The Westford Wardsman, May, 1907
Saturday, May 11, 1907
Mrs. John Agnew of West Chelmsford has been a recent guest of Mrs. Jeannette Agnew of this village.
Temperance society. At the 9:45 o’clock mass celebrated in St. Catherine’s church here last Sunday morning the pastor, Rev. Edmund T. Schofield, delivered an eloquent temperance sermon, which made a deep impression on the members of the large congregation present. Fr. Schofield then invited all the male members to remain after mass for the purpose of forming a temperance organization, to be known as St. Catherine’s Temperance society. When mass was over a large number were in attendance, and after a few preliminary remarks from Fr. Schofield a motion for a temporary chairman was in order. Joseph Wall was chosen for this position and A. R. Wall was formally elected temporary secretary. The first and most important business, that of entailing the names that will serve as a foundation stone for the noble work, was commenced at once and the way all the men, both young and old, came forward and signified their willingness to join this society was very encouraging. They have been really wanting such an organization here for some time, but it remained for Fr. Schofield to put the matter to a practical test, and it goes without saying that his efforts are to be well rewarded, for the people both here and in Forge Village have taken kindly to the idea and are going to make St. Catherine’s Temperance society a credit to the community. A meeting will be held on next Sunday after mass, when the final steps will be taken in order to make this a permanent organization in every sense of the word.
Saturday, May 18, 1907
Center. Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Watson have returned to Westford after spending a pleasant winter in Newberne, N.C. Enroute they visited the Jamestown exposition and report a pleasant time. They do report much in a state of incompletion. It would almost seem as if this great exposition ought not to be open to the public until all was completed.
Mrs. Helen K. Frost is soon expected to be among us again. After visiting Paris she sailed May 14, on the Ivernia, expecting to reach home May 22. A warm welcome awaits her from the home friends, after nearly two years’ absence.
William Sutherland of Peabody has moved with his family into the Frank Fletcher house. He expects to supplement the efforts of his son, A. H. Sutherland, at his carpenter work.
The annual custom of holding a union memorial service will be observed this year at the Union Congregational church, Sunday, May 26.
It is pleasant to her friends to have Miss Clara Fisher at home from California after an absence of five years. Wednesday afternoon at the Unitarian vestry Miss Fisher gave a very interesting talk, to a group of ladies, of her personal experiences of the great earthquake and fire. In a delightfully informal way she gave a vivid word-picture of this very trying time, accompanying her talk with some excellent views. At the close light refreshments were served and a pleasant social hour enjoyed.
Last Saturday the New Hampshire mountains showed their familiar outline capped with snow. Even nearby Wachusett and Watatic showed snow at the top and sides. As late in the season as May 11 this was out of the ordinary, and the penetrating chill that went with it was not enjoyable. We could not all cultivate the sweet philosophy of the one dear old lady who said when the snow was falling Saturday morning that we must imagine they were apple blossoms.
Our venerable townsman, Alvan Fisher, has been on the sick list the past week. His daughter, Mrs. L. H. Buckshorn, and children of Concord, N.H., have been at the parental home this week.
Augustus Bunce has not been up to the standard, physically, the last few days.
The ladies of the Unitarian society are making arrangements for a strawberry festival for May 24.
Social. The last social of the series that have taken place monthly at the Congregational church was held Tuesday evening in the vestry. The belated spring has made the busy season come all at once with many, and some who invariably attend these gatherings were missed at Tuesday’s affair; however, about seventy-five were present to enjoy the magic and sociability. The entertainment consisted of some skillful violin playing by Miss Mildred Brennan of Lowell, and Miss Ola M. Sargent, also of Lowell, as accompanist and soloist at the piano, was equally skillful. Mr. Marshall gave some readings and Miss Loker told a group of stories. Mr. Marshall makes no pretense at being a reader—possibly therein lies the charm of his effort to entertain in this direction. His rendering of “The doctor’s last journey,” given in the genuine Scotch dialect, was especially appreciated and timely. Following is the program:
Group of selections on the phonograph, John P. Wright; Group of stories, Miss Loker; Violin solo, Miss Brennan; Reading, “Uncle William at the concert,’ Mr. Marshall; Piano solo, Miss Sargent; Reading, “The doctor’s last journey,” Mr. Marshall; Piano solo, Miss Sargent; Scotch recitation, Mr. Marshall; Violin solo, Miss Brennan.
