The Westford Wardsman, May, 1912

Saturday, May 4, 1912

Center. John Feeney has closed out his harness shop which he has maintained for so many years, devoting himself to his farming interests.

Miss Sarah Drew, of Cambridge, was the guest while in town this week of Mrs. H. V. Hildreth.

Quite a delegation of Westford grangers attended the May party at Littleton grange on Wednesday evening of this week, and report a thoroughly enjoyable time.

Dr. and Mrs. William Hazen were over Sunday guests at the Congregational parsonage this last week. Dr. and Mrs. Hazen made the trip from their home in Lebanon, N.H., in their automobile, where Dr. Hazen is a practicing dentist.

Miss Alice Howard is enjoying a vacation from her library work in Cotuit at the parental homestead.

George Brigham and Wm. R. Carver of Somerville were here over the week-end looking after some of their Westford interests and enterprises.

Miss Miriam Conant of Littleton was among those present at the Tadmuck club Tuesday afternoon, the guest of Mrs. Goldsmith Conant.

William E. Green is an unfortunate sufferer with blood poisoning in his right hand. This was the result from a slight injury which happened while at work in some apple trees. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Green and family for so much sickness has been their portion.

Miss Winnifred Burnham, who has been one of the popular teachers at the Frost school for about three years, has recently tendered her resignation to accept a position in the Pickwin school, Salem, where she takes the fifth grade. This new position offers the advantages of larger salary and being near her home in Essex. Miss Burnham has made many friends in Westford, having been identified with the social, literary and musical interests of the village, besides being a conscientious and popular teacher and her many friends regret her departure but at the same time wish her every success in a new environment.

Eliot F. Humiston and family have moved to their new home in West Chelmsford this last week and they will be sincerely missed from our midst.

Miss Elizabeth Stream of Gloucester was an over Sunday guest of Miss Martha Grant this last week.

The Groton High school nine came over to Westford May day afternoon and crossed bats with the Westford-Littleton High school club with the sweeping victory for Groton of 12-1.

H. B. Hall has returned east after spending a very pleasant winter in California. He has been with the Weston relatives and the first of the week came to Westford. It is Mr. Hall’s purpose to sell his real estate here and return to California to live where Mrs. Hall still remains. If this plan carries through it is going to mean the loss of one of our good families from town and will be much regretted by Mr. and Mrs. Hall’s many friends.

Miss Hazel Hartford has been at home this week suffering with another attack of tonsillitis.

Boy Scouts. The boy scouts had a supper and good time this week Tuesday evening to mark the close of the season’s indoor events. This was held in the Congregational church vestry. The supper was in charge of the young ladies and was bountiful and appetizing. After supper Capt. Wright of Lowell gave an address that quickly appealed to the best in boy nature working out the lessons of loyalty, obedience and patriotism.

John P. Wright at the particular wish of the boys was also present and addressed them with characteristic happy felicity.

There were about forty in attendance. The gathering proved sort of a farewell party for one of the number, Charlie Goodwin, who is moving with his parents to Putney, Vt., where Mr. Goodwin is to be employed as a teamster.

Electric Lights Installed. Probably every family who has had electric lights installed into their homes have felt much pleasure and satisfaction when they were complete and in working order. This is just the state of things with the larger Congregational church family to have their church fitted with electric lighting. The work has just recently been completed and the members are glad to be rid of the reign of the kerosene lamp. The work has been most carefully done by a Lowell firm under the direction of the church trustees. The only regret for this season is that the work is just finished at the closing of the winter instead of the beginning, but they will be ready to start another season auspiciously. There is a fully adequate number of lights and the fixtures are of simple and tasteful design.

Tadmuck Club. The meeting of the Tadmuck club was held on Tuesday afternoon in the parlors of the Unitarian church under very pleasant circumstances. At the business part of the session, the secretary gave a report or the year. Miss Loker reminded the members to bear in mind the new method of paying dues. Upon recommendation of the philanthropy committee an adequate sum was voted from the treasury for the purchase of a substantial tent for the Boy Scouts to be used by Mr. Coggshall for outings during the out-door season.

The program for the afternoon was a lecture by Miss Sarah Drew, of Cambridge, on “Every-day practice in art,” in which the speaker brought to her hearers with fine discrimination some of the best principals of harmony, balance and rhythm, following with an hour of picture study, taking examples from Raphael, Corot, Correggio, Leonardo De Vince and others, and with copies from some of their masterpieces analyzing from the artist’s viewpoint the best features of the same.

Preceding Miss Drew’s lecture, Miss Gladys Fletcher gave a piano solo and Miss Winnifred Burnham a vocal solo.

At the close of the lecture club tea was served in charge of Mrs. A. W. Hartford, Mrs. Frank Bannister and Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher, and a social hour enjoyed.

Accident. Judson Sweetser and his sister, Miss Rebecca Sweetser, met with an accident while driving home last Sunday afternoon. While driving down the Boston road, near the residence of Peter Clement, they met an automobile and the horse took fright and bolted, throwing both occupants out of the carriage. Mr. Sweetser escaped with a bad shaking up, but his sister was more seriously hurt, being cut about the face and head. The occupants of the automobile rendered all the assistance possible. The horse separated himself from the buggy and galloped for home, thus putting the conveyance out of commission. The automobile and its owner took Miss Sweetser to the doctor’s, where a number of stitches were necessary in the cuts on head and face. They also took Mr. Sweetser to his home in the Nashoba district, where he was able, with another outfit, to go later and bring his sister home from the doctor’s.

The owner of the automobile and occupants were out-of-town parties, and did all they could to render every assistance.

About Town. Mrs. Henry A. Fletcher has gone to Washington, D.C., on a pleasure trip, which will also include New York and Philadelphia.

Fred Blanchard is working for J. Willard Fletcher, taking the place of William H. Johnson, resigned.

C. R. P. Decatur sold recently to Boston parties a lot of antique furniture that had been stored in the attic of the old Pelatiah Fletcher place. Among the antiques was one of ye olden bedsteads which brought $110. There is much that is still antique about this place, with the sign: “Home of Capt. Pelatiah Fletcher. Served in the Revolutionary war. D.A.R.”

Smith & Brooks, of Lowell, civil engineers, are surveying a tract of woodland on Plain road, belonging to heirs of J. G. Abbot, which has recently been sold to Lowell parties. Part of this lot was once owned by Warren Hunt, deceased. This lot is bounded north of Nabnasset pond.

William E. Greene, on the Providence road, is seriously ill with blood poisoning, his right arm being badly swollen. He is under the care of Dr. Blaney, who has proved skillful as the family physician. While grafting trees he cut his hand, which seems to be the cause.

The primary preferential gathering at the town hall on Tuesday afternoon was not a large affair, only 148 votes being cast with preferences as follows: Taft 84, Roosevelt 46, LaFollette 2; Champ Clark 6, Woodrow Wilson 15. Westford appears to be the banner town in this vicinity for Taft.

C. R. P. Decatur still remains crippled in feet ability, but in head he is clearly ready for any farm proposition. To help out his crippled feet he recently hired a Portuguese man, named Harmony Melody. After working a short period he made so much melody without harmony, and was apparently willing to increase his melody and lessen his harmony, that he was allowed unlimited leave to depart, nearer to the base of supply for those liquid attractions that make harmony and melody off the key.

Amos Polley has just finished planting thirty bushels of potatoes. This may seem small beside Aroostook, but it looks larger when we say he is the Aroostook of Westford.

