Turner's Public Spirit, April 25, 1925
A look back in time to a century ago
By Bob Oliphant
Center. William E. Wright has returned to his home from the Lowell General hospital, where he recently underwent an operation.
Mrs. Elva Wright, town nurse, and Miss Edith A. Wright, teacher in the William E. Frost school, are on an auto trip to Berwick, Pa.
Miss Pauline Goodnow, teacher in Billerica, was the guest of Miss Lillian Sutherland over the weekend.
The next regular meeting of the [American Legion] Auxiliary will be held at headquarters on Monday evening. Ayer and Groton Auxiliaries have been invited to be guests of the evening. The entertainment promises to be a pleasing one, consisting of readings by Mrs. Gage, Lowell; solo dance, Miss Betty Prescott, and one other number from each of the visiting auxiliaries. Refreshments will be served. A large attendance is desired.
Alfred Sutherland, of Boston, and Miss Lillian Sutherland, of Billerica, were the weekend guests of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Sutherland.
Dr. Edward C. Atwood, of Daytona, Fla., passed away at the Phillips House, Boston, last week Friday at the age of seventy-six years. He was a native of this town, being the son of the late Daniel and Caroline (Carlton) Atwood [of 4 Graniteville Road]. He married Miss Caroline Shaw, of Winthrop, who survives him; also, a daughter Evelyn; three sisters, Misses Sarah, Lillian and May Atwood, of [4 Graniteville Road] this town, and two brothers, Elliott, of Chelmsford, and William, of Florida. Private funeral services were held from the home of his sisters on Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Edward Disbrow, the interment being in the family lot at Fairview.
Levi Reed, who passed away in Lowell recently, aged ninety-four years, was a former resident of this town, having at one time occupied the house now owned by Mrs. Ai Bicknell [2 Main Street].
Mrs. Lucy A. Keyes [nee Lucy Ann Turrell], the oldest woman in town, aged ninety-three years, has been able to be out and call upon friends recently. Although advanced in years Mrs. Keyes enjoys good health.
The opening exercises at the Congregational Sunday school on Sunday will be in charge of Miss Constance Buell, a missionary from Tien Tsin, China. She is a teacher in the Look Up on the Mountain school and is at present on a leave of absence to her native country.
The play, “Springtime,” given under the auspices of the Westford academy at Forge Village on Thursday of last week, was a great success. The cast was a large one and was under the able direction of Miss Grace Moody as coach. The sum of $70 was realized as the academy part of the proceeds.
Misses Lydia Griffin, Grace Dane, Evelyn Healy and Virginia Healy, of the senior class at the academy accompanied by Miss Laura Gotberg, of the faculty, are enjoying a trip to Washington, D.C.
A missionary meeting was held at the Congregational church on Wednesday, in charge of Mrs. John K. Felch.
The box party at the Congregational vestry last week Friday evening [paper torn line or two missing] consisting of readings by Miss Ruth Bradley; vocal solo, Charles Robey; vocal duet, Charles Robey and Eric Anderson, and selections by an orchestra composed of Mrs. Freda Stiles Prescott, Mr. Lehman, Eric Anderson and Miss Dorothy Anderson. The committee in charge was Eric Anderson and Ralph Josselyn.
Tadmuck Club Notes. Several of the members of the Tadmuck club visited the Priscilla Proving Plant in Newton on Wednesday of last week.
The recent dancing party given under the auspices of the Tadmuck club was well attended. Mrs. Robert Prescott was the chairman in charge of the affair, which proved a success, both socially and financially. The solo dances by Miss Betty Prescott were much appreciated by those who attended.
On next Tuesday the annual club luncheon will be held.
About Town. On Tuesday morning the ice was an inch thick and peas were up two inches at the Old Oaken Bucket farm. As long as the peas keep taller than ice or snow, who cares how much comes, even the fourteen inches of snow reported at Woodsville, N.H.
We quote the following from a Grand Forks, N.D., paper: “To honor the memory of the late Prof. John Adams Taylor, the Forensic Board voted to name the cup given to the victor of the inter-society debates the John Adams Taylor memorial. The memorial to the late Prof. Taylor will be a very fitting and appropriate one since while serving as coach of debating at the university he founded the present system of inter-society debates between the various forensic societies of the campus.” [A son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Taylor, Prof. John A. Taylor of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, drowned in the Niagara River, Niagara Falls, N.Y., on August 22, 1924, and is buried in Fairview Cemetery.]
Miss Luanna B. Decatur, who was called home on account of her mother’s sudden illness and death, returned to her teaching duties in New Rochelle, N. Y., Sunday.
The next meeting of the Middlesex-North Pomona Grange will be held on Friday, May 1, in Odd Fellows’ hall, Bridge street, Lowell. Morning session, “neighbors’ day,” with Chelmsford Pomona Grange as guests; community singing; “What constitutes a good neighbor” to be discussed by members of both Pomonas. Dinner served by Burlingame Grange. After dinner, a committee will be appointed to meet the lecturer of the State Grange, Burton T. Mowry, at 1:30, for an informal conference. An entertainment by the guests at two o’clock, with B. T. Mowry as speaker.
