The Westford Wardsman, October, 1913
Saturday, October 4, 1913
Center. The annual barn dance, one of the opening social events of the season, will take place on Friday evening, October 10. This is under the auspices of Westford A.A., and Hibbard’s orchestra will furnish the music.
It will be the annual rally day service at the Congregational church on Sunday morning. Special music by the girls’ vested choir. Addresses by the pastor and others. Evening service as usual at seven o’clock, with address by the pastor.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin N. C. Barnes and little son Chaloner, of Brockton, have been spending a few days with Mrs. Homer M. Seavey. Mr. Barnes was formerly instructor of music in our schools.
Some recent new books at the J. V. Fletcher library are labeled: “Bought with the income of the John Osgood fund.” We understand this to be a condition of the bequest of $1000 which Mr. Osgood gave to the library as a memorial to what was formerly a prominent Westford family and which gives the library patrons an appreciative knowledge of the use of the income of the fund.
Miss Grace Bennett has been at the telephone exchange afternoons, learning to assist Mrs. Isles at the switchboard.
Mrs. A. W. Hartford’s many friends are glad to know she is convalescent from her recent illness.
Among our residents having fall house painting done are George T. Day, John P. Wright and John Feeney.
Miss Sarah W. Loker was in attendance at the Woman’s Board Missionary conference on Tuesday and reports a most attractive session.
Edmund Baker has had an interesting side enterprise at Whitney playground this season; that of gathering mushrooms. Mr. Baker is some connoisseur of these plants, thoroughly understanding the edible varieties, and has found ready market for all he could gather.
The Library Art club is having exhibited an especially fine set of views at the library of “Architecture in Italy.” These are large, clear views and among them are the world-famed Milan cathedral, St. Peter’s at Rome, St. Mark’s cathedral and Campanile at Florence.
Hon. Edward Fisher was in attendance at the Massachusetts State Firemen’s association last week Friday at New Bedford, and delivered an address on “Suggestions to firemen who are interested in procuring legislation.”
Mrs. Charles L. Hildreth entertained the Thimble club very pleasantly at her home last Saturday afternoon.
Mrs. H. V. Hildreth has been spending part of the week at Campello, and one day was in attendance at the Brockton fair.
At Prospect Hill farm, in filling the silo last week, some of the stalks of corn measured fifteen feet, which for this season is a good record. Will E. Wright displayed some fine King apples at J. Herbert Fletcher’s store, weighing fourteen ounces, raised at his farm.
The young people had a find afternoon for their tennis tournament last Saturday at Whitney playground. A large delegation of Littleton young people came over to participate and carried home most of the honors with them winning two out of the three sets which won the tournament. The fall rains have made the lawns and shrubbery at the playground like the emerald green of May, and it presents a beautiful appearance in the bright autumn sunshine.
W. M. Wright has stored his household goods and is boarding at Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Merritt’s.
The young people of the C.E. society held a supper and social last week Friday evening at the vestry under the direction of Mrs. Wallace. At this time they gave their annual offering for missions, amounting to about eight dollars. A very pleasant social evening is reported.
The opening meeting of the Tadmuck club will be held at Library hall on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. The meeting will be full of interest and the members should make it a point to attend. The programs for the year will be distributed and will be outlined by the president, Miss Loker, with the members, in connection with the opening address. The committee on federation appointed last season will be ready with their report and a very interested discussion of the subject is hoped for. This committee consists of Mrs. Goldsmith H. Conant, Mrs. Herbert V. Hildreth and Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher. Mrs. Clara Bancroft Beatley is expected to be the speaker of the afternoon.
The W.C.T.U. held a well attended meeting at Mrs. H. M. Seavey’s on Tuesday afternoon. There was the usual order of exercises, devotional service, roll call, department reports and new business taken up, making a busy session. Tender tribute was paid to the union’s recently deceased member, Mrs. Addie S. Wright.