Afterward in the dining room ice cream and cake was served and a pleasant social hour enjoyed. Fred A. Smith had charge of the ice cream and those who assisted him were Mrs. John Wright, Miss Josephine Bright, Miss Manuel, Miss Neilson, Miss Symmes and Miss Effie Richardson. The credit of this closing social of the season goes to Miss Loker and Miss Bunce.
About Town. The adjourned parish meeting of the Unitarian church was held last Sunday at 12:30. The moderator, C. O. Prescott, called to order. The report of the treasurer, C. A. Chamberlain, was read and accepted. A unanimous vote of thanks was given to Abiel J. Abbot for his generosity and public spirit in extensively renovating the clock in the ancient tower of the church, and in other generous ways toward the church. Mrs. Eunice Fletcher, Emily F. Fletcher and Rev. B. H. Bailey were elected delegates to represent the first parish at the annual meeting of the Unitarian association, to be held in Boston next week.
Business at the Brookside mills is quietly observing a slackening of pace for active dash at business. Steam has been shut off and water power alone is used. The extra car conveying help from Lowell has been discontinued. The future also promises quiet.
Cyrus Hamblet of North Chelmsford has been making daily visits to his brother Horace Hamblet at Brookside, who has been ill with a severe cold for several weeks, having been under the physician’s advice, but not under his medicine, claiming “I am sick enough without taking medicine.” Being far along in the eighties he ought to know whereof he affirms. At present he is able to improve out-doors and nature with his presence.
Most of the boarding houses at Brookside are either idle or occupied by Italians working for H. E. Fletcher & Co. at the quarry.
Joseph E. Knights is still ill from the effects of grippe at his home on the Chelmsford road. The grange promises a degree of loyalty toward his spring planting.
A Swede domestic at the Coldspring farm died Tuesday, after only a week’s illness of peritonitis and tuberculosis. Her remains were removed to the Swedish home in Roxbury for burial. Undertaker G. E. Gould had charge of the removal.
The Chelmsford dramatic club will present the laughable comedy, “When I was a single man,” at town hall, Westford, on Thursday evening, May 23. As the season by way of nature has been a little dull and diffident about appearing in dress parade, come out, thou and everybody, and encourage this play and get a laugh on you. It will help take the chill off any other stray snowfall in May. Those who saw it played in Chelmsford are quite numerous, and are delightfully willing to become a Westford audience and commence that smile over again. Besides, nature has decreed the free use of the full moon for this evening; neither does she expect to recover her generosity by adding it to the cost of light in other directions. It is a three act play and will be funny for upwards of eight thousand seconds.
The special town meeting will be held Monday evening, May 27, to hear reports of committees chosen at the last annual meeting—the school committee and the special committee of three to act with them in regard to the decree of the state board of education relative to the center schoolhouse. It is expected this committee will present two plans to the town—buy land, move the old academy and add two wings to it, at an estimated cost of $13,000 as a total expense; or, buy land and erect a new building, estimated at $15,000. Either plan contemplates selling the present schoolhouse and land together.
If our unstable pride were not such an excessive factor, as compared with our learning and wisdom in determining the course to pursue, we would behold clearly that this ancient academy of substantial architecture is already more than equipped to meet the emergencies of the average ability; that an even thousand dollars, exclusive of land, would make it in better condition as a “district school” than at any time in its history as an “academy” for this town and the surrounding towns.
Our education is suffering from an excess of opportunity. It lacks power of equipping the individual as an edifying factor in society, and leaves the individual much as it discovers him, plus gloves. The “Little red schoolhouse,” while it lacked opportunity, gave itself to the law of self-reliance. Howsoever, a beautiful building is an educator of our coarser tendencies, but the modern outlay in these directions is out of all proportion to the type of individual that should be evolved.