The County Farm Bureau will feature “The great white north,” with educational reels and a comedy at their motion picture show on Monday evening in the town hall.
Frank C. Drew, one of the Progressive Stony Brook Valley farmers, has set out twenty acres [sic, two[1]] of youthful apple trees of various denominations. They are located just north of his rosy red, white-trimmed, painted barn.
Federal Judge George W. Anderson who has had much to do with the enforcement of automobile laws and regulations, estimates that there were 17,000 fatal accidents in 1924, or about thirty-five a day. The non-fatal accidents were about 500,000, and he adds: “I expect an increase of accidents with the improvement of the rural roads, which will invite a great rate of speed.” It is clearly evident that something must be done to reduce the rate of speed and to enforce it. Some of us have seen reckless and highly dangerous speeding in face of the warning sign, ‘Look out for school children. Drive Slowly.’
From the Rural New Yorker we quote the following condensed from a much longer article. “The remnants of natural fur stocks in the United States are dwindling fast. The fur supply is seriously threatened by present conditions of lack of uniformity in laws and regulations relating to open seasons, trapping methods and primeness of pelts. To remedy this condition as far as possible and before it is too late, the Biological Survey of the United States is co-operating with state conservationists to enact uniform trapping laws.”
The present prospects for a crop of winter apples are not as good as the prospects for home-grown green peas on Decoration day. A few more snow storms may retard that date. Apple trees of the winter variety that did not bear last year have not yet shown any evidence of a change of behavior for 1925 budget, and information of a wider range viewpoint than the Old Oaken Bucket farm confirms this view. Early apples and late earlies are promising a large blossom, especially the McIntoshes that are too far advanced for those left over February and March snow storms.
On last Monday someone jolted me with the statement, “How do peas look under the blanket of hail and snow?” I promptly answered that they grow just fast enough to show green above all snow storms and they don’t look any greener than the fellow who was so prematurely precocious planting on March 7 for harvest on May 30.
High-grade and Cull Apples.
A writer in the Rural New Yorker writes up the uneconomical folly of using second-grade apples under the delusion that they are economically financially cheap. Here is his condensed argument: “The grower loses on apples that he has picked, packed, freighted and sold at wholesale by the large cities at less than four dollars per barrel. The consumer can afford to and prefers to pay a price for large, sound apples that will net the grower a profit if they will keep their cull fruit off the market.”
Well, Mr. Mistaken, your argument does not hold up the weight of their own performance. You are assuming that neither the producer nor consumer know how to manage their own business in selling and buying apples. What is there to prevent the consumer from buying only “large, sound apples” in preference to culls if large apples are so much cheaper than culls? Certainly all first-grade apples go onto the market and all culls do not go onto the market. Plenty of these culls we eat indirectly when we have vinegar on our cabbage and sweet cider in our Thanksgiving mince pies. The laboring man on low wages and part time labor with a large family feels that he cannot afford high-grade apples. Who knows the economical side of which high-grade apples is cheapest for the consumer to buy with limited purchasing power when he has high-grade apples and culls to choose from, and he chooses the culls?
And in the very face of your toothless argument, “The consumer can afford to and prefers to pay a price for large, sound apples that will net the grower a profit if they will keep their cull fruit off the market.” I am surprised at an argument that does not hold together while the ink is drying. Tried out by the law of supply and demand, culls would have been starved out of the market long, long ago for lack of purchasers, and only high-grade apples would be in demand and at an increased price over the present high prices. As some of us see this, if it ever comes to pass, it would mean a financial millennium for the producer and a financial Waterloo for the hard-pressed consumer with large families and low wages.
Grange Whist Party. The whist party and dance which has been under preparation for some time past by Miss Emma M. [paper torn, line or two missing] on last Saturday evening in Abbot hall, Nabnassett. The affair was a complete success, nearly 200 taking part. Twelve hands of whist were played and the winners were awarded prizes as follows: First prizes were [a] hand-carved picture frame, won by Mrs. Panton; rubber sponge traveling bag, Mrs. Blanchard; Oriental smoking tray, John Wagner; rubber tobacco pouch, Howard Defoe; second prizes, automobile dash light, Miss Bernice Brown; flashlight, Mrs. Jennie Brown; automobile windshield wiper, Mrs. Treat; necktie, Mr. Treat. The distribution of the prizes came next on the program for those selling the largest number of tickets—Mrs. Matthew Smith, 35 tickets, a beautiful cut glass dish; second, Miss Edna Whitney, 32 tickets, a large palm plant. Following the card games and distribution of prizes refreshments were served by the following committee: Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Riney, Mrs. Edmond Whitney, Mrs. Matthew Smith, Mrs. De La Haye, Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Arthur Nystrum [sic, Nystrom], the Misses Nystrum and Mrs. Brown, after which general dancing was enjoyed, music furnished by the Blue Ribbon seven-piece orchestra of Lowell, until twelve o’clock. At the affair were a number of visitors from the adjoining Granges.