About Town. The funeral of Phineas G. Collins was held from his residence on the Carlisle road, Parkerville, last week, Rev. David Wallace conducting the services. There was a profusion of beautiful floral tributes. The bearers were George A. Kimball, Arthur E. Wilson, William P. Williams and William F. Seifer. Burial was in Fairview cemetery.
At the primaries last week Tuesday the following persons were elected on town committees: Republican—Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher, Alfred W. Hartford, Julian A. Cameron, Oscar A. Nelson, Edward M. Abbot, Frank L. Furbush, Fred A. Sweatt, Harry L. Nesmith, T. Arthur E. Wilson, Alonozo H. Sutherland, Walter A. Whidden, Samuel L. Taylor. Democratic—J. Herbert Fletcher, John A. Healy, Albert R. Wall, Florence G. Sullivan, Michael L. McGlinchey, M. Edward Riney, John L. Flynn, Alvin S. Bennett, Oscar R. Spalding and John Feeney. Progressive—John Spinner, Arthur G. Hildreth, Robert Prescott, J. Everett Woods, John Edwards, Herman L. Nixon.
The more youthful element of the republican party met at the town hall last week Friday evening and organized a young men’s Republican club. Harold Fletcher was chosen president; Edward M. Abbot, v.p.; James M. Sargent, sec.; Edward T. Hanley, treas. The committee to look after the registration of voters is composed of Alfred W. Hartford, James M. Sargent, Charles Edwards and Edward T. Hanley. These youths and others are organized to get a lively move on and then try and make it contagious to the rest of the voters who are with them in political sentiment.
Miss Ella Wright, who has been spending the last lingering days of summer at her summer residence at Brookside, returned to her home in Cleveland, Ohio, Tuesday. While here she visited many places of historic interest. Among the places of youthful reminiscence was her early home, the old Edwin Gould farm residence, where her father, Walter Wright, tilled the rocky hillsides for many years. By the courteous kindness of George E. Gould, also an inhabitant of this farm for many years, Miss Wright glided about town in Mr. Gould’s new Ford.
The U and I club held a lively trip of the feet at Marshall’s hall on last Friday evening. A late car connected Lowell, North Chelmsford and Graniteville with other parts of the universe.
William H. Lynds, of Lowell, the walking historian, was in town on Sunday looking over some of the landmark houses that Gov. [Allen M.] Fletcher, of Vermont [1912-15], is interested in—the old Capt. Peletiah Fletcher place on the Lowell road, now occupied by the C. R. P. Decatur family, and the old Trueworthy Keyes place on Francis hill. At both these places the near relatives of Gov. Fletcher once lived.
W. R. Taylor has just received from the trout reservation at the State House a supply of trout to stock some of the sandy, crooked rivulets of the town that curve toward the Concord and Stony Brook. Several years ago these same streams were stocked, but the weather order of exercises did not include rain in the program, therefore these streams did not have anything to do and so went out of business and the trout went out at the same time.
The village church of West Chelmsford held its annual banquet on Wednesday evening with about 160 present, Graniteville, Westford, Lowell and the surrounding towns being well represented. The supper was West Chelmsford system, abundantly delightful, and the company were abundantly equal. Rev. Roy P. Crawford was toastmaster and introduced in the line of entertainment Rev. George B. Dean, of Worcester; Dist. Supt. Rev. W. H. McLean, of the Highland M.E. church, Lowell; Rev. Kernehan [Kernahan], of the M.E. church, Graniteville. Both food and food for thought were a success. The affair was in charge of Mrs. Herbert E. Fletcher of Oak Hill.
Elliot Humiston has been ill with a cough and other tickling accessories and is not yet fully recovered. Dr. F. E. Varney, of North Chelmsford, is tickling him to wellness.
At a special town meeting held last week Thursday evening Hon. Herbert E. Fletcher was chosen moderator with a small percentage of voters present, but what were present voted themselves $1700 worth of firehouse at Graniteville.
