The Westford Wardsman, April 21, 1917
Center. Miss Lottie L. Dunn resumed her teaching at the Frost school on Monday after an illness of four weeks.
Mr. and Mrs. Perry Shupe have recently equipped their house on [23] Boston road with electric lights.
The Henry M. Wrights of Quincy are spending the week at H. L. Wright’s.
J. W. Bright remains very critically ill at his home on Depot street.
Rev. H. A. Lincoln [of the Union Congregational Church, Westford] and Rev. J. C. Alvord exchanged pulpits at their respective churches last Sunday evening. Mr. Alvord’s address was based on the thought “Endure hardiness as a good soldier,” and was received with much interest. Mrs. Alvord was also present with her husband. Mr. Lincoln spoke in Littleton on “Our ancestors and their descendants.”
The community sing was held at the town hall on Monday evening with a good attendance and good interest.
Men were summoned from the village on Tuesday to help control a grass fire near the Burland place on the Littleton road. Mr. Burland had secured a permit to light the fire and had extra help to care for it, but it got away from them and the call was sent to the village for available help. These calls have been numerous this spring, calling busy men from their work, and it would seem as though greater care should be exercised to prevent the fires.
A pleasant dancing party was held at the town hall on Friday evening of last week and while the attendance was not large there was a pleasant and comfortable number for dancing and a good time. Broderick’s orchestra of Lowell furnished music of the dancing, and refreshments of ice cream and cake were furnished at intermission. Frank Johnson, Arthur Walker, Edward Clement and Edward Roby were in charge of arrangements.
The reading circle of the Tadmuck club will meet next week Thursday at the home of Mrs. Harold W. Hildreth. The play, “The second Mrs. Tangueray,” will be read. [“The Second Mrs. Tangueray” was first performed in London in 1893. It was written by the English dramatist Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1855-1934).]
The closing event in the Tadmuck club calendar takes place next Tuesday, and is the annual club luncheon to the membership. Mrs. Herbert V. Hildreth is the toastmistress in charge of the post prandial exercises and the music and speaking promise to be most interesting. All members who have not secured their tickets for the luncheon are requested to do so at once, before the order goes to the caterer. Please communicate with Mrs. Edwin Amesbury, chairman of the luncheon committee, or Mrs. D. L. Greig or Mrs. Henry A. Fletcher, the other members of the committee.
The Westford academy minstrel show at the town hall next week Friday evening promises to be one of the enjoyable gatherings of the spring season. It is given under the direction of Miss Mary B. Raynes, musical director, with Miss Harriet Mansur as pianist. The twenty-four numbers of the program are a combination of melody, fun, jokes and local hits.
Complimentary Supper. A very pleasant gathering was held at the Congregational vestry on last Saturday evening when the wives, daughters and sisters gave the members of the men’s choir a complimentary supper. After supper, which was in charge of Mrs. A. W. Hartford, and was typical of Saturday night suppers held in many households, Mr. Hanscom, president of the men’s bible class, called to order and acted as toastmaster with happy felicity. Mrs. Charles H. Wright was presented with a large bouquet of cut flowers in recognition of her service as the real choir leader during the winter, although the men’s class, under the leadership of Leonard Burland, have had charge of the singing during the past four weeks with fine results. Mrs. Wright thanked all for their kindly thought and for cooperation with the music, especially giving credit to one or two faithful ones.
Another presentation that was enjoyed by all was a gold piece to Miss Hazel B. Hartford who has been the capable organist during the winter. Miss Hartford responded graciously to this presentation.
George A. Kimball received honorable mention for faithful attendance at rehearsals, he coming the longest distance of any to attend them. After the dishes were done and at the close of the rehearsal the men sang in their best voices and as a compliment to the ladies, “Brighten the corner where you are,” implying that their corner of that week had been brightened most successfully. There were forty-six present.
About Town. Mark Jenkins, who has been spending his summer vacation during the winter, has returned to his home and blacksmith shop at Chamberlin’s Corner and his strawberry farm on Francis hill.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks won two premiums on corn at the recent corn show at Amherst college. The popcorn, which received one premium, was planted June 10, between rows of potatoes, and never introduced to a hoe.