Daniel H. Sheehan has bought of George H. Holt the stock in trade and all the rights and patterns of the Holt pump manufactory. Mr. Sheehan will conduct this business at his woolen-cotton-cider manufactory located on Tadmuck brook, near the Lowell road. Mr. Sheehan is expecting to have business enough to encourage a rise in land values and hints at a branch track from the Stony Brook railroad.

A large force of men are at work on the new railroad bridge with a construction train and machinery. Much time is used in running the construction train to Brookside to clear the track for regular trains and some irregular trains. The Roosevelt train, which went flying over the bridge on Monday noon, found the clear track and three cheers for the next president from the workmen.

A Prosperous Firm. Blodgett Bros., on Monument hill, commenced on Monday to excavate for the cellar of their new modern barn, which will be somewhat like unto 42×75 feet, and will accommodate forty cows, which will be fastened by the new, easy swinging stanchion. All the new conveniences and comforts will be installed to make farm work and barn work easy, attractive and conform to the sanitary tests of the times. One of the old barns will be torn down and the large oak timbers, so characteristic of the old-time New England barn will be used in the construction of the new barn, which will connect with the old barn. The new barn will be located, and wisely so, with a view to tax rates, about twenty-five percent in Groton, and the balance in Westford. P. Henry Harrington, of Graniteville, the well-known and always satisfactory contractor, will make the chips fly on the wooden works, and Elias Delaharge, of North Chelmsford, will do the chip flying act on the stone work. To those who think New England farming is on the no pay list, call around and witness what brains, good judgment and pull together has accomplished, and get a good view of the Blodgett Bros. property.

Death. Freeman Keyes died on last week Thursday at the home of his nephew, Henry O. Keyes, aged seventy-seven years, after an illness of two weeks of kidney trouble. Mr. Keyes was a native of Westford and was born at the old Keyes homestead, where he died, near Keyes pond. Mr. Keyes was an extensive reader, and was possessed with a remarkable memory. He was noted for his economical habits. He will long be remembered for his hostility to the use of tobacco and intoxicating liquors, against the use of which he was a free lance, both by word and letter, and seldom wearied in his persistence against smoking at the annual town meeting, calling for the enforcement of the law.

As an economist the high cost of living did not interfere much with his simple tastes and temperate habits, which as he claimed, enabled him to live on twenty-five cents a week. He will be missed in the town and community as a personality, and the only one of the kind in his class. He was one of ten children of Imllay [Imla] and Mary (Fletcher) Keyes, and for many years lived at the Keyes farm near Fairview cemetery.

The funeral took place on last Saturday afternoon, Rev. David Wallace conducting the services, which were largely attended by relatives and friends. The bearers were J. Everett Woods, Dennis Burke, Horace E. Gould and Gilman F. Wright. Burial was in Fairview cemetery.

Debate Meeting. The last meeting of the West Chelmsford Debating society for the season was held on Tuesday evening at Historic hall with a large and enthusiastic audience. The question, Resolved, “That it would be an advantage of the United States to maintain a large navy,” brought forth a rapid fire of discussion from the regular appointed debaters and from the floor. Samuel Naylor and Clarence Spalding set up some strong defenses for a large navy, and the negative, represented by William Newbold and S. L. Taylor, found it a difficult task to break down these defenses even under cross examination. Both sides were much strengthened by the volunteer speakers from the floor. The first speaker from the floor was Fred A. Snow, who presented a line of reasoning and some stubborn figures against a large navy. He was followed by Alfred Maker, who opposed a large navy on the ground that airships will supersede war vessels and future disputes will be taken to the air for settlement. Robert Gunnison and James Dwyer both had an eloquent word to the interpreted as viewing the advantages of a large navy. The merits of the question and arguments were voted to the affirmative.

Forge Village. Mrs. Charles Blodgett and little daughter Florence, of the Ridges, and Mrs. Katherine O’Hara, of this village, spent Saturday and Sunday with Miss Kitty Donalon, of Southbridge. They also visited with friends in Worcester.

It is reported that Mr. and Mrs. Aimee Boucher and family are preparing to return to Canada, where they own a large farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Everett Nicols and Miss Nicols, of Malden, together with Miss Dorothy Steward, of Everett, recently spent a short vacation at their cottages on the shore of the pond.

Mr. and Mrs. John McNiff and family are moving into one of the new cottages recently build on Orchard street.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Carkin are preparing to move into the new cottage at the corner of Orchard and Union [now E. Prescott] street. Mr. and Mrs. George Weaver are to occupy the house to be vacated by Mr. Carkin.

George Weaver, who has been manager of a large poultry farm at North Littleton, has resigned his position to accept one in the mill of the Abbot Worsted Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Catchpole were guests of Mrs. Catchpole’s sister, Mrs. Hans Dege, of North Billerica, over Sunday.

The Forge Village Tigers played Popes Batteries of North Chelmsford at Cameron park on Saturday last, with the result that the home team defeated the visitors by a score of 7 to 1. Elmer DeRoehn and C. Boucher were the battery for the Tigers and Young and Morrison for the North Chelmsford team. DeRoehn did excellent work, and has a fine assortment of curves. He had fourteen strikeouts to his credit. Although Popes Batteries changed their pitcher three times, they failed to make good, and the game was easily won by the Tigers.

There are over twenty cases of measles in the village, confined mostly among the school children.

Mr. and Mrs. John Shackelton, formerly of this village, sailed Tuesday from Keighley, England, where they have spent the past six months.

Miss Mary Leclerc was the guest of her sister, Mrs. John Paquette, of Nashua, N.H., Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Fennimore Morton held a most enjoyable reunion at their home on Sunday. Among those who attended were the following: Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Shaw, of Milo Junction, Me.; Mr. and Mrs. William French, of Nashua, N.H.; Mr. and Mrs. John Morton and daughter Lillian, of Lowell; Mrs. Elmer Sawyer and son, of Groton; Miss Elsie Northrup, of Pepperell; Eben Keirstead, of Groton, and Mrs. Sterling White and children, of Yonkers, N.Y.

Mr. Northrup will accompany Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Shaw to their home in Milo Junction, Me. Mrs. Shaw was formerly Miss Hattie Northrup, of this village.

Mrs. William Burnett spent Sunday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Chester Blodgett, of Groton.

Walter Woods, Mr. Peck and Mr. Craig, all members of the crew of the S.S. Laconia, were entertained on Sunday at the home of Mrs. M. A. Lowther’s.

The F.V.A. club will hold a social dancing party in Abbot hall on Friday evening, May 10. Dancing will be enjoyed from eight to twelve o’clock. Music will be given by the Colonial orchestra. Ice cream and cake will be served during intermission.

Graniteville. The first of the May devotions were held in St. Catherine’s church on Wednesday evening.

Rev. Hugh Layton, the newly appointed pastor of the M.E. church, preached his first sermon here last Sunday. Mr. Layton is an eloquent speaker, and made a good impression on the large congregation present.

The White Sox baseball club played the Cubs, of North Chelmsford, on the Middlesex grounds last Saturday and won a well-earned victory by the score of 7 to 3. The features of the game were the clever battery work of McCarthy and Pracknack and the heavy stick work of Boyd and Buckingham. The White Sox are certainly a snappy little baseball team and one bound to give a good account of themselves before the season is over. The White Sox will play the Red Sox, of Westford, on the home grounds here on this Saturday, and a red hot game is looked for.

The Graniteville-J.P.S. game that was scheduled to take place here last Saturday failed to materialize, as the Lowell club did not show up. Manager Kemen, of the local club, received word from the J.P.S. manager on Thursday of last week, accepting arrangements for the game on Saturday, and he had his club in readiness to meet them. It was a keen disappointment to the fans as they have not seen the regular team in action this season. The regular Graniteville club will play the Riverside A.C. at East Pepperell on this Saturday afternoon.

