The Westford Wardsman, April 14, 1917
Center. Miss Alice M. Howard, Mrs. John Wright and Mrs. S. B. Watson attended the neighborhood meeting of the Ayer Woman’s club on Wednesday of last week.
Bids are called for the carrying of the mail between Westford depot and the postoffice at the Center, said bids to be received before April 20.
Miss Alice M. Howard attended the meeting of the Woman’s Council of the home department of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau at the home of Mrs. Storrow in Boston on Wednesday of this week.
There will be a patriotic meeting at the town hall on next week Wednesday evening under the auspices of the League to Enforce Peace. This organization has for its object the enforcement of a righteous peace at the end of the war, or to fight for a permanent peace. Ex-President Taft is expected to speak in Lowell that evening and it is planned to hold like meetings in the surrounding towns the same night. A good program of special music and a good address will be given. Hon Edward Fisher will preside.
The Henry M. Wrights of Quincy were weekend guests at the H. L. Wrights this week.
Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Hildreth entertained the latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, of Campello [part of Brockton], over Easter Sunday.
William Mills, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Mills, has joined Co. K, of Lowell and is the first young man from Westford who volunteered his services.
The wives and sisters of the men’s choir of the Congregational church are giving them a complimentary supper at the vestry this Saturday evening at which a pleasant evening is anticipated.
J. Willard Fletcher has a new ton and a half auto truck for his grain business. Walter Fletcher [J. Willard’s son] is the driver and caretaker
The last firemen’s supper for the season took place on Wednesday evening of last week at the old academy building. Through the generosity of one of the members, steamed clams was added to the excellent menu prepared by Mrs. J. E. Knight, who has very successfully had charge of these suppers during the winter. At their next meeting the company will practice a drill and try-out.
Men were called twice on last week Thursday to the south part of the town to assist in fighting grass fires that had got beyond control. At one of the fires an old set of buildings owned by George Smith, of South Chelmsford, and which were unoccupied, were partially destroyed.
Robert Prescott is among the new autoists, driving a Buick car.
Miss Marjory Seavey has been at home this week, it being the spring vacation from her studies at Boston university.
W. W. Johnson & Son expect to deliver ice to their customers this season by auto truck. Frank Johnson is becoming proficient in driving their new auto truck and it will be a great improvement to have these heavy loads taken care of by gasoline power instead of horse power.
Edward Roby has successfully passed his examinations for military service, and is in readiness for call at any time.
Mrs. N. D. Reynolds, of Wakefield, was a guest of Rev. and Mrs. Lincoln at the parsonage during the first of this week.
Wedding. A very pretty home wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred McCoy on Friday afternoon, April 6, at three o’clock, when their daughter Bertha was united in marriage to Abbot L. Robbins, of Harwich. Rev. Herbert L. Caulkins, of Littleton, performed the marriage ceremony. The home was prettily decorated with a color scheme of green and white. The bride’s gown was of white crepe de chine and a bouquet of white roses was carried. Miss Helen McCoy, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor, and Ralph Bonnell was the best man. Miss Grace Cogger, of Chelmsford, and Miss Ruth McCoy, were the ribbon bearers. The wedding march, from Lohengrin, was played by Miss Mildred Thomas. The happy couple were the recipients of many beautiful wedding gifts. They left by automobile for East Harwich [the groom’s home], where a wedding reception was given for them. Their future home is to be in Watertown.
Red Cross Work. A meeting for the formation of a local branch of the Red Cross society was held in Library hall last Saturday afternoon with a good attendance and a good degree of interest. Mrs. H. V. Hildreth presided and introduced Miss Ruth Burke and Mrs. John R. Whittier, of Lowell, as the speakers for the meeting. Miss Burke outlined the scope of work of military Red Cross work differing from the civilian phase of the work. She stated that of the dollar paid by the new members fifty cents goes to the Red Cross headquarters in New York; ten cents for the Lowell branch, and forty cents for the work of the local branch. She stated the officers necessary for the formation of a branch society as a permanent chairman, secretary and treasurer. Mrs. Roudenbush, Mrs. Charles Hildreth and Miss Gertrude Fletcher were appointed a nominating committee and recommended the following officers: Mrs. H. V. Hildreth, chairman; Mrs. A. W. Hartford, sec.; Mrs. S. B. Watson, treas., and they were elected.
