Turner's Public Spirit, December 26, 1908
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
“About Town. An important book [“A General Catalogue of Trustees, Teachers and Students, Westford Academy, Westford, Mass.,” compiled by Cornelia Fletcher Day and published in Westford in 1912] will soon be published, under the direction of Mrs. George T. Day, who has for several years been collecting names and dates of former teachers and scholars of Westford academy from its incorporation up to and including the centennial year. This is a grand and necessary work, as showing the influence of this ancient corporation gathered for purposes of equipping life with the influence of the whole man, and not the limited and partial. This publication will reveal the far-reaching influence of lives that were kindled into a flame at Westford academy, besides opening up a vast labyrinth of forgotten memories, anecdotes, reminiscences and history.
“The annual meeting of the board of trustees of Westford academy was held Saturday, Dec. 12, at the residence of Hon. Chas. S. Hamlin in Boston. The following trustees were present:
“Hon. John D. Long of Hingham, Hon. C. S. Hamlin of Boston, J. Henry Fletcher of Belmont, Henry M. Wright of Quincy, Geo. T. Day, Rev. B. H. Bailey, A. J. Abbot, Hon. H. E. Fletcher W. C. Wright, C. O. Prescott, J. C. Abbot, Capt. S. H. Fletcher of Westford.
“This annual gathering of loyal lives in behalf of the principles for which Westford academy was founded, just recall the old-time association of similar gatherings and other social surroundings like the bright, cheery days when ex-Gov. Long was teacher, as well as the more recent years with the scholarly Frost and others. But the present board of trustees do not allow any faltering of the purposes which the olden trustees and others so practically exemplified, and to keep the music of the olden time up to the jingle and quick-step march of modern ideas, the trustees also took a timely quick step march looking toward the purchase of a new piano.
“The treasurer’s report shows expenditures of $3103.83; received from the town, $2200 for high school purposes, leaving a balance of $903.82 that the academy pays toward supporting the school. By this arrangement and the showing of this report, those who wish may see that the town is saving practically an even thousand dollars a year in marinating a high school; and yet, some want to have the town put its hands in its trousers pocket and fumble around among that other $25,000 that is borrowed for school building purposes, and find $1000 a year to support an independent school. When we all get to that point of docility, to say nothing about imbecility, that we love to be taxed for the sake of being taxed, and get nothing for it, then we shall all vote for this scheme. March meeting, it is true, will soon be here, but from the sky-rockets in the air it doesn’t look as though anyone would be docile on that occasion.
“Center. The woman’s alliance of the Unitarian church held an interesting and well attended meeting at the home of Mrs. Geo. T. Day last week Thursday. The 300th anniversary of the birth of [John] Milton was the theme of the afternoon. Mrs. B. H. Bailey, president of the alliance, read a paper on his life, and Mr. Bailey read extracts from his writings.
“Graniteville. All the teachers in the different rooms of the Sargent school held some form of entertainment for the pupils last week Friday afternoon before the Christmas vacation. A pleasing program was successfully carried out and each pupil received some pretty gift.
“Annual Christmas tree exercises were given by the Sunday school children of the M.E. [Methodist Episcopal] church on Thursday evening at 7:30 o’clock. The exercises and tree as usual were in the main part of the church. The Christmas exercises and tree for the children of St. Catherine’s Sunday school were held on Wednesday evening at 7:15.
“Forge. The usual Christmas tree exercises took place in Cameron school, last week Friday afternoon, and were enjoyed by relatives of the pupils. There is a pretty custom of exchanging gifts among the children, making the day one filled with loving memories. This has been a feature of the school for many years.”