The regular meeting of Court Graniteville, F. of A., was held in their rooms on Thursday evening with F. G. Sullivan, chief ranger, in the chair. Business of importance was transacted, after which a social hour was enjoyed.

Miss Lydia Walsh, with her brother, Wallace Walsh, is now stopping with Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Dudevoir.

Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Sherman, of Damariscotta, Me., have been recent guests of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Sherman.

Saturday, May 11, 1912

Center. Cyrus Hosmer, of Wakefield, was the guest of his daughter, Mrs. W. M. Wright, during last week.

Harwood L. Wright is having his house painted in attractive colorings.

Donald M. Cameron has been making various repairs on the house [63 Main St.] owned by him next to the academy, and now intends painting the buildings. This estate has been in the hands of real estate dealers for some time and varied rumors of a sale are reported at different times, but with no authentic confirmation at the present time.

Miss Beatrice and Miss Lillian Sutherland were guests last week of the Misses Woods at their home in Groton, and enjoyed with them the high school play, “The Kentucky belle.”

An especially fine set of views of scenes in and about Rome is on exhibition at the library, loaned by the Library Art club and quite worthy of anyone’s perusal.

Mrs. David Wallace was a visitor in Lunenburg last Saturday and Sunday, and attended church on Sunday morning where Mr. Wallace formerly preached, returning to Westford on Sunday afternoon to have charge of her young people’s meeting on Sunday evening. Under Mrs. Wallace’s guidance these meetings have been most successful and helpful.

Mrs. Dexter Coggshall assumed charge of the school this week that Miss Burnham recently resigned from.

The last meeting of the Tadmuck club, which will be the annual social, will take place on next Tuesday evening at the Congregational church at eight o’clock. This will be guest night, each member having the privilege of inviting one guest, tickets for which are being distributed this week. A reader from Lowell has been engaged and music is being arranged for. Refreshments will be served and in the hands of the very capable committee in charge promises to be one of the pleasant spring time events that it has been for a number of seasons.

A telephone has been installed this past week at the residence of Mrs. A. S. Wright, 7-11.

The Edward M. Abbot hose company held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday evening. A number of hydrants in the village were tested by the men. Afterward adjournment was made to the company’s headquarters on Boston road, and the annual business meeting took place with election of officers as follows: Leonard W. Wheeler, capt.; S. B. Watson, 1st lieut.; William L. Woods, 2d lieut.; Arthur G. Hildreth, sec.; Aaron Tuttle, treas.; Peter Clement, stew.; Alec Fisher, Oscar R. Spalding, J. H. Fletcher, ex.com.

The regular meeting of the grange took place at the town hall on Thursday evening of last week with good attendance. E. A. Chapman, state overseer, was present and was the speaker of the evening, giving an excellent address on “Opportunity.” Besides being a genial and capable speaker, Mr. Chapman is an excellent singer, and his solos were most enjoyable. Miss Ruth Furbush supplemented the program with some skillful piano solos, and Mrs. Alvin Nelson recited “The squire’s pledge” with excellent effect. The next meeting, May 16, will be patriotic night, in charge of Mrs. Josie Prescott and an excellent program is being arranged.

Mrs. Mary E. Fletcher, who is in the care of her physician and a trained nurse, is reported as a little more comfortable.

A very [good] set of song books has been purchased for use on Sunday evenings at the Congregational church, under the direction of H. G. Osgood, chorister. They promise well for the musical part of the meetings.

Miss Miranda G. Luce’s many friends are sorry to learn that she is on the sick list.

A very pleasant meeting of the Thimble club was held at the home of Mrs. Charles L. Hildreth on Boston road Tuesday afternoon.

Mrs. Andrew S. Wright is seriously ill at her home in the care of physician and trained nurse.

Mrs. L. W. Wheeler entertained the group of out-of-town teachers at her home last week Thursday. Miss Winnifred Burnham, who has since left town to take charge of her new appointment in one of the Salem schools, was the guest of honor. Needlework, sociability and a luncheon made the time pass pleasantly. Miss Burnham was the recipient of a number of pleasant invitations to teas and dinners during the last of her stay in Westford in evidence of her well-deserved popularity.

Mrs. Wayland Balch remains very ill at her home on Boston road.

About Town. The annual meeting of the Westford Athletic association for the election of officers and other business was held at the town hall last week Wednesday evening when the following officers were elected: Edward Fisher, pres.; Charles M. Trull, v.p.; Oscar R. Spalding, Alfred W. Hartford, Edward A. Hamlin, Walter J. Merritt and Edward Hanley, board of dir. The schedule of games will commence on June 15, and extend into September. The local team will be strengthened by the addition of several strong players in town who played with the Chelmsfords last year. Frank and William Sullivan will compose the battery. James Sullivan and the Blaisdell boys will also play with the Westford team. They are all Westford boys, but played with the Chelmsford team last season.

An all-summer job has been awarded to the Fletcher-Lahey Company on Oak hill. The contract is on the Contoocook river at Masthead, N.H. The company’s part of the contract will include building a pier on each side of the river, which is 234 feet wide, and a tower, which will contain 3000 yards of stone set on a concrete foundation, and a concrete pier in the middle of the river which will take 250 yards. The machinery for this work has already arrived, which includes five engines, clam diggers, hoisting engines and a concrete mixer. Peter, George and Eric Johnson and Frank McGlinchy will charge the latter as engineer. The Oak hill combination of capital and push are building results in so many different directions that they have established a national reputation.

Mrs. Hill is seriously ill at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Herbert E. Fletcher, on Oak hill. Dr. Wells is in attendance, which makes the case hopeful.

Rev. Seth Walker, the eloquent Advent preacher, is now living in Stoneham. His sister, Miss Belle Walker, recently visited him at his new field of labor.

Dr. Edward C. Atwood, of Daytona, Fla., for so many years a resident of Westford, has sold his real estate and business where he has been living during the recent years.

Supt. Harold H. Fletcher, who is always up to something to give recreation to the stone cutters on Oak hill, has made arrangements with Shugrue Bros., the lessees of Forge park, to have ball games every day at the noon hour.

Robert J. Bell, of Westford Corner, was elected a delegate to represent the Chelmsford branch of stone cutters at the international convention at Quincy. This was the first international convention in thirty-two years. Delegates were present from all parts of North and South America, Canada and British Columbia. Mr. Bell had the distinction of serving on the committee on resolutions and the revising committee. Mr. Bell learned his trade in Quincy, and his recent visit proved to be a reunion of many old associates. Mr. Bell was selected by his fellow workmen at the Oak hill quarry for his large experience in matters pertaining to the stone cutters union.

William J. Donnelly, of Westford Corner, has been ill with pneumonia, but their advance was checked by Dr. F. E. Varney.

Mr. Pierce, the new superintendent of the Nabnassett farm, is ill with pneumonia.

Thomas Flynn, whose home is on Pigeon hill on Stony Brook road, was a recent visitor in town. At present he holds an important position in Tewksbury.

Wallace Watts, a former machinist at Moors’ mill, has been visiting friends at Brookside. He holds a similar position at Clinton.

Morick Perkins, of Paxton, whose father was formerly superintendent of the Nabnassett farm, has been visiting his former schoolmates of the Nabnassett school.

J. Henry Decatur, of Springfield, has been visiting his former neighbors on the Stony Brook road.

Seth W. Banister, one of the progressive, bright students of Amherst Agricultural college, spent a few days last week at his home, “The Banister.” He is always industrious at home or at school.

Charles W. Whitney, on the Lowell road, has wired off a portion of his farm for that young, promising racing colt of the 2:30 ½ class.