The spur line of electric road from Brookside to Westford has not yet spur enough to it to serve any other purpose than an obstruction to the highway. The company charges that the town is an obstructionist; the town replies for a full bid of particulars as to what constitutes an obstructionist. Read your franchise. Almost everyone would like to see the line in operation, and a very limited few would like to have that portion of the gravel in the roadbed taken from the individual citizen paid for. There is no obstructionist other than the electric company involved in this part of the proceedings. The newspapers promise to have the road running on Memorial day. For additional particulars inquire of the aforesaid authority; like the weather predictions in the almanac, they will bear much reversing. In the event of their running on Memorial day, the band should play, “Should auld acquaintance be forgot,” such a long time has the town and this company been in each other’s loving, electrical embrace. Which has received the greater shock as the result of this embrace is not known to an accuracy. Evidently each thinks the other has.
Graniteville. The food sale and fair, followed by a pleasing entertainment, which was given in the M.E. church last Friday evening, was a social and financial success. The sale of useful and fancy articles found ready purchasers, and the ladies’ aid society, which had this affair in charge, is very much pleased with the results, as quite a neat sum was realized. The entertainment consisted of a series of tableaux, which proved very pleasing to the large audience present, many being in attendance from Westford, Forge Village and surrounding areas.
Saturday, May 25, 1907
About Town. Westford grange contributed a few volunteers, who administered the medicine of encouragement to Joseph E. Knights, last Saturday, as they planted his field with potatoes and his garden with all kinds of “sass” in its season. He is now able to receive out-door sun-baths and be in the attitude of gratitude to those who contributed hoe, horse, muscle and forethought in behalf of spring planting. Those present included Rev. C. P. Marshall, L. W. Wheeler, E. G. Boynton, F. A. Wright, Pearl Harmon, S. L. Taylor.
William Heald has moved from Carlisle into the house of James Obrien on the Providence road, and is engaged as farm laborer for Augustus Bunce.
The funeral of Asa Dearborn took place from the town farm last Tuesday, Rev. R. H. Carey officiating, owing to the previous engagements of Westford clergymen. The bearers were E. G. Boynton, J. E. Woods, N. L. Prescott and W. E. Parsons. Interment in Fairview cemetery. At one time Mr. Dearborn was the owner of a valuable farm in Maine. Of recent years he has been residing at the corner of Groton and Dunstable roads, with labor suited to his years, until increasing infirmities made necessary a change of residence to the town farm. He leaves two sons, one in Lowell and one in California.
The first car on the spur line to test the track, the brakes and the grade, run [sic] last Thursday. If the brakes hold and the curves do not jump the track, a regular car for passengers is promised today.
The strawberry festival, which was to have been given last week Friday evening by the ladies of the Unitarian society, has been postponed to a future date.
Next Sunday evening Robinson hall union will give reminiscences of the Unitarian anniversary exercises, held in Boston during this week. This will be the last meeting before vacation.
Charles E. Walker, while riding on a load of wood, last Monday afternoon, was suddenly thrown, head first, to the planet earth. By this collision the lame and broken leg of eight years ago was made to sadly renew old associations. The accident was caused by the horse suddenly stepping in a hole and stopping too spryly. It is near the border line of miracle that he escaped the head-on collision without injury to the head. He has the sympathy of his old schoolmates of the Stony Brook school, and of those not fortunate enough to be classed in the associations of the “Little red schoolhouse.”
At the “Old oaken bucket” farm potatoes are up and blowing, blooming around in the frosts and snowsqualls [sic] of May; also, the same sentiment for sweet corn. If April showers make Mayflowers, what doth May snowsqualls make? Ask the potatoes that are out searching for heat.
Mrs. Josie Prescott is still at the Emergency hospital in Boston, slowly improving.
The children of H. B. Read are having the whooping-cough. The whoop part of the entertainment has become detached and all is favorable.