On Monday evening, April 23, at the town hall, there will be a rally in the interest of increased food supply. This rally will be one of a series to be held in every town and city in Middlesex county, under the management of the Middlesex County Farm Bureau. J. H. Abbot, a practical farmer and the recently elected agent and farm advisor, will give the address of the evening. Considering that President Wilson has issued a special appeal to the farmer of the United States to make an unusual effort to increase the food supply, it becomes the patriotic duty of every farmer to enlist in the rally line. Westford, the largest town in territory in Middlesex county, has several thousand acres that might easily double its food production without giving anyone the backache or tired feeling in doing it. Mr. Abbot proposes a face to face talk on this problem. It is hoped that a large attendance will be present.
The Stony Brook valley farmers have got President Wilson’s emergency appeal for increased food supply harnessed up in action with the throttle valve open just enough for speed so that dust and mud are both on the fly. Wheat and potatoes are both listed first in the present emergency boost. Later, as the weather warms up to the president’s message, an increased acreage of corn and beans will be introduced to the present speed up. [On April 15, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson addressed the nation. Among other things, he said, “We must supply abundant food for ourselves and for our armies and our seamen not only, but also for a large part of the nations with whom we have now made common cause, in whose support and by whose sides we shall be fighting… I take the liberty, therefore, of addressing this word to the farmers of the country and to all who work on the farms: The supreme need of our own nation and of the nations with which we are cooperating is an abundance of supplies, and especially of food-stuffs. The importance of an adequate food supply, especially for the present year, is superlative. Without abundant food, alike for the armies and the peoples now at war, the whole great enterprise upon which we have embarked will break down and fail. The world’s food reserves are low. Not only during the present emergency but for some time after peace shall have come both our own people and a large proportion of the people of Europe must rely upon the harvests in America. Upon the farmers of this country, therefore, in large measure, rests the fate of the war and the fate of the nations. May the nation not count upon them to omit no step that will increase the production of their land or that will bring about the most effectual cooperation in the sale and distribution of their products? The time is short. It is of the most imperative importance that everything possible be done and done immediately to make sure of large harvests. I call upon young men and old alike and upon the able-bodied boys of the land to accept and act upon this duty—to turn in hosts to the farms and make certain that no pains and no labor is lacking in this great matter.”]
Francis W. Banister has resigned as mail carrier, which takes effect April 20. Whom the government will touch as successor it is not known. Several are liable.
Walter S. Holder, of Chelmsford, secretary of the Middlesex-North Agricultural society, has sold his farm and will move back to Lynn. He was active in the Grange and awake at all times for public betterment.
At the Tadmuck farm W. R. Taylor is planning on an acreage of spring wheat to the point of cut prices, and an acreage of beans sufficient to make him deacon of the United States.
The town road drag is smoothing up the roads against those jolting places that are so liable to develop remarks that might be construed as scold words and other words.
Dr. McCann, of Lowell, who died last week, will be remembered as having a summer residence in Westford on the Tenney road near the head waters of Long Sought pond. This was formerly known as the Lewis Dane place.
The Old Oaken Bucket farm folks have finished planting two acres of potatoes. This is only the water edges of the beginning, and is less than a speck compared with what is going on at the Prairie farm next door, where Amos Polly is stirring like an emergency call to double up double quick.
Graniteville. Both masses in St. Catherine’s church last Sunday morning were celebrated by the pastor, Rev. C. P. Heaney. On Sunday, April 22, Rev. Fr. McGlinchey, of Boston, will preach on “The propagation of the faith.” There was a mass celebrated on last Thursday morning for the members of the Holy Name society.
The Westford branch of the American Red Cross had a tag day on Patriots’ day and quite a neat sum was realized for the cause. On Friday afternoon, at 2:30, there was a meeting held in Healy’s hall for the purpose of forming an auxiliary to the Westford branch of the Red Cross here. This meeting was addressed by speakers from Lowell, who explained fully the details of the organization, and what work they are planning for the future. Many men and women were in attendance and also became members of the society.
The new foundry is getting things into shape and it is expected that everything will be in full swing in a short time.
This looks like a great year for planting, and nearly everyone in this vicinity will have a garden of some sort.