Mrs. Whittier brought samples of the work—hospital shirts, sweaters, bandages, sponges, etc., and they were inspected with much interest.
A good number of members were enrolled and any others wishing to join will please notify any of the officers.
The first work taken up was the repairing of the town flag, which has been hoisted every day on the common recently. A group of workers gathered at the town hall Wednesday afternoon and skillfully repaired this flag.
Easter Services. Easter services were most interestingly observed at the churches last Sunday. At the Congregational church the seating capacity, except for the extreme front pews, was taken up. The large congregation listened with much interest to the theme of the resurrection and immortality as told in anthem, prayer and sermon. Mr. Lincoln preached a forceful Easter sermon and the men’s choir of twenty-five voices gave a fine musical service, the processional, “This is the day of resurrection,” being most effective. Paul Hillman of Lowell was the special soloist and a quartet, consisting of Leonard Burland, Seth Bannister, Henry Colburn and Arthur E. Day, sang “Sweetly rest.” Miss Hazel Hartford was the organist and Mr. Burland had charge of the music. The pulpit was handsomely decorated with Easter lilies and potted plants. At the evening service a special service of illustrated songs, “The way of the cross,” was given by the pastor. Miss May Day impersonated the pilgrim of the cross. At the morning service the special Easter offering for the suffering women and children in Europe amounted to over forty-five dollars.
Tadmuck Club. The annual children’s afternoon of the Tadmuck club took place at the Congregational church on Tuesday afternoon and was very largely attended. Miss Howard, the president graciously welcomed the children and read a pleasing poem, “Where the children are,” after which C. Everett Wallace of Boston was introduced and entertained the children and grownups as well with a splendid program of impersonations, banjo playing and ventriloquism. Mr. Wallace proved himself a very clever and versatile entertainer and the day for the children proved a great success. A pleasant surprise were boxes of candy distributed at the close of the entertainment.
At the business session reports of two previous meetings were given and notices of coming events in other places were given. Special notice of the baby day at Graniteville in charge of a joint committee from the club and grange was given. A nominating committee consisting of Mrs. G. H. Conant, Mrs. John Wright, Mrs. S. B. Watson, Mrs. N.H. Shuman and Miss Eva Fletcher, was appointed by the chair.
The next and last meeting for the season will be the annual club luncheon. This will be held in the Unitarian church vestry at 1:30. A caterer is to have charge of the luncheon and all members who have not already done so are requested to file their names at once with any member of the committee in charge, Mrs. Amesbury, Mrs. Greig or Mrs. Henry Fletcher, to be sure of getting their tickets. Mrs. H. V. Hildreth is the toastmistress for the gathering and a very pleasant closing event for the club season is assured.
About Town. Rev. Louis H. Buckshorn has been appointed appraiser of property for the new Farm Loan bank recently created by the U.S. government. His territory will cover the State of Massachusetts. [The Federal Farm Loan Act was passed by Congress on July 17, 1916. It divided the nation into 12 districts, each with a farm loan bank.]
The next meeting of the Grange will be held on Thursday evening of next week, when the first and second degrees will be conferred on a class of twenty-five.
The meeting last week Friday in the town hall, in the interest of the farm bureau, was addressed by S. R. Parker, of Amherst, who with chart and persuasion outlined the actual results accomplished by the bureaus in the other counties of the state. As an infusion of new individuality and awakened thought it is uncovering much ignorance and indifference. He was followed by Miss Price, of Springfield, in an easy and helpful, hopeful way in behalf of household economics. It was advice reduced down to actual daily life needs and practical education. To the delights of the addresses was added the delight of a piano solo by Miss Elinor Colburn and solo Mrs. Charles D. Colburn.
At the Easter service last Sunday at the Unitarian church, Rev. Louis H. Buckshorn delivered an eloquent and forceful sermon on a broader and more workable resurrection for the life that now is national and individual. At the close of the morning service the children of the Sunday school gave a service of song and recitation.
The directors of the Farm Bureau in Westford met in the town hall on Wednesday evening and organized with Samuel L. Taylor as chairman and Mrs. Frank C. Wright as secretary. Arrangements were made for a public greeting by the newly appointed agent of the farm bureau.