Mrs. Homer M. Seavey and Charles O. Prescott will represent the Unitarian society at the annual meeting of the American Unitarian society to be held in Boston, commencing the week of May 20.

Master Morton Seavey rendered a very fine solo at the Unitarian church last Sunday. This was his first public appearance in song, and for his youth it was a pleasing effort.

The usual Memorial day exercises will be held at the Unitarian church on Sunday, May 26. The address will be given by Rev. Lyman B. Weeks. There will be a union service of all the churches in town.

Death. Dr. Nettie Maria Stevens, associate in experimental morphology at Bryn Mawr college, died on last Saturday at the John [sic] Hopkins hospital, Baltimore, after a short illness, the result of a fall, at the age of fifty-one years. She was one of the most eminent morphologists in this country and by her research and her many scientific articles published in American and German biological journals has made her name known both here and abroad. She took her undergraduate course at Leland Standford [sic] university. She received her B.A. in 1899, and M.A. in 1900.

Nettie Stevens, as she was ever familiarly known to Westford people, was born in Cavendish, Vt. After the death of her mother, her father, Ephraim A. Stevens, moved to Westford, his native town, where the family resided for many years, being part of the active life of the town in all helpful directions. Nettie, as she was called, received her early education in the public schools of the town, where she displayed quite early an exceptional ability in her studies. After leaving the public schools she entered Westford academy, where she displayed the same, clear visioned aptitude, and after graduating in 1880, became assistant teacher from 1885 to 1892. She was a graduate of Westfield Normal school, taking the four-years course in two years, which the principal said: “Only a genius can do.”

The funeral took place from the Unitarian church on Wednesday afternoon, the church where the family were constant attendants. Rev. J. S. Moulton, a long time friend of the family, and former minister of the church, conducted the services. Aside from the usual religious message, he read with much feeling several appropriate poems. He referred to his early ministry of this church, and his home in the Stevens family where Nettie adorned herself and home with those peaceful, studious ways that made home and life dignified without being over serious. He referred to his connection with the schools of the town, where she was a scholar and teacher, and his securing for her the first appointment as high school teacher in New Hampshire. As parishioner she was loyal to the faith in contribution and attendance, and in Sunday school as scholar and teacher.

In closing he introduced Dr. Warren, of Bryn Mawr college, who gave a brief review of her connection with the college. After graduating from Leland Standford university she came direct to Bryn Mawr college. After being there six months, she did such brilliant work that she [was] given a fellowship to study abroad in research work. This she improved with such efficiency that after returning and resuming teaching for a time, she was given a second fellowship to study abroad in Italy and other places. This research study enabled her to be classed as one of the most efficient instructors in her profession. As a result she received several flattering invitations to address various library societies. Dr. Warren considered her a genius that Bryn Mawr would not easily replace.

As plain Nettie Stevens, she made rapid advances in the various degrees of scholarship, until her ripened scholarship acquired the title of Dr. Nettie Maria Stevens from Bryn Mawr college.

Her schoolmates and friends were well represented at the funeral and the remembrance of her life in Westford wreathed her casket with flowers.

She leaves her aged father, Ephraim A. Stevens, and a sister, Emma in California, besides relatives in Vermont and Westford. Albert E. Prescott, of Boston, a long-time friend of the family, sang an appropriate solo, with Miss Grace Lumbert presiding at the organ. The bearers were Donald Cameron, Oscar R. Spalding, Leonard W. Wheeler, William R. Taylor, who were associated with her at Westford academy. Burial was at Fairview cemetery.

Forge Village. James O’Hara is now employed in the mill of the Abbot Worsted Co.

Mr. and Mrs. Aimee Boucher and family left for Canada on Tuesday evening, where they will reside in the future. A reception was given them in Abbot hall on Sunday evening.

The Ladies’ Sewing circle held their regular meeting in Recreation hall on Thursday afternoon. The ladies are now preparing to hold their annual fair and sale in the near future.

The members of St. Catherine’s choir, West Graniteville, composed of many of our village young people, are holding rehearsals in Abbot hall for the operetta “Sylvia,” which they are to present here this month. This cast is extra good and the music is certainly catchy. Miss Lillian Moran, of Graniteville; Miss Margaret McCoy, of North Chelmsford; James Byrnes, of this village, and Robert McCarthy, of Graniteville, have the principal roles.

Charles Flanagan has been in Boston this week on business.

The Misses Theresa Lowther, Rachael Cherry, Annie Cherry and May Cherry were present at the Girls’ Friendly society conference, which was held in St. John’s church, Lowell, on Saturday afternoon.

Willis H. Holt, of Lowell, who owns Pickerel Point on the shores of Forge pond, distributed some 600,000 white perch at the different shores of the pond last Tuesday. These fish will reach maturity in about three years. Mr. Holt also distributed some large perch last November, and asks that any fisherman catching these, kindly replace [them] in the water, in order that all fish may be given an opportunity to reach full growth. The fish just distributed were shipped from Maryland, where the United States fish hatchery is located. U.S. Fish Commissioner Hoytt had the fish in charge.

James Sullivan, chief engineer for the Abbot Worsted Company, is now enjoying a well-earned rest at this home on Pleasant street. Mr. Sullivan will spend the next six months in taking pleasure trips and in having a general vacation.

The young ladies of St. Andrew’s mission spent a most pleasant evening in Recreation hall on Monday evening with Mrs. Endicott Peabody and Mrs. Cross, both of Groton. Mrs. Peabody is the wife of the vicar of the parish, Rev. Endicott Peabody.

Mr. Griswold, master at Groton School, will lecture on his trip to Constantinople on May 15, in the chapel. His lectures are always very interesting and it is hoped that a large number will take advantage of this opportunity to hear him.

The Misses Laura Sykes and Catherine Lowther sailed this week from Boston on the S.S. Arabic of the White Star line for Yorkshire, England, where they will in the future make their home.

Measles is still very prevalent here, many new cases being added to the long list of sufferers.

A daughter was born on Wednesday to Mr. and Mrs. James Whigham, of Orchard street.

Graniteville. The A. R. Choate hose company held their regular meeting in Healy’s hall on Monday night with a full attendance. During the meeting the following officers were duly elected for the ensuing year: J. A. Healy, capt.; Alfred Prinn, 1st lieut.; Edward Defoe, 2nd lieut.; J. Austin Healy, stew.; Henry J. Healy, treas.; Alfred Prinn, clerk; Frank Healy, member of standing com. After the meeting a social hour was enjoyed.

The members of the M.E. church are looking forward with interest to the reception to be tendered their new pastor, Rev. Hugh Layton, that will take place in the church on this Saturday evening. One of the pleasant features will be the fine musical program that has been arranged.

Thomas J. Healy, who had his left leg severed in a railroad accident at Ayer, and who has been confined to the Burbank hospital in Fitchburg for the past few weeks, has returned to his home in this village. He came home in an auto last Tuesday.

Both masses were celebrated in St. Catherine’s church on Sunday morning by Rev. M. E. Doherty. The first mass was made impressive by the large number of Sunday school children who received holy communion in a body. During this mass Mr. Doherty delivered a short, instructive sermon to the children.

Baseball. The Graniteville White Sox and the Westford Red Sox, of the Suburban league, played a very interesting game of baseball on the local grounds last Saturday afternoon, that resulted in a victory for the local team by the score of 6 to 4. Both clubs made numerous errors, as would be expected with youngsters, but the game was hotly contested throughout, and although the Westford boys outbatted the White Sox, McCarthy kept the hits well scattered, and the Red Sox failed to score through slow work on the bases. The playing was done principally by the infield on both sides, as there [was] not a fly caught in the outfield by either club, and only one assist, and that came in the final play of the game. DeRoehn, who pitched for the Red Sox, did good work, for aside from the many bases on balls given he struck out eleven of the White Sox.