The older inhabitants of Westford will recall with familiarity and pleasure her who was formerly Mrs. J. Murray Chamberlain [nee Eunice Francenia Hutchins], and will learn with regret of her sudden death at Littleton Wednesday, at the home of her sister, Mrs. E. J. [Emory Jay] Whitney [nee Caroline Maria Hutchins].
The first electric car scooted up the Lowell road to Westford Center on the noon hour Thursday, carrying besides officials of the road, ex-selectman Sherman H. Fletcher, Edward Fisher and Wm. C. Edwards. Those who ride after this will necessitate the expenditure of five cents.
Death. Once again has one of Westford’s old residents answered the final summons. Alvan Fisher, an old and highly respected townsman, died early Sunday morning, after an illness of about a week, aged 85 years, 5 mos. Mr. Fisher had always enjoyed robust health, and while he had of late felt the weight of years somewhat, he had up to within a short time previous to his death been able to make his daily trip to the postoffice. He was born in Canton, this state, Dec. 2, 1821, and came to Westford in 1848. Here he did what many young men nowadays do not do—believed in the opportunity of the small town, built up a successful business and gained a competence therein. He was a man of pronounced native ability, of great energy, of strict integrity, and a kind-hearted neighbor. He was always public-spirited, a staunch democrat in politics, took a keen interest in the town’s welfare, and served its interests in various town offices.
In December 1854, Mr. Fisher married Miss Amanda Tower, who has been a wise and faithful helpmeet. A family of ten sons and daughters was born to them, of whom eight, with Mrs. Fisher, are now living—Frederic A., associate justice of the Lowell district court; Adelaide [Adeline], wife of Rev. L. A. Budsshorn [Rev. Louis Henry Buckshorn (1864-1919)] of Concord, N.H.; Clara A., who has recently come from California, where she was a teacher; Alec of Westford, who succeeded his father in the business; John of Hartford, Conn., who has a lucrative position; Lila, a teacher in Boston; Thomas F., principal of the manual training school, Lowell; Edward, town clerk of Westford and practicing law in Lowell, and Ruth, teacher of the eighth and ninth grades at Westford academy. There are also six grandchildren.
A sad feature of the death of their father to the children is the serious illness of Mrs. Fisher. She is a woman of strong mentality and had always met the hard places in life with much fortitude, but being in frail health, when the long companionship of fifty-three years was severed by death she suffered a serious collapse, and for a time her life was despaired of. With the aid of several physicians and all that devoted care could do she rallied somewhat, and at this writing is resting comfortably, although very weak.
Owing to this fact the funeral, which was private, was held from the home of Edward Fisher, Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock. Rev. B. H. Bailey conducted the service, with wise and loving words of comfort, and Rev. L. H. Budsshorn [Buckshorn] read an appropriate poem. The floral offerings were numerous and very beautiful. Burial was in the family lot in Fairview. The bearers were Alec, John, Thomas and Edward Fisher, sons of the deceased, and William and Eli Burbeck, nephews of the family.
Graniteville. A very pleasant surprise party was held at the home of Thomas Hughes last week Friday evening [May 17], when the many friends of their daughter Eva [born May 10, 1889] assembled at an early hour and took possession of the house. The evening was pleasantly spent in dancing, playing games and other forms of amusement, and at the proper moment Charles McLenna stepped forward and in a few well-chosen words presented Miss Hughes, in behalf of the members present, with a beautiful gold locket and chain. Although taken by surprise, Miss Hughes responded in a gracious manner, thanking her many friends for the favors shown, and hoping they would make this occasion a merry one, and enjoy themselves to the limit. This they proceeded to do until 11:30 o’clock, when this pleasing event came to a close.
Memorial Sunday will be observed by special services in [the] Congregational church, Westford, Sunday, May 26, and W. O. Hawkes, commander of the Veterans’ association, has issued an invitation to all veterans of Westford who have served in the civil or Spanish-American wars, to meet at the town hall, Westford, Sunday, May 26, at ten a.m., to march from there to the Congregational church to attend memorial services by invitation of the pastor.