The last meeting of the Grange was a success from all view points. Alvin Nelson of Graniteville had the entertainment in charge. Messrs. Smith, Nelson, McCarthy and Blanchard, proved to be very humorous in their quartet singing, as did Henry Smith and Robert McCarthy in their solo, and Frank Charlton in his jig-time songs and the youthful Carpentier in his solo, and Miss Charlton on piano and banjo, and Frank Charlton on cornet, and others not named, who played melody on the violin. Refreshments were served in the lower hall and everybody had an enjoyable time. Mr. Nelson and his assistants are to be congratulated on their efficiency.
John McMaster has purchased the Fletcher Peckins place on Main street and will move from Lowell right away. This property has about one acre of land and cottage house and shed.
At a public meeting in Lowell recently, to consider food supply, Hon. Charles A. Kimball and Frank B. Priest, of Littleton, were among the invited who spoke.
Potatoes in quantities of acres are being planted in the Stony Brook valley, when snowstorms don’t interfere. Hauling potatoes to plant into the field on a sled is going some, but such little weather frowning as that don’t interfere with farmers who are toughened to it by years of experience.
Amos Polley, of the Prairie farm, ploughed through two inches of frost on Tuesday in a determined effort to break the high cost of living by a bold attempt at planting potatoes.
Mrs. Clara Greig is ill with throat trouble at the Greig farm on [124] Main street.
George O. Spaulding, Francis hill, recently gathered a bushel of May flowers and has potatoes nearly through the ground.
A return surprise party was summoned and served on George Decatur on Wednesday evening. Some of the lights who light up early planting in the Stony Brook valley were present. Amos Polley, chief leader of the lights, was chief torch bearer.
Ralph Bridgeford, recently so ill, has counter-marched off illness so triumphantly as to enable him to visit relatives in Townsend on Thursday.
Graniteville. In relation to the motorcycle accident to William Buckingham as given in last week’s paper the following correction should be made: Buckingham passed the automobile driven by Russell Furbush and Furbush stopped the machine in time to avoid hitting Buckingham. Buckingham’s injury was caused by being hit by part of the motorcycle when he was thrown off. Furbush is receiving much praise for his quick stop of the auto thereby avoiding further trouble. Buckingham is still confined at the Lowell General hospital, but he is on the gain and strong hopes are being entertained for his recovery.
To relieve in a measure the high cost of living the Abbot Worsted Co. here, through their agent, E. M. Abbot, have posted notices in their mills, informing their employees that land will be given free to all those who wish to plant a garden this spring. The land will also be ploughed for them.
The members of the Tadmuck club and Westford Grange will hold a “Baby day” in Healy’s hall on this week Saturday afternoon at two o’clock. At that time Miss Genevieve Jules, R.N., of the State Board of Health, will give an address on “The care and feeding of infants.” There will also be singing by Mrs. W. R. Taylor, Mrs. John Feeney, Jr., of Westford and Miss Rachel Wall of Graniteville. Pamphlets printed in English, French, Italian and Polish will be distributed during the afternoon, and all mothers are urgently requested to be present. Mrs. W. H. Sherman, of Graniteville, is chairman of the committee.
Benefit Concert and Dance. The members of Cameron circle, F. of A., held a benefit concert and dance in Healy’s hall last Tuesday evening that was very largely attended and proved to be a success in every way. The following pleasing concert program was given: Song, Forest Carpentier; selection, male quartet, composed of Frank Charlton, Elmer DeRoehn, Albert Blanchard, George Wilson; violin solo, Miss Ruth Ward; song, Miss Cherry; reading, Miss Vernie Lowe; song, Frank Charlton; selection, male quartet; reading, Miss Lowe; song, Miss Lilley Mae Moran; vocal duet, Miss Mattie Blanchard and Albert Blanchard. After the concert the floor was cleared for dancing, excellent music being furnished by the Peerless orchestra, of Lowell, and the dancing continued until a late hour. During the evening ice cream and cake was served and homemade candy was on sale. The affair was in charge of Mrs. Elizabeth Harrington, Miss Marion Lord, Mrs. Maria Wall, Mrs. Bessie Robinson, Mrs. Ellsworth York, Miss Belle Carpentier, assisted by Mrs. Etta Richardson, Mrs. Esther Hanson and Mrs. Alma Benson. Quite a neat sum was realized on this event.