Hildreth led with the stick, getting three hits with a total of four, and scoring two of the four runs made by the Red Sox. Silas also batted and fielded well. For the home team the Gagnon brothers, Fred and George, were in the game every minute. Healy put a good game at first, while Buckingham’s line throw to the plate really saved the game in the ninth inning. The battery work of McCarthy and Pracknack was steady throughout.

The regular Graniteville team visited East Pepperell on last Saturday afternoon and defeated the strong Riverside A.C. baseball club by the interesting score of 10 to 7. Ladd, the husky heaver from Hollis, N.H., who was one of the possibilities of the Lowell New England league early this season, was on the mound for the East Pepperell club, but the Graniteville club found no difficulty in solving his delivery with the result as stated above. The Spinner brothers, Jack and Dick, did the battery work for Graniteville.

Saturday, May 18, 1912

Center. Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Watson have recently returned from Newberne, N.C., where they have been spending the winter at Mr. Watson’s parental home. The latter part of their stay was saddened by the death of Mr. Watson’s father, who had been ill for a long time.

Miss Catherine Jenks and Mrs. Robert H. Cooper, of Brooklyn, N.Y., have been guests this last week at the Congregational parsonage. These ladies, who are twin sisters, were former parishioners of Mr. Wallace at Presque Isle, Me. Mrs. Cooper has recently met with a sad bereavement in the death of her only child, a little eight-year-old daughter.

Harrison B. Hall has sold his place to a Mr. Warren, of Lowell. Mr. Hall expects to return to California as soon as he can settle up his affairs here. Mr. and Mrs. Warren do not expect to move into their new home until fall.

Mrs. Janet Agnew, whose death [May 12, 1912] and funeral took place in Graniteville last week, had been a member of the Union Congregational church for the last forty-five years.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Hildreth and son Roger were over Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hildreth at Winchester this week.

Mrs. Homer M. Seavey has been entertaining her mother and aunt, Mrs. Mary E. Mitchell and Miss Sarah Pear, of Cambridge, as guests this last week.

Miss Alice Howard, who has been having a vacation from her library duties at Cotuit, has been spending a part of the time with her brother, Charles Howard, and family, at Concord, N.H.

The last social in the monthly series for the season will take place at the Congregational church on Friday evening of next week. This will be in charge of the Sunday school officers and scholars, and will be the “electric light social.” A good time is assured and a hearty co-operation is hoped for.

Mr. and Mrs. Bright, who have been spending a month with Mr. and Mrs. John Wright, returned to their home in South Royalton, Vt., this week.

Mrs. H. V. Hildreth was hostess to the Thimble club on Wednesday afternoon of this week. There was a full attendance of the members and it was pleasant to have Mrs. G. W. Goode, who has been spending the winter in New York, present. Mr. and Mrs. Goode have returned to their camp at Forge pond for the season. Miss Mary R. Rayne is also staying at her nearby camp for necessary recuperation in health. Miss Raynes has relinquished her supervision of music in the Westford schools and Miss Brenan, of Lowell, is taking her place.

Mrs. Andrew S. Wright is very critically sick at her home. Dr. McClusky, of Worcester, was at her home for half a day on Tuesday of this week.

The Ladies’ Missionary society met with the Misses Atwood on Wednesday afternoon.

The N.E.T.&T. Co., of Lowell, have workmen busy installing the switchboard and apparatus for the new central exchange, which is to be located in the east end of Miss Mary Moran’s house [58 Main St.], opposite the town hall. Mrs. Phonsie Isles is to be the operator and other assistants are to be arranged for by the company. It is expected the new system will be in operation June first. Some of the subscribers regret the passing of the automatic system, but the new system has proven more satisfactory in towns where it has replaced the automatic arrangement.

Whitney park and playground must begin to justify its ideal in the minds of its donor and the landscape gardener who planned it. The weather conditions have proved just right in bringing out the beauty of lawns and shrubbery, and workmen have been busy with walks and driveways. It is indeed proving one of the town’s beauty spots and recreation places that it was planned for.

Tadmuck Club. The seventh annual club social, or guest night, took place on Tuesday evening of this week at the congregational church under very pleasant conditions. A beautiful spring evening and all the plans for the evening being most smoothly carried out were contributing causes toward the successful evening.

At the beginning of the program Mrs. Loker, the president, made a graceful speech in which the club’s place in the community life fully justified itself. The entertainers for the evening were Mrs. Lillian O’Brien Scannell, of Lowell, reader; Walter and Ruel Lougee, of Ayer, violin and violincello, and Miss Bessie Hadley, of Lowell, accompanist; also, Mrs. Lahey, of Lowell, contralto soloist. These artists presented a delightful program, all the various numbers being of excellent merit.

This was Mrs. Scannell’s first appearance before a Westford audience as a reader, and many were heard to express the opinion that they hoped it might not be the last. Her selections were well chosen and charmingly rendered. Mrs. Lahey possesses a voice of rich, vibrant quality, and her solos were much enjoyed. The Lougee brothers, of Ayer, have been heard here before, but never to better advantage than on Tuesday evening. Miss Hadley is a skillful pianist, and the work of the trio was thoroughly appreciated.

At the close of the entertainment the audience adjourned to the vestries and cake, ice cream and coffee was served to the guests and a social hour enjoyed. The decorations were exceedingly pretty. Across the platform in the auditorium were jardinières of apple blossoms, and other spring flowers were used on the platform. The serving table in the supper room had clusters of carnations and last, but not least, the new electric lights did their full share throughout the building to make things cheerful. Miss Edith Foster had charge of all arrangements, and was ably assisted by Miss Gertrude D. Fletcher, Mrs. John Feeney, Miss Ella F. Hildreth, Miss Mary E. Moran and Miss Martha L. Grant; also, a group of ladies who assisted in serving.

Gave a Fine Sermon. Members of Westford grange were specially invited guests at the service of the Congregational church last Sunday morning. Besides those who regularly attend, there were additional members in attendance. Mr. Wallace preached a careful and thoughtful sermon on “The saving forces of a country community.” In part he said: “No country community can be said to be organized on a progressive Christian basis which does not possess at least five institutions—the home, the church, the farm, the school and the fraternal union. The nearer these institutions approximate their ideals the nearer the community will approach its large and grander ideal. And as institutions are only aggregations of individuals their character and efficiency must depend upon the kind of men and women behind them. Give them your best in manhood and devotion that they may be strong and effective in meeting the community needs.”

In the evening the C.E. meeting and second service were combined in the monthly union service. The topic for the meeting was “The value of the initiative.” W. Otis Day was leader. The subject was well sustained and the meeting was an interesting one.

About Town. Mr. and Mrs. Mervin Steele celebrated the twentieth anniversary of their marriage at their cosy [sic] home on the Lowell road, near Westford station, recently. It was open hospitality to friends and neighbors, who responded liberally in numbers. It was a lively exchange of happy greetings and it taxed the cosy cottage in its seating. The occasion will long be remembered from the viewpoint of Steele and others who planned out the deal.

Rev. Lyman B. Weeks, minister of the Unitarian church, has been engaged by the veterans to give the address on Decoration day at the town hall. Although it is twenty years since he left the Methodist ministry, he has lost none of the old-time zeal and enthusiasm of the Methodists. The veterans and friends are safe in expecting an eloquent address on the principles involved in Decoration day.