The next meeting of the board of registrars will be held at Brookside Friday evening, October 10, at Moore’s mill.
“V. T. E.” Answered.
Daniel H. Sheehan, of Westford and North Carolina, reports harvesting 65,000 barrels of potatoes on his North Carolina farm, all by machinery which digs, sorts, bags, ties and weighs.
Mrs. Sidney D. Whitney, of upper Brookside, who has been controlled by infirmity for two years, is surprising both skilled and ordinary lookers-on by stepping in the direction of getting better.
Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Middlesex North Agricultural society was held at Lowell on Tuesday. The treasurer’s report showed that the society has assets amounting to $7000 and no liabilities except premiums and these fully covered by an allowance of $1000 from the state. Voted to pay all premiums by check through the mail. The sun of $150 was appropriated for institutes, and Howard W. Foster, of Tewksbury, was chosen as a committee on institutes and George W. Trull, of Tewksbury, was elected a member of the State Board of Agriculture.
The usual list of officers were duly elected as follows: George W. Trull, of Tewksbury, pres.; M. G. Perkins of Lowell, John W. Peabody of Dracut, Frederick J. Flemings of Lowell, Enoch Foster of Tewksbury, George L. Huntoon of Chelmsford, Sidney A. Bull of Billerica, vice pres.; George B. Colburn, of Lowell, sec.; John A. Weinback, of Lowell, treas.; Albert J. Trull, John Trull, Howard W. Foster, Tewksbury; L. A. Boynton, S. R. Merrill, Pepperell; William Teale, Lyman Taylor, Acton; Arthur M. Warren, W. E. Lapham, Chelmsford; James C. Kendall, A. W. Swallow, Dunstable; Benjamin F. Perry, A. B. Eames, Wilmington; J. E. Rowell, F. A. Fitzgerald, Billerica; Frank W. Case, North Reading; M. P. Swallow, M. P. Palmer, Groton; Jesse B. Butterfield, Benjamin B. Lawrence, Tyngsboro; H. E. Fletcher, S. L. Taylor, Westford; Arthur Foster, Reading; J. J. McManmon, Arthur W. Colburn, Dracut; John E. Foster, George B. Washburn, Frank B. Trull, John L., Robertson, Lowell, trustees.
Resigned. Henry B. Read has resigned his position as manager of the Read farm now owned by George Albert Drew, and will move to Barre in early November, where he has bought a small farm. With the removal of Mr. and Mrs. Read it also removes the last of the onetime large and well-known families—the Reads and Chamberlains—where for a century or more they were a conspicuous part of the town and an especially interesting and familiar part of the history of the Old Stony Brook school district. Mr. Read is a graduate of Westford academy and Amherst Agricultural college, and for several years was a member of the school committee. Mrs. Read [nee Julia Maria Chamberlin] is a graduate of Westford academy and for several years an efficient teacher in town. Both have lived the philosopher’s test of usefulness: “Make the want of you felt.”
Interesting Meeting. The first meeting of the season of the Ladies’ Sewing Circle and Branch Alliance of the Unitarian church was held last week Thursday afternoon with Mrs. George T. Day. After the business meeting was over Rev. Lyman B. Weeks gave an able and interesting review of Unitarian hymns and writers, and back to the early period of metrical psalms and the song of Debarah [sic]. Several of these hymns were illustrated by Mrs. Day on the Victor phonograph which bringeth “ye olden song” down to “ye youthful listener of today.” The next meeting will be held on November 13. Subject, “Postoffice mission and cheerful letter exchange,” Mrs. George T. Day. The officers of the Alliance are Mrs. Alma M. Richardson, pres.; Mrs. Homer M. Seavey, v.p.; Miss Mabel Drew, rec. sec.; Clara A. Smith, cor. sec.; Miss Emily F. Fletcher, treas.; Mrs. George T. Day, chairman postoffice and cheerful letter.
