, free discussion of woman suffrage as it relates to temperance. Mrs. Janet Wright, as president of the society, presided and acted as general referee.
The Westford Board of Trade held a conference on Thursday evening to consider town meeting conduct. A very wise conference in the interest of “all together” for constructive efficiency.
Railroad officials of the Stony Brook railroad give out that the management of the Boston and Maine have served a two-weeks’ notice on the Public Service commission of their intention of discontinuing the noon passenger train and the early Bixby train known as the Salem train.
The tax collector seems to be in a class by himself as far as efficiency is concerned in collecting. The auditor’s report shows that he was charged with collecting $37, 479.18 for 1913 and the balance to collect is only $1,185.16. This is certainly a good showing in a year of plentiful pests, late and early frosts and sunshine and dust for summer dessert. The Brookside park assessments are reported “uncollectable.” Sell them Mr. Collector, let the town buy them. It is doubtful if any owner can bound his lot. Adjoining towns sell for a twenty-five tax and bid them in and then let the defendants prove their claim.
The executive committee of the Middlesex North Agricultural society at a meeting held in Lowell on Wednesday decided to hold the next agricultural fair at Dracut next September and Westford [in] 1915. A strong desire was expressed for variety of location by the conservatives and “Just this once more” and it was settled by a compromise.
The Farmers’ Institute by the authority of rumor will be held at Chelmsford Center in early April with an address by Prof. Graham on “The ins and outs of the poultry ranch.”
Encouraging Gain. The annual reports of the town as a business combination are out and abroad and contain the reports of the various boards and other useful truths, as auditor of the town William R. Taylor reports prosperity climbing up over a year ago. In a condensed financial statement this is the facing: Liabilities $12,145.62; assets $8,716.29; balance against the town February 1, 1914, $3,429.33, balance against the town February 1, 1913, $7,149.71. This is a splendid showing for a rainless season. The report of the Westford Water Company shows a net profit of $3,062.20, another good showing as a dry weather investment. The business of the J. V. Fletcher library reports an unexpended balance of $69.80. For the coming year they ask for $1,200.00 and the unexpected balance last year and all the financial contribution of all the dogs [dog license fees supported the library]. The new catalogue requires all the dogs come to and other taxable sources. The trustees [of J. V. Fletcher Library] allude tenderly to the long and faithful services of Ai Bicknell as janitor, who resigned his long service on January 1, 1914. As veteran of Bull Run he was not in the resigning class, although resigned with others to be taken prisoner and suffer its inhumanity.
The finance committee make their annual contribution of suggestions in reference to the amount of money safe to take and keep the tax rate down to a reasonable height. Their recommendations as usual are safely sensible and while they have reported raising in some instances a less amount than is asked for by some of the boards it is done to keep the tax rate down to the easy $16.00 on the thousand. Therefore, the said committee recommends that the town raise for all expenses for 1914 the sum of $35,826.00. They also recommend that those articles in the warrant relating to the fire alarm system, electric lights at the town farm be referred to a committee to report at some future meeting. This report is signed by George T. Day, Julian A. Cameron, Herbert V. Hildreth, Wesley O. Hawkes, Elbert H. Flagg.
Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher arrived home from Panama zone Friday just in time to be moderator at the town meeting on Monday.
Grange. There was a large attendance at the grange last week Thursday evening, although there were no crackers and cheese to draw them. A number of names were proposed for membership and the lecturer was instructed to institute a series of farm experiments. In view of this vote every farmer will be assigned his ground work of duty who belongs to Westford grange. At the lecturer’s hour a humorous play entitled “An old maids’ convention” was presented with the seriousness of reality that would permit of twenty-five gone-by, good-bye, old maids ever revolutionized to beauty and hopefulness. Mrs. J. E. Knights was chairman of the old maids’ convention and was supreme in her decidedly native entertaining element and her sister maids were all cleverly entertaining. The lecturer of the grange, Mrs. A. H. Sutherland, is also to be shareholder in congratulations.
At the next meeting of the grange, Thursday evening, March 19, the representatives of the grange from Graniteville will furnish the entertainment, musical and other native resources. A lunch will be served.
Forge Village. Mrs. Walter Brooks of Brockton is visiting at the home of Mrs. Harriet E. Randall.
Mrs. Wm. Blodgett and two sons, George and Edward, of the Ridges, have returned home after a week spent with relatives in Roxbury and Worcester.
Miss Edith MacFee of Waltham recently visited at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Blodgett of the Ridges, Groton.
Mrs. Margaret Wilson, who has been ill at her home, is now somewhat better.
Mr. and Mrs. John Campling and family of Lawrence were guests of relatives here Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Blodgett spent Sunday and Monday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Longbottom of East Lexington.
The annual spring vacation of Cameron school commences this week Friday for two weeks. School will reopen March 30.
The Russian case which was held for trial at Ayer Saturday resulted in Antonie Beleda [Bilida] being fined ten dollars for assault. Mrs. Mike Cosgett was fined five dollars for contempt of court. Others were dismissed.
Many of the school children are confined to their homes with mumps. Others are ill with severe colds.
As a token of appreciation to Miss Abbie M. Blaisdell, teacher of the upper primary, who has spent a great deal of time after regular school hours teaching sewing to the pupils, a dainty luncheon was served on Monday afternoon. The luncheon was served by the members of the sewing class and was very much s fell on Miss Blaisdell’s birthday anniversary.
The old boiler which was discarded by the Abbot Worsted Co. some time ago has been sold to the Fletcher quarry.