Thomas Flynn, one of the Stony Brook boys, recently reported as having a position at Tewksbury, has a larger position than friends expected after working in Boston and New York, where they were reluctant to let him go. He took civil service examinations and took a high rank and then the state took him and gave him the position of superintendent of the office of the state almshouse at Tewksbury with a larger salary than raising potatoes in the Stony Brook valley. He was a former scholar at the Stony Brook school and afterwards graduated from our old historic Westford academy. His schoolmates and friends congratulate him on his peaceful uprising.

The cement and concrete work on the railroad bridge that spans the Stony Brook highway is now finished and is awaiting its drying out process these wet days. All trains now come to a slow up to be safe, as the old bridge rests only on wooden posts since changes are taking place.

C. R. P. Decatur, who has been in failing health for a long time, has recently become less hopeful. A consultation of doctors was held Sunday and as far as known the consultation gave no hopes of recovery.

The registrars met at the town hall last week Friday evening to recount the votes of delegates at large. Twelve votes for Taft were thrown out by the usual error of voting for nine. The recount gives Taft 84, Roosevelt 52, Delegates at large, Crance 78, Baxter 53.

Charles H. Whitney finished planting two acres of sweet corn last Tuesday. He intends supplying Forge Village, Graniteville, Brookside, West Chelmsford, North Chelmsford and Lowell with all the sweet corn required as he has more acres to plant.

Rev. Lyman B. Weeks will speak in the Long-Sought-For chapel on the Groton road, on Sunday afternoon at three o’clock. If the weather should prove stormy the meeting will be omitted.

Rev. Seth Walker and family are enjoying the many advantages of old-time rural life at the old Walker homestead, where the doors always have a generous open swing of home life.

Oliver Desjardins, on the Stony Brook road, Pigeon hill division, has sold all his tenement property located in “Little Canada,” Lowell.

Mrs. Mary A. (Sherburne) Walker, of Groton, widow of Leonard A. E. Walker, was a guest of the Walker family several days last week, and was present at church on Sunday.

The Donnelly family, who have been living several years on Nabnassett street, Westford Corner, have moved to Snow street, West Chelmsford.

Mrs. Janet Agnew, whose funeral took place on Sunday at Graniteville, was for several years a resident of Westford and the nearest neighbor to the writer, living on the farm now owned by Amos Polley. As neighbor she was neighborly, generous and good natured. The evening visits and the out-door “hide and seek” of the children were after the social life of New England before club and fraternal life had caused it to become nearly obsolete. Her cheerful, hopeful nature was one of the strong traits of her busy, helpful life.

A combination of Westford academy and the Frost school will play a team from Chelmsford Center this afternoon at Whitney park.

Forge Village. Mrs. Charles Blodgett and daughter Florence, Mrs. Chester Blodgett and Mrs. William Blodgett, of the Ridges, were entertained at Mrs. Johnson’s camp at Knopp’s pond [Groton] last week. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are from Lowell, but have recently opened their camp for the season.

Fred Longbottom, of Arlington Heights, passed through the village on Sunday on his new motor cycle.

Thomas May, of Bradford street, has returned from a visit at his sister’s home in New York city.

Mrs. Michael Keefe, of Townsend Harbor, visited at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Carmichael over Sunday.

Julian Cameron entertained a party of friends at his summer home on Essex Island last Saturday and Sunday. The party was composed of Edward T. Hanley, James Sullivan, Elmer E. Nutting, John Carmichael and Fred A. Sweatt, and made the trip in Mr. Cameron’s automobile.

John Spinner is still very ill at his home on Pleasant street. He was operated on this week by Dr. G. Forrest Martin, of Lowell, assisted by Dr. C. A. Blaney, of Westford, the attending physician. His many friends hope for a complete recovery, although at present he is in a very critical condition.

Mrs. Mary I. Drake is at present the guest of relatives in Worcester.

Mrs. John Jones, of Worcester, is in care of Mrs. James Whigham, who is ill at her home on Orchard street.

The F.V.A.C. held a social dancing party in Abbot hall on last week Friday evening. The Colonial orchestra, of Lowell, furnished music for dancing which was enjoyed till a late hour.

On Friday evening, May 24, in Abbot hall, the operetta “Sylvia” will be presented for the first time here by the members of the choir of St. Catherine’s church, West Graniteville, under the direction of M. Murphy, of Lowell. Rev. M. E. Doherty, of North Chelmsford, will have general charge of the affair. Both Mr. Murphy and Mr. Doherty have worked untiringly and earnestly in order that the affair might be a success, and it is hoped that a large number will be present and help a good cause along. The chorus is composed of about fifty voices and the solo work is extremely fine. A full dress rehearsal, with orchestra, will be held in Abbot hall on Sunday evening.

On Wednesday afternoon, May 29, the annual Memorial day exercises will be held in Abbot hall. The program is of unusual interest this year. Among others is a flag drill composed of members of the grammar grade. A cordial invitation is extended to the public to attend.

Mr. Griswold, one of the masters of Groton school, gave a most interesting and instructive stereopticon lecture on his visit to Constantinople in Recreation hall on Wednesday evening. A fine assortment of pictures was thrown on the screen and the lecture was well worth attending. The Ladies’ Sewing Circle served ice cream and cake during the evening. The proceeds of the affair will be used for the benefit of St. Andrew’s mission.

Graniteville. In St. Catherine’s church on Sunday morning both masses were celebrated by the pastor, Rev. Edmund T. Schofield.

Mrs. T. A. Riney, with her three children, who have been visiting in this village for the past few weeks, left here on last Saturday morning for their home in Camden, N.J. They were accompanied by Mrs. Hannah Harrington and her father, T. D. Riney.

The Graniteville baseball club met and defeated the strong Tyngsboro club on the home grounds here last Saturday in a game marked with heavy batting by the home team. The score was 9 to 3.

The White Sox baseball club defeated the Y.M.C.A. Indians of the Suburban league on the Aiken street grounds in Lowell on Saturday afternoon by the score of 12 to 9. The White Sox will play the Beacons on the home grounds here on Saturday, May 18. The regular Graniteville team will play out-of-town on this Saturday.

Death. Mrs. Janet Agnew, an old and highly respected resident of this village, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Joseph Wall, on Friday night, May 10, aged 80 years and 5 days. The deceased was well and favorably known and beside her daughter, Mrs. Wall, she leaves one son, John Agnew, of West Chelmsford, and numerous relatives in Westford, West Chelmsford, Lowell, Fitchburg and Nashua, N.H.

The funeral took place from her late home at one o’clock on Sunday afternoon and was largely attended, many being present from out-of-town. The services that were held at the house were conducted by Rev. David Wallace, of the Congregational church, Westford, who spoke words of great consolation to the bereaved family. The singing was by Mrs. Clara Greig and Mrs. C. W. Wright, who rendered very effectively “One sweetly, solemn thought,” and “The christian’s good night.” There were many beautiful flowers which testified in a marked degree to the high esteem in which the deceased was held. The bearers were John, William, Frank and George Espie, of Fitchburg, cousins of the deceased.

Burial was in the Lowell cemetery, Lowell.

Tendered a Reception. The parishioners of the M.E. church tendered a reception to their new pastor, Rev. Hugh Layton, in the church vestry on last Saturday evening, the affair being largely attended. The message of greeting was delivered in a neat speech by W. O. Hawkes, superintendent of the Sunday school, on behalf of the parishioners. The reception, which came in the nature of a little surprise to Mr. Layton, followed the Epworth league meeting, but notwithstanding this fact Mr. Layton readily responded to Mr. Hawkes well chosen remarks.