“Baby Day.” The “baby day” held in Healy’s hall here on last Saturday afternoon, under the auspices of the Grange and the members of the Tadmuck club was fairly well attended, considering the counter attractions at that time. A very pleasing and instructive address on “The care and feeding of infants,” was given by Miss Genevieve Jules, R.N., of the State Board of Health, and there was excellent singing of lullabys [sic] by Miss Marion Lord of Forge Village and Miss Rachel Wall of Graniteville.
In the course of her remarks Miss Jules urged the necessity of a district nurse here, for the strength of the nation depends on the health of the children. To give the matter a local touch the speaker stated that during the year of 1916 there were 77 children born in Westford, and of that number 13 died. That is practicality one out of every six died. The town rate of deaths for 1916 was 160; for the state it was 102. As it is seen that a great number of those deaths were children, the idea of getting a district nurse for this locality is certainly a very good one. This could readily be brought about by having one-third of the expense borne by the town, one-third by private subscription, and one-third by organizations.
Pamphlets printed in different languages were distributed last Saturday and take it on the whole the “baby day” was a great success and much good is expected to come from it in the future.
Forge Village. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Smith, of Hyde Park, have been recent visitors here.
Miss Carmel E. Rose, of Belmont, is spending her vacation here.
Mrs. Joseph Bennett, who has been seriously ill at her home, is now on the road to complete recovery.
The Standard Oil Company is installing a gasoline tank at the J. B. Splain and Company store.
Mr. and Mrs. George Goode have returned from New York and will soon open up Camp Oka for the season. Applications have already commenced to come in for camps and the season promises to be a good one.
All are looking forward to the firemen’s ball here on Friday evening in Abbot hall, the event of the season. Tickets have been in great demand.
We hear rumors of wedding bells to ring in the near future, but as yet have not been able to locate the names of the happy parties.
Henry Reed, of Worcester, spent the weekend here with relatives.
Gardening is the principal occupation at present. Every plot of land, large or small, seems to be in working order. One topic of the village now is the high price of flour—$15.75 being the prevailing price per barrel.
Center. William R. Carver sold at auction at the Merritt farm his herd of twenty-five cows Monday afternoon. John M. Farrell, of Lowell, was the auctioneer and good prices were realized.
Mrs. Arthur H. Fiske, of Providence, R.I., has been a guest at the Congregational parsonage during the week.
Rehearsals are in progress for an entertainment, “Aunt Jerusha’s quilting party,” to be given at the Congregational church next month, in charge of Mrs. A. H. Sutherland. [“Aunt Jerusha’s Quilting Party” by Laura M Parsons was published by Walter H Baker & Co, Boston, in 1901.]
Congregational Convention. The spring meeting of the Middlesex Union Association of Congregational Churches, comprising twenty-five in number, met with the Westford Congregational church on Wednesday. There was an attendance of 125 at the morning session, which number was added to as the day progressed. Rev. William W. McLane, D.D., was the moderator of the sessions, and Rev. John B. Lewis acted as scribe and treasurer.
The program started with devotional service conducted by Rev. R. A. Barker of South Acton, and after a brief business session the first address of the day was given, “The holy spirit and Christian life,” by Rev. G. H. Dunlap of Ashby. Rev. J. Seldon Strong, of Ayer, opened the discussion “Work of young people,” and the closing address of the morning session was “Temperance and the churches,” given by Hon. Frederick Fosdick of Fitchburg.
Dinner was served at noon in charge of Mrs. A. E. Day, Mrs. A. H. Burnham, Mrs. D. L. Greig and Miss J. Florence Wilson.
The afternoon session opened with devotional service conducted by the pastor of the entertaining church, Rev. H. A. Lincoln, followed by a vocal solo by Mrs. Charles D. Colburn. Rev. J. J. Bannings, of India, presented the subject “Our present duty to missions,” followed by Mrs. J. C. Alvord, of Littleton, who spoke on “The woman’s board and local churches.” The singing of the jubilee hymn most appropriately interspersed this and the closing address of the day, “Fifty years of woman’s work,” by Miss Ruth Seabury, of Boston. The autumn meeting of the association meets with the Congregational church in October.