Graniteville. Frank Charlton has recently returned from a few days’ visit spent as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McLenna in Norton.
Mrs. W. H. Sherman is now visiting relatives in Meriden, Conn., for a few days.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gower has recently returned from a brief visit spent with relatives in Concord.
The Westford Board of Trade held a meeting in the town hall on Thursday night of last week during which the various articles in the town warrant were discussed.
The annual town meeting will be held in the town hall on next Monday.
Mrs. Lucretia Reed, aged eighty-five years, died at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Harry Ingalls, in North Westford on Friday, March 6. The funeral took place from the M.E. church, Graniteville, on Monday afternoon, at 1:30 and was largely attended, many being present from the village, Westford, Forge Village, Billerica and the surrounding towns. The services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. Earle [Earl] Kernahan, and George Wilson and Miss Bertha Wilson sang very effectively, “Sometime we’ll understand” and “The christian’s good night.” There were many beautiful floral tributes. The bearers were J. Everett Woods, Andrew Johnson, Walter C. Wright and Harvey Barnes. Burial was in the family lot in Hillside cemetery, Westford.
The members of Cameron circle, C.F. of A., held its regular meeting on Tuesday night and it was largely attended. After the meeting a social hour was enjoyed.
Many people from the village attended the auto show in Boston this week.
The members of the A. R. Choate hose company held a special meeting on Wednesday night and plans were formulated for moving their effects into the new fire house that has been recently built on Cross street.
Ayer
District Court. The oft continued cases of assault and battery which were the result of a fight at Forge Village on February 2, in which five Polish residents of that place were directly concerned, were heard last Saturday. In all there were nine complaints in which all the participants had the unique distinction of being complainants and defendants, each one making one or more complaints against the other. The disposal of the complaints was a very long and tedious undertaking on account of the inability of the persons directly interested and some of their countrymen who appeared as witnesses to speak the English language, which required the services of two interpreters.
As a result two sessions of the court were necessary, the entire time consumed being from nine in the morning until 4:15 in the afternoon, with the exception of time taken out for dinner. It was the longest time ever spent in the local court in disposing of similar complaints. Judge Atwood was assisted in solving the problems that confronted him by two lawyers, two interpreters, three doctors, Constable John A. Sullivan, of Forge Village, and several Polish witnesses.
At the close of arguments of counsel Judge Atwood rendered these verdicts:
Annie Bilbie [Bilida] was fined ten dollars. Her husband, Antonio [Anton] Bilbie, Andrew Veryboy [Voropay] and wife and Catherine E. Redelo were all found not guilty and discharged.
Mabel Koshechia, an important witness, was found guilty of contempt of court and was fined five dollars. The contempt consisted of her refusal to obey a summons of the court to appear as a witness. When she failed to appear Constable Sullivan was ordered by the court to return to Forge Village and bring the witness into court. The order was summarily carried out, although the officer encountered some opposition from a male member of the household, who made strenuous physical and other objections to her going to the scene of the trial.
The trouble arose over the ownership of an apron which Annie Bilbie found in the possession of Mrs. Andrew Veryboy, Annie claiming that the property belonged to her. The husbands of the two belligerents tried to settle the trouble but were unsuccessful. Others became engaged in the battle which finally ended with disastrous results so far as female combatants were concerned. The injuries to them were so severe that they had been under medical care nearly all the time since the day of the trouble. The male defendants, Veryboy and Bilbie, were more fortunate.
John M. Maloney represented the town of Westford and Frank J. Maloney the defendants.
Saturday, March 21, 1914
Center. John A. Healey, of Graniteville, has bought the ell of the old Abbot house, the main part of which was destroyed by fire three weeks ago. The plan is to remove the ell and the remaining debris, fill the cellar hole and grade it over, thus effacing one of Westford’s oldest homesteads.
We were misinformed last week about the Misses Atwood’s return to Westford after spending the winter in Florida. It is about this time next month that they return instead of this [month] which is more seasonable considering the wintry weather we are having.
Miss Doolittle, whose home is in New Jersey, is making one of her pleasant sojourns at Prospect hill with Miss Ella Hildreth.
Miss Edwards, a teacher of Waltham, has been a guest during this week of Miss Edith A. Wright, who is having her spring recess from teaching at the Frost school.
Some of our residents feel more than a passing interest in the fire at Wellesley college, which destroyed College hall. Miss Margaret Elliot, daughter of Thomas H. Elliot, the well-known real estate dealer, of Lowell, have their summer home in Westford; also, Miss Dorothy Ayers, who has been a guest a number of times at Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher’s, both young ladies being occupants of the destroyed building and having the same narrow escape with the many others.
Mrs. Frank E. Miller, who was seriously ill the first of the week, threatened with pneumonia, is reported as resting much more comfortably.
Arthur Bugbee, of East Barnard, Vt., has been a guest during the week at the home of his cousin, Walter J. Merritt.
The Ladies’ Missionary society of the Congregational church met Wednesday afternoon at the vestry. Owing to the storm the speaker expected from Boston did not come, but the president, Miss Loker, improvised a very good program. Mrs. Wallace read a sketch of the life work of one home missionary woman in the south and west in founding missionary schools. Mrs. C. H. Wright and Mrs. C. A. Blaney sang a duet. At the close of the program a social hour was enjoyed and tea was served in charge of Mrs. John P. Wright, Mrs. Wm. A. Roudenbush and Miss Louise Crosby.
The Henry M. Wright’s of Quincy and Westford, who have been spending nearly a year in foreign travel and study, expect to sail April 7 for home. They are at present in Rome, Italy.
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