The reception committee that consisted of the presidents of the different church societies, with Mr. Layton, then formed a reception line, and with Mr. Hawkes acting as master of ceremonies, the parishioners went forward and had an opportunity of formally meeting their new pastor. Refreshments were then served by the members of the Ladies’ Aid society, after which a very pleasing entertainment was given under the direction of Henry Smith.

This part of the evening’s festivities proved to be highly pleasing, for aside from the excellent vocal and instrumental numbers given, each selection was interspersed with short stories of a humorous nature, which had the effect of producing a broad smile on every face, which as a natural consequence always occurs when the best of feeling prevails. Mr. Smith received the first prize, which was an extra portion of ice cream, not only for the best story, but for his efforts in getting up such a successful entertainment. Although all the stories were good and delivered in excellent style, special mention should be made of the old time campfire tales as given by the two G.A.R. veterans, W. O. Hawkes and J. Everett Woods. “Hawkes” and “Woods” made quite a happy combination, and their personal reminiscences of the civil war was equally pleasing. The whole affair was a great social success and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Following is the program of entertainment: Piano solo, A. L. Day; medley, all singers; quartet, “Sweetest story,” Alice Gilson, Mildred Lorman, W. DeRoehn, G. Wilson; duet, “Little brown church,” Misses B. Wilson and Madeline Holland; duet, “Climb up children,” Misses B. Wilson and Emily Prinn; quintet, “Little Tommy,” H. Smith, W. DeRoehn, G. Wilson, Alice May Gilson, Bertha Wilson; solo and chorus, “Mother’s hymn,” M. Smith; piano solo, George Wilson; appeal to judges as to prize.

Saturday, May 25, 1912

Center. Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Wright of Quincy were week-end visitors at H. L. Wright’s this last week.

Miss Pauline Dole of Boston has been renewing former associations in Westford this week.

The apparatus for out-of-doors basketball has been set up back of the academy this last week.

The tent given to the Boy Scouts by the Tadmuck club has been purchased by Mr. Coggeshall and will have its initial use on an outing this Saturday.

John M. Fletcher is among those who are having their buildings nicely renovated with fresh painting.

Mrs. Homer M. Seavey has been attending the anniversary week meetings in Boston and at the same time visiting with her mother at the latter’s Cambridge home. Mrs. Ida M. Gould has been superintending Mrs. Seavey’s home during her absence.

The time-honored observance of Memorial day will be carried out on much the same lines as in previous years. The graves of departed comrades will be decorated by the veterans on Sunday. Memorial day the Nashua band will be in attendance at the exercises at the hall and later give a concert in the afternoon. Rev. Lyman B. Weeks will give the address and the Grace Universalist quartet of Lowell will sing. Dinner will be served at noon to the veterans and their wives, the members of the band and the singers and other invited guest for the day.

There will be no service at the Congregational church Sunday morning. All will participate in the union service at the Unitarian church. There will be the usual services Sunday evening.

The cottage [at 9 Depot St.] which Mr. and Mrs. Will R. Carver recently purchased and are remodeling into a summer home is taking on a most attractive and transformed appearance. A wide piazza has been added across the front and one side of the house. Indoors by the tearing out of a partition a large living room has been made also a bath and many other changes and improvements have been added. This work has been in the care of P. Henry Harrington. Outside the grounds are being graded and made attractive and the grove and land at the east of the house which under a recent ownership was a cluttered and unsightly place has been thoroughly cleared up. This outside work has been in charge of John A. Healey.

Oscar R. Spaulding [Spalding] is soon to begin work on the house owned by him next [to] his own home [1 Leland Rd.]. This is to be extensively and completely remodeled for the accommodation of two families.

The Westford friends of Mrs. William Atwood will be sorry to hear of the serious accident which recently happened to her at her home in Daytona, Fla. While doing some ironing with an iron heated by gasoline an explosion took place and Mrs. Atwood was seriously burned about the hands, head and face. That her life was saved was probably owing to the fact that Mr. Atwood was nearby to render assistance and that he was able in turn to get his brother, Dr. Edward Atwood, without delay to care for her.

A recent improvement under the direction of the town fathers is the setting of new posts and iron rods at the sides and rear of the town house to fasten horses to.

While the average member relaxes from club activities for the summer the officers and executive board of the Tadmuck club are busy with meetings preparing a program for another season. These meetings thus far have been held at the home of Mrs. H. V. Hildreth.

Mrs. Arthur E. Day and son Norman have been on the sick list and under the doctor’s care with serious colds.

Grange. The last meeting of Westford grange was Patriotic night and was in charge of Mrs. Josephine Prescott. An excellent program had been planned and was well carried out the only drawback being that owing to the extremely rainy night the veterans who were the special guests of honor were unable to be present.

After the business session the meeting was an open one and the Graniteville male quartet were present and gave various patriotic selections with excellent effect. The members of this quartet are Henry Smith, Alvin Nelson, Horace Counter [Caunter] and Robert MacCarthy. There were readings by Mrs. Perley Wright and Mrs. Alvin Nelson and song by Miss Rachael Wall; also, a patriotic tableaux with Mrs. Perley Wright as goddess of liberty and Walter and Austin Fletcher as soldier boys. There was singing by John S. Greig and Rev. David Wallace gave an address on “Patriotism in times of peace.” A unique flag exercise completed the program.

The next meeting June 6 will be children’s night in charge of Mrs. S. B. Wright.

Obituary. Mrs. Andrew S. Wright passed away early Wednesday evening of this week after a somewhat prolonged illness. Death was due to Bright’s disease.

Mary Abby Garvin was born in Portland, Me., on September 16, 1833, the daughter of James and Abigail Kimball Garvin. When she was three years old her parents removed to East Boston, where her childhood and girlhood were spent. April 4, 1861, she was united in marriage to Andrew Stevens Wright. The earlier years of her married life were spent in Chelsea and in Charlestown, when she came with her husband to Westford, making her home with Mr. Wright’s aged parents and an uncle until their death. Later for many years she cared for her own mother until she died at the advanced age of 102 years. When speaking in a reminiscent way, Mrs. Wright often said her life work had been the care of old people.

On May 6, 1877, Mrs. Wright united with the Union Congregational church and has always been a loyal and devoted member to its best welfare and interests. She was always keenly interested in the temperance and missionary cause, and all worthy objects of sympathy and interest found a responsive interest with Mrs. Wright.

Mrs. Wright is survived by an only brother and a number of nephews and nieces. One of these, Mrs. Etta Garvin Lewis, has made her home with Mrs. Wright for some time, and she has given to her in every way a daughterly companionship and care.

About Town. Rev. Seth Walker, the eloquent Advent preacher, has been transferred by authority of the Advent church to New Bedford. As one of our Stony Brook scholars and native of Westford we are all glad to learn of his assignment to a field of labor that more properly measures his ability.

The new steel bridge, which has been planned for nearly a year on the Stony Brook railroad over Stony Brook highway, was laid on Sunday by the New England Construction Company. Every laborer fitted his part and every part fitted the bridge as planned and train service proceeded on the old bridge and the new bridge without being called upon to wait longer than the usual “slow up” safety signals. A large number of laborers and loafers took part in laying the new bridge. It is a substantial structure, but complaint is made that it is too low for space for all kinds of travel to pass under and every time a new bridge is built space room grows less.

A fire started on Tuesday evening on woodland owned by Amos Polly on the old back road leading to Plain road. Owing to damp surroundings it was easily subdued by a fire extinguisher and three shovels, backed by a thunder and lightning shower at the close of the fighting. The conditions were all unfavorable for a large fire. Had the conditions been otherwise a large fire could not have been avoided with the whole heavily wooded plains before it and the evening before it. As it was the fire seemed to be better satisfied to go out than to proceed with odds of a damp and unfavorable nature.