The committee in charge was composed of Miss Emma M. Regnier, general manager; Edmond Whitney, assistant manager; Arthur Nystrum, floor director, and Mrs. Mary L. Regnier, chief aide, assisted by the following: Mrs. Matthew Smith, Mrs. Edmond Whitney, Mrs. Harriet De La Haye, Mr. and Mrs. Riney, Mrs. Arthur Nystrum. Misses Mildred and Anna Nystrum, Miss Elizabeth Smith, Mrs. Jennie Brown, and Frank McGlincy. Francis E. Regnier, of the firm of Regnier Construction Company, acted as master of ceremonies.
The prizes were donated by Lowell merchants and business men.
The party broke up at a late hour. The West Chelmsford Grange would plan on having an old-fashioned whist party in the near future.
Church Notes. First church (Unitarian)—Sunday service at 4 p.m. Preacher, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, the minister. Subject, “One hundred years.” Church school at 3.
On Sunday the preacher will point out the chief contribution of the period that has elapsed since the founding of the American Unitarian Association.
Graniteville. The concert in Abbot hall, Forge Village, Sunday evening in aid of St. Catherine’s church, was largely attended. The program was given under the direction of James E. Donnelly of Lowell and the entertainers were also from Lowell.
Wade Hitchcock of this village cut his foot severely with an axe while chopping wood in a woodlot in the north part of the town Tuesday. The injured man was taken to the Lowell General Hospital.
Miss Laura Gothberg of the Westford academy faculty with the following members of the senior class have been on a trip to Washington, D.C.: Miss Virginia Healy, Miss Evelyn Healy, Miss Grace Dane and Miss Lydia Griffin.
Classified Telephone Buyers’ Guide
Westford
GENERAL INSURANCE
CLEMENTS, EDNA KITTREDGE. Telephone 107. “Ashes can’t be insured.” Protect your property now while it has a definite value. Fire insurance, automobile, fire, theft, liability and property damage insurance, burglary and hold-up insurance, health and accident insurance. In fact all kinds of insurance and bonds.
FOR SALE—A 300 gal. spraying outfit, complete, in excellent condition, suitable for large orchards and town work. Price $500. The outfit may be inspected at DR. WOLBACH’S FARM in Sudbury, Mass. Mr. Simensen in charge. 27tf
ANTIQUES—Set of six rush seat chairs, low post beds, banjo clocks, small light stand. ALFRED UHLER, Concord, Mass. 3m23
FOR SALE—A cottage house on Franklin Street. Inquire of MRS. E. MABEL PRESCOTT, East Pepperell, Mass. 4t32
Ayer
News Items. The following officers of Bancroft Royal Arch chapter attended the district chapter of instruction of the 11th capitular district at Fitchburg Monday afternoon: Dr. Ralph H. Wylie, district deputy grand high priest, J. Willard Fletcher of Westford, Leon M. Huntress, Timothy Cleary, Rev. Frank B. Crandall, Ernest M. Gleason, Howard M. Beverly, Harry M. Cary, Frank A. Cash, Lyman C. Sprague, Kendall V. Pierce and Theophilus G. Smith.
Engagement Announced.
One of the spring engagements of two well-known persons in town was announced last Saturday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy P. Cleary, Washington street.
The guests enjoyed military whist, high honors going to Miss Mildred Precious, of Forge Village. Miss Helen Goodwin, of Harvard, Miss Elizabeth Bennett and Miss Priscilla Osgood, who received vials of bath salts. Vanity boxes consoled Mrs. Leon H. Goodwin, of Harvard, Misses Marie Cornellier and Barbara Larrabee, and Daisy Precious, of Forge Village.
The players gathered around a daintily spread table. The queen of flowers held the center from which ribbons marked the places guarded by pond lily containers with salted nuts. As the guests, after being seated, complied with the request to pull the ribbons, the surprise of the evening was divulged—the guest of honor joined a pair of waxen Cupids, each bearing Cupid’s weapon and wearing the names of the younger daughter of the house, Miss Mary Cleary, and Rev. Leslie F. Wallace, of Providence, R. I., in token of the engagement. The charming bride-to-be received most hearty congratulations after which the attractive menu came in for its share. The viands were butterfly salad, sandwiches, small frosted cakes, salted nuts and cocoa.
Miss Cleary is a native of this town, a graduate of the high school class of 1924 and a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal church. In both school and church work she has been zealous. Her circle of friendship is large and devoted.
Mr. Wallace was vicar of St. Andrew’s church for five years, leaving here last year for duties in Providence. He is a member of Caleb Butler lodge of Masons and Robert Burns lodge of Odd Fellows. He was active in parish work during his stay here, particularly among the boys and young men. The people of the town remember him with pleasure.
Littleton
News Items. Rev. Carl G. Horst last Tuesday attended a meeting of the officers and prudential committee of the North Middlesex conference of Unitarian and other Christian churches in Lowell, at which all the necessary arrangements were made to hold the next session of the conference in Westford on Wednesday, June 10.
Boxborough
News Items. Miss Mary E. Hager represented the church at the meeting of the association of churches at Lunenburg. She also visited friends in Westford and Leominster last week.
[1] “In the account last week of the newly-set apple orchard of Frank C. Drew it is all plainly true with the exception that it should have read two acres instead of twenty acres.” The Westford Wardsman, May 2, 1925.