Death. Samuel Ross Willis, an old and highly respected resident of this village, died at his home here on Thursday morning, April 5, after an illness of two weeks’ duration, aged 84 yrs. 1 mo. and 9 days. In the death of Mr. Willis this village loses a good true, loyal, honest man. A kind neighbor and good friend to both young and old. He leaves to mourn his loss two daughters, Mrs. C. M. Prinn and Mrs. Elizabeth Buckingham, several grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The deepest sympathy is expressed for the bereaved family in their affliction. The funeral took place from his late home on last Sunday afternoon and was largely attended, many relatives and friends being present from Lowell, Manchester, N.H., Ayer, Littleton and other places. The services were conducted by Rev. Alonzo Fite, who spoke words of deep consolation to the bereaved family. Owing to illness in the family there was no singing. There were many beautiful floral tributes, which testified in a marked degree to the high esteem in which the deceased was held.
The bearers were Albert Willis, Horace Buckingham, Harry Folland and Thomas Hughes. Burial was in the Fairview cemetery, Westford.
Forge Village. The Easter service at St. Andrew’s mission was held at nine o’clock and was very impressive. Communion was celebrated and the singing by the vested choir was a feature of the service. Miss Sarah Precious presided at the organ. The Easter offering will be given for the relief of the sufferers in the holy land. Potted flowers and plants were much in evidence. Rev. Mr. Ford preached the sermon.
The Athletic club gave a minstrel show in Abbot hall Monday evening to a crowded house. The affair was a success both socially and financially. The jokes were good and were all taken in good part. James May made his first appearance as a musical director and deserves much credit for the able manner in which the numbers were given. Mary F. Hanley was the pianist and Winnie Thompson furnished music. Dancing was afterwards enjoyed by a Lowell orchestra. Refreshments were served.
There will be a soccer football game next Saturday afternoon on Cameron playground at 3:30.
Mrs. Nola Lovejoy of Jacksonville, Vt., is spending a few weeks visiting relatives here.
Mrs. Joseph Bennett is still ill at her home here.
Miss Mabel Sanborn still continues to improve from her recent illness and latest reports are very encouraging to her numerous friends in this village.
Ayer
News Items. There is as yet no definite information in regard to whether or not the proposed mobilization camp for military purposes will be located here. Much interest is shown in the matter. Rumors of all kinds are current. According to the best sources obtainable it can be said that the location of the camp is still uncertain. The parties owning the land here which the government wanted figures on have given their terms to E. A. Richardson, who was appointed by Col. B. B. Buck of Boston to arrange for the transfer of the property, if it was decided to take it. All the information obtainable regarding land, water supply and other necessary matters has been forwarded to Washington, D.C. The war department will finally settle the location of the new training ground. The news of the choice of a camp is expected at any time.
District Court. The cases of Frank Walocevich and Michael Matouk, of Forge Village, the former for assault with intent to murder his wife and Matouk for inciting him to do the deed, were called on continuance Monday morning.
Owing to the fact that Walocevich’s wife has entirely recovered from the wound received, the complaint against him was changed to that of assault with a dangerous weapon. On this complaint the defendant pleaded nolo and was fined $75. Matouk was discharged.
The above disposition of the cases was made after a brief statement by former Senator Edward Fisher, of Westford, representing the government in which he said that the prosecution felt that the ends of justice would be met by such a course, John M. Maloney, representing both defendants, having assented to the plan.
The story of the events leading to the crime is one that is very unusual, so far as the local court is concerned. It appears that on Sunday, March 18, Walocevich, who is a Roman Catholic, became incensed at his wife when she refused to attend the church of that denomination, as was her usual custom. The wife is a Greek Catholic and insisted in attending a service which is held at certain times of the year at Forge Village for the benefit of the few people of that faith in that place. When there are no Greek Catholic services held she always accompanied her husband to his church.
Upon her return from church Walocevich shot her and then shot himself. Both were taken to a Lowell hospital for treatment. Matouk, who was in the house at the time the shooting occurred, was later arrested for inciting Walocevich to commit the assault on the woman.