Union Memorial services will be held at the Unitarian church on Sunday, which will include the Methodist and Orthodox churches. As usual the veterans will be escorted to the church. The musical part of the exercises will be given by the united choirs of the three churches. The sermon will be given by Rev. Lyman B. Weeks, and the subject will be on “Memories of liberty.”

John J. Walker, of Natick one of the old-time scholars of the Stony Brook school, was in town on Sunday on a visit to his brother and his sister, Charles E. and Miss Belle Walker, who keep the old Walker homestead on Main street well preserved.

Fruit culture is being run on modern methods at the Read farm [164 Main St.] and everything looks like prosperity. About 3500 fruit trees have been set out this spring [by the new owner, George A. Drew] and strawberries so plentiful that it makes the old farm look like a renewal of its old-time prosperity.

Forge Village. Miss Elizabeth Simpson, of Boston, is the guest of her aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth Splain.

Mrs. Arthur B. Parrott, who has been visiting Mr. and Mrs. Nester Parrott, of Lynn, returned home last week.

Mr. and Mrs. George Goode, of New York city, are making preparations for their summer season at their cottage on the banks of Forge pond.

Mrs. Flood, who has been a resident for many years, left last week for Michigan, where she is to make her home with her daughter.

Mrs. Lucretia Reed entertained her granddaughter and great-granddaughter, Mrs. Harry Ingalls and Miss Ingalls, at her home on Pleasant street over Sunday.

Mr. and Mrs. Archie Bennett, of Boston, were the guests at the home of Mrs. Harriett Randall on last Saturday and Sunday. They are to spend their vacation here this year.

Charles Eaton, of Graniteville, who some time ago purchased a lot of land from Joseph Bannister on Pine street, is planning to build a modern house the latter part of the summer.

On last Saturday, Dr. W. H. Sherman, of Graniteville, conveyed Mrs. Wilkinson, of Pine hill, to the Worcester State hospital, where she will be treated for a nervous trouble.

Percy Kilminster, of Howarth, England, is visiting at the home of his brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Naylor, of Pine hill.

Miss Isabel Carney and Mrs. Cross, of Groton, spent Monday evening as guests of the young ladies of St. Andrew’s mission in Recreation hall. The evening was spent in a most enjoyable manner, and everyone is looking forward for the next meeting.

Miss Grace Dacey and Thomas Mitchell, who arrived here from Keighley, England, last week, intend to reside here in the future.

Daniel Sullivan, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Sullivan, was stricken with appendicitis on last week Wednesday night. On consultation with different doctors, it became necessary to carry him to St. John’s hospital, Lowell, on Friday morning, where he was operated on for the above trouble. Latest reports from his bedside are to the effect that he is resting comfortably.

Cameron school will close on next Tuesday, it being Memorial day.

Mr. and Mrs. William Murphy, of Lowell, have opened their cottage for the season. They are at present entertaining a party of friends.

Miss L. V. Ward, principal of Cameron school, commenced work on the summer garden on Thursday afternoon. She had under her charge all the school children, who after getting the ground in order, sowed their seeds. The children will find this study of plants a most interesting one, and are indebted to Julian Cameron, of Abbot Worsted Company, for the use of the land.

Charles Dodge, of Lowell, is busy preparing to open his summer cottage at Forge pond.

Two large cottages have been built during the past few months by Arthur B. Parrott on the shore of the pond. Mr. Parrott received a contract recently to build another.

John Spinner, sr., is still in a very critical condition at his home on Pleasant street. Miss Morrison, a trained nurse, from the Lowell General hospital, is yet in attendance.

Judging from the beautiful appearance of the blossoming fruit trees this will surely be a banner year for apples and other fruits.

The fields and lawns present a fine appearance after the recent rains.

Many amateur farmers have been busy planting various seeds, and if the weather keeps near normal, all will have a good crop for their pains.

Graniteville. The White Sox and the Beacons, of Lowell, of the Suburban league, played an interesting game of baseball on the local grounds here last Saturday that was full of surprises. The White Sox finally won by the score of 11 to 7. The White Sox will play in North Chelmsford this Saturday.

On last Saturday the regular Graniteville team visited Ayer and defeated the strong Ayer A.A. club of that town by the decisive score of 10 to 2. On Saturday, May 25, the Graniteville club will play at home and will have for an attraction the strong Y.M.C.I. [sic], of Lowell for opponents. The Lowell club is considered to be the strongest semi-professional ball club in this section, and the local boys fully realizing that they have a big task on their hands will try hard to land a victory. Game is to be called at three o’clock.

In St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning, both masses were celebrated by Rev. M. E. Doherty, who delivered an eloquent sermon on “The power of prayer.” Mr. Doherty’s sermons are always listened to with deepest interest, but that of last Sunday appeared to be more keenly appreciated than all his previous efforts, and considering the fine discourses that have been delivered here by him in the past, this is saying a great deal. There were large congregations at both masses. The usual May devotions were held in St. Catherine’s church on last Wednesday evening.

Owing to the union Memorial services that will be held in the Unitarian church on Sunday morning, there will be no service in the M.E. church on Sunday morning. The regular evening service will be held at the usual hour.

F. G. Sullivan and R. J. Hemen, of Court Graniteville, F. of A., have recently returned from the annual Foresters’ convention that was held in North Adams.

Thieves at Work. Some time late Saturday night or early Sunday morning thieves broke into the house of John Mattson in West Graniteville, ransacking all the rooms on the lower floor and taking some five or six dollars that were found lying around loose, as well as a gold neck chain of Mrs. Mattson’s, and a gold ring that belonged to her daughter, Mrs. Robert Jones. The family who were asleep upstairs heard nothing as to what was going on beneath them and the first intimation they had of the break was when they came down in the morning and found the contents of bureau drawers scattered about the floor, and the rooms very much in disorder.

An investigation was made when it was found that the thief or thieves had searched anywhere and everywhere in their quest of money, even going so far as to try to open the baby’s bank, where Mrs. Jones’ little son, Robert, kept his pennies. As this bank had a combination lock and was very bulky in size, with little in it at the time, the thieves thought it best to leave it.

Entrance was made through a window that had been left unlocked, and although the sill is rather near the ground, an old wash boiler was used to stand on, which goes to show that the thief was rather short in size and wore a number fifteen collar. This latter deduction is made owing to the fact that the night prowler took a couple of Mr. Mattson’s freshly laundered collars before he left the house. The local constable, C. W. Brooks, has charge of the case and will keep a close watch that further trouble of this nature may be nipped in the bud in the future.

Aside from the above break, other losses have been reported here during the past few days, such as tools and dynamite being stolen from H. V. Hildreth’s quarry and numerous iron wedges taken from Thomas Rafferty’s quarry, all of the above places being in the vicinity of West Graniteville.

About Town. Miss Alma Decatur arrived from California on Wednesday evening on a special visit to her father, C. R. P. Decatur, who still remains seriously ill. Miss Alma is a trained nurse of large and successful experience and holds a responsible position in San Francisco. This large experience will prove itself in the home sickness.

Mark W. Jenkins, for many years the blacksmith at the old familiar Chamberlin’s corner, has given up his business and will devote all his time to small fruit and poultry farming, in which he has been a success. Should the old Chamberlin blacksmith shop become obsolete it will remove one of the old familiar memory marks of the town with a long and interesting history.

Rev. Lyman B. Weeks conducted an inspiring service at Long-Sought-for chapel last Sunday. Quite a few were present from out-of-town.