Forge Village. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Daly are entertaining at their home Miss Marty Madden, of New York city.
Sunday being Columbus day, Monday was observed as the holiday. The children of Cameron school enjoyed a vacation, school opening again on Tuesday morning.
The mills of the Abbot Worsted Company, which were shut down last week, resumed operations on Monday.
Mrs. F. [Charles] Grey [nee Minnie Couture], of Lowell, is visiting friends here this week. Mrs. Grey formerly resided here, but on the death of her sister, the late Mrs. George Mountain [nee Alice M. Couture], has made her home in Lowell.
The first of the season’s meetings of the Ladies’ Sewing Circle was held in the hall on last Thursday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McDonald are rejoicing over the birth of a son [Francis Earl McDonald], born October 8.
Little William Drolet, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Drolet, met with a painful accident on last week Thursday. While swinging in the school yard he was bumped into by one of the older boys and fell to the ground, cutting his ear in such a manner that two stitches were taken. Dr. J. D. Christie, of Littleton, was in attendance.
Mrs. Joseph Teele, of Methuen, and daughter, Mrs. Ernest Berry of Los Angeles, Cal., were entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Burnett on Monday.
Miss Marjorie Rose, of Belmont, was the guest of her grandmother Mrs. Elizabeth Splain, over Sunday.
During the holiday many of the camps on the shores of Forge pond were reopened and many pleasant gatherings were held.
Saturday evening a social dance was held in Abbot hall by the members of the English Social club. The music for dancing was furnished by Miss Ellen Thorpe, piano, and Joseph Miller, violin. The English Social club is composed of young men and have recently rented a building from John Edwards in which meetings are held. John Shackleton is at the head of the club and has planned a most interesting line of events for the coming winter.
Miss Ethel M. Collins entertained seventeen of her young friends in Recreation hall on Saturday afternoon and evening in honor of Miss Lillian Bailey, of Lowell, cousin of the young hostess. Among those from out-of-town were Howard Swain and Miss Maribel Swain, of North Chelmsford. At five o’clock a dainty supper was served, after which a Virginia reel was gracefully performed by the young folks. The evening was spent in music and games and the young people dispersed later, all having a most pleasant time.
Graniteville. A printer’s error on the tax bills calls for the tax collector to be in Graniteville at two o’clock in the afternoon the next two Saturdays. As he does not leave Forge Village until 2:30, it is impossible for him to be at Mr. Wright’s store until three o’clock. Everybody come then and remember what the photographer says: “Look pleasant please,” even though tax paying is a solemn occasion.
Monday being a holiday, many people from this village attended the fair that was held in Pepperell. At night there was also a delegation of Graniteville people who took in the big K. of C. ball in East Pepperell, an automobile party composed of F. G. Sullivan, Miss Mary Sullivan, Miss Flora Stuart, Frank Charlton and William Buckingham being among the number.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Defoe, of Beverly, have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Defoe.
All the public schools were closed for the holiday, but were opened at the usual time on Tuesday morning.
J. Omer LeDuc, who is now teaching school in Charlemont, was a recent visitor at his home here.
Joseph Wall, with his two sons, William and Raymond, have recently returned from the Fitchburg fair.
Columbus day passed here without any special observance, many people taking in the theatrical performances in Lowell, while some of the sporting element spent the day in hunting.
A garage will soon be built here near the mills for the use of the Abbot Worsted Co. The foundation has already been put in and the other work will be started in a short time.
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Flaherty, of Portland, Me., have been recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Prinn.
Lewis Barrett, a travelling missionary preacher, was stricken with illness here early Wednesday afternoon, but soon recovered from his slight indisposition and started on his pilgrimage. He left here for South Acton.
Many people from here took in the sights at the Fitchburg fair on Monday.
Politics is beginning to liven up some and in a few days it is expected that we will hear more from the different aspirants for office.
Business continues to be good on the ledges and in the machine shops, while things are beginning to look a little brighter in the mills.
Saturday, October 25, 1913
Forge Village. The many friends of Mrs. Nelson Prescott are pleased that she is now able to be out and about once more.
Services were conducted at St. Andrew’s mission by Rev. Williston M. Ford on Sunday morning, a large congregation being present. Mr. Ford announced that more women were needed in the Sewing Circle and it would be appreciated if an added number would join. Meetings are held on Thursday afternoons in Recreation hall.
One of the largest balm of gilead trees [a type of poplar tree] in the town was uprooted during the gale of the past week. This tree stood near the residence of George O. Jackson.
Miss Helen Lord, of the nursing staff of the South Framingham hospital, spent Saturday and Sunday at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Lord.
Mrs. Fletcher Morton and daughter Viola, of Bridgeport, Conn., former residents of this village, are spending this week as guests of friends and relatives here. They are staying at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Cougle.
Mrs. William Burnett spent Wednesday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Chester Blodgett, of the Ridges, Groton.
The many friends of Percy Barnes, of Graniteville, are pained to learn of his serious accident which occurred on Monday. Young Barnes has made many friends here and all hope for a complete recovery.
Lovers of shooting are hard on the trail of the grey squirrel in this vicinity, many having been laid low during the season. The high winds of last week lessened the sport somewhat, however, much to the chagrin of many a sportsman. It seems strange that men, who claim intelligence, will shoot such pretty creatures, but as long as the law allows the deed, the harmless little fellows will be captured.
Center. Mrs. James Spinner is visiting relatives in Cambridge.
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Tuttle and baby son have been visitors at Mrs. Nelson Tuttle’s this last week.
Clarence Hutchins, of Chicago, has been a guest this last week of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Whitney.
It has been pleasant these last few evenings to see cheerful lights at the old Abbot homestead so centrally located and which has been unoccupied for a number of years. This means that the Edward Fishers have moved in this last week. It is also pleasant to know that the John C. Abbots will not close their house this winter. Their sons, Fletcher and Robert, will attend school in Newton the same as last year, coming home for the week ends.
W. R. Carver has had some of the veteran trees removed on the lawn in front of his house [9 Depot St.], giving a clearer outlook between house and street.
Miss Laura Lumbert, of Lowell, is visiting the Westford relatives.
Mrs. Fifield and grandson, Clifford Woods, are moving from Alec Fisher’s house [3 Depot St.] to the so-called Frank Fletcher house on Boston road.
One of the attractive social events of the fall season is the harvest supper and entertainment at the Unitarian church on next Wednesday evening. The capable committee in charge is Mrs. J. Herbert Fletcher, Mrs. William R. Carver and Mrs. Lizzie A. Hamlin.
Motorman Cutter, of the branch line electrics, reports an unusual amount of trouble with slippery rails caused by leaves on the track and the prolonged spell of wet weather.
Mrs. Willette Craig, of Salem, is spending some time in town engaged with the town’s records of vital statistics from its settlement in 1728 to 1850, getting them tabulated into shape for publication. When completed they go into a large book at the State House, Boston, and also a copy of them will be printed for our town library. 0) { referrer_url = document.referrer; } const params = location.search.slice(1).split('&').reduce((acc, s) => { const [k, v] = s.split('=') return Object.assign(acc, {[k]: v}) }, {}) const url = "https://museum.westford.org/wp-json/iawp/search" const body = { referrer_url, utm_source: params.utm_source, utm_medium: params.utm_medium, utm_campaign: params.utm_campaign, utm_term: params.utm_term, utm_content: params.utm_content, gclid: params.gclid, ...{"payload":{"resource":"singular","singular_id":1673,"page":1},"signature":"5fa73e79659535b0c978ab8e69464375"} } const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest() xhr.open("POST", url, true) xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json;charset=UTF-8") xhr.send(JSON.stringify(body)) }) })();